Understanding Hormonal Therapies: Overview for the Dermatologist Focused on Hair

Hormones have an intimate relationship with hair growth. Hormonal replacement therapy is used to treat menopausal symptoms and to provide protection from chronic diseases for which postmenopausal women may be at risk. Additionally, hormonal therapies are prescribed for contraception and treatment of acne. Considering the widespread use of such therapies, there is a demand for further understanding of their implications in hair disorders. This article reviews the specific properties of current estrogen- and progesterone-containing hormonal treatments and their implications for the patient with hair loss. The complexity of the task comes from the paucity of data and discrepancy in the literature on the effect of the specific hormonal-receptor activities.