The Truth About Hair Loss And Menopause

Hair is considered as the crowning glory of women. The thickness and the length of the hair usually help in making women look more attractive and younger. Looking at the perspective of evolution, early men looked for mates with long and thick hair because it was an indication of a woman's reproductive and general health.

Unfortunately, when a woman reaches menopause, her hair starts to thin. Hair loss is actually one of the symptoms of menopause. However, this is not so much addressed and given attention because it is eclipsed by the more irritating and baffling menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings and weight gain. Moreover, hair loss is often more associated and rampant in males. Actually, hair loss during and after menopause is more common than most people think it is. In fact, about 50% of women experience pattern baldness and hair loss during menopause, while roughly 67% after menopause.

And it is quite harder to deal with hair loss in women than in men. Men who are completely bald actually increase their sex appeal. Just look at Vin Diesel and Stanley Tucci. Women, however, cannot simply shave off all their hair. Only very gorgeous women, such as Demi Moore, can remain attractive and alluring even when they are bald.

Link Between Menopause And Hair Loss

All women produce a negligible amount of testosterone. However, the effects of this male sex hormone are not evident physically because the high levels of estrogen, a female sex hormone, in a woman's body counteract the effects of testosterone. During and after menopause, however, women experience a sharp decline in the production of estrogen. As a result, testosterone, with the help of a certain enzyme, produces more DHT, which is known to be the cause of hair loss and pattern baldness in women.

Tips On How To Prevent Hair Loss During Menopause

Choose Your Cut

If your hair is starting to thin, it is really best to choose a cut that would help give an illusion of volume. If your hair is super straight and limp, pattern baldness can be quite obvious. The illusion of body and volume can be achieved by curling or layering. Some also succeed by cutting their hair short.

It is also advisable to visit a reputable salon. Don't skimp on your hairstyle, you will need a good hairstylist to give you a hair makeover. Remember, it is so much harder to style and fix thinning hair that is why it could be a bit more expensive.

Combing Is A No No

When you age, your hair may be more susceptible to breakage so it is unwise to use combs because their teeth are hard and can easily break fragile hair. So if you do not want to lose more hair than necessary, it is better to use soft brushes that will not contribute to falling hair. Furthermore, soft brushes can be very gentle on your scalp too.

Mind Your Hair Products

Be careful of the products that you use to style your hair. A styling gel or mousse can help add fullness and bounce to your hair, while hair spray may help magnify your pattern baldness. It is also advisable to change your shampoo brand each month. Since hair cleaning products on the market have harsh chemicals, using one brand or type of hair cleaning product for a very long time can cause dandruff, which might also contribute to hair loss.

Attack The Root

If you want to impede or stop your hair loss, you should attack the problem at its core or root. If the cause of your hair loss is dandruff, then use anti-dandruff hair products. However, if the root of your problem is the decline in the levels of estrogen, you can help stop hair loss by taking hormone replacement therapy or products and supplements that can help you with your hormonal changes.

Zalestra is one product that is effective not only in helping alleviate symptoms of menopause, but also counter the effects of hormonal changes. If you want more information about this product, you can visit http://www.Zalestra.com.

Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.healthnfitnesszone.com

Menopause - Hair Loss Treatments

It is well known that men can start losing their hair from their early twenties onwards yet it is still thought of as uncommon for women to loose their hair. However women can experience sudden hair loss when approaching the menopause with as many as forty percent of women being affected by the condition. There are many different causes for female hair loss including pregnancy, genetics and illness but the menopause is the time most women experience the condition.

The Reasons

Increased hair loss and thinning hair as women approach the menopause is due to changes in hormonal levels in the body. In fact noticing hair loss can be one of the first signs of approaching the menopause. It is caused in part by a drop in estrogen (female hormones) levels produced by the ovaries, creating an imbalance between androgen (male hormones) and estrogen hormones. Testosterone is one of the hormones from the androgen group and increases as the estrogen levels fall. For men, testosterone is the hormone commonly associated with causing male pattern hair loss and although produced in much lower quantities in women, it creates a similar hair loss condition. This process is started by testosterone combining with an enzyme called Alpha5 reductase to create a substance called dihyrotestosterone (DHT). It is the DHT which is responsible for the hair loss. After the menopause the ovaries may continue to produce even more androgens than estrogen and this can result in further hair loss. It also doesn’t just affect hair on the scalp but body hair can also become thinner, just the opposite of men who tend to get more body hair as scalp hair thins. Some women however experience no menopausal hair loss or excessive thinning at all, the reasons for this are not yet fully understood.

Treatments and Advice

Many women are prescribed hormone therapy treatment (HRT) to counter some of the more severe symptoms of the menopause such as hot flashes, night sweats, lack of sleep, mood swings, and sensitive skin. But HRT works by increasing the levels of estrogen to pre-menopausal levels. HRT is therefore also an effective hair loss treatment which reduces testosterone and DHT allowing hair to grow back.

There is also a prescription only drug called spironolactone that instead of raising estrogen levels, works in the opposite way by slowing down the production of androgens (testosterone) in the adrenal glands and ovaries. With less testosterone produced there is less damaging DHT produced and therefore less hair loss.

There are also a number of non drug based measures that can be used to slow down menopausal hair loss. For example gently massage the scalp when shampooing to increase blood flow to the hair roots. Also using good quality conditioners containing natural products like henna, helps to prevent breakage and reduce further hair loss. It is also important to eat a well balanced diet as healthy hair requires the minimum daily intake of the right minerals and vitamins. Try to eat plenty of fish, liver, dairy products, eggs, poultry, meat, etc, for vitamin A, Vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin B12, also leafy vegetables, orange juice, avocado, beets and broccoli are a good source of folic acid.

Keep the hair short to help prevent mechanical breakage and have it layered to give the appearance of more volume. Try to avoid damaging the hair with hot hair dryers and heated hair straighteners and avoid chemically treating the hair with dyes, tints and bleaches.

Conclusions

Hair loss caused by the menopause is a natural process but can be managed through special care and prescribed treatments. If you have any special concerns about this condition it is always advisable to consult your local GP as stress and worrying can make matters worse. Remember that you are not alone, many women experience the menopause and hair loss but there are now many effective treatments available.

Please visit our web site for more information and advice about the cause of hair loss in a woman.

To read further articles by John Tulley click here: Hair loss directory [http://www.alpha7haircare.com/articles/article_directory.htm].

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