While hair loss during middle age is fairly common for men but women too could experience a rise in hair fall as they approach menopause. This is the stage when women experience a fluctuation of hormone levels and also have insomnia and mood swings issues. While hormones are the most common reason for hair loss during menopause, stress, an improper diet or illness could also lead to hair fall. Women experience thinning hair during menopause as a result of hair loss. The hair is initially actually there but is miniaturized, and gradually becomes smaller and smaller to eventually disappear. Since hair loss is gradual, it is apparent only after a period of time. The hair partition tends to widen as the hair volume reduces, and the hair eventually appears thin.
Menopause and body hair loss: Hair loss is not necessarily confined to the head but could also happen in the arms and legs too. Hair loss is seen on the eyebrows and eyelashes too. Women could also at times sprout hair on the chin during menopause.
There Are Essentially 3 Stages Of Menopause
- Perimenopause: This is the period when your body gradually starts transitioning into the menopausal period. Women experience the fluctuation of hormones and this process could begin during the early forties and extend for 10 years.
- Menopause: During this period, a woman's menstrual cycle ceases.
- Post-menopause: The period after menopause when the woman hasn’t experienced periods for over a year.
Causes Of Hair Loss During Menopause
Hair loss during menopause mostly happens due to hormonal imbalances. This happens due to a decreased production of estrogen and progesterone. This results in lesser hair and slower growth of hair. Menopause also leads to an increase in androgen production, and the subsequent change in the ratio between androgens and estrogens triggers hair loss problems. The rise in androgen levels causes the shrinking of hair follicles and this results in hair loss on the head.
You can take a few measures to ensure minimal hair loss during menopause.
- Reduce Stress: It is important to control your stress levels during menopause as this could trigger increased production of estrogen which leads to problems like depression and anxiety. You need to make certain lifestyle changes and also start yoga and meditation to reduce stress levels. Regular exercise could also help in dealing with stress.
- Balanced Diet: A balanced diet is essential during menopause, You need to incorporate healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and grains into your diet. Your food should ideally be cooked in healthier oils such as olive and sesame oil. Folic acid and vitamin B6 supplements could help in restoring hair health. Fatty acids found in foods like tuna, salmon, walnuts, and almonds also help enhance the quality of your hair.
- Reduce Usage Of Hair Styling Tools: As we age, hair tends to become weaker and apart from providing it with nutrients, we also need to take steps to ensure that there’s no undue stress to the hair follicles. Heat styling tools like straighteners and curlers weaken hair and lead to hair fall. Use of conditioners after a shampoo and natural hair colors to dye your hair is also recommended.
- Regular Hydration: Another significant way of maintaining hair health is by ensuring that it is always hydrated. Keep your water intake regular so that the moisture content in your body is at optimum levels.
- Regular Hair Washes: Wash your hair with a mild shampoo at least twice a week. Do not comb your hair when wet and use your fingers to detangle your hair. Also do not tie up your hair into tight ponytails as this puts additional stress on your hair.
How To Determine Cause For Hair Loss
A number of women experience hair loss and it is the result of genetics and the normal aging process. It is therefore necessary to determine the cause of hair loss before consuming any medicines. Some possible tests are:
- A complete blood count test could help detect various health issues and conditions which are responsible for hair loss
- Thyroid function tests can provide details of thyroid issues that are responsible for hair fall.
- An assessment of your diet will help determine whether you are consuming the right ingredients that could add to the health of your hair.
- You might also be suffering from auto-immune inflammation of the scalp which leads to hair loss.
How To Grow Hair After Menopause
Make sure that you incorporate a balanced low-fat diet as it is the best solution for your hair issues. Some supplements like biotin, omega-3 fatty acids and folic acid could play a big role in reversing hair loss during menopause.
Minoxidil is one of the most popular drugs to treat thinning hair issues and female pattern baldness. It is useful in facilitating the growth of new hair but might not be helpful in restoring the growth of hair that you have lost. It however takes at least 6 months for the results to show.
The ideal way to treat hair loss is by determining its root cause and following a treatment approach that will work on par with your individual needs. The treatment for menopausal hair loss depends on the severity of your condition.
If you are at an advanced stage, you can opt for the following treatments as well:
Micro needling is a process wherein a device with multiple needles is used to stimulate the scalp.
Platelet-rich plasma can also be injected into the scalp to provide your hair with the right nutrients. Your blood is put into a centrifuge to extract the plasma and this plasma helps in propelling hair growth.
A more radical option would be to opt for the expensive procedure of hair transplantation wherein hair is taken from a donor site and replanted in areas where hair is scarce.
Takeaway
While thinning hair during menopause might be a given for many, some small but important steps might be helpful in reversing your hair fall. A good diet and regular hydration with gentle hair care techniques can contribute largely to your hair health. If you are suffering from serious hair fall problems, remember to take the Traya hair test to get an accurate diagnosis of your hair issues. You can then schedule an appointment with our team of experts at Traya who will help you move toward your dream of beautiful and strong hair.
FAQs
Q1 - Can Menopause Affect Your Hair?
Ans - It is common for women to lose hair volume and length during menopause. Hair could also become finer as your follicles might shrink. Menopause can also lead to hair breakage issues.
Q2 - What Causes Hair Loss In Menopause?
Ans - This results from reduced estrogen and progesterone levels which lead to increasing effects of androgens or male hormones. Oestrogen helps ensure a prolonged hair growth period.
Q3 - Does Hair Grow Back After Menopause?
Ans - Yes, hair can grow back after menopause with the right treatment approach, lifestyle alterations, diet changes, and so on.
Q4 - How To Stop Hair Fall During Menopause.
Ans - There are a number of ways to stop hair loss during menopause but the solutions have to be customized according to the requirements of the individual. Minoxidil is one of the popular solutions.
Q5 - What Vitamins Are Good For Hair Loss During Menopause?
Ans - The vitamins to be taken for hair loss during menopause include niacin, vitamin B12, iron, vitamin A, biotin, zinc, and pantothenic acid among other things.
