mens hair loss royal-oak mi

Hormones & Men’s Hair Loss

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Could Hormones Imbalance be Causing Your Hair Loss?

For many men, hair loss feels like an inevitable part of getting older, something to be accepted rather than understood. Yet the primary driving factor behind most men’s hair loss is hormonal, and that means it can often be evaluated, explained, and addressed. Imbalances in specific hormones directly affect the hair growth cycle, causing follicles to shrink, growth phases to shorten, and shedding to increase.

At Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, board-certified internist and functional medicine specialist Dr. Nishath Hakim looks beyond the surface to the hormonal mechanisms behind men’s hair loss. Using advanced testing, she identifies the imbalances at work and develops effective, personalized plans designed to slow loss and support healthier hair.

Hormones That Cause Men’s Hair Loss

Hair growth in men is governed by a network of hormones, and when these fall out of balance, the follicles feel the effect. Recognizing which hormones contribute to hair loss is essential to understanding why it happens and how it can be managed.

Each of the hormones below influences the hair cycle in a distinct way. Some directly shrink the follicles, while others disrupt the broader hormonal environment that healthy hair depends on. Together they account for the majority of hormonally driven hair loss in men.

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) & Men’s Hair Loss

Dihydrotestosterone, a byproduct of testosterone, is the main cause of male pattern baldness. In men who are genetically susceptible, DHT binds to the hair follicles and triggers a process known as follicular miniaturization, in which the follicles progressively shrink.

As this miniaturization continues, the affected follicles produce thinner, weaker hairs until they stop producing visible hair altogether. The pattern is familiar: a receding hairline and thinning at the crown that gradually become more pronounced over time.

At Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, Dr. Nishath Hakim assesses DHT activity as a central part of evaluating men’s hair loss. Understanding the role of this hormone allows her to target treatment where it will be most effective.

Thyroid Hormones & Men’s Hair Loss

The thyroid gland regulates metabolism and helps maintain hormonal balance throughout the body. When the thyroid becomes overactive in hyperthyroidism or underactive in hypothyroidism, that balance is disrupted, and the hair often suffers as a result.

Unlike the patterned loss caused by DHT, thyroid-related hair loss tends to be diffuse, producing a widespread thinning across the entire scalp. Because thyroid disorders can develop quietly, this cause is often missed unless specific testing is performed.

Top Royal Oak functional medicine specialist Dr. Nishath Hakim includes thorough thyroid evaluation in her assessment of men’s hair loss. Identifying and correcting a thyroid imbalance can restore normal hair growth and halt diffuse shedding.

High Cortisol & Men’s Hair Loss

Cortisol, widely known as the stress hormone, can contribute to hair loss when it remains elevated over time. Long-term stress and conditions such as adrenal imbalance keep cortisol high, disrupting the body’s normal hormone levels.

This disruption can push hair follicles prematurely into the telogen, or shedding, phase, resulting in increased hair loss. Because the shedding often appears weeks after a stressful period, men may not immediately connect it to the stress that triggered it.

At Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, Dr. Nishath Hakim evaluates the role of cortisol and chronic stress in men’s hair loss. Addressing these factors is an important part of her integrative, whole-person approach.

High Prolactin & Men’s Hair Loss

Prolactin is a hormone most often associated with women, but men produce it as well, and elevated levels can affect the hair. High prolactin can stimulate the production of DHT and directly trigger hair follicle regression.

Because prolactin works partly by amplifying DHT activity, its effects can compound the pattern of loss already driven by that hormone. Testing for prolactin is therefore a valuable part of a complete hormonal evaluation in men experiencing hair loss.

Dr. Nishath Hakim at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak considers prolactin among the hormonal factors that can drive men’s hair loss. Identifying elevated levels allows her to address a cause that is often overlooked.

Insulin & Men’s Hair Loss

Insulin and blood sugar regulation also play a role in hair health. Insulin resistance and chronically high blood sugar can stimulate an enzyme that increases DHT production, accelerating the loss of hair.

This connection links men’s hair loss to broader metabolic health, meaning that improving insulin sensitivity may benefit both the hair and overall wellness. It also underscores why a comprehensive evaluation considers metabolic markers alongside hormones.

At Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, Dr. Nishath Hakim assesses insulin function and metabolic health as part of evaluating men’s hair loss. This broad perspective allows her to address contributing factors that narrower approaches miss.

Identifying Hormone Imbalance Causing Men’s Hair Loss

Determining the hormonal cause of men’s hair loss requires looking at the body’s internal chemistry rather than the scalp alone. Because multiple hormones can be involved, accurate diagnosis depends on detailed, targeted testing.

A thorough evaluation generally includes blood work to measure DHT and testosterone, thyroid hormones, cortisol, prolactin, and markers of insulin function. Interpreting these results in the context of a man’s symptoms and history reveals which imbalances are driving his hair loss.

At Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, Dr. Nishath Hakim relies on advanced laboratory testing to pinpoint the hormonal causes of men’s hair loss. This precise assessment provides the foundation for an effective, individualized plan.

Treating Hormone Imbalance Causing Men’s Hair Loss

With the hormonal cause identified, treatment can focus on restoring balance and protecting the follicles. Because the plan is built around each man’s specific imbalances, the results are more targeted than one-size-fits-all solutions.

Treatment may involve reducing DHT activity, correcting thyroid function, managing cortisol through stress reduction, addressing elevated prolactin, and improving insulin sensitivity through nutrition and lifestyle changes. Functional medicine brings these strategies together into a unified plan that supports both hair and overall health.

Top Royal Oak functional medicine specialist Dr. Nishath Hakim designs personalized treatment plans that target the hormonal roots of men’s hair loss. By restoring internal balance, she helps men slow shedding and support the growth of stronger, healthier hair.

Men’s Hair Loss Treatment | Royal Oak

If you live in Royal Oak and you are noticing a receding hairline or thinning at the crown, the hormonal causes are worth investigating. At Prosperity Health, Dr. Nishath Hakim uses advanced testing and a functional medicine approach to uncover the imbalances behind men’s hair loss and create a plan to address them at the source. Schedule an appointment today and take control of your hair health.

Royal Oak Men’s Hair Loss Treatment:  248-997-4242

womens hair loss treatment royal oak

Hormones & Women’s Hair Loss

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Is Your Hair Loss Due to a Hormone Imbalance?

Hair loss in women is often misunderstood, dismissed as a cosmetic concern when it is frequently a signal of something happening deeper within the body. For a significant number of women, the underlying cause is hormonal. Fluctuations or elevated levels of specific hormones can shrink hair follicles and shorten the natural growth cycle, producing the thinning and shedding that so many women find distressing.

At Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, board-certified internist and functional medicine specialist Dr. Nishath Hakim takes a deeper look at the hormonal factors behind women’s hair loss. Rather than treating thinning hair as an isolated symptom, she investigates the hormonal imbalances that drive it, using advanced testing to uncover the root cause and design an effective, personalized plan for restoration.

Hormones That Cause Women’s Hair Loss

Several hormones influence the health and growth of hair, and when any of them fall out of balance, the effects can show up on the scalp. Understanding which hormones are involved is the first step toward identifying why hair loss is occurring and how it can be addressed.

The hair growth cycle depends on a delicate hormonal equilibrium. When that equilibrium is disrupted, follicles can shrink, growth phases can shorten, and shedding can increase. The following hormones are among the most common contributors to women’s hair loss.

Menopause & Women’s Hair Loss

Menopause brings a significant decline in estrogen and progesterone, two hormones that support healthy hair growth. As these protective hormones drop, hair often begins to thin gradually at the crown or along the part line.

The hormonal shift of menopause also allows dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, to accumulate and exert a greater influence on the follicles. This combination of falling estrogen and rising DHT activity explains why so many women notice thinning hair during and after the menopausal transition.

At Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, Dr. Nishath Hakim helps women understand and manage the hormonal changes of menopause. Her functional medicine approach addresses the underlying shifts rather than simply masking the visible thinning.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) & Women’s Hair Loss

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common hormonal disorder that often causes an overproduction of androgens, including DHT. This excess of male-pattern hormones can lead to hair loss concentrated at the front of the scalp and around the temples.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, PCOS is one of the most common hormonal conditions affecting women of reproductive age, and its effects extend well beyond the reproductive system. The androgen excess it produces can disrupt the hair growth cycle and contribute to noticeable thinning.

Top Royal Oak functional medicine specialist Dr. Nishath Hakim evaluates women for PCOS and the hormonal imbalances it creates. By identifying and addressing the underlying androgen excess, she helps patients tackle the true source of their hair loss.

Thyroid Disorders & Women’s Hair Loss

The thyroid gland plays a central role in regulating metabolism and hormone balance, and disruptions in either direction can affect the hair. Both hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid, and hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid, can interfere with the hair cycle.

When thyroid hormones are out of range, the result is often a diffuse thinning that spreads across the entire scalp rather than concentrating in one area. Because thyroid disorders are common in women and can be easily overlooked, testing is an important part of any hair loss evaluation.

At Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, Dr. Nishath Hakim includes comprehensive thyroid assessment in her evaluation of women’s hair loss. Correcting a thyroid imbalance can restore the hair cycle and reduce ongoing shedding.

Pregnancy & Postpartum Women’s Hair Loss

Pregnancy brings high estrogen levels that often prolong the growth phase of the hair, leaving many women with thick, full hair during those months. This benefit, however, is temporary and tied to the hormonal state of pregnancy.

In the postpartum period, estrogen drops sharply, and the hair that was held in an extended growth phase enters shedding all at once. This produces a temporary but often severe shedding known as telogen effluvium, which can be alarming even though it usually resolves on its own over several months.

Dr. Nishath Hakim reassures postpartum patients at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak that this shedding is typically temporary. When recovery is slow or shedding persists, she investigates whether other hormonal factors are at play and provides effective support.

High Cortisol & Women’s Hair Loss

Cortisol, often called the stress hormone, can take a toll on the hair when its levels remain elevated. Chronic stress keeps cortisol high, and this sustained elevation can push hair follicles prematurely into their shedding phase.

The result is temporary shedding that often appears weeks after a period of significant physical or emotional stress. Because the connection between stress and hair loss is delayed, women do not always recognize the link between the two.

At Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, Dr. Nishath Hakim considers the role of cortisol and chronic stress in each patient’s hair loss. Her integrative approach addresses these stress-related hormonal patterns as part of a complete treatment plan.

Identifying Hormone Imbalance Causing Women’s Hair Loss

Pinpointing the hormonal cause of women’s hair loss requires looking beyond the scalp to the body’s internal chemistry. Because so many hormones can contribute, accurate diagnosis depends on thorough, targeted testing rather than guesswork.

A comprehensive evaluation typically includes blood work to assess thyroid function, androgen levels, estrogen and progesterone, cortisol, and markers of insulin function. Reviewing these results alongside a patient’s history and symptoms allows for an accurate picture of what is driving the hair loss.

At Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, Dr. Nishath Hakim uses advanced laboratory testing to identify the precise hormonal imbalances behind each woman’s hair loss. This detailed assessment forms the foundation for an effective, individualized treatment strategy.

Treating Hormone Imbalance Causing Women’s Hair Loss

Once the hormonal cause has been identified, treatment can be directed at restoring balance and supporting healthy hair growth. Because the approach is tailored to the specific imbalance, results tend to be more meaningful and lasting than generic remedies.

Treatment may involve correcting thyroid function, addressing androgen excess, supporting healthy estrogen and progesterone levels, managing cortisol through stress reduction, and improving insulin sensitivity through targeted nutrition and lifestyle changes. Functional medicine combines these strategies into a cohesive plan that addresses the whole person.

Top Royal Oak functional medicine specialist Dr. Nishath Hakim creates personalized treatment plans that target the hormonal roots of women’s hair loss. By restoring internal balance, she helps women not only slow shedding but support the regrowth of healthier hair.

Women’s Hair Loss | Royal Oak

If you live in Royal Oak and you are concerned about thinning or shedding hair, the hormonal causes deserve a closer look. At Prosperity Health, Dr. Nishath Hakim uses advanced testing and a functional medicine approach to uncover the imbalances behind women’s hair loss and design a plan to restore both balance and hair health. Schedule an appointment today and take the first step toward understanding and treating the root cause.

Royal Oak Women’s Hair Loss Treatment:  248-997-4242

womens hair loss treatment royal oak

Menopause Hair Loss? HRT Can Help!

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HRT Can Stop & Even Reverse Menopause Hair Loss

The hormonal changes during menopause can lead to many frustrating and uncomfortable side effects. However, perhaps no symptom of menopause is more frustrating than thinning hair. Decreased levels of estrogen due to menopause can impact hair growth and cause a woman’s hair to become thin and sparse.

Estrogen plays a role in maintaining the growth phase of the hair cycle, and when levels decrease, the hair growth phase is shortened, leading to thinner and weaker hair. Additionally, lower levels of estrogen can lead to an increase in the levels of androgens, such as testosterone, which can also contribute to female hair loss.

The great news is that 100% natural Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, MI can help replace missing hormones and alleviate many of the symptoms of menopause – including hair loss in many cases!

How Do I Know if My Hair Loss is Due to Menopause?

One way to determine if your hair loss is due to menopause is to track the timing of your hair loss in relation to your menstrual cycle and menopausal symptoms. If your hair loss began around the same time as your menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and irregular periods, it is more likely that it is related to hormonal changes associated with menopause.

Additionally, patterns of hair loss can also indicate the cause. Menopausal women tend to experience diffuse hair loss, which is hair thinning all over the scalp, whereas other causes of hair loss, such as androgenic alopecia (female pattern baldness), can result in a more specific pattern of hair loss, such as a receding hairline or thinning at the crown.

However, the best way to determine if your hair loss may be due to menopause is to undergo hormone level testing at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, MI. We offer blood testing to evaluate your hormone levels, as well as to check for any underlying medical condition and rule out other causes of hair loss.

It’s important to note that hair loss can also be caused by a combination of factors, such as genetics, age, hormonal changes, and certain medical conditions or medications. So, hormone level blood testing at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, MI is important to definitively diagnose insufficient hormone levels.

Can Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) help menopausal hair loss?

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may help menopausal hair loss by replacing the hormones that are lost during menopause. Specifically, HRT can help to raise estrogen levels, which can help to prolong the growth phase of the hair cycle and reduce hair loss.

HRT is often prescribed to women who are experiencing hot flashes, night sweats, and other symptoms of menopause, and it can also be used to treat other menopause-related conditions, such as osteoporosis. But HRT can also be effective at slowing, stopping, and in some cases even reversing hair loss due to menopause.

Other Symptoms of Hormone Deficiency that HRT Can Help

To determine if you have a hormone deficiency, schedule an appointment at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, MI where Dr. Fakih can conduct blood tests to measure the levels of hormones in your body.

In addition to hair loss, HRT can help many other signs and symptoms of menopausal hormone deficiency including:

  • Fatigue
  • Weight gain
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Sleep problems
  • Brain Fog
  • Hot flashes or night sweats
  • Low libido
  • Bone loss
  • Decreased muscle mass

Why HRT Is Better than Other Hair Loss Treatments

If a hormone deficiency is detected, HRT naturally corrects the underlying problem itself, without the dangers and side effects of harsh synthetic medications.

Both topical and oral medicines can promote female hair growth, but they have a number of unfavorable side effects. Breast sensitivity, a decline in libido, and excessive hair growth in unwelcome areas are all potential side effects of finasteride (Propecia or Proscar). Unwanted face and/or body hair, fainting, chest discomfort, limb swelling, weight gain, exhaustion, and trouble breathing are all side effects of minoxidil (Rogaine).

In addition to HRT, Dr. Fakih at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak may be able to prescribe dietary supplements and shampoos that work with your body – naturally – to help halt hair loss and encourage hair regeneration in menopausal women.

HRT for Menopause Hair Loss | Royal Oak, MI

If you are a woman who is experiencing thinning hair, it may be due to the hormonal decline of perimenopause or menopause. The good news is that you CAN do something about this!

The hormonal changes during menopause can lead to decreased levels of estrogen, which can impact hair growth and many other aspects of health and well-being. But HRT can restore hormone balance and alleviate many of these problems – including thinning hair.

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Fakih at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak for an evaluation and testing to see if HRT is right for you!

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) | Royal Oak: 248.997.4242

PRP Hair Loss Treatment FAQs

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PRP Hair Loss Treatment Frequently Asked Questions –

Hair loss can be frustrating and embarrassing, make you look much older than you are, and lead to a loss of self-confidence and lowered self-esteem. And, while “going bald” is frequently considered a men’s issue, hair loss is extremely common in women – with more than 21 million American women currently suffer from some form of hair loss.

Up until recently, the only truly effective means of reversing hair loss and restoring hair growth was either expensive and painful hair transplant surgery, or harsh medications with extremely dangerous side-effects. But all that has changed with the introduction of 100% natural “PRP” – extracted from the patient’s own blood – to regrow thick, healthy hair.

Dr. Hakim is one of only a few doctors in Bloomfield Hills or the greater Detroit area to offer this new, highly effective, non-surgical, non-chemical Platelet Rich Plasma (“PRP”) hair loss treatment. In this article she answers her patients most frequently asked questions about PRP hair restoration.

What is PRP Hair Loss Treatment?

PRP “Platelet Rich Plasma” refers to the liquid portion of human blood that is rich in the body’s natural “growth factors” that can repair and regenerate cells.

PRP has been used in joint regeneration medicine for decades. More recently PRP has been applied to skin rejuvenation and anti aging in so-called “Vampire®” PRP Facials. Now the body’s own natural rejuvenation processes are being harnessed to regrow hair with PRP hair loss treatments.

How is PRP Hair Loss Treatment Performed?

PRP hair loss treatment is a simple procedure performed in our Bloomfield Hills office, without the need for hospitalization or general anesthetic. During the treatment, a small amount of blood is drawn from the patient – just like a routine blood test. The extracted blood is then placed in a centrifuge to separate out the liquid platelet-containing plasma from the solid blood cells.

This concentrated plasma contains up to ten times, or more, of the body’s natural “growth factors” than whole blood.  Dr. Hakim applies topical numbing cream to the scalp, and then injects the areas of hair loss with the PRP serum.

How Does PRP Hair Loss Treatment Work?

Most hair loss occurs due to “miniaturization” of the hair follicles. The underlying causes of thinning hair are varied: hereditary (male or female pattern baldness), environmental, hormonal (telogen effluvium) or medical (disease, chemotherapy, etc.). But in all cases, the hair follicles have stopped producing new, healthy hairs.

PRP hair loss treatment stimulates the body’s own natural healing mechanisms to repair and restore the dead, damaged or diseased hair follicles – reversing follicle miniaturization so that the follicles once again produce strong, thick, visible, healthy hair.

Who is a Good Candidate for PRP Hair Loss Treatment?

PRP is highly effective for both male and female hair loss. Generally, PRP hair loss treatment is the most effective in areas of the scalp where there is still some existing hair that is thinning, rather than on completely bald areas.

Because PRP is derived from the patients’ own blood cells it is 100% safe and natural, and therefore is appropriate for almost any person, of any age. Since it is non-chemical there are no side-effects and it will not interact with other medications – making it safe even for pregnant women with T.E. hair loss, and for cancer patients who have lost hair due to chemotherapy.

PRP can even help patients with thinning hair in the “crown” area who are not appropriate candidates for hair transplant surgery.

How Many PRP Hair Loss Treatments Does One Need?

Everybody’s degree and cause of hair loss is different. But for most patients at our Bloomfield Hills practice, Dr. Hakim recommends three initial PRP hair loss treatments, spaced about one month apart.

After the initial treatments, patients should typically plan to schedule a PRP maintenance treatment once a year, or every six months, to continue to support hair follicle health.

Is there Downtime after PRP Hair Loss Treatment?

No. Because PRP hair loss treatments are minimally invasive, non-surgical, and require no general anesthetic, there is no “downtime” afterwards, and virtually no recovery period.

Patients may resume work or normal daily activities immediately after treatment, including driving. The only restriction is refraining from heavy exercise, exertion or activities that will make you sweat for 24 to 48 hours after treatment.

Most patients do not report any soreness after PRP treatment, but a few patients at our Bloomfield Hills office have experienced a bit of mild swelling or tenderness that typically subsides within a day or two.

When Do Patients See PRP Hair Loss Treatment results?

Hair follicles produce hair in cycles, and everybody’s hair grows at different rates.  And, the body will need time to naturally repair and restore your follicles after PRP treatment. So, most PRP hair loss treatment patients will see visible new hair growth somewhere between 2 to 6 months.

On average, the patients we have treated with PRP at our Bloomfield Hills office see visible hair regrowth results around the 4 month mark – but results vary for each patient.

Is PRP Hair Loss Treatment Right for Me?

Most people are good candidates for PRP hair restoration. But the only way to know if you are a good candidate for PRP is to schedule a consultation with an experienced hair loss restoration doctor, like Dr. Hakim in Bloomfield Hills.

Dr. Hakim will help you determine the cause of your hair loss and recommend a customized hair restoration treatment plan for your unique personal situation. In addition to PRP hair loss treatments Dr. Hakim can also recommend all natural, highly effective hair restoration nutritional supplements, to support your individual hair regrowth needs.

PRP Hair Loss Treatment – Bloomfield Hills, MI

If you are a man or woman in the Bloomfield Hills or greater Detroit area who is suffering from the embarrassment or frustration of hair loss and thinning hair, state-of-the-art 100% PRP hair restoration treatments can be life changing.

Schedule an appointment today to discuss PRP hair loss treatments with Dr. Hakim in Bloomfield Hills, and take the first step toward re-growing a head of thick, healthy hair – with no bald or thinning spots!

Bloomfield Hills PRP Hair Loss Treatments: 248-997-4242