Nonpharmaceutical Treatments For Hair Loss
Although there is no miracle cure, says Bruce, other options that can help with FPHL include:
- Platelet rich plasma injection is a procedure in which the patients blood is drawn and the blood is spun in a centrifuge so that the platelets are concentrated then they are injected into the scalp, says Bruce. The theory is that the platelets have growth factors and they will stimulate hair growth, she says.
- Low level light lasers These laser combs, helmets, and other devices can be used at home without a prescription. The laser light has been shown to stimulate hair growth in a few studies, according to the AAD.
- Supplements Ablon recently completed a study looking at a nutraceutical supplement, Nutrafol Womens Balance Capsules, which contain bioactive compounds derived from food sources, including curcumin, ashwagandha, saw palmetto, and tocopherol. The six-month results were published in the January 2021 issue of the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, and the 12-month results will be released shortly, says Ablon. Researchers compared results at 6 months and 12 months of treatment and found that mean total hair counts increased significantly and progressively. Global hair quality measures significantly improved, by 40 percent, with few or no side effects, along with a decrease in hair shedding, according to the authors. Ablon received a research grant and financial support from Nutraceutical Wellness Inc., the manufacturer of the supplement.
Menopause And Hair Loss
Menopause is one of the major causes of hair loss as women enter middle age. While losing 50-100 hairs every day and a few more on shampoo days is common, menopause may double that loss rate.
Other common signs are more time than usual between periods, and shorter periods, along with night sweats, hot flashes, weight gain, especially in the belly and dry skin.
When these signs start showing up, talk to your doctor. A few basic blood tests will pinpoint your current testosterone levels and estrogen loss, and you can begin to explore treatment options if you choose to do so.
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Food Sources That Promote Hair Growth
According to Dr. Josh Axe, whole foods and a nutrient-rich diet is important in healthy hair growth. Some of the foods that help you prevent hair loss include:
- Organic food although organic food can be pricey, it will give you more health benefits than commercialized goods and products. They are free from chemicals as well, ensuring that you dont bring any poison to your body. Aside from this, organic foods can help prevent estrogen dominance!
- Pumpkin seeds Pumpkin seeds are rich in zinc which is good for hair growth. Many studies have also shown that theres a link between zinc deficiency and hypothyroidism which causes hair loss.
- Green tea Green tea is not only useful in weight loss, it is also effective in preventing hair loss. It promotes detoxification, ridding the body of toxins and encouraging hair growth. It stops testosterone from being converting to dihydrotestosterone , which greatly damages hair follicles.
- SuperfoodsChia, flaxand hemp seeds are rich in fiber and healthy fats which can help in hair growth.
- Bone Broth Protein is very important because our hair is made of keratin. Bone broth is rich in protein, collagen and amino acids.
- Biotin-rich foods Biotin or vitamin B7 is a water-soluble vitamin in the body which is essential in healthy hair growth. It strengthens our hair strands preventing hair damage. Nutritional yeast and egg yolks are examples of biotin rich foods.
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Diet Lifestyle And Home Remedies For Hair Loss
There are few women who would be willing to sit back and watch their hair fall out. Instead, a number of home remedies can be employed alongside herbal or conventional remedies to make sure that your hair is kept as healthy as possible.
- Be nice to your hair. Use gentle shampoo when you wash it and try to avoid tugging and tangling it. Dying it regularly can cause hair to become unhealthy and more likely to fall out. A scalp massage can stimulate extra blood flow to the scalp, which may prevent further hair loss
- There are certain foods which can improve the quality of your hair. Protein and iron rich foods are good for strengthening your hair. Vitamin C, found in citrus and other fruit, is also beneficial, not least for helping you to absorb iron into your bloodstream
- Keep stress to a minimum. This will also help you sleep well at night, reducing another factor which might cause you to lose your hair. Exercise will help reduce stress, improve sleep and circulation of blood to the scalp to help you keep your hair on.
Causes Of Menopausal Hair Loss
During menopause, the effects of androgens increase. This hormonal imbalance, as a result, hair grows at a much slower rate and hair follicles shrink, which produces weaker hair and ultimately causes hair loss. Some research also suggests that the pattern of hair loss in senior women may actually result from decreases in both estrogen and progesterone hormone levels during menopause.
Most womens health care providers agree that replacing these hormones can alleviate many of the other troubling symptoms of menopause, unfortunately, hormone replacement alone does not seem to radically alter a womans follicular fate, and can even sometimes make matters worse.
However, other factors might lead to hair loss as well. Some women are genetically predisposed to hair loss, while others may lose hair due to stress or illness. Hair loss can also result from an excess of androgen, which is a hormone that fuels male characteristics. Your doctor can determine the cause of your hair loss and recommend the best treatment options.
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Hair Loss During Menopausal Transition
Hair loss during the menopausal transition can be just as dramatic as menopausal hair loss. The two are both related to the same changes in hormone levels. The menopausal transition is the time leading up to menopause and can last several years. During the menopausal transition, fluctuating hormones can cause some of the same symptoms typically associated with menopause.
How To Manage Menopausal Hair Loss With Diet Supplements And Lifestyle
There are several effective supplements on the market to address menopausal hair thinning and loss. Diet plays an important role in managing hormones, and should be seriously considered as women enter menopause. In particular, Denniston advocates an anti-inflammation and low-glycemic diet. “Keeping inflammation and insulin regulated is important,” as underlying inflammation and insulin resistance can affect the 5-alpha-reductase pathway, she says.
Denniston also suggests a high-fiber diet to “keep blood sugar stable and to keep insulin resistance and testosterone in check.” She also suggests incorporating ground raw flaxseed into your diet. “It has lignans that help modulate estrogen activity and omega-3 fatty acids to reduce inflammation.”
Maca is another supplement to consider, Denniston says, to “support the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, which can make a big difference for a womans symptoms during menopause.” She adds, “The plant sterols in maca have a balancing effect on the endocrine system. Maca has been used for hundreds of years in Peru to help ease menopausal symptoms.”
A couple other herbs that may be helpful include adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha and holy basil. Denniston says they can “help regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and increase stress resilience.” She also likes reishi mushroom and saw palmetto. These help “block the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme and the production of super testosterone, dihydrotestosterone.”
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Are There Herbal Remedies To Help Me
If your hair loss is the result of hormonal changes caused by the menopause, using a soy based supplement such as our Menopause Support supplement may be effective. This tackles all stages of the menopause, as it contains soy isoflavones which naturally mimic the effect of oestrogen in the body.
Menopause support tablets have eased my problems and have helped me sleep better at night. I would recommend them to any one suffering the effects of the menopause.Stress at this time of your life will not help improve your head of hair, so if you feel you are not coping, face up this issue rather than ignore it. You can also try our Stress Relief Daytime, which can help ease stress and relieve mild anxiety.
If you think your hair loss is caused by medication, seek help and advice from your doctor.
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Lifestyle And Home Remedies For Thinning Hair
If you feel self-conscious about thinning hair, there are options beyond treatments and procedures that may make hair loss less noticeable, says Bruce.
- Wear a wig, extension, or hairpiece. Some women find this to be a suitable option.
- Style your hair differently. This can make a widening part less noticeable.
- Try hair powders. These contain tiny fibers you sprinkle the powder in your hair and the fibers cling to the hair shaft, giving the appearance of fuller hair and hiding where the scalp is visible.
- Consult a hair stylist. Some stylists specialize in thinning hair.
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Is Hair Loss A Sign Of Menopause
Menopause when you stop having periods is a natural part of ageing. But as your hormones change and your levels of oestrogen drop, youll notice physical changes and symptoms.
Hair loss or thinning can be one of these symptoms, and is more common than you might think. Read on to learn why this can happen during the perimenopause and menopause, and what treatments are available for this type of hormonal 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.
Also read: Menopause: Common Signs And Symptoms Of Menopause Natural Ways To Fight These
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Keep Your Hair Natural
As hair is weakened due to hormonal fluctuations that occur during menopause, it is essential to try to keep it in its natural form. In other words, this means that the use of chemical dyes , thermal tools, harsh shampoos and the like should be avoided as much as possible.
Other recommendations are:
- Use shampoo and conditioner made from natural ingredients.
- Allow hair to air dry, removing excess water with a towel.
- Comb carefully using a natural bristle brush.
- Trim the ends of hair every 2 months.
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.
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What You Need To Know About Hair Loss During Menopause
The various symptoms of perimenopause and menopause affect each woman differently. Along with hot flashes, mood changes, and sleep problems, some women experience thinning hair. Hair loss during menopause is not a sign that something is medically wrong, but it can be startling to many women. Lets look at why menopausal hair loss happens and what can be done to treat it.
How Will A Healthcare Provider Diagnose Hair Loss In Women What Tests Are Done
The tests performed to diagnose hair loss in women can be simple or complicated:
- Gently pulling on your hair to see how many hairs come out.
- Blood tests. These check for vitamin and mineral levels and hormone levels .
- Scalp examination under a microscope and trichoscopy.
- Scalp biopsy to remove and examine a very small piece of scalp skin.
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Hypothalamus Support Is Key
Healthy hair needs all your hormones to be in balance your sex steroids, your adrenals, your thyroid, your growth hormone. By supporting your hypothalamus, all your hormones stay in balance longer. Your adrenal function is especially important during menopause, because adrenal DHEA helps keep your endogenous estrogen levels up, so that youre less likely to experience hair loss.
In terms of menopausal hair loss, its important to keep estrogen receptors active and estrogen levels sufficient to maintain hair growth, and also to bind up testosterone. Second, making sure that your thyroid function is normal and treating it if it is low can also help maintain your hair during menopause.
If you have any questions regarding menopausal hair loss, please join us in our Hormone Support Group. You can access it when you sign up for my free Hormone Reboot Training below. I hope to see you there!
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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