Hormone Replacement Therapy As A Hair Loss Treatment
Menopausal women may have another treatment option for their hair loss: hormone replacement therapy. Although controversial, these hormones available in estrogen and progesterone creams, pills, and patches can help prevent hair loss as well as ease menopause symptoms.
When women experience thinning hair and balding on the scalp, they have a number of options.
Women may opt for a topical treatment like minoxidil or ketoconazole shampoo as their hair loss treatment.
But women who are menopausal, experiencing severe hot flashes, and are prescribed hormone replacement therapy for their menopausal symptoms may get a double-whammy benefit: HRT can be a good treatment for hair loss, as well.
About Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone replacement therapy involves taking female hormones, typically estrogen and progestin together. Women may get these hormones in varying forms, including estrogen and progesterone creams, pills, and patches.
HRT is most often prescribed to help women combat the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause, including:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Moodiness
- Loss of libido
Menopausal women may also take hormone replacement therapy to ward off osteoporosis, a bone-thinning condition that is common in women after menopause due to a drop in estrogen levels.
HRT and Hair Loss
So for women who have hair loss caused by low estrogen levels, hormone replacement therapy may restore estrogen levels, ward off menopausal symptoms and slow hair loss.
Why Does Menopause Cause Hair Loss
Although most people wouldnt automatically think of hair loss as a menopause symptom, the hormonal changes which the menopause causes can have all sorts of unexpected effects on the body.
The hormones oestrogen and testosterone have the most important influence on hair growth. During the menopause, levels of oestrogen decrease. This hormone is important for promoting hair growth. While oestrogen levels drop, testosterone levels increase disproportionately. This causes the hair that does grow to be thinner than before, and can also cause facial hair.
However, there are other causes of hair loss. These include factors as simple as what you eat to more serious issues such as stress, certain illnesses and medication. It is important to get to the root of the problem in order to find the most effective treatment.
How Does Dht Cause Hair Loss In Women
Women with high amounts of DHT may suffer from androgenic alopecia, or female pattern baldness, as the high levels bind to receptors in scalp follicles, causing them to shrink and eventually fall out. Then, when new growth comes in, it is generally miniaturized.
One of the most important factors in whether DHT will cause hair loss is genetically-determined sensitivity of the follicles to DHT in addition to their different reactions to concentrations of androgens.
While it is true that men who have hair loss tend to develop a receding hair line and bald spots, preliminary signs of female pattern baldness are general thinning with a widening part. Even though the scalp may be able to be seen, her hairline usually does not recede.
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How Is Hair Loss In Women Treated What Medicines Or Supplements May Help
Treatment depends on the cause of your hair loss.
- In cases where the loss is due to stress or hormone changes like pregnancy, there might be no treatment needed. The hair loss will stop after a period of time.
- In cases of hair loss being due to hair styling practices, like tight braids or ponytails or certain chemicals, treatment means not doing the things that caused the damage.
- In cases due to nutritional deficiencies, you might be told to take supplements. For instance, you might be told to take a multivitamin and three to five milligrams of biotin daily.
- Minoxidil is approved for treating FPHL. The 2% or 5% solution can be purchased in stores. However, you have to follow directions exactly and use the product indefinitely. Dont use this product if youre pregnant, if you plan to get pregnant, or if youre breastfeeding.
- The HairMax Lasercomb® low light laser is approved by the US FDA to treat FPHL. Another FDA-approved laser product is the Theradome LH80 PRO® helmet and low light laser helmets and caps.
Other medications that have been studied, but not approved, for hair loss in women include:
- Spironolactone and other anti-androgens.
- Steroids.
- Other light treatments.
It is important to note that premenopausal women should not take medications for hair loss treatment without using contraception. Many drugs, including minoxidil and finasteride, are not safe for pregnant women or women who want to get pregnant.
Whats The Medical Definition Of Menopause
Menopause is declared after youve gone 12 months without a menstrual period. According to Mayo Clinic, the average menopause age in the U.S. is 51. As with the two other major benchmarks of a womans reproductive health, namely puberty and pregnancy, hormone levels begin to behave erratically and affect every area of life and well-being.
The traditional male-dominated medical establishment still uses language which places menopause into the realm of disease. But advocates for female reproductive health maintain that changing the health industry lexicon is essential to womens agency in at last reclaiming their own bodies. This means that perimenopause and menopause do not need to be diagnosed, but rather simply identified. And the arrival of these conditions is not considered symptomatic, which is evidence of disease, but simply acknowledged by common signs and signals.
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Hashimotos Thyroiditis And Hair Loss: Everything You Need To Know
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1% to 2% of the U.S. population has Hashimotoâs thyroiditis. It occurs more often in women than in men and is the most common cause of underactive thyroid, also known as hypothyroidism, in the U.S. Hair loss is, for many, one of the most distressing symptoms of thyroid disorders and may be challenging to treat if you have Hashimotoâs thyroiditis.
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Consider Changing Your Hair Style
There are certain styles and cuts that are especially flattering for women with thinning hair.
Cuts: Long hair can weigh down fine hair. Stylists recommend that women with thinning hair get frequent trims and that they add layers for volume. One especially flattering cut to try is a choppy bob another is a pixie. Uneven bangs can create depth and texture.
Color: Lowlights and highlights can add depth and dimension, which can make hair look more full. Lighter hair can make a visible part and scalp look less pronounced.
Styles: If you always part your hair on the right, try parting it on the left for added volume. A jagged part can hide a visible scalp, and can also make the top layers stick up, as if youve teased your hair. Blow drying creates volume as well. Loose waves, created with a diffuser and sea salt spray, can make hair appear thick and bouncy. So can curling your hair. A half-pony with the bottom half curled or left straight, and the top pulled up high, adds fullness and height. African-American women with thinning hair may want to try side bangs, twist outs, and updos with cascading hair and bangs, using the hair you have to cover the thinning spots.
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How Can We Recognise Androgenic Alopecia
Female androgenic alopecia is characterised by a diffused thinning of hair over the crown of the head. Women might notice a widening of their natural hair parting or a less full ponytail. However, if hair-loss more closely resembles male-pattern balding , this might be a sign of a different hormonal condition such as polycystic ovary syndrome . Other symptoms of PCOS include weight gain, acne, excessive facial hair growth and irregular periods.
Poor diet and iron-deficiency can also result in hair loss. The NHS advises consulting a GP if you have sudden hair loss, develop bald patches, lose hair in clumps or experience itching or burning sensations on the scalp.
Hair Loss And Menopause
Menopause is a natural biological process that all women go through, usually in their 40s or 50s. During this time, the body adjusts to fluctuating hormone levels and the menstrual cycle ends. Along with that, women experience many other symptoms, such as hot flashes, changes in mood, changes in body fat distribution and sleep problems. Another common occurrence during menopause? Hair loss.
Dr. Lady Dy of Dy Dermatology Center in Glenview, Illinois, specializes in hair loss treatments. Patients from across the country seek her servicesincluding women who are experiencing hair loss from menopause.
Hair loss is often disheartening to those who experience it. Many are too embarrassed to talk about it or assume that there is no treatment. Dr. Dy educates women on menopause, how it changes their bodies, and what she can do to help.
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Avoid Starches And Sugar
Of course, refined white sugar, along with high-fructose corn syrup and other sweeteners, are present in desserts. But theyre also present in a staggering majority of processed foods, including many cereals, soups, breads, salad dressings and even commercially produced tomato sauce. Avoiding blood sugar spikes by avoiding these foods may be helpful in avoiding the most infamous of menopause markers, the Menopause Meltdown. Also, be aware that other foods, like potatoes, pasta, rice and other carbohydrates, spike your glycemic index as well. A general rule of thumb is to avoid all white foods .
Stay Away From Harmful Hair Styling Products:
Using chemical bleaches, blow hair dryers, and hair straighteners can weaken your hair follicles at the roots and lead to hair loss. Even wearing tight hairstyles that keep pulling your hair constantly can damage the hair follicles. Therefore, its better to stay away from such products and hairstyles that can lead to hair loss. If you want to color your hair, use all-natural hair color and use nourishing conditioners to keep your scalp healthy whenever you wash your hair.
Menopausal hair loss may seem like an unpleasant situation. Although unavoidable, it is still treatable.
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Alopecia Treatments That Work
Healthy diet
A poor diet can cause nutrient imbalances and inflammation, affecting hair follicle structure. According to a 2018 study published in Dermatology and Therapy, you need key nutrients in your diet to prevent hair loss.
A 2017 study published inThe Archives of Dermatological Research concluded that following a Mediterranean diet, which is rich in vitamins and minerals, decreases the risk of androgenetic alopecia in males. The corticosteroids or topical immunotherapeutics , and topical minoxidil which is used to help male-pattern baldness.
Breakthrough treatments include âoral minoxidil for androgenetic alopecia and oral for alopecia areataâ, King says.
Keep Your Scalp Clean
When your hair gets all gunked up with oil and debris, this leads to clogged follicles, which hinder healthy hair growth. Regular hair washings two to three times a week and a weekly scalp detox with a cleanser like New Dawn Activated Charcoal Scalp Cleanser can help pave the way for healthier and thicker hair.
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Why Does My Hair Fall Out During Menopause
If your hair is thinning or falling out during perimenopause or after menopause, the first thing you need to do is identify the cause. EFFLUVIUM is responsible for 80% of perimenopause and postmenopausal hair loss.
How to grow hair backHow I regrew my hair naturally? Another way to grow hair naturally is to massage your scalp. Massage increases blood flow, allowing nutrients to enter the hair follicles. Massaging with oil, such as olive oil, has the added benefit of moisturizing the area. How can I get my hair back naturally?10 Tips for Natural Hair Growth Scalp massage can help restore hair growth and can be used with hair oils and face masks. aloe vera. It aâ¦
How Hormone Replacement Therapy Can Stop And Reverse Hair Loss
Hair thinning is one of the most natural things that happens to the body. In a regular day, you lose 50 to 100 older hairs that are constantly being replaced by new hair. There are about 100,000 hairs growing out of your scalp at any given time.
But as you age, hair that is lost does not always get replaced by new hair growth.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, nearly half of all male and female Americans will begin showing signs of baldness by age 40.
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The Typical Hair Loss Experience
On average, a person loses around 100-200 hairs a day to allow for new hair growth. During menopause, when your hair is breaking, it may seem that you are losing more than the average amount. In reality, however, your hair is not falling out but breaking somewhere along the hair strand itself, giving the appearance of thinner hair.
Triggers Of Female Hair Loss
More than half of women in the United States lose a significant amount of hair during their lifetimes, a condition known as female pattern hair loss . Though its normal to lose 50-100 strands a day and about 250 when you wash your hair, if youre losing more than that, you have FPHL.
Youre more likely to develop FPHL if at least one of your biological female relatives has hair loss . Women rarely go bald from FPHL, but when you watch your part widen, your scalp-line rise, or notice that you have less hair than you did 10 years ago, you may feel anxious, sad, and self-conscious about your appearance.
The dermatologists at Specialists in Dermatology located in The Woodlands, Texas, and Houston, Texas are experts in hair loss and growth. They diagnose the causes of your FPHL and recommend effective therapies and lifestyle changes that halt it and even if its caught early enough reverse it. Here they discuss five factors that can trigger FPHL and why its so important to get a diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible
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