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How To Treat Hair Loss During The Menopause

How To Treat Hair Loss During The Menopause

For many women, Hair is an expression of ourselves. We cut it, style it and choose how to wear it, to show our personality and our image. If we lose a lot of hair, we may feel less feminine, less in confidence and it can affect our self-esteem.

Menopause can happen in our 40s or 50s, but the average age is 51 in the United States. Menopause is a natural biological process that all women experience at some point in their lives. During this time, the body goes through numerous physical changes as it adjusts to fluctuating hormone levels. Many women have unpleasant symptoms during menopause, including hot flashes, mood swings, insomnia, and hair loss. Whether you’re experiencing perimenopause hair loss or thinning hair during menopause, keep reading for the answers to your questions on menopause hair loss and more.

 

Why Menopause Affect Your Hair?

Hormonal fluctuations are responsible for hair loss during perimenopause and menopause. Estrogen and progesterone keep the hair in the growing phase, making it grow faster and stay on the head longer. When estrogen and progesterone levels decline, hair growth slows and hair loss becomes more pronounced. Also, the body produces more androgens during perimenopause and menopause in response to the loss of estrogen and progesterone. Androgens shrink hair follicles, which causes hair loss on the head. Interestingly, androgens can also increase hair growth on other parts of the body such as the face. 

Science of Hair: Hair Growth Cycle
There are 3 stages of hair growth in the cycle: anagen, catagen, telogen. At some point, the follicle will begin to grow again, softening the anchor point of the shaft initially, the hair base will break free from the root, and the hair will be shed.

Menopause and hair loss

 

The Symptoms of Menopause Hair Loss

In the months or years leading up to menopause (perimenopause), you might experience these signs to look out for:

  • More hair fall out daily either on your brush, on the floor, in showers, on your pillows, or in the sink.
  • Seeing noticeable patches of thinner or missing hair, including a part on the top of your head that gets wider.
  • Seeing scalp skin through hair or smaller ponytails.
  • Hair breaks off more easily than usual
  • Hair looks limp and is more difficult to style

 

Treatment

If you’ve become unhappy or unconfident with your hair since the menopause, you’re not alone.  Make sure to consult to your doctor early if you’ve noticed significant hair loss. As soon as you notice a change in your hair, so that a possible cause can be identified and remedied. Your doctor may examine the stress levels, changes in hormone treatment, chronic illness, life stage changes, and look for any physical changes. Such as blood tests for checking vitamin and mineral levels (like vitamin D, vitamin B, zinc and iron) and hormone levels (including thyroid and sex hormones); scalp examination under a microscope and trichoscopy, and scalp biopsy to remove and examine a very small piece of scalp skin. 

Menopause and hair loss