Life is full of changes and transitions. For women, menopause can be one of the most taxing and impactful of these passages. Fluctuating hormone levels can lead to several unpleasant and undesirable effects – physically, psychologically, and emotionally. These typically include hot flashes, mood swings, and irregular menstruation. For a lot of women, however, menopause may also cause hair shedding and loss. This can make menopause even more stressful, which in turn can make hair loss even more noticeable.
Why Does Menopause Cause Hair Loss?
Menopausal women produce lower amounts of two hormones necessary for hair follicle health and growth – estrogen and progesterone. As these hormone levels decrease, hair growth slows down and follicles become thin, brittle, and more prone to damage.
Making things worse, the downturn in hair-promoting hormone levels comes with a corresponding increase in androgens. These hormones trigger follicle miniaturization on the scalp, which makes hair more susceptible to falling out.
Menopause’s hormonal fluctuations also contribute to other mental and emotional conditions and lifestyle changes, which themselves can cause hair loss. These can include:
- Stress
- Emotional decline due to diminished self-confidence
- Lack of exercise
- Imbalanced nutrition
- Dehydration
- Damaging hairstyles
- Medication
Menopausal Hair Loss Treatment
Fortunately, menopausal hair loss is treatable. The physicians at the Miami Hair & Skin Institute understand how exhausting and difficult this life change can be for women, particularly when it involves hair loss. We work with our female patients to proactively address their hair loss issues through early detection, professional diagnosis, and personally tailored treatment plans designed for optimal results.
These treatment options include:
- Non-surgical hair restoration methods such as Minoxidil (Rogaine®), which has shown success in slowing or stopping hair loss in women.
- Low-level laser therapy for hair (LLLT) can reduce hair loss and, in some cases, stimulate new hair growth in women.
- Hair transplant surgery, a procedure during which the patient’s own hair follicles are extracted from areas of healthy scalp and relocated to areas experiencing thinning or balding.
Learn More About How The Miami Hair Institute Can Help With Menopausal Hair Loss
Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment provide the best chance for women to restore their hair to its naturally full state. To learn more about how we can help and to schedule your personal hair loss evaluation, call the Miami Hair Institute today at 305.925.0222 to speak directly with a member of our team.