Generality
Hair loss is a disabling problem not only experienced by men, but also by women.
In this context, the contraceptive pill can influence hair loss in women, as it contains estrogen which stimulates the activity of the pilo-sebaceous follicle.
More generally, the treatment of alopecia is based on the combined use of dermocosmetic products and local or systemic pharmaceutical specialties, which must always be used under strict medical supervision.
Female alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia is a common cause of hair loss: up to 50% of women are prone to this condition.
The disease mainly depends on hormonal variations (direct or indirect) and on genetic factors: in predisposed people, in fact, the disease is determined by the excessive sensitivity of the pilo-sebaceous follicles to androgens (male hormones). The action of these hormones results harmful to the hair, as they first shorten the growth phase of the hair (anagen) and then cause a progressive miniaturization of the follicle (i.e. they make it smaller and more superficial, causing it to produce an increasingly thinner and weaker stem).
In women, therefore, alopecia can be a consequence of an excess of male hormones (in the female sex these hormones are secreted, even if in lower concentrations than in men, by the ovaries and the adrenal cortex); however, more often than not, androgenetic alopecia is the result of an excessive sensitivity of the hair to absolutely normal androgen levels.
This phenomenon can be further influenced by prolonged stress, the use of certain drugs, drastic diets and other causes that can also overlap and alter the clinical picture.
Generally, hair loss in women follows a different dynamic than in men and first affects the top of the head (vertex), and then extends in a radial direction.
Female androgenetic alopecia is not always an indication of associated hormonal pathologies, but, sometimes, it can occur following serious hormonal imbalances or testosterone-secreting tumors. For these reasons, it is always advisable to carry out a thorough examination and a series of investigations. , aimed at discovering the exact causes of the phenomenon and establishing the most suitable therapy.
Pelvic ultrasound, associated with hormone testing, can be useful when one or more of these factors are present in addition to hair loss:
- Menstrual irregularities;
- Polycystic ovary;
- Obesity;
- Hirsutism.
How the pill works
In cases of female androgenetic alopecia, the contraceptive pill can be used with good results, but only to slow down the worsening of the disease; the drug, on the other hand, has no effect on hair regrowth.
The contraceptive pill can be useful as it controls or reduces the production of androgens by the ovary, helping to stabilize the clinical picture.
The most effective are contraceptive pills formulated with a progestin with a high antiandrogenic affinity, such as cyproterone acetate, which reduces or blocks the action of androgens on the follicle.
Attention! Some birth control pills can improve and stop hair loss; others, on the other hand, may be responsible for their downfall.
- Women who suffer from hormonal imbalances and have a form of androgenetic alopecia can find a marked improvement with the oral intake of a contraceptive pill that contains cyproterone acetate with an anti-androgenizing action and ethinyl estradiol, an estrogen useful for the well-being of the hair.
- However, an androgenizing action depends on the addition to the contraceptive drug of some progestogens, deriving from nor-testosterone (these include: gestodene, desogestrel and levonorgestrel). The pill in question may therefore be responsible for hair loss.
Indications
Generally speaking, the contraceptive pill for hair loss is not prescribed in all cases, but should be administered under strict medical supervision, only when hormonal tests show concomitant alterations (hyperandrogenism).
In any case, the type of pill must always be chosen by the specialist doctor, who knows not only the type of pathology, but also his patient, the side effects and the precautions for using the treatment. It should also be remembered that this pharmacological treatment is "off label" (ie the pill is a drug regularly registered for contraceptive purposes, but, as regards alopecia, it is used in a manner that does not comply with the provisions of the technical data sheet authorized by the Ministry of Health for the aspects of indications, methods or doses of administration).
Does your hair fall out?
- Some contraceptives contain progestogens which can aggravate androgenetic alopecia: to avoid this inconvenience, it is therefore advisable to contact the doctor who will prescribe the most suitable pill, depending on the case.
- Sometimes, even if prescribed correctly, stopping the contraceptive pill can lead to "increased hair loss, similar to that seen after childbirth (acute telogen effluvium).
- In most cases, acute telogen effluvium does not cause noticeable thinning. In fact, it often happens that there is a clear discrepancy between a massive fall and apparently normal hair.
Some advice
- Do not underestimate the problem of excessive hair loss: from the first signs, that is when the hair becomes thin and falls at the top of the head, it is good to contact your doctor immediately. In fact, only if the diagnosis is early, the treatments give good results.
- Do not resort to "do it yourself" remedies, especially when hair loss depends on hormonal dysfunctions; the choice of the most suitable treatment rests solely with your specialist doctor (dermatologist and / or gynecologist).
