Menopause and Hair Loss Don’t Have to go Hand in Hand

…But menopause does often result in thinning hair for many women due to changing hormone levels, meaning menopause and hair loss often happen simultaneously. Hair thinning can occur in perimenopause too – the four to ten-year period before the actual menopause starts – and that can happen as early as in your 30s.

Hormones are mostly blamed for menopausal-related hair loss, but there are many contributing factors, including genetics. Menopause itself won’t lead to baldness, but if you are genetically pre-disposed you could be more at risk for thinning hair during this time. There is also the phenomenon of a negative cycle, when one cause may result in another. For instance, if you worry about menopause and hair loss, your stress levels increase – and stress is a major cause of hair loss! Understand your body, nourish your hair from the inside out, and practice self-care so you have a better chance of keeping your thick, healthy flow of locks.

Alopecia, not menopause, causes baldness. The National Institutes of Health defines Alopecia as an autoimmune disease. Which means that your immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, believing they are bad for you. This leads to hair loss on the scalp and other parts of the body. However, because menopause-related hair thinning can be subtle – you might notice drains clogged with hairs, a smaller-than-usual ponytail – it can be easy to ignore early warning signs. Like anything else, prevention is key, so taking a proactive approach is suggested. If you are in your 40s, or even late 30s, it might be wise to start treating your hair now with a good, natural hair health supplement.

Hormones are mostly blamed for menopause symptoms. There are actually many factors at play – like medical causes, psychological causes, or lifestyle triggers. They all work together, and what goes on inside your body is reflected on the outside, so a great way to maintain healthy hair is to nourish your hair from the inside out. Using a combination of botanicals, plant-based androgens, vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional support, can be found in Nutrafol.

Hormone Havoc: When pregnant you are flooded with hormones. These hormones make for a luxurious, shining head of hair. Just the opposite happens during menopause when production of the female hormones progesterone and estrogen decreases. This also makes room for more of the male hormone, androgen, which causes hair loss on the head but increased hair growth elsewhere.

Psychological: When you’re depressed, you’re less likely to eat, sleep and exercise. You also become much more sensitive to stress and anxiety. These can be major causes of hair loss.  Losing hair may  also lead to feelings of depression, meaning it creates a negative cycle that can be hard to break.

Lifestyle Related – Lack of Exercise: During and after menopause it is extra important to get your exercise regularly. This can help you avoid diabetes and heart diseases. It also keeps your metabolism active, and relieve anxiety, so you can help improve your hair health and overall wellness.

Medical – Thyroid Disorders: Women are ten times more likely than men to develop a thyroid disease. If you have an under-active thyroid, the metabolism slows down – if you have an overactive one, it speeds up. Since many of the symptoms are similar to those of menopause it is important to get a proper diagnosis if you suspect that you are suffering from an underlying thyroid condition.

Even if menopause and hair loss are related for some women, there are things you can do to help improve hair growth itself. Take care of your body and mind, and look into what kind of natural hair supplements could be a good fit for you.