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Did You Know Hormones Can Be The Cause Of Hair Loss In Females?

Dr. William Yates • July 24, 2018

There is an old saying that 'hair is a woman's glory.' In today's society, this adage remains true. Not only does hair increase a woman's self-confidence, but a healthy, beautiful mane can also improve a woman's appearance.

Also, hair can be a sign of how healthy a woman is. For example, the vitality of a woman's hair could be one of the first signs that there is an internal or hormonal imbalance within the body.

When the body is dealing with stress or a crisis, the growth of hair strands can experience stunted growth. This allows the body to redirect energy and nutrients to the area(s) of the body that is under stress. With that said, hair loss is an issue that should never be ignored or taken lightly. It is also important to not turn to the use of topical products before finding out the true cause for the hair loss.

Even though age is generally one of the leading causes of hair loss, other factors can cause hair loss such as hormones. A hormonal imbalance can cause thinning of the hair and generate male pattern baldness and alopecia in women. This is one of the main reasons why it is so important to understand the true causes of your hair loss.

One positive note is that hair loss is generally not a sign that you are infertile. The loss of hair can be devastating for women of all ages, but especially for women who are still in their childbearing years. However, as previously stated, hair loss can be caused by an imbalance in your hormones, and this can cause issues with fertility.

It is a fact that most women generally feel more attractive and confident when they have a healthy head of hair. Women feel more feminine when they have a gorgeous mane, and they typically place more emphasis, energy and time into their appearance. In other words, they exhibit a greater display of self-love.

Identity, Society And Social Media

Hair is the one part of our bodies that is considered an accessory. It is permanent, and it can be styled, colored or cut any way one chooses. Unfortunately, a woman's confidence and self-worth can quickly be deflated once her hair begins to fall out and thin.

It is also true that women are regularly exposed to commercials, advertisements and other media that tells them what the standard of beauty is and how well they measure up to it. When these messages show confident and accomplished women who are able to achieve their goals because they have healthy hair, how is a woman supposed to feel when they notice clumps of hair going down the shower drain?

One of the best and most powerful tools that a woman has at her disposal is education. Once a woman understands the exact cause of her hair loss, she can begin the process of healing her body naturally. Hair regrowth is possible if the body is able to achieve balance and can recover.

The Causes Of Hair Loss

The AAD (American Academy of Dermatology) states that everyone loses hair at an average rate of 100 hair strands every day. However, women who believe they are losing more strands than the average daily rate could be experiencing hair loss.

Women should also understand that any external or internal stress or crisis that causes hair loss in women can have an impact on their hormonal balance. The follicles are considered androgen sensitive. Androgen-sensitive means that the hair follicles are very sensitive to the male hormones and the fluctuation of these types of hormones. There are some causes of hair loss in women that have been previously mentioned, but there are other reasons why a woman may experience hair loss.

PCOS is a woman's reproductive issue that is caused by hormonal imbalances between progesterone and estrogen in the body. PCOS can be caused by several factors including:

● Elevated testosterone levels in women

● High insulin levels

● Excess body fat

The use of birth control can also cause hormonal balances and hair loss in women. Most birth control pills on the market are made with imitation progestins. These chemicals act similar to male hormones, and it is these hormones that can lead to the damage of the hair follicles.

Impaired thyroid function can also lead to hair loss in women. This can be the cause of hair loss in many women, especially if the hair loss is evident along with other symptoms such as:

● Fatigue

● Body aches

● Weight gain

● Insomnia and other sleep-related problems

● Constipation

● Dry skin

Chronic inflammation and nutrient deficiencies can also be a factor in women's hair loss. Inflammatory medical conditions like Celiac Disease can cause sensitivities in the hair follicles. The hair follicles become sensitive to any amount of androgen. Fortunately, if this is the cause of hair loss, it may be reversed by adopting a diet that is free of dairy and wheat.

A diet that is deficient in iron, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E can result in hair loss. Increasing foods and supplements that contain these nutrients can help reduce the shedding and falling of hair.

During pregnancy and childbirth, a woman's body undergoes major changes. Estrogen levels can rise and fall sharply during the gestation period. The dips in the estrogen levels can cause hair loss after a woman has given birth.

Although it can be scary to see handfuls of hair coming out at one time, hair loss is normal after childbirth. Fortunately, hormone levels generally balance out shortly after birth and excessive hair loss stops.

Women who are worried about excessive hair loss should get tested by their healthcare provider to determine the actual cause of their hair loss. Thyroid, nutrient, hormone and insulin levels should all be checked for any abnormal results. Your healthcare provider will devise a treatment plan to encourage hair growth. Lifestyle and dietary changes can make a positive impact and can help stop and even reverse hair loss. Be patient and know there is hope to end your hair loss!

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Regain Your Confidence with Hair Restoration – My Personal Journey

February 17, 2025

Like many of my patients, I struggled with hair loss for years. My hair began thinning in high school, and by my 20s, my confidence was at an all-time low. I tried every vitamin and hair loss remedy, and spent countless hours trying to mask my baldness, feeling self-conscious in both personal and professional settings. It wasn’t until my late 30s that I finally took action. After undergoing a successful hair restoration procedure, my life changed dramatically. Within 8 to 12 months, my hair grew back, and with it, my confidence soared. I looked 10 years younger, and I no longer had to rely on time-consuming styling tricks. People treated me differently, and I felt like the best version of myself. That transformation led me to make a major career shift—from a successful Trauma and Cancer Surgeon to a full-time hair restoration specialist. I was double board-certified by the American Board of Surgery in Trauma Surgery & Critical Care Surgery and thriving in my field, but my personal experience with hair loss gave me a new mission. I knew firsthand the emotional toll it takes, and I wanted to help others regain not just their hair, but their self-esteem and quality of life. I initially worked for a large corporate hair restoration group but quickly realized that the best results come from a physician-led practice—where the doctor is personally invested in every patient’s success. That’s why I founded Yates Hair Science Group. We specialize in advanced FUE hair restoration and cutting-edge biologic treatments to achieve the best possible results. Unlike many clinics, I personally perform every procedure—never delegating to technicians or nurses—because hair restoration is both a science and an art. Every patient I treat, whether through surgical or non-surgical solutions, I connect with on a personal level—because I’ve lived their journey. I believe a specialty as life-changing as hair restoration should never be driven by corporate interests focused solely on profit. If you're struggling with hair loss, I understand what you’re going through because I’ve been there myself. Let’s work together to find the right solution for you. Schedule a consultation today and take the first step toward restoring your hair—and your confidence.

Unlicensed Practitioners in Hair Restoration Clinics: A Call for Awareness and Action

December 18, 2024

The public should be aware of an alarming issue within the Chicago area hair restoration industry: unlicensed individuals posing as licensed physicians and performing medical procedures. This deceptive practice jeopardizes patient safety and erodes trust in qualified medical professionals. Recent reports have uncovered that patients seeking treatment at the International Hair Institute (IHI) were led to believe that their procedures were performed by Jing Liu, MD, CEO of the clinic. Upon investigation, it became evident that while Ms. Liu obtained a medical degree in China, she has neither undergone the necessary training nor acquired licensure to practice medicine in the United States. Previously employed as a lab assistant at Northwestern Hospital, she is not listed with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) as a licensed physician. Despite this, Ms. Liu is reportedly presenting herself as an American-licensed physician and performing hair restoration surgeries at IHI. In response to inquiries from discerning patients, Ms. Liu has allegedly claimed the clinic is overseen by a licensed internist, Dr. Wang, who has no known expertise in hair restoration and may not even be present onsite. This deceptive behavior not only endangers patients but also undermines the integrity of the medical profession. Unlike hospital settings—where physicians undergo rigorous vetting and credential verification to ensure they can practice their specialty safely, competently, and ethically—some hair restoration clinics operate with little to no oversight. Many patients remain unaware of the complexity and skill required for hair transplant surgery. As a former board-certified general, cancer, and trauma surgeon, I can attest that hair transplant surgery demands both mental and physical dexterity, as well as extensive training and experience, to achieve safe and excellent outcomes. Illinois law mandates that only a licensed physician may perform procedures involving incisions in the skin. In hair transplant surgery, these include FUT (follicular unit transplantation) linear scalp incisions, FUE (follicular unit extraction) punch graft harvesting, and recipient site creation for follicular grafts. Despite these clear legal guidelines, it appears that many clinics delegate these critical tasks to unqualified medical assistants or non-physician staff, putting patients at unnecessary risk. Such practices insult physicians who have undergone years of rigorous training in accredited medical schools, residency programs, and fellowships. The lack of enforced regulations in the hair restoration industry has enabled this brazen disregard for medical standards to persist. Without proper oversight and accountability, the situation will likely worsen, leaving more patients vulnerable to substandard and unsafe care. This is an urgent call for increased regulatory enforcement and public awareness to protect patients and restore trust in the medical profession.

An Open Letter from Dr. William Yates, MD FACS Unlicensed Hair Transplants: The Hidden Risks You Should Know

December 6, 2024

It’s a well-known fact that nearly 60 million Americans experience hair loss at some point in their lives. Among the many options for restoring the luster of one’s hair, hair transplantation is widely regarded as offering the most enduring results. Recent data from the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) shows a clear uptick in the number of hair transplants, with procedures increasing by 20% or more annually. This surge in demand has opened the floodgates for a multitude of less-than-qualified physicians and non-physicians who claim to be experts in the field. Unlike traditional medicine, where doctors must graduate from an accredited medical school and undergo rigorous vetting by committees and other professionals to practice in hospitals or specialize in their fields, there are no comparable standards of care for hair transplants. This lack of regulation makes it difficult for patients to determine who is truly qualified to perform such procedures. Although licensed healthcare providers are held to strict medical and ethical standards, the absence of oversight in hair transplant practices has led to alarming trends. Some physicians are completing weekend courses and immediately setting up fully operational clinics, with little to no hands-on experience. Hair transplant centers are also being opened by businesspeople with no medical expertise, who hire the cheapest available physicians or technicians to perform the procedures. To make matters worse, some clinics intentionally obfuscate the qualifications of their staff—such as individuals with doctorates in unrelated fields who claim to be medical doctors—and others employ foreign-trained doctors who are not licensed to practice in the U.S. These professionals often misrepresent their credentials, degrees, and skill sets. I was recently made aware of a physician, Vinay Rawlani, who allegedly held a staff position at Northwestern University, a prestigious hospital in Chicago where I proudly attended medical school. Many patients who have visited my office mentioned that they had also consulted with him, and he claimed to be a staff member at Northwestern, with an office there. Upon further investigation, I discovered that his medical license had been revoked in 2017 and only reinstated in 2020, which would render it impossible for him to be an expert in hair transplant surgery. Rawlani was also charged with felony theft of nearly $200,000 worth of equipment from the hospital. Although the stolen property was found in his home, Rawlani pleaded not guilty to the charges. This information is a matter of public record. It is absurd that someone who has stolen from a hospital and profited from that theft is now masquerading as a faculty member at the very institution he victimized. I am shocked that Northwestern has allowed him to rent office space within the institution from which he stole. Rawlani’s deception has been so successful that he is now recognized as a medical director at other hair transplant clinics. I personally know convicted felons who are denied the privilege to vote. By no means, however, is Rawlani the only one pretending to be an expert in this field. To protect yourself, follow these steps when considering a hair transplant: First, verify the provider’s credentials to ensure they are licensed and certified by a recognized medical board. Research the clinic by looking for reviews and before-and-after videos (which can’t be manipulated like photos) and confirming the facility’s accreditation. Don’t hesitate to ask questions about the provider’s experience, techniques, and safety protocols. A hair transplant is an investment in your appearance and confidence. Cutting corners by choosing an unlicensed provider can lead to devastating health complications, poor results, and significant financial and emotional costs. When it comes to your health and well-being, the best option is always the one that prioritizes safety and expertise. Make informed choices, and you’ll not only protect yourself but also achieve the lasting, natural results you deserve.