Hello anonymous777:
The best listing that I could find of all the hormones produced in the
human body is at:
Links to the individual hormones
http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/H/HormoneTable.html
Each hormone there has a link to some very basic information about it
(including what it does and what too much/too little might cause).
However, I have looked elsewhere (on many, many websites) for any
CREDIBLE information about relationships between hormones and hair
loss.
The main hormonal causes of hair loss appear to be:
1) Thyroid problems - both high and low thyroid appear to cause hair
loss. There are a couple of hormones involved here.
2) Androgens/Estrogens - the battle between male and female sex
hormones seems to cause a significant percentage of all hair loss.
I've compiled information about each such related hormone below.
* Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (a.k.a. TSH, thyrotropin)
Where Produced: anterior lobe of pituitary
What it Does: stimulates production of thyroid hormones
Relation to Hair:
Too much TSH can cause hyperthyroidism (over-production of thyroid
hormones), one of the possible symptoms of which is thinning hairs
which are more easy to extract (i.e., to fall out).
Too little TSH can cause hypothyroidism (under-production of thyroid
hormones), one of the possible symptoms of which is coarse lifeless
hairs which are more easy to extract (i.e., to fall out).
http://morehair.com/hair_loss_hormones.html
* Thyroxine/T4 (and triiodothyronine/T3)
Where Produced: thyroid gland
What it Does: increases metabolic rate, increase rate and strength of
heartbeat, etc.
Relation to Hair:
Too much thyroxine can cause hyperthyroidism, one of the possible
symptoms of which is thinning hairs which are more easy to extract
(i.e., to fall out).
Too little thyroxine can cause hypothyroidism, one of the possible
symptoms of which is coarse lifeless hairs which are more easy to
extract (i.e., to fall out).
http://morehair.com/hair_loss_hormones.html
http://www.prodigy.nhs.uk/ClinicalGuidance/ReleasedGuidance/webBrowser/pils/PL208.htm
* Progesterone
Where Produced: corpus luteum and placenta
What it Does: (in women) controls thyroid performance
Relation to Hair:
"Progesterone is a female hormone that is essential for proper thyroid
function. As a result, a deficiency of progesterone can lead to or
worsen a thyroid problem."
http://healthychristianliving.com/hair_loss_what_is_the_cause.htm
"When progesterone levels fall as a result of ovarian follicle failure
(lack of ovulation), the body responds by increasing it's production
of the adrenal cortical steroid, androstenedione, an alternative
precursor for the production of other adrenal cortical hormones.
Androstenedione conveys some androgenic (male-like) properties, in
this case, male pattern hair loss."
http://www.natureshealth.biz/hair_loss.htm
* Androgens (e.g., testosterone, dihydrotestosterone/DHT)
Where Produced: Testes
What it Does: primary male sex hormone
Relation to Hair:
"DHT acts by binding to special receptor sites on the cells of hair
follicles to cause the specific changes associated with balding. Among
other effects, DHT decreases the length of the anagen (growing) cycle,
and increases the telogen (resting) phase, so that with each new cycle
the hair shaft becomes progressively smaller."
http://www.hairtransplantadviser.org/hair_loss/hormones.htm
"Some women who are genetically pre-disposed to have pattern hair loss
are protected from the effects of androgen hormones by the
counter-balancing effect of their estrogen hormones. After menopause
their estrogen hormone levels decline, and they may begin to lose
hair. Hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women is designed to
compensate for reduced estrogen levels, and help restore the emotional
and physical condition of the patient to the pre-menopause states. It
may also slow or stop hair loss triggered by menopause."
http://morehair.com/hair_loss_hormones.html
* Estrogens (e.g., estradiol)
Where Produced: ovarian follicle
What it Does: primary female sex hormone
Relation to Hair:
Basically, estrogen blocks the negative effects of androgen on your
hair...
"Researchers say a compound used in laboratory experiments to block
the production of estrogen also has the surprising side effect of
awakening sleeping hair follicles. Their report in the October 29
issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences says if
the estrogen blocker proves safe for people, it could be used for hair
loss caused by chemotherapy, male pattern baldness, or gradual
thinning."
http://www.regrowth.com/hair_loss_treatments/estrogen_blockers/estrogen_blockers_5.cfm
"Estrogen levels decline in the skin with age. Before menopause,
various forms of estrogen block or “oppose” the steroid hormone
responsible for hair loss (testosterone) resulting in low levels of
DHT (dihydrotestosterone) being produced in the skin and follicle
region. Once females enter menopause, their levels of estrogen decline
and more testosterone is then bio-available to be converted to DHT
(the known cause of non-traumatic hair loss) in the root bulb and stem
cell regions. This results in a shorter hair growth cycle, finer hair
and eventually, general effluvium or shedding. As women enter their
80s and 90s, the follicle itself can shrink and stop producing hair
completely."
http://www.pioneerthinking.com/hairloss.html
* Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
Where Produced: Anterior lobe of pituitary
What it Does: (in females) stimulates the production of estrogen
Relation to hair:
Lack of estrogen to block androgens can lead to hair loss. See
[estrogens] above.
* Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
Where Produced: hypothalamus
What it Does: stimulates the production of FSH
Relation to hair:
Lack of FSH can lead to lack of estrogen, which can lead to hair loss.
See [FSH] above.
I hope that this information has been of help to you.
If you need any clarification of the information I have provided,
please ask using the Clarification feature and provide me with
additional details as to what you are looking for. As well, please
allow me to provide you with clarification(s) *before* you rate this
answer.
Thank you.
websearcher-ga
Search Strategy (on Google):
"human hormones" "complete list"
hair hormones
hair estrogen
thyroxine hyperthyroidism
"hair loss" hormones
"hair loss" cortisol
"hair loss" Calcitonin
"hair loss" cortisol deficiency
"hair loss" Progesterone |
Clarification of Answer by
websearcher-ga
on
23 Jan 2003 19:09 PST
Hi anonymous777:
Thanks for the clarification request. I can well understand your
confusion based on the two seemingly conflicting quotes I found for
you above.
As far as I can tell the facts are these...
* Estrogen opposes the androgens (especially DHT) that are the *main
cause* of male balding. Therefore, estrogen is *proven* to slow hair
loss, to keep hair follicles in an *inactive* state. It is not proven
to promote hair growth. Two different things.
* Estrogen blockers have been shown to promote hair growth in *mice*
by making inactive follicles active. This has NOT been proven in
humans at all.
IMHO, estrogen blockers are quite a fair bit away from being proven
useful in male baldness. Of course, before you start taking any
hormone treatment, you should consult with a trained medical
professional - which I am not.
Source:
Drugs seem to help some thinning pates, and a "baldness cure" may yet
be found, but for now many of us will just keep on losing it
URL: http://www.boston.com/globe/columns/foreman/archive/120296.htm
Quotes:
"With each hair cycle, male hormones activate receptors in the
follicle, slowly turning large follicles into small ones that produce
only wispy hairs. This process is especially pronounced in people who
are genetically predisposed to balding."
"So far, this is just an idea -- but an intriguing one. In a study,
Robert C. Smart, a molecular toxicologist at North Carolina State
University, found that blocking estrogen makes hair grow faster than
normal in mice.
'Estrogen keeps the hair follicle in an inactive state,' says Smart,
who adds that by spreading an anti-estrogen cream on the skin, 'you
can make an inactive follicle active.'
Would it work in people? Nobody knows, though Dr. Ulrike Lichti, a
hair follicle investigator at the National Cancer Institute, notes
that 'the hair cycle in mice and humans is very different.' And
estrogen is important for healthy skin, so spreading an anti-estrogen
cream on the skin could be harmful.
I hope this clears things up. Let me know if there's more I can do for
you.
Thanks!
websearcher-ga
|
