Life is full of inevitable and unavoidable transitions. For women, menopause is perhaps the most impactful of these changes – physically, psychologically, and emotionally. Many aspects of menopause caused by fluctuating hormone levels are uncomfortable and undesirable, including hot flashes, mood swings, and irregular menstruation. For a lot of women, menopause also leads to hair loss. This can make the experience even more stressful and challenging, which in turn can make hair shedding even more noticeable.
What Causes Menopausal Hair Loss?
Women going through menopause produce lower levels of estrogen and progesterone – two hormones critical for hair growth and follicle health. As these hormone levels decrease, hair growth slows while follicles become thin, brittle, and more vulnerable to damage.
Making matters worse, the decrease in hair-promoting hormones is accompanied by an increase in androgens – hormones which trigger follicle miniaturization on the scalp. This miniaturization makes hair more susceptible to falling out.
The hormonal fluctuations of menopause 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 Hair Transplant Institute of Miami understands how draining this life change can be for women, particularly when it includes hair loss. We work with female patients to proactively restore their self-esteem through early detection, professional diagnosis, and optimal treatment methods.
These treatments include non-surgical hair restoration methods such as Minoxidil (available by brand name Rogaine®), which has shown success in slowing or stopping hair loss in women.
Low-level laser therapy for hair (LLLT) is a second non-surgical restoration method that can reduce hair loss and, in some cases, stimulate new hair growth in women. Safe, painless, FDA-approved lasers promote blood flow and nutrient delivery to the hair follicles, strengthening and encouraging follicle growth. Women are particularly fond of these “laser therapies for hair loss” because they are quick, convenient, safe, and effective.
Finally, women may elect to have 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.
We Can Help With Your Menopausal Hair Loss
Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment provide the best chance for women to restore their hair to its naturally full, resilient, and beautiful state. To move forward with a hair loss evaluation, call the Hair Transplant Institute of Miami today at 305.925.0222 to speak directly with a member of our team.