Get Healthy Tips

Hair loss and menopause

Menopause can already be a stressful phase of life, let alone when you suddenly lose bunches of hair or if your hair suddenly feels so shiny or breaks off. What is happening in your body? It sometimes feels like groping in the dark, but fortunately we know more and more about menopause (which women around the 50 elife year) and how to deal with this. In the lion's share of cases, changing hormones determine how much hair you lose or keep.

Think of: pregnancy, the contraceptive pill, perimenopause and menopause. While things like stress and diet also play a significant role, hair growth pills can help you prevent hair loss. Hair loss, in addition to many other complaints such as hot flashes, can be one of the symptoms of the menopause for many women. See tips here to limit the consequences.

Hair loss and menopause: why?

The growth of our human hair is regulated, among other things, by certain hormones, including estrogens. These female hormones stimulate hair growth and help protect hair follicles. Once menopause has set in, the hormone fluctuations through menstruation disappear and estrogen production drops drastically. The result: locks that grow a lot slower than before in your younger years.

Hair loss and menopause: does hair get thinner?

Apart from finding extra strands in the shower drain, the hair also often weakens during the transition. Not only the length, but also the volume of the hair can be affected. Estrogen (of which your body now suddenly has considerably less) is a hair-friendly hormone that keeps your hair in its anagen (read: growth) phase for longer. If your hair breaks down faster during the transition, it is because the follicle (hair follicle) production gradually becomes finer, and finer hair is more fragile. Women whose hair is sensitive to DHT (dihydrotestosterone) suffer even more from this.

Is hair loss temporary during menopause?

Here comes the good news: the symptoms of menopause (from hot flashes to mood swings and there it is, hair loss) diminish as time passes. The same goes for losing your precious locks. On your head, but also on your eyebrows, for example. Hair loss that occurs due to the menopause (your doctor can give a definite answer by means of a simple check of your hormone levels) is usually temporary. Plus, there are things you can do to moderate the effects.

Symptoms of hair loss during menopause

You may not see much of it from day to day, but suddenly you look in the mirror and it is visible: over time your hair has changed enormously. Although 50 is the average age at which women begin menopause, the effects of menopause can be felt earlier. For example, around the transition you can see the following signs in your hair:

Your ponytail is thinner;
Your hair grows less than before;
Your hair parting appears wider;
Your scalp is more visible around the crown of your head;
Your hair pulls back at the forehead;
Your frontal hairline has less volume;
Your hair has less thickness (volume) and length of each hair strand.

What are the best solutions for hair loss during menopause?

There is something to be done to overcome the drop in estrogen production - a clear hallmark of the menopause - as much as possible when it comes to your hair. From supplements to food and treatments, read along.

Menopausal hair loss and vitamins: iron and biotin

Iron plays a vital role in helping to prevent hair loss. In addition, biotin has the nickname 'hair growth vitamin'. Therefore eat fish, nuts, beans, poultry, lettuce, tomatoes and carrots. So that you get enough nutrients that benefit hair growth. Incidentally, biotin is also available in supplement form. Make sure you choose a quality product, because this can make a big difference in the result.

Menopause and nutritional hair loss: Omega 3

Some more nutritional tips: Omega 3 fatty acids, which are found in tuna, mackerel, linseed and nuts. These healthy fats help hydrate the hair and also promote hair growth.

Menopause and nutritional hair loss: herbs

Certain herbs nourish the hair and / or stimulate circulation and scalp activity. These include aloe vera, ginseng, lavender and rosemary. For example, sprinkle some extra rosemary over your chicken dish.