2023-09-16 07:11:21
by Cristina Marrone
Hormonal imbalances during menopause make hair more fragile and thin. To make matters worse are aggressive dyes and treatments. How to manage hair loss
In menopause, with changes in hormone levels, there are many changes that a woman may experience: from hot flashes to weight gain, from bone loss to mood swings. However, many women also notice changes to their scalp: their hair becomes dry and falls out. What happens? Second a study from last year approximately half of menopausal women notice rapid hair loss and changes in the structure of the hair which is often no longer as shiny as in the past. Although research specifically on menopausal hair loss is quite scarce, scientists believe that hormonal changes are also implicated in changes in hair growth.
We know that hair falls out and grows back continuously (50-100 per day is normal). We can talk about hair loss (alopecia) when less grows than is lost.
The role of hormones in hair loss
The hair follicles, inserted in the deepest part of the dermis, contain the hair root. Inside them there are receptors for sexual hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and other androgens. There isn’t much conclusive research on how female sex hormones specifically affect hair. However, some preliminary studies in mice and skin cells suggest that they are particularly the estrogen to affect hair growth, perhaps by stimulating it, and they could also be responsible for maintaining the diameter of the individual hair. The alteration of hormone levels during menopause can therefore be the cause of changes in hair. During menopause, estrogen and progesterone decrease and this means that the effects of male hormones increase. Hormonal alterations also have effects on hair follicles: hair grows more slowly and falls out more quickly. Other hormones, particularly testosterone which has been studied in more depth, are responsible for the production of sebum, the oil that nourishes and hydrates hair. During menopause the amount of testosterone also drops, leading to the scalp becoming increasingly drier and the hair becoming more brittle.
What affects hair loss
In reality, hormonal changes related to menopause can exacerbate an already existing problem. There are other factors that can affect the quality and growth of hair before a woman enters menopause such as stress, chronic inflammatory conditions or even the consequences of Covid. Age is also associated with changes in hair growth, thickness and texture, and this applies to both women and men. The habit of wearing your hair in a high ponytail or very tight braids can encourage hair loss, as can the use of aggressive chemical products. Lack of certain nutrients can also affect changes in your hair. Dr. Kaiser Permanente specializing in hair disorders and hair loss, interviewed by New York Times mentions vitamin D and iron. “We have done a lot of research on this topic and we know that vitamin D acts more as a hormone than a vitamin for hair.” And of course genetics also come into play: it is not uncommon for hair loss to be hereditary.
How to manage hair loss
Intervening in time when you notice changes in your hair will make future treatments more effective. The first thing to do is ask for a complete hair examination from your dermatologist and specific blood tests to understand if the changes are hormonal or if there are other factors that come into play. For some women, hormone therapy, which is regularly used to manage menopause symptoms, could also help with hair-related changes, but scientific evidence on the topic is still insufficient. Against androgenetic alopecia, drugs based on the active ingredient minoxidil are used in the form of foam or lotion to be distributed on the scalp. Other drugs are inhibitors of the enzyme 5 alpha-reductase, estrogens. Vitamin supplements do not always lead to results and are generally supportive. Certainly, having more fragile hair also means that it is no longer able to withstand straighteners, heat and dyes: the use of chemical products and heat should therefore be reduced to a minimum.
September 16, 2023 (changed September 16, 2023 | 07:11)
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