Menopause And Hormone Imbalances
Women may experience hair loss during menopause due to reduced production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. These changes also lead to symptoms like menstrual cycle irregularity, dry skin, night sweats, weight gain, and vaginal dryness. This added stress on the body may also worsen hair loss.
Some women may even notice thinning and loss after going off hormonal birth control pills. Why? Again, hormonal changes of any kind, particularly falling estrogen levels, can temporarily disrupt the hair lifecycle.
What Is The Relationship Between Hair Loss In Women And Menopause
During menopause, you might see one of two things happen with your hair. You might start growing hair where you didnt before. Or, you might see the hair you have start to thin. One cause may be changing levels of hormones during menopause. Estrogen and progesterone levels fall, meaning that the effects of the androgens, male hormones, are increased.
During and after menopause, hair might become finer because hair follicles shrink. Hair grows more slowly and falls out more easily in these cases.
Your healthcare provider will do a thorough examination and take a detailed history to help you deal with changes in hair growth. You may be directed to have your iron levels or thyroid hormone levels tested. Your medications might be changed if what you take is found to affect hair loss or growth.
What Are Some Tips For Dealing With Hair Loss In Women
There are some things you can do on your own. You might check with your stylist or try some of these:
- Coloring your hair adds volume to the strands, making your hair seem fuller.
- Massaging your head, like when you are washing your hair, can stimulate blood flow to the scalp and hair follicles.
- Getting your hair cut shorter, and having layers added, can make your hair seem fuller.
- Using the right kind of shampoo can also help. Look for a shampoo that adds volume without using sulfate detergents.
- Using the right kind of product at the right time can also help. There are products that add volume that you add while your hair is still wet. However, using too much product can add weight.
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Change Up Your Hair Care
Gentle strands need to be treated with TLC. Being gentle and avoiding excessive color or chemical treatments, tight hairstyles and regular heat styling can give your delicate hair follicles a chance to rebound. You can also consider incorporating a hair serum into your hair care routine, such as VEGAMOURs GRO Hair Serum, which has been shown to reduce the signs of shedding while encouraging fuller-looking hair in as little as 90 days.
Is Rogaine Really Effective
Only certain types of baldness respond to Rogaine, and only if you use it consistently. However, it is not suitable for everyone. If it works, you wont be able to regrow all of your hair, and it could take up to four months to see results. To keep any regrowth, youll have to use Rogaine indefinitely.
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Why Is It That My Hair Is Falling Out In Clumps
Excessive shedding normally goes away on its own, especially if it is brought on by stress or a fever. Your doctor, on the other hand, can look for underlying issues such as thyroid abnormalities or vitamin shortages. The hair loss will be reversed if those issues are addressed. Excessive shedding and alopecia can be helped with treatments.
What Would A Dermatologist Prescribe For Hair Loss
A dermatologist may recommend topical minoxidil, which is also available over the counter. A doctor might also prescribe oral finasteride for men. These medications are FDA-approved for certain conditions that cause hair loss. Other prescription medications may be available as an off-label use for hair loss.
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What Are The Reasons For Hair Loss
Its essential to know that hair loss is common. Most people shed 50 to 100 hairs each day. If your bathroom sink looks like a wookie lives nearby, dont get too worried. There are periods of time you shed more hair however, if large handfuls come loose or thinning is persistent, its time to consider a specialist. Here are some reasons hair falls out:
Anxiety and stress trigger hair loss, and hair loss can trigger stress, so seek help if your comb has got you down.
What Is Hair Loss Anyway
For starters, losing hair is not inherently a bad thing. Its a natural part of life, regardless of age or sex. We lose somewhere between 50 to 100 strands of hair a day. That sounds like a lot. However, we have over 100,000 strands of hair and many more hair follicles, so daily hair loss is hardly noticeable. When we start losing many more and start seeing bald spots, we know something is wrong. Each hair follicle on our head is going through a stage of growth. These follicles can be in different stages at any point:
In some cases, the rate of new hair growth is not fast enough to replace what was lost, causing baldness. Alopecia is the scientific name for hair loss, and it can happen in several ways and forms. Generally, hair loss can be categorized into thinning hair, receding hair, sudden clumps of hair falling out, or patches around the head. In severe cases, some people can experience full-body hair loss.
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Causes And Symptoms Of Alopecia
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that causes you to lose hair and often leaves little bald spots on your head. Our hair is made up of mostly protein. When our body does not have enough protein, the hairs enter the resting phase. This causes us to lose hair and hair to become brittle and fall out. Alopecia is both hereditary and hormonal. It affects both males and females and can happen at any age. There are many causes related to alopecia. Causes include severe or chronic illness, thyroid disease, low-protein diets, low iron levels and improper hair care. It is also common after childbirth. If hair loss occurs, the hairs may enter a resting phase and are lost without immediate replacement. It could last up to nine months but should resolve itself without treatment. This also may be the case if you have a chronic illness.
Alopecia occurs when hair follicles are attacked by your own body, causing clumps of hair to fall out. While rare, there is a potential to lose all the hair on your head and/or on your entire body. Males are more likely to lose all their hair while women mostly experience thinning. Sometimes the hair grows back for good and other times it grows back and then falls out again shortly after. Unfortunately, alopecia is not curable, but can and should be treated by a dermatologist. During diagnosis, a skin biopsy may be performed and examined to properly diagnose the alopecia.
What Are The Types Of Hair Loss
There are three: anagen effluvium, telogen effluvium and FPHL.
- Anagen effluvium: This is caused by medications that poison a growing hair follicle .
- Telogen effluvium: This is caused by an increased number of hair follicles reaching the telogen phase, which is the stage where hair falls out.
- Androgenetic alopecia/female pattern alopecia/female pattern hair loss /baldness: This type is the most common. Hair thins over the top of the head and on the sides.
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How Can I Encourage Hair Growth By Stimulating My Hair Follicles
What Can You Do to Encourage Natural Hair Growth?
How Long Will Biotin Take To Take Effect
Studies from 2012 and 2015 suggest that benefits can be noticed in as little as 90 days, despite the lack of study. This includes a boost in both growth and radiance. The longer you take a greater dose, the better your outcomes are anticipated to be. More information on how to make your hair grow faster may be found here.
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Pura Dor Hair Thinning Therapy
Pura Dor advertises its hair serum as containing many of the key ingredients for hair growth and stimulation.
While it does have biotin and niacin, it also has a tremendous number of other ingredients which havent been proven useful for treating hair loss. Its asking a lot to use this serum for just a couple of its ingredients.
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What’s Required To Become Board Certified
Once a dermatologist has successfully completed their residency, they have the option of becoming board-certified by completing a challenging exam that will test the knowledge and skills they’ve acquired over the last decade of education.
Anyone that has their board certification granted by the American Board of Dermatology, the American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology, or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada has received the most rigorous education possible in the field of dermatology.
In other words, there is no other person that will know more about your hair, skin, and nails than a board certified dermatologist.
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What Is The Outcome For Someone Who Has Hair Loss
With an accurate diagnosis, many people who have hair loss can see hair regrowth. If you need treatment for regrowth, the earlier you start, the more likely you are to see regrowth.
Its important to understand that:
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Not every type of hair loss can be treated, but a dermatologist may be able to prevent further hair loss.
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It can take months before you see results from treatment.
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No one treatment works for everyone, even two people with the same type of hair loss.
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Sometimes, hair loss is stubborn and requires trying different treatments before finding one that works.
Self-care also plays an essential role in preventing and treating hair loss. To find out what dermatologists recommend, go to Hair loss: Self-care.
Images1,2: Getty Images
3: Property of the American Academy of Dermatology, A to Z Video Series
4: Image used with permission of Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology: J Am Acad Dermatol. 1998 39:578-89.
ReferencesAdil A, Godwin M. The effectiveness of treatments for androgenetic alopecia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 77:136-141.
American Academy of Dermatology:
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Research demonstrates potential of platelet-rich plasma therapy for hair loss News release issued March 1, 2019. Last accessed May 22, 2019.
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New generation of laser and light therapies could provide future treatment options for skin, hair and nail conditions, News release issued March 16, 2012. Last accessed May 22, 2019.
Where To Buy Hair Loss Medication
The most accessible hair loss treatments are those made with minoxidil. Brands like Rogaine are widely available over the counter at pharmacies and online retailers.
Prescription drugs used to treat hair loss finasteride, spironolactone, and dutasteride are more accessible with subscription-based telehealth platforms like Hims, Keeps, and Roman.
Hims is a telemedicine company that offers treatments for a variety of health conditions, including hair loss for men.
Over-the-counter products, such as minoxidil foams and solutions, are available for anyone to purchase.
If youre interested in prescription-strength products, such as oral finasteride, Hims can connect you with a healthcare professional from your own home.
The cost of Hims varies considerably. A 3-month supply of some of their most popular hair loss products is priced at $195.
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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.
How Do Dermatologists Treat Hair Loss
Just as there are many causes, there are many treatments for hair loss. Dermatologists recommend treating hair loss early, before you lose a lot of hair. Hair loss is harder to treat when a person has already lost an extreme amount of hair.
One or more of the following treatments may be part of your treatment plan.
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Where Did Blonde Hair Evolve
According to geneticist David Reich, blond hair has ancient roots in Asia. The derived allele responsible for blond hair in Europeans likely evolved first among the Ancient North Eurasians. The earliest known individual with this allele is a Siberian fossil from Afontova Gora, in south-central Siberia.
Can A Dermatologist Help With Hair Loss
Can a dermatologist help with hair loss? Its a common question we get from potential patients and followers on social media. Patients consider dermatologists for issues concerning the skin like acne, dermatitis, and skin cancers. However, your dermatologist can tackle all the problems concerning hair and nails.
When it comes to issues of the hair, none are more common and concerning as hair loss. Over 55 million Americans suffer from some degree of hair loss.
Many ignore the issue or are unaware of the excessive shedding. Others let it run its course and shave it all off or decide to cover it up with hairstyles, wigs, or hats. But for some, the issue could be distressing, emotionally devastating, and can even affect their daily lives. At this point, treating your hair loss goes beyond buying shampoo or an over-the-counter treatment. Youll need to visit your dermatologist to find out the root cause so that you can take a holistic approach to grow back those whiskers, pronto.
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How Is Alopecia Diagnosed
Talk to your doctor if youre worried about hair loss. Your doctor will usually be able to find the cause, but might refer you to a dermatologist, who will inspect the area. If they are unsure about whats causing the hair loss, they might take a sample of skin, hair or blood to examine more closely. Your doctor will want to rule out medical conditions that may lead to hair loss.
Are There Complications/side Effects Of Treatment
Minoxidil may irritate your scalp and cause dryness, scaling, itching and/or redness. See your dermatologist if this happens.
With Minoxidil you might also see hair growing in other places other than your scalp . Wash your face after you apply Minoxidil and make sure you avoid other areas when you apply it.
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Effective Hair Loss Treatments
Hair loss caused by stress or hormonal changes, like pregnancy or menopause, may not require any treatment. Instead, the loss will likely stop on its own after the body adjusts.
Nutrient deficiencies also dont often require medical treatment beyond supplements, unless the deficiency is caused by an underlying health condition. And any medical conditions that lead to hair loss should be treated directly to address the full condition, not just its symptoms.
That said, there are a number of possible medications and treatments for hair loss caused by female-pattern baldness and other alopecias. You may need to use one or a combination of treatments for months or years to see the full results.
How Can A Dermatologist Help With Hair Loss
If youre facing prolonged and unexplained hair loss, set an appointment with your dermatologist as soon as possible. Your dermatologist will perform a detailed assessment of your medical history as well as perform a physical examination. Youll need a blood test to assess your hormones, thyroid, and any deficiencies in some cases. From there, there are several strategies your dermatologist can use to help restore hair growth.
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How To Combat Hair Loss As You Age
The healthier your body, the healthier your hair, notes Dr. Simpson. Her basic tips for staying healthy and having healthy hair over the years include:
- Getting enough sleep.
- Exercising regularly.
If your hair is thinning, your doctor may recommend taking biotin, iron or other supplements, or massaging 5% minoxidil into your scalp once daily, she says.
Advanced treatments are available for more serious hair loss.
Other Treatments For Hair Loss
Some at-home strategies and lifestyle changes may help minimize hair loss.
Certain vitamins and supplements may be helpful. Vitamin A, vitamin C, B vitamins, and vitamin D are all beneficial for hair health. Iron and zinc may also curb hair loss.
A high protein diet may be recommended. Hair is made up of protein, so getting enough protein in your diet is important for hair growth.
Other professional treatments include laser devices and microneedling. Steroid injections, hair transplants, and platelet-rich plasma procedures may be options to consider, although these are more common treatments for inflammatory hair loss.
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