More Than A Bad Hair Day
For many women, our hair is something we control we cut it, style it and choose how to wear it. It is an expression of ourselves, our personality and our image. If we lose a lot of hair, we may feel less like ourselves, less in control and it can affect our self-esteem.
The average age of the menopause is around fifty and in the months or years leading up to this, some people notice a change in hair pattern. Very commonly, the volume and condition of the hair appears to worsen, with some women noticing that hair does not grow as much as previously. More hair seems to come out in the basin when washing and hair brushes soon fill up as loose hairs are brushed away. Some women will go on to experience a more profound hair loss, with thinning at the crown of the head, the sides or more general hair thinning all over the head. This is described as Female pattern hair loss . A complete loss of hair, as seen in men who sometimes go bald, is much rarer in women and is usually caused by a medical condition or by medical treatment such as chemotherapy.
Is Medication The Right Solution For Me
Medications are a common treatment for hair loss in men and women, but they arent always the best solution.
They include minoxidil, the active ingredient in Rogaine. Research has confirmed that when applied directly to the scalp minoxidil can stimulate hair growth. People who took minoxidil, which was initially introduced as a medical treatment to help with high blood pressure, noticed that new hair growth was stimulated in areas that it had previously been lost.
While the new growth of fine hair in some people can be produced with minoxidil, it cant restore the full density of the lost hair. Its not a quick fix, either, for hair loss in women. Its important to understand that this is not a quick-fix for hair loss in women. The drug must be used for at least two consecutive months to notice a difference, and the effect is usually noticed around the four-month mark, but it could possibly take longer. A six to 12-month trial is recommended. To maintain those results, you will need to consistently use it, or your hair may begin to lose hair again.
Women suffering from hair loss can also take what are known as anti-androgens. Women suffering from hair loss can also take what are known as anti-androgens, and because women living with polycystic ovary syndrome tend to produce excess androgens, this is especially true.
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
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
Estrogen is related to hair growth and hair loss. During pregnancy, for example, a woman’s estrogen levels are higher than normal, which signals more hair follicles to “grow” and fewer to “rest.”
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What Does Hormonal Hair Loss Look Like
The first thing to think about if you are concerned you might be suffering from a hormonal loss is what the loss might look like. Different types of loss present themselves differently and can give clues as to what the trigger of the loss could be. So what does hormonal hair loss look like in women?
It is important to realize that hormonal hair loss looks very different in women than it does in men. Men will typically get a horseshoe-shaped loss or a bald spot on the back of the head. Women do not get this pattern of loss.
When women experience hormonal hair loss it is more of an overall thinning. The hair all over the scalp becomes thinner due to the hormonal change or imbalance. If you are noticing that your hair is becoming increasingly thin and cant seem to stop it, you may actually be struggling with a hormone-driven loss.
Compounding Hrt Creams And Dermal Treatments Can Be A Solution For Women Who Are Losing Hair While On Hrt Pellets
Commercially-available pharmaceuticals arent always the best medication solution for everyone. Thats why the compounding industry, of which we are a part, exists. We help patients on the Northshore and Metro New Orleans find compounding solutions for their pharmaceutical needs that are custom-made to their doctors unique prescription.
If youre a local woman who has experienced hair loss while on HRT pellets, we may be able to help. We create compounds of custom-made HRT creams and dermal treatments, which replace HRT pellets and which will contain the exact amount of testosterone your doctor knows that you need to best manage your hormones during menopause. By doing this, were able to help many Northshore and Metro New Orleans women find the pharmaceutical solutions they need without the unwanted side effects of mass-produced solutions, such as hair loss from HRT pellets. And most importantly, these alternative HRT creams and dermal treatments may be safer to use and could reduce the risk of unwanted female hair loss.
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Can Thin Hair Become Thick Again
Here’s the truth: You can’t change the size of your hair follicles. If you were born with fine hair, it’s genetics, and no product will completely alter that. … Below, we’ve outlined how to grow thicker hair, from supplements to incorporate into your routine to shampoos to slather on your strands.
More Than Another Bad Hair Day
Many women find their hair loses volume and length around menopause hair can also become brittle, fragile and break more easily. Some women also notice hair thinning and shedding – particularly around the hairline and crown known as female pattern hair loss .
Common signs of menopausal hair thinning:
Ponytail is thinnerHair not growing as long as it used toParting is wider and scalp is more visible around the crownRecession and/or thinning at templesReduced thickness and length of each strand
These changes can be really stressful since our hair is a very important aspect of our identity. Other unwelcome changes to our appearance may also be happening around the same time, leading to further distress
The hair growth cycle consists of three distinct stages:
Anagen PhaseHair grows around a centimetre a month , and faster in the summer than in winter. This growth phase lasts an average of 3-5 years so a full-length hair averages 71-76cm. The anagen phase is generally longer in people of Asian descent, and can last as much as 7 years.
Catagen PhaseAt the end of the anagen phase, hair enters the catagen phase. This short transitional phase lasts approximately 10 days.
Telogen PhaseFinally, hair enters a resting phase when strands are released and fall out. The follicle then remains inactive for 3 months, before the whole process is repeated.
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Can Testosterone Injections Cause Hair Loss
Medically reviewed by Jill Johnson, FNP
As men age, testosterone can become a scarce commodity. Age can make just about all of your bodys processes less efficient, which can lead to wrinklier skin, slower healing from injuries and a reduction in your bone density.
It can also potentially contribute to lower production of certain essential hormones, including the male sex hormone testosterone.
For many men, this gradual decline in testosterone production that occurs with age can lead to low testosterone, or low-T — a condition that can affect everything from your bone density and muscle mass to your sex drive and risk of erectile dysfunction.
Low testosterone is a treatable condition, and one of the most common treatment options is the use of injectable testosterone to bring your serum testosterone levels back up to normal. This is often referred to as testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT.
Testosterone replacement therapy can deliver real benefits, but it can also accelerate the effects of male pattern baldness.
Below, weve discussed why pattern hair loss can occur in men, as well as the indirect role that testosterone can play in the process of developing a receding hairline, bald patch at your crown or other common signs of balding.
Weve also explained your options for maintaining your hair as you grow older, whether you use testosterone to treat low-T or not.
Implications Of Hormone Therapies In Hair Loss
Many authors, including those of this review, suggest authors hypothesize that hair loss in addition to acne and hirsutism are side effects attributable to the androgenic effect of progestogens . Additionally, some data have suggested an association between androgenic progestins and alopecia. A postmarketing surveillance study of Norplant, a levonorgestrel implant, noted statistically significant increased rates of alopecia in patients with the implant compared with controls . In another study aiming to assess the incidence of hair loss in women after insertion of a levonorgestrel IUD, the adverse effect of hair loss prompted some women to remove their device upon removal, some women experienced recovery of their hair loss, which suggests a causal association . This study was met by the severe limitations of reliance on physician reporting of hair loss and inadequate follow-up. In a Finnish study of almost 18,000 women, 15.7% of women with levonorgestrel IUDs reported hair loss . However, authors did not provide details that could support causality, such as timeline of insertion and removal of device, duration and severity of hair loss/growth, and other risk factors for alopecia.
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Can Testosterone Replacement Cause Hair Loss
Androgens like DHT are known hair loss culprits, so is excess Testosterone also bad for hair health? Learn more about testosterone replacement and hair loss.
For men who want to look good and feel their best as they get older, they may be looking into ways to help reduce hair loss as well as potentially undergoing testosterone replacement therapy if their levels are low. This often comes along with a lot of questions, as there are a few myths out there regarding testosterone replacement therapy and how it can affect your hair.
Having normal amounts of testosterone in your body can be fine for your hair, as hair loss has more to deal with how your specific hair follicles respond to another hormone which can be derived from testosterone called dihydrotestosterone . For men who have a genetic sensitivity to DHT, their hair follicles are more sensitive to the damaging effects of the hormone, and may experience hair shrinkage, shortening, and the eventual loss of the hair from DHT hanging around. It is this genetic sensitivity to DHT that is the main culprit behind male pattern hair loss, and not necessarily the testosterone itself.
How Does Dht Cause Hair Loss
The androgens are actually known as hair growth hormones because they have anabolic effects on human hair. However, hair follicles at certain body sites respond negatively to DHT a phenomenon is known as the androgen paradox.
DHT stimulates facial and body hair growth, but also it activates several negative mediators in the human scalp, which cause the shrinking of the hair follicles. The hair gradually thins out leading to baldness.
The levels of DHT can increase if 5- reductase activity and T are high. However, increased sensitivity of its receptors in the hair follicle can speed up hair loss and lead to alopecia even if DHT levels are normal.
Evidence suggests that the sensitivity of these androgen receptors is largely determined by genetics
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How Can The Menopause Affect My Hair
Our sex hormones play a key role in regulating our hair growth. During the perimenopause our oestrogen levels fluctuate and gradually decline. Progesterone levels also decline, as do testosterone levels however our ovaries continue to make testosterone after our oestrogen production has declined.
Oestrogen generally has a positive effect on our scalp hair thickness and length, while testosterone can contribute to pattern hair loss and increased hair growth on the face, chest, and stomach. As oestrogen levels drop during menopause, for some women this causes hair thinning.
There are two main types of hair loss that menopause can be related to:
-
A temporary form of hair thinning called telogen effluvium
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A condition called female pattern hair loss which is related to male pattern hair loss
Menopause in of itself isnt a type of hair loss, and not all women experience hair loss from the menopause. It is also important to note that neither telogen effluvium and female pattern hair loss do not result in you losing all your hair and there are treatments available that you can try.
These conditions can sometimes be difficult to distinguish and there are other hair loss conditions which are more common in menopausal women, so if you are concerned about your hair thinning, please contact the Clinic.
Can Women Experience Hair Loss From Hormone Replacement Therapy With Testosterone
Q: Dr. Bernstein, a lot of older women are taking testosterone to restore libido, but are they going to experience hair loss as a consequence?
A: They can. In women there is a delicate balance between the androgens, i.e. testosterone and estrogens. Estrogen is protective to some degree against hair loss in women, which is why most women dont experience such severe hair loss as do men.
When a woman takes testosterone supplements it upsets that balance and can cause hair loss. However, hair loss in post-menopausal women is usually due to age related changes. Typically, the hair decreases in size in a genetically determined progression that seems not to be directly related to changes in the levels of hormones.
For more information, please see the Causes of Hair Loss in Women page on the Bernstein Medical Center for Hair Restoration website.
Read Also: What Are Side Effects Of Hormone Replacement Therapy
What Happens When You Stop Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone replacement therapy can be stopped immediately or gradually. Which is best for you will depend on your individual needs, your menopausal stage, and of course your doctors advice. The most common means of stopping hormone replacement therapy is to slowly decrease doses over time in order to wean the body off the additional hormones. Most women report this being the most comfortable way to cease hormone replacement therapy.
Menopausal Hair Loss: Is It Reversible
Menopause is a time of extreme hormonal changes that typically occurs around the late 40s and early 50s. After menopause, many different physical symptoms can appear, including menopausal hair loss. These symptoms can also include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, insomnia, and vaginal dryness.
Many people want to know if hormonal hair loss can be reversed. The answer is yes! Fortunately, unlike genetic hair loss, most hair loss caused by hormonal imbalances is reversible.
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Do High Testosterone Levels Cause Hair Loss
More than 25% of women over the age of 50 experience significant hair loss. Perimenopause causes a number of physical and emotional changes to the body, one of which is hair loss. In some women, hair loss during menopause can trigger profound self-confidence issues. Hair loss is usually caused by hormonal imbalances, such as high testosterone.
Other Treatments For Menopausal Hair Loss
Topical medications can improve female hair growth but have several unpleasant side effects. Finasteride can result in decreased libido, breast tenderness, and excess hair growth in unwanted places. Minoxidil can cause unwanted facial and/or body hair, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, fainting, chest pain, swelling of the limbs, weight gain, tiredness, and difficulty breathing.
Depending upon the underlying cause of a menopausal womens hair loss, dietary supplementation can also help stop hair loss, and support hair regrowth. SottoPelle Hair Repair Supplementcan be used in combination with hormone replacement for even better results.
This revolutionary hair restoration supplement supplies essential nutrients to support healthy hair growth at the deepest cellular level, including Saw Palmetto to help keep the hair growth cycle intact, as well as d-Biotin, Zinc and Selenium to stimulate scalp health, inhibit further hair loss, and encourage new growth.
SottoPelle has been helping menopausal women restore hormone balance and reverse the symptoms of menopause for more than four decades. If you are suffering from hair loss or other symptoms of hormone decline, Advanced Hormone Solutions will take a thorough diagnostic approach and prescribe the most effective treatment to restore a thick and healthy head of hair.
For more info, contact Advanced Hormone Solutions today at 201-225-2525 or schedule a consultation at:
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Treating Menopausal Hair Loss
Seeing a doctor who specializes in hormone balancing, is crucial to accurately diagnosing the cause of your hair loss and identifying the best hair restoration treatment for you. Indeed, the cause of menopausal hair loss is almost always rooted in hormone changes. However, there are many additional contributors to thinning hair during menopause, including stress, illness or disease, certain medications, and some nutritional deficiencies.
A certified SottoPelle physician can order diagnostic blood tests including estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and thyroid tests, as well as complete blood panels to identify any underlying deficiencies that may be the cause of your thinning hair.