Hair Loss During Menopause: Tips

Introduction

Beginning when a woman’s body begins to produce less estrogen (usually around age 50), menopause can be a physically and emotionally stressful experience, as well as other symptoms ranging from hot flashes to hair loss. If you are between 45 and 55 years old and have seen a change in your hair (and it seems less thick or more refined), it may be the first symptom of menopause.

Although the weakening of the hair can cause it to fall out over time, both phenomena do not have to be related.

Many menopausal women notice general hair thinning (unlike men with visible bald spots), and 40% of women also experience hair thinning after menopause. On the other hand, most cases of hair loss are cause by hereditary factors. An example is female pattern baldness, which is pass from generation to generation and often develops after menopause.

What are the First Symptoms of Menopause?

Perimenopause is the name given to the stage before menopause.

Common symptoms of perimenopause are:

Hot flushes

breast tenderness

Lack of sexual appetite

Fatigue

Humor changes

Insomnia

capillary weakening

Hair loss

Some women begin to notice changes in their hair during perimenopause, such as more hair falling out when brushing, showering, or thinner hair on the crown.

Why Does Menopause Cause Hair Loss?

close-up view of hair, roots, and scalp

Hair tends to fall out when there is a drop in estrogen and progesterone levels, which occurs with menopause. These hormones are involved in hair growth, keeping the hair follicles firmly attached.

Faced with a decrease in these hormones, such as during menopause, the hair becomes more refined and grows more slowly.

The decrease in estrogen and progesterone levels increases the production of androgens (a group of male hormones), which in turn causes the hair follicles to become smaller, resulting in hair loss.

Hair loss in females over 50 can also be caused by lifestyle factors such as stress, illness, or poor diet. NIOXIN has put together expert tips to deal with the changes in your hair during this challenging stage.

Menopause And Thinning Or Hair Loss: How To Treat It

It takes time for the hair to recover its volume after being weakened, and it does not always return entirely to its initial state. However, the combination of changes in lifestyle, treatments, and drugs can help stop hair loss and mitigate thinning.

Hairstyles

Wearing your hair short or layered can help create the effect of thicker, denser hair.

Control Stress Levels

A stressful lifestyle can also affect the health of your hair. When our stress levels are not under control, there is a hormonal imbalance and a decrease in estrogen production, which causes mood swings, anxiety, and depression, as well as a high risk of hair loss. 6

Do Exercise

Exercises like yoga can help control stress levels and prevent other symptoms of menopause, such as mood swings, weight gain, and insomnia.

When there is a hormonal balance, the scalp’s microbiome develops and supports hair growth. The scalp microbiome is the name specified for the specific microbial flora that helps maintain balance in the scalp.

Changes In Your Diet

Eating a balanced, low-fat diet when hair falls out during menopause is also essential. The following foods play a decisive role in restoring and maintaining hair growth:

whole grains

Fruits and vegetables

Olive oil

Sesame oil

Green tea

Salmon

Tuna

flax oil

Walnuts

almonds

Limit The Use Of Molding Tools

Blow dryers, flat irons, and more can weaken hair, making it more prone to breakage and falling out.

The sun can also make your hair dry and break faster, so it’s essential to wear a hat or cap in summer.

Vitamins For Hair Loss During Menopause

pile of tangerines

Make sure you eat a higher protein diet that includes red meat, beans, fish, eggs, and milk, foods with a very high level of amino acids. For example, Keratin is a protein composed of amino acids and is an essential component of hair.

Vitamin C is perfect for many things, including hair. When vitamin C, whose scientific name is “ascorbic acid,” is added to shampoos and other hair products, it removes mineral buildup, allowing the hair to absorb more moisture.

Vitamin C also performances as an antioxidant and protects against damage to the hair’s protein structure. However, this vitamin can cause your hair to discolor if you wear it dyed (take this into account before using it).

Vitamin A is a crucial element when it comes to moisturizing hair and preventing it from becoming brittle. This is because vitamin A increases the rate of cell regeneration. A deficiency of this vitamin can have a knock-on effect when it comes to maintaining healthy hair during menopause. eleven

Seek Emotional Support

It is essential to accept hair loss during menopause, whether it is temporary or permanent.

Discuss the situation with your doctor or trichologist and with your friends

Join support groups to meet other people going through a similar situation

Consider psychotherapy if you think hair loss is affecting your mental health

Introduce small changes in your lifestyle and be patient. It may take between 3 and 6 months to see results.

Conclusion

If you notice that your hair is thinner or that it falls out, you should know that the effects of menopause are not only manifest on a physical level. Many women choose to dress their hair short or layer as a way to express their identity. When they cannot do it because their hair begins to weaken or falls out ultimately, it is normal for this to be reflect in a loss of confidence and self-esteem.