Try A Few Key Supplements
If youre wondering what vitamins are good for hair loss during menopause, there are a few key nutrients you need. Biotin and Viviscal, for example, come up again and again in perimenopausal hair loss research. Deficiencies in biotin are rare, but many women take supplements because it seems to improve the condition of their hair and nails.
Viviscal has Biotin in it and calcium. And vitamin C. It also contains shark cartilage, oyster extract, and a marine complex which is apparently the secret elixir that gives the ingredient its power. The U.S. National Library of Medicine published an article with a double-blind placebo controlled study that showed the efficacy of this product significantly more women who took Viviscal than the placebo noticed hair growth after 90 days, and even more after 180 days.
Now its true that the funding for the study was provided by the makers of Viviscal, but double-blind is double-blind. Furthermore, in an entirely separate article, Beauty Editor writer Katrina Persad tried Viviscal for six months and documented her results in a quite convincing photo essay and article that showed fairly dramatic results and Viviscal did not pay her for her trouble.
Check out this list of nutrients for hair loss, and where you can find them.
Caring For Your Hair And Skin In Menopause
My hair, nails and skin look amazing since menopause started, said no perimenopausal or postmenopausal woman EVER! BUT that does not mean all hope is lost. On the contrary, there is a lot of easy and effective actions to take.
In general, skin and hair appearance are a reflection of what our body is trying to tell us. We are what we eatso lets start with the nitty gritty about diet and nutrients:
TAKE HOME POINT: for most women- a daily multivitamin is really all you need.
Male Sex Hormones And Hirsutism In Women
The female sex hormone oestrogen makes body hair fine and soft. Androgens are male sex hormones, including testosterone, which are responsible for masculine characteristics such as facial hair and coarse body hair. A womans ovaries and adrenal glands naturally make a small amount of androgens.
In most cases, hirsutism in women is thought to be caused by an abnormally high level of androgens. Other masculine features such as a deepened voice and increased muscle mass may also develop, and menstrual periods may cease . In other cases, womens androgen levels are normal, but their hair follicles are overly sensitive to the effects of male sex hormones.
Also Check: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Testosterone Therapy
Estrogen And Hair Loss: The Basics
-
Estrogen is one of the most important female sex hormones. Its responsible for several aspects of your health, including controlling your menstrual cycle and promoting optimal brain, bone, heart and skin health.
-
Before menopause, your body produces three forms of estrogen: estradiol, estriol and estrone. During menopause, your body stops producing estradiol and estriol, and only produces estrone.
-
Some women develop menopausal hair loss as they enter menopause in their 40s, 50s or 60s. Experts believe that reduced levels of estrogen and other hormones may play a role in menopausal hair loss.
-
Research shows that estrogen is linked to hair growth. For example, during pregnancy, when estrogen levels are high, its common for hair density to increase, with a reduced level of shedding. However, pregnancy hair loss could be common as well.
-
Hair loss medications like minoxidil for women and other hair care products can help to stimulate hair growth and keep your hair strong, full and healthy.
How To Manage Symptoms Of Hair Loss During Menopause
The good thing about menopausal hair thinning and hair loss is that it is not a permanent condition. Your hair will still grow back but it may take some time. Fortunately, there are ways that can help manage its symptoms and prevent severe hair loss. Here are some tips to keep your hair healthy during menopause:
You May Like: Does Melatonin Cancel Out Birth Control Shot
Does Low Estrogen Cause Hair Loss
Medically reviewed by Katelyn Hagerty, FNP
Its normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs per day, many of which end up on your pillowcase or stuck inside your hairbrush.
However, if youre losing a lot of hair every day, theres a chance that its linked to an underlying health issue.
One potential cause of hair loss is a change in your levels of certain hormones, particularly the female sex hormone estrogen.
Your estrogen levels may drop in response to a health issue, the use of certain medications or during menopause.
Below, weve discussed how low estrogen can contribute to hair loss, as well as the treatment options that are available if youre experiencing hair loss and think that low estrogen levels are the cause.
Recommended Reading: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Testosterone Therapy
The Link Between Hrt And Hair Growth
Estrogen is linked with hair growth. Thats why many pregnant women experience thicker, faster-growing hair their high estrogen levels are sending their hair follicles into overdrive.
So, can hormonal hair loss be reversed with HRT? In some cases, yes. By taking more estrogen hormones, some menopausal women may be able to stop and even reverse hormonal hair loss.
HRT hair regrowth is also possible for trans women with androgenetic alopecia . This is because androgenetic alopecia is caused by a male hormone called DHT, which is a derivative of testosterone. By undergoing male-to-female HRT, trans women begin to produce less DHT and in some cases regrow their hair.
You May Like: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Can Low Estrogen Cause Hair Loss
Estrogen is one of several essential sex hormones in your body. During puberty, it plays a major role in starting your menstrual cycle and defining your female physical features.
Throughout your life, estrogen is responsible for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, keeping your bones strong and healthy and affecting certain aspects of your brain function.
Although the link between estrogen and hair health isnt completely understood, experts believe that these hormone levels do play a protective role against hair loss.
This is because most research shows that women with low levels of estrogen are more likely to develop female pattern hair loss as a result of the hormonal imbalance.
Female pattern hair loss is the womens equivalent of male pattern baldness . Its caused by a combination of hormonal and genetic factors.
Unlike male pattern baldness, which usually causes a receding hairline or bald spot around the crown, female pattern hair loss generally causes your hair to thin around your part line .
Over time, this type of hair loss can become more severe until the hair on the top of your scalp has an almost see-through appearance.
When we talk androgenetic alopecia, were usually talking about men. But, believe it or not, female hair loss loss is quite common in women, especially as we age. In fact, research shows that around 21 million women in the United States alone show some degree of female hair loss.
What Is Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is a term used to describe the use of hormones that, on a molecular level, are identical to endogenous hormones. The specific hormones that are used in bioidentical hormone therapy vary, but can include estrone, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone , and estriol.
BHRT is almost solely practiced in the U.S. and is considered a form of alternative medicine. Not only are bioidentical hormones promoted to fight menopausal symptoms, but also as a treatment that can reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Read Also: Can Having Your Tubes Tied Cause Hormonal Imbalance
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.
Menopause And Hair Loss: Whats The Connection
When entering the years of menopausal transition, it is a good idea to check the bodys hormone levels. This can help explain symptoms such as hair loss.
When a person experiences hair loss and other symptoms of menopause, it is predominantly due to hormonal changes. With age, the ovaries begin to decrease the amount of sex hormones that are normally produced. As the body responds to the fluctuations in hormones, numerous physical changes occur. Menopausal hair loss is directly related to the decreased production of estrogen and progesterone.
As these hormone levels drop, hair may begin to grow more slowly and become thinner. Over time, the decrease in estrogen and progesterone causes an increase in the activity of male hormones that the body makes. Androgens cause the hair follicles on the head to shrink, which leads to hair loss. These are the same hormones that are responsible for increased facial hair growth in menopausal people.
Among other factors that contribute to hair loss are lack of nutrients, stress, and illness. A health care provider may suggest tests for basic blood count, thyroid function, or hormone levels to identify the cause of hair loss.
Read Also: My Cat Ate Melatonin
What Causes Low Estrogen
Several different factors can affect your estrogen levels. The most significant is age. In menopausal women, its normal for the amount of estrogen thats produced by the body to decline.
In premenopausal women, the body should produce approximately 30 picograms to 400 picograms of estradiol per milliliter of blood .
And for postmenopausal women, its normal to have a blood estradiol level of 30 pg per mL or less.
Several other issues may also cause low estrogen:
-
Being underweight or having very little body fat. Research
has found that estrogen production is usually lower in women with very little body fat than in women with normal levels of fat.
-
Being overweight or obese
. Similarly, research has also found that women with very high levels of body fat are also more likely to have decreased estrogen levels.
-
Exercising excessively. While a moderate amount of exercise is great for your health, large amounts of high-intensity exercise
may affect your hormone production and result in lower estrogen levels.
-
Being under significant stress. Research
shows that psychological stress may make the natural falls in estrogen that occur during your menstrual cycle more extreme, cranking up the hormonal imbalance and the issues that come with it.
-
Polycystic ovary syndrome . This is a common hormonal disorder that tends to affect women in their 20s and 30s. It can cause a range of symptoms, including changes to your menstrual cycle and PCOS-related hair loss
Solutions For Low Estrogen And Hair Loss
If your doctor suspects that your hair loss is caused by a lack of estrogen then he may offer you supplementary estrogen known as Hormone Replacement Therapy either taken orally or applied topically as a gel or patch.
Some women are given the birth control pill to boost their estrogen levels.
That being said, estrogen supplementation is still somewhat controversial, with some sources pointing out that there are no controlled medical studies supporting its effectiveness, whilst others stating that
estrogen deficiency as a cause of hair loss has not found its way into medical textbooks, but this does not stop it from happening.
Some women report seeing a big improvement in their hair loss once their estrogen levels are supplemented, others not so much.
But its worth bearing in mind that different people react in different ways to supplementation based on all sorts of factors.
Its best not to decide upon YOUR plan of action by comparing yourself to others rather, we recommend discussing the situation with your doctor or even better endocrinologist.
We also recommend ensuring that it really IS low estrogen thats causing your hair loss.
Later in this article well look at other ways in which estrogen and hair loss are connected ways that may explain why supplementary estrogen doesnt work for everyone and may even make hair loss worse.
Source: WebMD
Also Check: Hormonal Imbalance After Tubal Ligation
Other Symptoms Of Low Estrogen
In addition to hair loss, low estrogen can cause a range of symptoms. Other symptoms of low estrogen include:
-
A reduced level of interest in sex
-
Less frequent menstrual periods, or no periods
-
Hot flashes and/or night sweats
-
Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep
-
Vaginal dryness and thinning of vaginal tissue
-
Dry skin
-
Mood swings
Some of these symptoms may occur before and during your period. For example, some women experience menstrual migraines painful headaches that occur before or during their period.
This is because your levels of estrogen fluctuate during your period. When estrogen levels are low, you may have a higher risk of experiencing the symptoms listed above.
Talk To Your Doctor About Cortisone Shots Or Acupuncture For Perimenopause Hair Loss
The data is inconclusive as to whether or not cortisone shots actually work at re-growing hair, but I do know one woman who gets them frequently and says they have really helped her. Cortisone shots are given at the scalp, and the Mayo Clinic suggests they should not be given more often than every six weeks.
While I know of some women who have had luck with acupuncture for hair loss, the British Acupuncture Society states that there is no evidence that acupuncture can treat hair loss as a specific symptom however, it might help with the underlying problem.
You May Like: Can Tubal Ligation Cause Early Menopause
Bioidentical Hormones And Hair Loss
Some researchers believe that bioidentical hormones do fight the symptoms of menopause, hair loss included. Bioidentical hormones have the exact molecular structure of the hormones that a woman’s body produces naturally. In other words, these hormones are no different from the hormones that women’s bodies produce from about age 12 through 51. Bioidentical hormones are just as effective in eliminating symptoms of menopause as synthetic hormones at balancing the fluctuating hormones that cause hair loss and other menopausal symptoms.
Solutions For Estrogen Hair Loss
There are a variety of natural and medicated solutions to combat hair loss caused by estrogen. If you think youre losing hair due to a hormonal imbalance, first have your levels tested to find out if you have too little or too much estrogen.
If you have a case of estrogen dominance, you can help bring your levels down to normal by keeping your gut healthy and avoiding refined carbohydrates like white bread and white rice. Also, avoid eating any meat that has been treated with hormones. If you have low levels of estrogen, solutions include , practicing a , and exercising regularly.
Whether youre experiencing low or high estrogen levels, it would be wise to tackle the problem as soon as you notice it. With normalizing hormone levels and your doctors advice, your hair growth can return to normal in no time.
Recommended Reading: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Low Testosterone
Also Check: Can Tubal Ligation Cause Menopause
Lifestyle And Habit Changes
If you have low estrogen levels due to a lifestyle factor for example, excessive exercise your healthcare provider may suggest making changes to increase your estrogen production.
You may need to adjust your activity level or diet. If youve experienced weight gain over time or are clinically obese, your healthcare provider may suggest losing weight. Other lifestyle changes, such as reducing your stress levels, may also help to promote optimal hormone production.
Will Hormone Replacement Therapy Help With Female Hair Loss
Having healthy hair is often associated with confidence and a positive self-image, especially for many women. One bad hair day can affect how a woman feels about herself, and there are studies that show how female pattern hair loss can have psychological effects and negatively impact their quality of life. Female pattern hair loss is common during the menopausal transition but intervention with hormone replacement therapy can help combat further hair thinning.
So how exactly can hormone therapy treat thinning hair for women? Hair loss among perimenopausal and menopausal women can often be caused by hormone imbalance where estrogen levels drastically drop. Getting HRT can restore balance to the female hormone levels, slowing down the shrinking of hair follicle and maintaining ideal hair density.
Read Also: Can Having Your Tubes Tied Cause Hormonal Imbalance