Our hair is in the growing phase about ninety per cent of the time and the rest in the shedding phase — this is when you might run your fingers through your hair and a few strands come loose, or you maybe notice hair collecting in the bottom of the shower.

But the fall in oestrogen during perimenopause and menopause can throw this all off balance. That drop in oestrogen slows down that growing phase from ninety per cent to sixty per cent and ramps up the shedding phase so you get more hair loss and less hair growth. With oestrogen in retreat, it means androgens that are usually suppressed become more prominent, and one of the first things they will do is shrink the hair follicles.

Your hair will grow, but it will be much finer. Female pattern baldness, where the crown area is usually affected, is a hereditary condition in which the growing phase is shorter.

It can happen at any age, but is most common after menopause, when the hormone changes also affect the length of the growing phase. Your hair is pretty low down the priority list when it comes to getting all the vitamins and nutrients from your diet.

Here are some options on how to get your hair back to its best. Putting the oestrogen back will help to re-establish the growing and shedding phase. Hair grows on average a centimetre each month, so you need to be patient and give it at least 4—6 months before you see the real effects of HRT.

We are so bloody busy fitting everything in that we often forget to re-fuel and eat properly. You need about 55—60g of protein in your diet a day to help grow healthy new hair.

Collagensupplementscontainingamino acids a type of protein are great for hair, nails and skin. Vitamin D also helps to keep the hair in the growing phase, so make sure you are getting your daily amount.

Iron also helps to keep the hair in the growing phase. A couple of clip-in hair extensions can really help create the appearance of thicker, fuller hair. Root touch-up sprays are good to put on any patchy areas as a tiny bit of powdered colour.

If you are suffering from hair loss you could try using a scalp dermabrasion treatment, which cleans the scalp and helps to prepare the follicles to grow hair.

Be sure to go to a specialist for this. If you have female pattern hair loss, then at-home treatments with the ingredient minoxidil can help to re-awaken the hair follicles that have already died.

You massage it into the scalp every day and it can yield some great results. If you blow-dry, curl or straighten your hair regularly, then you need to be using products such as hair protection cream or blow-dry spray on wet hair before you get to work.

Less is more when it comes to straightening; people use irons way too much, dragging them through the same section three or four times. Brushes have a shelf life, so if they are looking a bit tired and broken, replace them.

You are never too old for the style you want. What you want is the best possible version of you. Whether you want to discuss your symptoms, create a treatment plan that's right for you, understand some test results or have a check-up, the highly experienced doctors and nurses in our menopause clinic are here to help you.

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Hormones Hormones play an enormous role in the health of our hair throughout our lives. Quite often our diets contain too many simple and complex carbohydrates and an insufficient amount of protein.

Protein is crucial for the growth, development and strength of our hair, skin and nails. Inadequate protein consumption on a daily basis, may contribute to hair loss and when diets become balanced, this hair loss can be reversed. A daily multivitamin or mineral supplement may help replenish key nutrients missing in your diet.

Our thyroid governs many aspects of our health including our metabolism, hormone balance, thermogenesis and our moods. When there are imbalances in thyroid health, whether it is under active or over active, if left untreated, can contribute to significant hair loss.

The loss can tend to be diffuse and may involve the entire scalp and the hair can appear uniformly sparse. Hair loss associated with thyroid disorders tend to occur after a long period of time, rather than in acute phases and takes months to develop, due to the length of time it takes for hair to grow.

In reality, however, your hair is not falling out but breaking somewhere along the hair strand itself, giving the appearance of thinner hair. Take the questionnaire to determine if it may be a sign of menopause, and discover how we can help. Eat plenty of good foods A balanced diet fill of vitamins and minerals and is low in saturated fat.

Add Supplements A daily multivitamin or mineral supplement to get the nutrients you may have missed in your diet and help to replenish key nutrients. Exercise Regularly Exercise can help in keeping your mood swings in check, maintaining your weight, and helping you sleep, all of which help to contribute to hormonal balance and promote healthy hair growth.

Stay Hydrated Staying hydrated can keep your skin and hair healthy and also improve blood circulation, which keeps your follicles nourished. Look after your hair Use a gentle, moisturising shampoo and conditioner when you wash your hair.

Choose products that are made specifically for dry or damaged hair that will increase its elasticity. Ginseng: Has been shown to promote hair growth in several studies , its effects on isolated human dermal papilla cells hDPCs were evaluated using cytotoxicity assays, immunoblot analysis of signalling proteins, and the determination of associated growth factors.

It helps slow down the thinning process. Aloe Vera : this works to soothe and calm a damaged scalp which may create a healthy environment for hair cells to replenish and flourish. Garlic : applying garlic gel to areas of the scalp that have experienced hair loss together with a steroid treatment has been shown to lead to more hair regrowth compared to a placebo.

Sounds good, please book me in! Learn More. It all starts with a confidential No Gap Initial Medical Telehealth Consultation where you will speak with one of our Doctors to discuss Treatment Program options which may be suitable to you.

Mrs Ms Miss Dr Prof. I would like to receive information on women's health. We abide by our privacy statement. Your information will not be shared. Fill in the form below and one of our consultants will contact you to book your consultation.

Where did you hear about us Google Facebook Friend Radio Referred by Friend Referred by Medical Practitioner TV Other. After your consultation with the doctor and you are considered suitable for hormone therapy, a treatment program fee will be discussed before proceeding further.

One of our consultants will get back to you and order the supplements for you. Your location NSW VIC WA SA QLD Tasmania Other. Hair Loss. What Causes Hair Loss During Menopause? Are you experiencing this symptom? Take the questionnaire to determine if it may be a sign of menopause, and discover how we can help Take The Quiz.

What Can I Do To Prevent Menopause Hair Loss?

Hair loss tends to be subtler in women than it is in men. Most women experience overall hair thinning rather than noticeable bald spots. The thinning can occur on the front, sides, or top of the head. Hair may also fall out in large clumps during brushing and showering. Research suggests that hair loss during menopause is the result of a hormonal imbalance.

These hormones help hair grow faster and stay on the head for longer periods of time. When the levels of estrogen and progesterone drop, hair grows more slowly and becomes much thinner. A decrease in these hormones also triggers an increase in the production of androgens, or a group of male hormones.

Androgens shrink hair follicles, resulting in hair loss on the head. In some cases, however, these hormones can cause more hair to grow on the face. For women going through menopause, the cause of hair loss is almost always related to hormonal changes.

However, there are many other factors that can contribute to hair loss during menopause. These include extremely high levels of stress, illness, or a lack of certain nutrients. Reduced estrogen production can affect your brain chemistry and cause mood swings, anxiety, and depression.

However, doing yoga and other breathing relaxation methods are especially effective in fighting menopausal symptoms. Exercising regularly can also help reduce stress.

Exercise is a key component of a healthy lifestyle. It also helps prevent some of the other symptoms of menopause, including mood swings, weight gain, and insomnia. All of these factors are important for maintaining hormonal balance, which promotes healthy hair growth.

Choose a form of exercise that works for you. You may want to consider taking a walk with a friend, joining a gym, or going for a run. Eating a balanced, low-fat diet is your best defense against hair loss.

Make sure you include an adequate amount of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables in every meal. Drinking green tea and taking vitamin B6 and folic acid supplements may help restore hair growth as well.

Essential fatty acids also play a crucial role in maintaining hair health. These fatty acids can be found in the following foods:. Like with most menopausal symptoms , menopausal hair loss happens because your body kind of goes into an estrogen withdrawal.

Think about it: If the hormones swirling around during pregnancy could amp up your hair growth like Rapunzel letting her hair down, it only makes sense that perimenopause and menopause would have the opposite effect on your hair follicles. Menopausal hair loss happens due to the effects of having more androgens male hormones in your body, causing our hair to grow slower and weaker and hair follicles to shrink.

Because perimenopause can last for years, this kind of hormonal hair loss often happens gradually. Another good thing: Menopausal hair loss can grow back. Your postmenopausal hair might not be the way it was before, but it can grow back. Eating foods with essential fatty acids, like flaxseeds or flaxseed oil, fish like salmon and tuna, or nuts like walnuts or almonds, can help you get back to healthy hair.

Iron deficiencies in women can cause hair loss , say experts but the jury is out on whether adding supplements will help your hair. Initially introduced as a drug for high blood pressure, Minoxidil has been found to be an effective hair growth stimulant.

It takes patience because it can be months before results show. Note: Minoxidil is not safe to use if you plan on getting pregnant, so definitely use birth control if you still get a period. Spironolactone is a drug commonly used to treat polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS. It works by reducing androgen male sex hormone production and has been trialed as a hair loss treatment for postmenopausal women in recent years [8].

So it needs to be prescribed off-label by a qualified trichologist. Heat styling tools like hair straighteners and curlers can cause your hair to become dry, brittle , and snap off.

Hair breakage around the crown can make your hair look even thinner, so avoid heat styling as much as possible. Scalp massage for hair growth can stimulate blood flow to the follicles, helping them produce healthy hair.

Start by massaging your scalp for 20 minutes twice a day. Repeat this for at least six months to see visible hair growth coming through. Try combining scalp massage with one of the best shampoos for menopausal hair to improve symptoms of hair damage.

A hair transplant is the only way to restore permanent hair loss. Before and after hair transplant results at the Wimpole Clinic. Some essential oils may help boost hair growth following menopause. Proven essential oils for hair growth include:. But if you have a clinical nutritional deficiency or inadequacy, vitamin supplements may help you reverse thinning hair after menopause or at least prevent further hair loss.

Vitamin D deficiency is very common in menopausal women, and has been linked to the development of female pattern hair loss [9]. Derma rolling for hair growth — also known as microneedling — can improve the absorption of topical hair loss treatments like Minoxidil.

This can enhance the hair growth effects of Minoxidil, giving you thicker, fuller hair. Derma rolling may also work on its own. By creating tiny wounds in the scalp, derma rolling can activate stem cells in the follicle hair bulge and generate platelet-derived growth factors, both of which can help with hair regrowth.

Diet is closely linked to hair loss in menopausal and postmenopausal women [10]. This includes sources of:. Some medicines may be linked with hair loss , including those used to treat menopause symptoms. For example, the following drugs may cause mild or temporary alopecia:.

Talk to your GP before you make any changes. For more advice and a personalised treatment plan to reverse menopause-related hair loss, book a consultation at the Wimpole Clinic. Our team of female hair loss specialists is on hand to assess your hair loss and offer all the guidance you need to restore your thinning hair.

Book a consultation Simply fill in your details in the form below and we'll get in touch with you shortly. Book Consultation.

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Medically reviewed by Dr Luciano Sciacca GMC — Updated on January 29, Table of Contents. Why does your hair get thinner after menopause?