Why Does PCOS Cause Hair Loss?
If you’re living with PCOS and noticing more hair in your brush or a widening part in the mirror, you may be wondering what’s going on. Hair loss isn’t always listed as one of the “main” symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome, but for many women, it’s one of the most troubling.
PCOS is a complex hormonal condition that can affect everything from your skin to your fertility, but its impact on your hair is often overlooked or misunderstood. You might feel frustrated, confused, or even dismissed when you bring it up with your doctor.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the link between PCOS and hair loss - why it happens and what it looks like. Whether you’ve just started noticing signs or have been dealing with thinning for a while, understanding the cause is the first step toward finding a solution that feels right for you.
What is PCOS and how does it affect hormones?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal condition that affects around 1 in 10 women of reproductive age and usually starts at adolescence. Although the name refers to cysts that form on the ovaries, the real issue is a hormone imbalance, in particular, an increase in androgens. These are sometimes referred to as ‘male hormones,’ although women also produce them in small amounts naturally.
Although symptoms vary from person to person, women with PCOS usually experience elevated androgen levels, insulin resistance, and cysts in one or both ovaries. This combination disrupts ovulation, affects metabolism, and influences many systems in the body, including the hair growth cycle.
How do androgens lead to hair loss in women with PCOS?
Androgens include hormones like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Although these hormones are vital for normal body function, excess levels of them can impact the way your hair grows.
Excess androgens can shrink the hair follicles on your scalp, especially in areas like the crown or part line. This makes the hairs grow back thinner and weaker over time, and eventually, they may stop growing altogether. This type of hair loss is known as androgenic alopecia, or female pattern hair loss.
At the same time, increased androgen levels may also trigger more hair growth in places where you don’t want it, such as the face or chin. So while hair may be thinning on your scalp, it can feel like you're suddenly dealing with unwanted hair elsewhere. This combination is one of the most frustrating aspects of PCOS-related hair changes.
What does PCOS-related hair loss look like?
If you’re experiencing PCOS-related hair loss, you may notice your part line gradually widening, especially at the crown or top of your head, or a receding hairline. The hair itself may start to feel finer, and you might see more of your scalp in areas that used to feel full and dense.
Unlike sudden shedding that leaves bald patches, PCOS-related hair loss usually develops slowly over time. You may notice more shedding in the shower after washing your hair, or in your hair brush. Many women describe it as a general decrease in volume that makes it harder to style their hair the way they used to.
This kind of hair loss can feel confusing because it often doesn’t follow a dramatic timeline. One day your ponytail might feel thinner. A few months later, you might realize your scalp is more visible under bright lights. It’s subtle but it’s noticeable, and it can have a serious emotional impact.
Can hair grow back if PCOS is managed?
Whether or not hair grows back depends on several factors, including how long the hair loss has been happening, how well your hormones are brought back into balance, and the overall health of your hair follicles. If caught early, it’s often possible to slow down or even reverse some of the thinning.
When androgen levels are lowered through medication, lifestyle changes, or both, the hair growth cycle may begin to normalize. Some women notice regrowth in areas that had been thinning. However, results vary from person to person, and regrowth tends to be gradual.
If hair follicles have been inactive for too long, they may no longer be able to produce new hair. Even if full regrowth isn’t possible, many women see improvements in volume and texture once their PCOS is better managed.
What’s the first step toward feeling more like yourself again?
Hair loss caused by PCOS can feel easy to dismiss at first but hard to ignore as time goes on. For many women, it impacts confidence, identity, and the ability to feel in control of their own body.
If you've been curious about how to make your hair look fuller as you deal with PCOS-related hair loss, reading about our real customer's experience with hair toppers and how they helped her confidence through her battle with PCOS, will give you an idea of the power of a natural-looking human hair topper. Sometimes, seeing what’s possible for someone else is exactly what you need to start exploring your own path forward.
