What Are The Myths About Hair Loss
Myths about hair loss are widespread. Nothing in the following list is true:
- Youre losing hair because you shampoo it too much, or because youve colored it or gotten a perm.
- Dandruff causes permanent hair loss in women.
- Stress causes permanent hair loss in women.
- If you shave your head, your hair will grow back twice as thick.
- If you stand on your head youll increase circulation, stimulating hair growth.
- If you brush your hair 100 strokes a day that will make your hair healthier.
- Hats and wigs cause hair loss in women.
- Hair loss only affects intellectual women.
What Questions Might Your Healthcare Provider Ask To Diagnose And Categorize Your Hair Loss
Your healthcare provider might ask about your habits:
- What kinds of hair products do you use?
- What kinds of hair styles do you wear?
- What types of food do you eat ?
- Do you have a habit of pulling your hair out ?
They might ask about your history:
- Has anyone in your immediate family experienced hair loss?
- Is there anything stressful going on in your life?
- What medications and supplements do you take every day?
- Has hair loss ever happened to you before?
- What foods are in your diet?
And, they might ask about your observations:
- How long have you been losing hair?
- Have you been shedding more?
- Have you noticed hair loss in places other than your scalp, like your eyebrows? Leg and arm hair?
- Does anything worsen your hair loss?
- Does anything improve your hair loss?
- Have you noticed hair loss occasionally or has it been going on continuously?
- Have you noticed if your hair growth has changed?
- Has your hair been breaking more often?
Examine Your Medicine Cabinet
Sometimes, the medication you are taking for other conditions can cause or accelerate hair loss as a side effect. Such medications include blood thinners, thyroid medication, and beta-blockers. If you think your medication may be behind your hair loss, talk to your physician before stopping, changing doses, or switching medication.
Recommended Reading: Can Certain Foods Cause Hair Loss
Menopause And Hair Fall: What Is The Connection
Dr. Aruna Kalra, director at Obstetrics and Gynaecology at CK Birla Hospital explains, Post-menopausal women face a sudden drop in the levels of their reproductive hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which perform other body functions as well. The major function is to absorb calcium from the bloodstream, and also being a hair-friendly hormone assists in strengthening the hair follicles and prevents hair loss. This is also evident from the fact that most of the women face the hair fall during or post-pregnancy attributing to the dropping levels of oestrogen.
Apart from hormonal changes, other factors include high-stress levels, other co-morbidities, and lack of nutrient absorption. It is always advised to undergo complete health check-ups during or post-menopause. Various other conditions like proper thyroid functioning is also an essential factor contributing to hair growth.
What Vitamins Are Good For Hair Loss During Menopause
You can also look at things like essential fatty acids. Fish oils or flaxseed oil can be wonderful for the hair, so worth adding into to your daily regime. Look at vitamins. Are you getting enough iron? Low iron, now, if you are approaching the menopause, and you are having a lot of heavy or prolonged or close together periods, you can end up with low iron and that can very quickly affect your health.
So look at your iron levels, look at your zinc. This is another really important one, look at your vitamin A. Are you getting enough vitamin A, too?
You could try
This one-a-day formula is packed with all of the most important micronutrients, including essential nutrients for your hair health vitamin A, iron and zinc.
It also contains magnesium and calcium two vital nutrients needed during menopause.
Obtained from non-GMO flax seeds and cold pressed to maintain purity, these flax seed oil capsules contain a high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids which are essential for maintaining healthy hair.
Dont Miss: What Doctor Should You See For Hair Loss
Read Also: Will Bioidentical Hormones Help Hair Loss
How To Treat Menopause Hair Loss
If youre experiencing menopause hair loss, your first task is to visit your doctor for a diagnosis and make sure that there isnt another underlying cause of the hair loss, like a vitamin deficiency.
If your doctor diagnoses you with menopausal hair loss, they may recommend hormone replacement therapy or other treatments that can help reduce menopausal hair loss as well as other symptoms of menopause. Hormone replacement therapy can be helpful for women with menopausal hair loss or perimenopause hair loss, but there are also risks involved.
Additionally, you may want to consider a physician who specialises in hair restoration. A hair restoration specialist may recommend the following medications and treatments for menopausal hair loss:
Minoxidil: Minoxidil is a topical medication that increases blood flow to the scalp and hair follicles, which may help to reverse menopause hair loss. However, minoxidil may come with some unpleasant side effects like skin irritation. For this reason, its restricted in many countries. Rosemary oil has been shown to provide similar benefits to minoxidil, and without any serious side effects.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy : During PRP Therapy, blood plasma is injected into the scalp. This is thought to promote healing, and in some research, has been shown to treat hair loss.
Why Your Hair Is Falling Out
You might start seeing more hair loss than normal thanks to the following:
- Genetics.
- Hormonal changes like pregnancy or menopause.
- Certain hairstyles.
- Damaging haircare like perms or bleaching.
- Medications like chemotherapy.
- Medical conditions like fungal infections or thyroid disease.
Working with a dermatologist, you can begin identifying what might be causing your hair loss. Your doctor will ask about your health, your medications and your family history.
I tell the patients to keep track of events that are unusual for them, for instance, a heavy menstrual period, says Dr. Bergfeld. So when we go back to look for triggers, well have some hint at what it could be.
Your doctor will also look at other areas on your body like your eyebrows, lashes, underarms, pubic area, legs and arms to assess if theres hair loss.
Many times, hair loss is an indicator that something more serious is going on.
Hair loss, particularly shedding, is just a sign that something has happened to the body, says Dr. Bergfeld. The hair follicle is one of the three fastest turning over cell lines in your body. Anything that affects your body and throws it out of balance will affect those systems. So shedding hair is an indicator that somethings wrong.
Recommended Reading: What Doctor Do You See For Hair Loss
How To Handle Menopausal Hair Loss
Many people think of hair loss as a male problem, but it can greatly affect women, too. In fact, more than half of women experience hair loss after menopause. Hair loss can be a troubling concern as it can take a serious toll on our self-esteem. Fortunately, there are things we can do to address it. Lets explore why menopausal hair loss happens and what can be done to treat it.
When To See A Doctor
If youre concerned that your hair loss goes beyond normal shedding or temporary telogen effluvium, you should speak to your doctor. Hair thats coming out in clumps and leaving bald spots, and hair thats growing in patches, could be symptoms of an underlying health issue. Speak to your dermatologist or primary care physician and describe your symptoms if you need more guidance.
Also Check: How To Stop Hair Loss And Itchy Scalp
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.
Hair Cycle Of Growth And Rest
Like your skin and nails, your hair goes through a finely tuned cycle of growth and rest. Hair loss can occur at any time in the cycle. There are 3 phases in a hair cycle:
- In the first stage, your scalp hair is continually growing. This is called the anagen phase. In this phase, your hair grows about 12cm per month. About 90% of your hair is in this stage at any one time. It lasts between 25 years.
- The second stage is call the catagen phase, which is when growth stops. About 13% of your scalp hair is in this phase at any one time. It lasts for 23 weeks.
- The third stage is called the telogen phase. This is a resting phase and it lasts between 14 months. About 10% of your scalp hair is in this phase at any one time.
At the end of its resting stage, a hair goes through a shedding phase, which normally results in the growth of a new hair. When a hair is shed, its replaced by a new hair from the same hair follicle, located just beneath your skin surface.
Male or female hereditary hair loss is caused by genetic or hormonal influences. It is also called androgenic alopecia because it is affected by the hormones called androgens. These are present in both men and women, but in different quantities.
Your risk of hereditary hair loss increases if you have relatives who have experienced hair loss. Your genetic blueprint for hair loss will affect things like:
- how old you are when hair loss begins
- how fast you lose hair
- the pattern and extent of your hair loss/ baldness.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Best Hair Shampoo For Hair Loss
Which Type Of Hair Loss Is This
If youre hair is thinning or falling out during peri-menopause or after menopause the first thing to figure out is whats causing it.
80% of the time peri-menopausal and postmenopausal thinning hair is caused by EFFLUVIUM. This is by far the most common type of hair loss in women, and its related to hormones and menopausal changes.
Were going to dive deeply into what you can do about this type of hair loss.
But if youre not sure, check with your doc or healthcare practitioner to rule out other less common causes of hair loss like fungal infections or a thyroid disorder.
Recommended Reading: How To Stop Thinning Hair On Top Of Head Female
Is Hair Loss On Arms And Legs Normal During Menopause
Menopause and perimenopause can cause many unpleasant symptoms for women, including hot flashes, insomnia, irritability, and hair loss. While these symptoms dont necessarily indicate a serious health condition, they can be difficult for women to deal with on a daily basis, and hair loss especially can affect a womans overall self-esteem, making her downright self-conscious during this time.
The good news for women is that many symptoms of menopause are quite manageable, and there are many supplements, dietary changes, and treatments available to address these symptoms. To determine your best option for treating hair loss and other symptoms of menopause, note a bit more about what happens to the body during this time, and be sure to discuss any health concerns you have with your doctor or healthcare professional.
Also Check: Does Trulicity Cause Hair Loss
Thinning Hair And Hair Loss: Could It Be Female Pattern Hair Loss
For most women, FPHL begins in midlife, when a woman is in her 40s, 50s, or 60s. It can begin earlier for some women.
FPHL is a progressive condition. This means women tend to continue losing hair. But women do not lose all of their hair, as do some men. Instead, your part often gets wider. Hair near your temples may recede. Without treatment, some women eventually develop widespread thinning.
Treatment can prevent hair loss from worsening and help women regrow their hair. Treatment delivers the best results when started at the first sign of hair loss.
Can Hair Loss Be Reversed
Yes and no. It depends on what type of hair loss youre experiencing.
Some types, like cicatricial alopecia, are permanent, while others that may be caused by stress or a medical condition are temporary. Once the cause has been identified and eliminated, your hair should start growing back.
Generally speaking, if the trigger goes away or whatever caused the injury to the hair follicle, then the hair will recover over a period of four to six months to a year, says Dr. Bergfeld.
Also Check: What Is The Best Hair Product For Thinning Hair
Midlife Hormonal Changes May Contribute To Thinning Hair
Hair loss might also be related to a shift in hormones, says Faubion. Androgens, a group of hormones that include testosterone and androstenedione, dont increase during the menopause transition, but the ratio between estrogen and androgen changes, so you have less estrogen and relatively more androgen, she explains.
DHT, a metabolite of testosterone, has been linked to male baldness in research. Theres a theory that changing ratios may be related to hair loss in women, says Faubion.
Look At Your Nutrition
Consider consulting a nutritionist to see if you might be deficient in certain nutrients that are vital to hormone balance and hair health, for example, B Vitamins, Zinc, Omega-3 fatty acids. Consider using Viviscal, a natural supplement containing Amino-Mar which is shown to promote hair growth. Viviscal Shampoo and Conditioner can also be used to ensure hair health inside and out.
Don’t Miss: How To Treat Hair Loss In Teenage Girl
Addressing Hair Loss In Women
If youre a woman experiencing severe hair loss, your first step would be to see a doctor and rule out thyroid issues and other such health concerns. If your hair loss is somewhat minimal, however, there are many things you can do to increase hair growth and improve the overall texture and appearance of your hair note a few suggestions:
- Increased exercise and physical activity results in increased blood circulation. Blood brings nourishing vitamins and trace minerals to the surface of the skin, including the scalp, which can then encourage healthy hair growth.
- Stress often affects hair growth and can even lead to hair loss. Reducing and managing stress are both vital for healthy hair growth.
- Vitamin B6 is thought to help with healthy hair growth. Taking a B vitamin supplement can increase hair growth and help prevent hair loss.
- Omega oils also promote healthy hair growth these oils are found in salmon, tuna, and other varieties of fish, as well as avocado and olive oil. Add these to your diet or opt for an omega oil supplement.
- Hair and scalp masks designed to treat hair loss can stimulate blood flow to the scalp, deposit lots of nourishing vitamins and minerals on the scalp, and make thin hair appear thicker and fuller. You can find these masks at beauty supply store or at your hair salon.