The Effect of Adrenal Fatigue to Hair Growth

Hair loss can be a devastating disease for both men and women. The hair molds the shape of our face to make us more attractive. It protects the skull from heat and cold temperatures. The main function of the hair in the body is for thermoregulation.

Hair growth is regulated by specific hormones. These are the same hormones that gave us our secondary sexual characteristics like the formation of the Adam apple in males and the breast and body curvature in females. These hormones are called the Androgenic hormones.

Androgenic hormones are produced in the Adrenal glands and regulated by the hypothalamus and pituitary glands or what is now known collectively as the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis. The HPG axis is an important part of the neuroendocrine system of the body because each of the glands regulates the function of another. This regulatory mechanism is known as the feedback mechanisms. So just imagine how the destruction of this system which is known as Adrenal fatigue, affects the body and how it causes hair loss.

The two main hormones that are linked to hair loss are the Testosterone and Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Testosterone comes from DHEA. First, Cholesterol, which is the precursor of Gonadal and steroid hormones is acted upon by certain enzymes to become Pregninolone, then further acted upon to become DHEA.

Dehydroepiandrosterone is synthesized into Androstenedione. Androstenedione will be made into testosterone and stays as is in males but in females, it is further processed into estradiol to form estrogen.

In Adrenal fatigue, there is a dysfunctional adrenal system which means there will be a malfunction on the processes of obtaining Testosterone and DHEA. Hair loss in can be due to an excess in testosterone concentration due to a defective synthesis or the system is unable to convert testosterone to estradiol. Both males and females will be affected by this. High levels of testosterone will cause hair loss.

Another defect which can be found in the early stages of the system is the inability of the glands to produce Andrenocorticotropin (ACTH) which stimulates the synthesis of Cholesterol into Steroid hormones and androgenic hormones. ACTH is produced in the Pituitary gland. The production of ACTH is regulated by the Cortisol production of the Adrenal glands through the negative feedback mechanism. When there is an elevated level of Cortisol detected in the system, the Pituitary glands will stop the production of ACTH. In Adrenal fatigue, abnormally excessive levels of Cortisol are present and thus, inhibit the production of ACTH.

To summarize this article, hair loss in men and women can be brought about by Adrenal fatigue. The malfunction of the Adrenal glands also disrupts the function of the other glands in the hypothalamic-pituitary-Gonadal axis causing drastic changes in the production of important hormones and enzymes in the body like the synthesis of DHEA and testosterone from Cholesterol leading to hair loss and sexual and reproductive abnormalities. It is very important to look for the signs and symptoms of Adrenal fatigue in order to have the proper hormonal correction. The Neuroendocrine system is one of the most essential and most important systems in the human body.