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Medical & Non-Medical Approaches to Menopause-Related Hair Loss
by Dean Anderson
It can start with the realization that your hair seems limp or less voluminous than before, the discovery of inexplicable patchiness along the eyebrows, or the sudden and perplexing sprouting of stray hairs along the face. A quick search online stirs the first pangs of panic: I might be losing my hair. Experiencing hair loss symptoms related to menopause can be scary, but understand that there are a variety of medical and non-medical treatment options available and that you’re certainly not alone. The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) estimates the 50% of all women in their fifties will experience some hair loss as a result of hormonal changes related to aging and menopause. Read on to find out ways to minimize or even reverse the loss and cope with your changing body.
Causes and Identification
While lower estrogen is often blamed for many undesirable effects of menopause, the hormone progesterone is more closely linked with hair loss symptoms. When ovulation cycles end levels of progesterone fall, prompting your body to increase its production of the adrenal cortical steroid androstenedione to make up for it. Androstenedione is more abundant in males and thus plays a factor in the growth of facial hair and androgenic alopecia, also known as pattern baldness. Experts say that women actually experience androgenic alopecia at the same rates as men, but its effects are muted, typically resulting in a general thinning rather than progressive baldness. If you happened to experience a significant physical or emotional trauma three months prior to symptom arrival, you may have alopecia areata, a form of patchy hair loss that is usually temporary. As with hair loss symptoms at any age, it’s important to get a check-up with a doctor to rule out other possible causes such as lupus, syphilis, thyroid issues, or ovarian tumors.
Medical Treatments
Have your primary physician conduct a thorough investigation into your energy levels, diet, sleep patterns, and family history to ensure that the source of hair loss is uncovered prior to discussing treatment options. Many doctors prescribe a short-term dose of estrogen to see if boosting the hormone will cause hair shedding to abate. A 2% solution of topical minoxidil, the active ingredient in Rogaine, may be prescribed, and the androgen-blocking, anti-dandruff shampoo esteemed hair restoration experts in a city near you.
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