Why Does Hair Thin During Menopause (and Is It Permanent)?

Have you noticed your hair thin during menopause? Sadly, it happens to almost every woman when going through “the change.”  A woman loses up to 100 strands of hair each day. That’s a lot of hair over time. Can you stop it is the question? Better yet, is this a permanent situation?

Just as a reminder, hair is made of keratin or fibrous proteins. It may sound familiar, and that’s because it’s the same substance in your nails. It’s produced by a set of cell structures most people know as hair follicles, which are beneath the scalp.

When people wash their hair or style and brush out their hair, they also remove the dried secretions from the follicles. Here’s what you may not know: healthy strands live on the scalp for years before they fall out.

If you start to lose more than normal and start balding, it’s time to take action. Hopefully, help has come before shedding to this degree. If your hair starts coming out in clumps just by washing your hair, it’s time to seek professional advice. Until then, keep reading.

How Does Menopause Affect Women’s Hair?

During the menopause stage, women go through mood swings and those awful hot flashes. Women are prepared for that, but many are not told about hair loss or thinning hair. It’s not fair, but it happens to 40% of women even after menopausal symptoms subside.

Women bald but their experience is different from men. It’s a more gradual occurrence for women, so you don’t notice it, especially if the matter is taken care of early on. Most men bald as a matter of genetics. Women bald due to a hormone imbalance, however, there’s help.

The testosterone and estrogen influences hair growth as the estrogen in women starts to decrease. This is the hormone responsible for hair growth, and when it drops, the testosterone levels go up. Therefore, the hair grows out thinner, not strong and healthy.

Hair loss happens to women just after they give birth, too. Although, the process is over a period of time, thinning covers a broad area of the scalp. You may notice your hairstyle is not looking as full. It’s thinner, and there’s more hair in the comb or sink.

Does Thin Hair Mean Early Menopause?

You may look at thin hair as a sign of early menopause, but it’s not necessarily so. The signs include hot flashes and mood swings as you already know, but your hair can be dry and dull looking as well. It can also mean your skin thins along with your desire for intimate moments.

Menopausal women can go through all these changes at fifty, but your hair can start to change long before you reach that age. In reality, the older you get, the more your body goes through the aging process. More so, nobody is the same as they were ten years ago.

Menopause boosts the signs of hormonal changes. What women go through is similar to that of male pattern baldness, but balding is not immediate. As women go through menopausal adversity, they can develop extra hair, but it’s likely unwanted. It can appear on the face and not on the head.

Even when the hair grows back, it’s not as strong as it once was. Unfortunately, the scalp returns more thin strands. With this in mind, you’re probably wondering what you can do to stop hair thinning during menopause? There are remedies, so keep reading to find out more.

Can Menopause Cause Your Hair to Break?

It’s no secret women and men, too, go the extra mile to keep their hair groomed. Good-looking hair is strong, shiny and has elasticity. This can be difficult during menopause as the hair is probably going through changes itself. Expect to see areas of the hair that are thinning.

So, yes, menopause can cause your hair to break. It will break and fall out, causing it to become thin and lifeless. It’s disappointing news, but it’s not the end of the world. You can prevent your hair from breaking. There are treatments available.

Menopausal women should either see a professional or solve their issues at home or at least, attempt to do so anyway. The hair grows in cycles or stages. There are three different stages.

Hair Growth Stages

Typically, a woman will lose about 100 or so hairs on an average day.  With this said, new hair will take its place.  In other words, don’t worry when it breaks as it will grow back.

• Stage One: This is when the hair is actively growing from the roots or scalp
• Stage Two: What happens during the second phase is the hair becomes hair protein (keratin)
• Stage Three: The last stage is when you lose your hair and when you have to start over with stage one.

Breakage is different from hair falling out. When the hair breaks, it’s on the strand and not at the root. This is why your hair looks like it’s thinning out. This breakage is caused by hair abuse. Brushing or combing the hair wrong and with the wrong tools contribute to damaged hair.

Not only that but the kind of towel used or drying temp has a direct effect on the tresses.  You also want to avoid putting a lot of tension on your hair by wearing specific hairdos.

What’s the Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Menopausal Hair?

One of the most commonly asked questions is how to choose the best shampoo and conditioner for thinning hair?  The best shampoo for menopausal hair contains panthenol according to style experts.

The panthenol goes deep to penetrate the cuticle so the roots are stronger and strands grow thicker.  Each person will have variations in treatment methods due to the conditions of their own hair.

You may want to use other products in conjunction with your shampoo and conditioner.  It’s always best to keep using the same brand or manufacturer if possible to ensure you get the best care and results.

• The first thing you should do, however, is to find the cause of the problem.
• After you determine why your hair is thinning, you want to map out a repair and restoration plan. This includes the right shampoo and conditioner for menopausal hair.
• Then, research and buy the best supplement(s) to complement your brand’s ingredients. This will almost guarantee success.

Most of the time, the perfect shampoo and conditioner set menopausal hair contains vitamins, zinc, fenugreek and DHT blockers. The fenugreek helps to relieve some of the stress caused by the changes in hormones. Zinc also assists in root stimulation.

Someone with fine hair may have oily, too. Does this sound like you? If so, try using clear daily shampoo formulas instead of creamy ones. This is a prime time to use a Batiste dry shampoo. It will add life to your hair and soak up excess oils.

Are There Any Good Hair Loss Supplements for Menopause?

Who do you know who wants their hair to fall out? No one, right? So, it’s safe to say this is serious business. There’s many treatments available.  It’s up to you to use a doctor or to try a home version or remedy. Menopausal women can also use a supplement while trying other home remedies.

This way, you’re getting a double dose of hair care attention. If you or your doctor have determined menopause to be the cause of your hair loss or thinning locks, you may be a candidate for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).

Before it comes to this, however, start with supplements made with fermented soya beans or soy-based ingredients. The experts recommend eating foods high in protein and iron content. Like citrus fruits? Eat more of them for the vitamin C. The body absorbs protein and iron in the bloodstream.

These foods are known to improve the condition of someone’s hair. One good name for a supplement is DasGro Hair Growth Vitamins with Biotin.  Any hair type can use this brand as it is taken orally. This means it works from the inside. It has the herbs and nutrients your hair needs to bounce back.

Is Menopausal Hair Loss Permanent?

It’s a legitimate question which deserves an answer. The likely answer is of course, “No, it doesn’t have to be.”

However, you can complicate matters by hoarding stress and not eating right. How’s your carbohydrate level intake? If you eat a lot of carbs, you will beef up insulin production.  This is not good. If you remember, you increase androgen production as well and not enough estrogen.

Balance androgens and estrogens by maintaining a proper, vitamin-infused diet. Try Ginkgo biloba to increase blood circulation and to send blood to the scalp and hair follicles. They will be happy you did as your strands can grow to become healthy contributors to a beautiful head of hair.

What can reverse the signs of thinning hair after menopause? A scalp massage may indeed help to stimulate growth and blood flow, but there’s more.

How to Reverse Thinning Hair After Menopause

After menopause, you may or may not notice your forehead is getting larger or wider. It’s not your head, but your hair. This didn’t happen overnight, but it will seem like it. If not that then there will be something else to take place like your part is deeper now.

Sometimes, showing a little scalp is good. However, it should be when you decide to part your hair and not due to hair loss. You’re among thousands of menopausal women, perhaps millions of other sufferers. As you reach 65, your hair will thin even more if you’re not careful to take care of it early.

The ratio is higher for women during post-menopause to experience androgenetic alopecia. The chances are a staggering 50-75% higher. Research suggests thinning hair is a result of aging. Start restoration by eliminating heated styling tools and straighteners.

It’s not set in stone yet, but it could also be due to vitamin deficiencies, hormonal changes, side-effects of certain medications and of course, some illnesses. If you’re losing your hair, you may want to see a doctor. A simple consultation can help to rule out specific concerns contributing to hair loss.

Can Hair Grow Back After Menopause?

If you want to grow your hair back after menopause, avoid using chemical-based products. Be careful to use the right shampoos and related styling products in addition to staying away from heat. Your hair can become more brittle and break, but any loss you experience should be short-lived.

Permanent hair loss happens because the roots are damaged. Keep your strands healthy and strong by making regular appointments with a professional stylist. Avoid coloring or dyeing your hair and using chemicals. If you decide to highlight your hair or get a relaxer, do so sparingly.

Stretch out the periods in which you get a “touch up.” Use leave-in conditioners but stay away from “lasting” holding sprays and heated styling tools.  Just let your hair dry naturally and use alternatives to curling your hair. If you braid your hair while wet, it will have the same outcome as the curling iron.

You can also try sitting under the dryer to set your style. Don’t over brush and use a wide tooth comb to comb out the kinks and to detangle the hair after washing it. You should comb curly locks while the hair is still damp, however, if you have straight hair, let it air dry a bit before combing.

Worried about Hair Loss?

Typically, hair loss is not a serious issue. However, not everyone who goes through hormonal changes or menopause react the same, and there could be other reasons why you’re losing your hair. If you find an unusual amount of hair loss, you may want to consult a physician. Who should worry?

• If you’re in your early twenties or a teen and you lose hair rapidly
• If your scalp appears pulsed or reddish
• If you’re experiencing pain and irritation
• If you have any other contributing conditions or abnormal signs

You can replace the lost hormones with therapy, but some women find hormone replacement therapy to make conditions worse, not better. When this happens, it can be a big blow to menopausal women and their self-esteem and confidence.

In fact, some women suffer from depression, withdraw socially and have anxiety because of hormonal changes. Even in the event where other conditions are present, hair loss is still likely treatable. When you restore the hair to its original state or better, confidence is restored as well.

Can HRT Help Stop Hair Loss?

Women go through menopause because they have stopped going through their monthly menstruation cycle. They stop ovulating or “making eggs” as a result of the end of this phase, and they are no longer producing estrogen. Many menopausal women use HRT to replace the hormones.

What’s HRT? HRT is short for hormone replacement therapy, and it’s designed to put back the lost hormones. It also helps to treat hot flashes and control mood swings a woman goes through. Besides those symptoms, she has night sweats and interrupted sleep.

Sometimes, a woman will lose her hair before, during or after menopause. Menopausal symptoms can be managed through a proper diet, exercise, and a good HRT. Doctors recommend women going through the change early take part in HRT. Unless there are reasons why a woman would not benefit from HRT, she should remain on the program until menopause has passed.

There has been much controversy surrounding HRT, but many women have success with using the creams, patches or pills. Hormone replacement therapy can prevent hair loss while relieving the other signs. There are other options for hair loss, however. Read on to find out what you can do.

Hair Loss During Perimenopause Explained

Hair loss (alopecia) is a temporary condition most of the time, but especially in menopausal women. Usually, the hair grows at a rate of a ¼ inch each month, and it does this for six years before it falls out. Of course, another one grows to replace the lost strand, so there’s no need to worry in this case.

What happens during perimenopause is the rate of hair loss is accelerated, and the new growth can’t keep up with the loss. During this stage of menopause, most women experience a degree of hair loss or thinning hair, but it shouldn’t result in baldness.

Because of the negative impact, it can have on the self-esteem, hair loss is best dealt with early and quickly. What causes a woman to lose her hair during perimenopause? There are a couple of reasons so let’s talk about them.

Physical Reasons

Because women go through a hormonal change, other hormones are off balance. DHT is a form of testosterone which women have, and the lack thereof or the imbalance is likely the cause of their hair loss. Women’s Rogaine Treatment for Hair Loss comes highly recommended for treatment of hair loss or balding.

In addition to Rogaine, some menopausal women use a medicated shampoo (ketoconazole, Nizoral) for hair loss. By the way, laser therapy is another option you may want to consider. However, its reliability or effectiveness is questionable. There hasn’t been any real evidence to prove it works.

Always examine shampoos and conditioners which claim to thicken hair. All of DasGro’s products are made in FDA approved labs and the US. Don’t expect to see any fillers or any gelatin in their hair growth formula.

Remember, it may take a while for the hair to grow back. If you wash your hair every day, you may want to stop so many hot showers and shampoos. Also, become familiar with aftercare.

Psychological Reasons

Stress is a major factor for many dysfunctions in the body including hair loss. Along with stress, comes anxiety and fatigue, plus hair loss. The implications of hair loss can have a tremendous impact on a person’s emotions.

This, my friends, is what triggers hair loss during perimenopause. However, you should remember, it’s a temporary condition that you can recover from. This will also help you to commit to a treatment goal and plan.

While you’re working to reduce stress, take vitamins like calcium, copper, iron, fish oil, magnesium, and zinc plus exercise to promote regrowth.

Managing Hair Loss During Menopause

Testosterone is linked to hair loss. The best thing anyone can do to prevent it from happening is to lower the risks of stress and leveling the hormone imbalance. Exercise regularly and eat right. Your workout doesn’t need to be vigorous to be effective in this case.

The purpose of exercising is to reduce stress. If you’re taking supplements to assist in regrowing your hair, talk with your doctor to make sure it’s safe if you’re taking other medications. The combination could have adverse side effects. Some medications, however, could be the cause of your hair loss.

With this in mind, speak with your physician to crack the case of the missing hair. Since the hair protects your scalp from the sun, make sure you cover bald areas to prevent sunburn. There are many products one can use to aid in hair loss prevention and hair regrowth.

They should contain natural ingredients that help to make the hair thicker and stronger. You may buy a few products before finding the perfect one for you, but the results are worth the effort. The important thing is not to give up.

Hair Thinning in Pregnant and Menopausal Women

Hair thinning is a common occurrence in menopausal women. Male pattern baldness is genetic, but it happens to men early on in life although it’s typically a sign of aging. They are both two typical stages in life and are stressful for men and women, but it seems to be more of an issue for women.

This could be due to the fact it involves the hormones. The experts can’t explain it, and this is what puzzles researchers, but they do know it’s due to the ratio of androgen and estrogen in the body. Estrogen and progesterone are responsible for regulating hair loss.

You see, while you’re going through menopause, your estrogen levels decrease. The result is hair loss. Now, hair loss could be related to other conditions such as thyroid disorders, but the signs are more noticeable during the change for menopausal women and among pregnant women.

When a woman is pregnant, she undergoes many hormonal changes including her estrogen levels. They seem to increase, and the best part of this change is the hair grows instead of falls out. The sad part about this growth is the hair will eventually fall out after she has the baby.

What to Avoid During Menopause

When it comes to hair loss and menopause, you may want to consider contributing factors.  Again, stress plays a vital role in everyday life that it’s likely to be more of a concern when going through menopause. Pay more attention to your diet and vitamin deficiencies during this time.

Also, ask yourself what medications are you on that could impact your current situation? Do you have a specific illness in which it could be the leading cause of hair loss? Talk with your primary physician openly and honestly. He will evaluate your condition and prescribe the best treatment for you.

In the meantime, there are certain mistakes you should know about so you can avoid making them. Learn the signs of menopause as not knowing them can be the first error a woman can make.  You can lose a lot of hair before it’s noticeable and this will cause anyone to panic.

In a rush to treat hair loss, many people will quit treatment before seeing any results. In fact, changes happen, but it takes time to regrow hair and even to find the right therapy. Support hair growth with a scalp massage to stimulate blood circulation and take vitamins for healthy locks.