Endocrine disorders and hair loss in women
Lupus
SLE (also known as lupus) is a serious systemic condition categorized as an autoimmune disorder that may affect many organ systems, including the skin, joints, and internal organs. An autoimmune disorder occurs when the body’s own immune system attacks the body.
The symptoms of lupus include a telltale “butterfly rash” over the nose and cheeks, joint pain, kidney problems, muscle disorders, and swollen glands. Hair loss occurs in about 50 percent of patients with lupus and, according to an article in Cosmetic Surgery Times, is marked by short frontal hairs.
Thyroid Problems
Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, is a condition in which the thyroid doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones. Some of the disease’s symptoms include hair loss, thin or brittle hair and nails, fatigue, weakness, cold intolerance, unexplained weight gain, depression, and joint or muscle pain.
Hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid, is the opposite of hypothyroidism; it is a metabolic imbalance involving an overproduction of thyroid hormones. The usual symptoms include weight loss, increased appetite, nervousness, restlessness, heat intolerance, increased sweating, and fatigue. Hair loss may also be present.
Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can be marked by sudden hair loss, and, according to an article in Prevention, may be marked by more diffuse thinning at the front of the hairline or on the crown.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
PCOS accounts for about 80 to 90 percent of androgen disorders in women. An androgen disorder means that male hormones, such as testosterone, are present in either too great or too little quantity.
Hair loss or thinning in what is usually considered a male pattern-at temples and crown-is one of the heralding features of this disease, but an overall thinning can signal its presence as well. In addition, other symptoms go hand in hand with peos: chronic irregular menstrual cycles or absent periods, infertility or difficulty conceiving because of non-ovulation, obesity, sudden unexplained weight gain, adult acne, hirsutism (excessive hair growth), and type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance.
It is estimated that from 5 to 10 percent of all women are affected by PCOS, which translates to five to ten million women in the United States alone, and it affects women of all ages, from adolescence to menopause.
It is important to understand that pcos, like thyroid disease and many other disorders associated with hair loss, affects the endocrine system, which produces and regulates the body’s hormones.
Other Endocrine Disorders
Ferreting out a possible endocrine disorder, however mild, could be crucial to getting an accurate diagnosis and potential cure for your hair loss. Other endocrine disorders for which hair loss may be a symptom include diabetes, Hashimoto’s disease (thyroiditis), hypopituitarism, and hypothalamic disorders.
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