PCOS-related hair loss

PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) is one of the most common hormonal causes of hair loss in younger women. In PCOS the levels of androgens (male hormones) are often raised, and because the follicles at the crown can be sensitive to these hormones, the result can be female-pattern hair loss: thinning at the crown and a wider part, while the front hairline is usually preserved.

What makes PCOS-related hair loss distinctive is that it is often accompanied by other signs of hormonal imbalance, increased facial and body hair (hirsutism), acne, irregular menstruation and sometimes weight gain or insulin resistance. That combination is an important clue, and it is why the hair loss belongs in a broader investigation.

Treatment always starts with the root cause. A doctor or gynaecologist can investigate and treat the hormonal imbalance, sometimes with hormonal treatment or medication that dampens the effect of the androgens, and with lifestyle or medication for insulin resistance. When the hormonal picture is under control, the hair often responds better to treatment.

On the hair side, PRP treatment and microneedling can stimulate the follicles that are still alive, ideally in combination. A hair transplant can be relevant in selected cases where the thinning is localised and the hormonal picture is stable, we then use DHI so you don't have to shave your hair. At a free consultation we do a trichoscope assessment and lay out a plan that takes the whole picture into account.