Hair Loss and Menopause: Falling for you

Hair Loss and Menopause

If you're starting to feel like Krusty the Clown, not just because of your moodiness but also because you're losing your hair, then you are not alone.

The most common reason for hair thinning as we get older is due to our changing hormones, age and heredity. Also, lifestyle habits, poor diet, vitamin deficiency, some prescription drugs, over-teasing, washing and brushing the hair, and harsh chemicals can also cause this problem.

Other reasons for hair loss unrelated to menopause

Stress is a major culprit when it comes to hair loss. Stress robs us of vital nutrients that are essential for healthy hair growth. Circulation to the scalp becomes restricted when we are stressed, and the hair follicles become malnourished. An underactive thyroid or adrenal exhaustion or certain prescription drugs can also cause hair loss. Speak with your family physician if you suspect any of these are the cause.

Smoking is another factor in hair loss because it reduces the amount of oxygen to the hair follicles. So, if you haven't heard, smoking is not a good idea.

Alopecia androgenia is the medical term for male pattern baldness. According to Dr. Christiane Northrup, 13% of premenopausal women and 37% of postmenopausal women will suffer from some degree of hormone-related hair loss ranging from thinning and drying of the hair to baldness (women don’t usually lose their hairline).

According to a report written in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology (2003), hair loss can not be reversed with hormone treatment. However, there are some oral prescriptions which can help some women. You’ll need to speak with your doctor.

Your doctor will first want to do some bloodwork for your hormones and your thyroid to determine what's wrong.

However, there are many things you can do to help yourself to deal with your hair loss and menopause. A healthy lifestyle is always a safe bet for any health problem. Too much body fat, a poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle can throw off your hormone levels.

Hair loss and menopause: How to save the hair you’ve got:

• Use gentle shampoos and/or professional shampoos for thin hair.
• Don’t shampoo your hair more than once every other day
• Brush your hair only when necessary. The days of counting your brush stokes to 100 are over.
• Don’t brush your hair when it’s wet because your hair is more likely to break then.
• Don’t tease your hair.
• Don’t swim in the chlorine-infested public pool every day. Chlorine damages your hair. However, if you care more about your weight than your hair, then go ahead.
• Consider a hairpiece, hair extensions, weaves or perms.
• Consider hair transplants.
• Talk to your doctor about medication to control your hair loss.
• Follow a good, healthful diet which will help to balance your hormones. A diet too high in refined carbohydrates and trans fats can affect your androgen-associated hair loss.
• Keep your body fat percentage below 30 %. Excess fat stores androgen. Hair loss can be associated with abnormal androgen levels.
• Take a good vitamin and mineral supplement. Vitamin deficiency can lead to hair loss.
• Chinese herbs for hair loss. Some people swear by them. Try Shou Wu Pian.
• Stay active. A sedentary lifestyle can affect your androgen-associated hair loss.
• Try to reduce your stress level because stress can throw your hormones off. Try yoga, meditation, or talking with a trusted person.
• Quality protein is very important for hair growth. Eat organic lean meats, fish and eggs.
• If you are vegetarian, consider taking organic hemp seed protein. You can sprinkle this on your cereals. And consider consuming more seeds, nuts, vegetables, whole grains and legumes.
• Eat more cilantro. It is full of chlorophyll which detoxifies heavy metals from the body. Another good source of chlorophyll is GreensPlus.
• Eat more avocadoes.
• Since a clean and oxygen-rich blood supply to the scalp is essential for your hair, try a quality detox program to clean out your system. It really works.
• Regular exercise keeps the blood flowing to the scalp.
• Essential fats are vital for healthy hair. Eat more oily fish, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, ground flaxseeds. Don't be afraid of fats, be afraid of bad fats.
• The B group vitamins are very important for beautiful hair. Some people say it even reduces the number of grey hairs they have!
• Jojoba oil mixed with essential oil of rosemary massaged into the scalp can improve the blood flow to the scalp. You should leave the oil on your scalp for several hours before washing off (or, better yet, leave it on overnight).
• Yoga. Standing on your head improves circulation to the scalp. However, my physiotherapist tells me that no one should stand on their head because it is too hard on the neck. So, use your best judgment on that one.
• Have your doctor take your blood for an iron test. Low iron can be a problem. Do not take iron supplements unless you are low because too much iron can cause health problems.

Conclusion

Unfortunately hair loss can have a huge impact on our self esteem.

There are things you can do slow down or stop your hair loss.

Honestly consider all of the bullet points and come to your own conclusion about the changes you will have to make. If you are already doing all of the above, you may want to speak with your doctor about a possible prescription.

To read more about other signs of menopause click here

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