Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a condition affecting approximately 5 percent of all women of childbearing age. Hair loss or thinning of the hair is one of the many symptoms of this frustrating condition and can manifest itself in the same pattern normally associated with male hair loss. Women suffering from PCOS can have higher levels than normal of male hormones, which means hair may be thicker or darker on the face while thinning or falling out on the head at the same time. Luckily, there are vitamins such as biotin that can help minimize the hair loss from PCOS.
Biotin is a vitamin that helps hair to regrow. Although it can be found in food such as liver and eggs, it is very difficult to eat enough of it in one day without seriously overeating. Therefore, many people turn to biotin supplements to help boost hair growth. Most people eat around 30 mcg of biotin per day, whereas at least 300 mcg is needed by the body to make a difference in terms of hair health. Taking biotin is perfectly safe for healthy people and is often recommended by doctors for those suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome, but check with your doctor if you are unsure. Organic vitamins are more natural than regular vitamins so they can be a smarter choice because they are more similar to the actual vitamins found in regular food.
One thing to be aware of is that biotin is so good at helping hair growth, particularly in higher dosages, that it does cause hair to grow faster and thicker not only on the head but also everywhere else that hair normally grows on your body. Therefore, when supplementing with biotin, you may notice increased or darker hair above your lip or on your arms. For women suffering from PCOS, excessive facial hair is already an issue so be prepared for this problem to compound. However, hair removal methods such as depilatory creams and waxing can take care of this problem pretty easily and those who do suffer increased facial hair from PCOS probably already do this.
A healthy diet can also make a big difference in PCOS-related hair loss, so be sure to eat a well-rounded diet so that you are getting proper nutrition. In particular, try to eat a lot of protein and essential fatty acids such as those found in soy and walnuts.
Iron, B12 and Zinc deficiencies can also lead to hair loss, so if increasing your biotin intake does not seem to make a difference, try these vitamins and minerals as well and see if hair production improves. There are many different female hair loss treatment options so it’s just a matter of finding the right one for you. The biotin PCOS connection continues to be the subject of many scientific studies.