Menopause is a natural part of aging, often bringing symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and weight changes. But what about your hairline? Does menopause cause hair loss?
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Menopause is a natural part of aging, often bringing symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and weight changes. But what about your hairline? Does menopause cause hair loss?
If you’re going through menopause and noticing hair thinning. You’re not alone. Hair changes can and do happen around this time, including hair loss.
In this guide, we break down everything you need to know about menopause hair loss, including signs, causes, and treatment options. Keep reading to learn more.
Before we dive deeper into menopause and hair changes, let’s cover some basics.
Menopause is a completely normal part of aging.
Menopause is the point in time when your periods stop for good, and pregnancy is no longer possible. You’re officially in menopause when you’ve gone 12 months straight without a period — provided there’s no other medical reason.
In the U.S., the average age for menopause is 52. Most women enter perimenopause, the transition leading up to menopause, sometime between 45 and 55. A small percentage of women enter menopause early due to health-related factors.
During menopause (and perimenopause) your body goes through hormonal changes that can impact hair growth and hair health.
Wondering if menopause might be behind your hair loss?
Menopausal hair loss often mirrors female pattern hair loss (AKA androgenetic alopecia), a type of hair loss that’s more common after menopause.
Here are a few signs to watch out for:
Hair thinning at the crown of your head or at your temples
Increased hair shedding
During menopause, your hair may also become thinner and drier. This can lead to reductions in hair volume and hair that’s more brittle and prone to breakage.
Many factors can contribute to menopause hair loss, including hormonal changes, genetics, and lifestyle habits.
Female pattern hair loss is more common after menopause, hinting that hormones play a role. During perimenopause, estrogen and progesterone start to naturally decline, which can impact your hair.
Estrogen, in particular, supports hair health. It binds to receptors in hair follicles and promotes growth by:
Extending the anagen (growth) phase of the hair growth cycle
Helping convert androgens (AKA male sex hormones) into estrogens
Increasing hair thickness
So when estrogen levels drop, it’s no surprise that hair growth may slow down, and hair loss can happen.
We mentioned androgens up above. There’s a strong connection between these hormones, including dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and male pattern hair loss.
While androgen levels decrease more slowly than estrogen in older women, this hormonal shift during menopause may create a hormone imbalance. But since many women with hair loss have normal androgen levels, the exact role of these hormones in female pattern hair loss isn’t totally clear.
Researchers have found some variations in genes could contribute to female pattern hair loss. So, it’s possible there’s a familial link between menopause and hair loss.
But more research is needed to confirm this.
It’s not uncommon to experience higher stress levels during menopause. Symptoms like sleep-interrupting hot flashes to libido-dampening vaginal dryness can make it harder to cope with daily stressors.
Stress can trigger a type of excessive hair shedding called telogen effluvium. In telogen effluvium, intense psychological or physical stress can cause many hairs to enter the transitional (or catagen) phase of the hair cycle all at once before moving into the telogen (resting) phase. Because so many hairs are in the telogen phase at the same time, they all fall out simultaneously, leading to patchy hair loss.
Here’s what else can cause telogen effluvium:
Severe infection or illness
Major surgery
Underlying medical conditions like thyroid disease or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
Nutritional deficiencies
Some research also links smoking to female pattern hair loss.
Anyone can experience hair loss during menopause. But, some people are more likely to shed excessively than others.
You may be at a higher risk for hair loss if you have a family history of it.
Talk to your close female relatives like your mother or your sisters about how their hair changed during menopause. If they had menopause-related hair loss, you may too.
Additional factors that can boost your risk of hair loss during menopause (or at any time, really) include:
High levels of psychological or physical stress
Eating an unhealthy diet, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies
Having underlying medical conditions like thyroid disease or PCOS
Taking certain medications
Smoking
If you’re in perimenopause or have entered menopause and notice hair thinning, a receding hair line, increased shedding, or bald spots, make an appointment with a healthcare provider for an assessment.
Often, a healthcare provider can diagnose menopausal hair loss just by taking a thorough medical history and examining you.
They might ask you some of the following questions to help make a diagnosis:
When and where on your head did you first notice the hair loss?
How long has your hair loss been going on?
Did it happen gradually or all at once?
Do you have any underlying medical conditions?
What medications and supplements are you currently taking?
What is your diet like?
What are your stress levels?
Do you smoke?
They may also order blood tests to check for conditions like thyroid disease, PCOS, or a nutritional deficiency.
What helps hair loss during menopause? There are a few options.
Let’s break down some common menopause hair loss treatments.
Minoxidil is an FDA-approved medication for female pattern hair loss. Experts don’t fully know how it works, but it may reduce hair loss and boost hair regrowth by extending the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle and improving blood flow to the hair follicles.
Topical minoxidil is available without a prescription as a 2% solution or a 5% foam.
In some cases, healthcare professionals prescribe oral minoxidil off-label to treat hair loss in women. Research suggests doses from 0.25 to 1.25 mg daily are effective for female pattern hair loss.
Another option is oral spironolactone, an anti-androgen medication that may help with hair loss, especially in combination with other treatments like minoxidil.
If you’ve entered menopause, a healthcare provider may also recommend finasteride. This drug works by preventing the conversion of testosterone to DHT, which could contribute to hair loss in some women.
And because estrogen may play a role in menopause hair loss, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) might be a treatment option to consider.
One 2023 study found HRT helped reduce a thinning hairline in postmenopausal women participants. But, overall, research on the effectiveness of HRT for hair loss is mixed.
While it won’t help hair grow back, styling your hair differently or wearing a wig can help mask thinning or baldness.
If a blood test confirms a nutrient deficiency, your healthcare provider might recommend a supplement like a hair vitamin gummy.
Menopause hair loss supplements often include one or more of the following:
Other treatments to consider:
Platelet-rich plasma therapy
While you can’t always completely avoid menopause-related hair loss, there are ways to help prevent it.
These tips aren’t just for maintaining healthy hair. They can also boost your overall health and well-being.
Here are a few suggestions that might reduce your risk of experiencing hair loss during menopause:
Limit stress. Find activities that work to lower your stress levels, like exercising, spending time with loved ones, yoga, and meditation.
Eat a balanced diet. Eating a healthy, balanced diet can keep you from lacking nutrients essential for healthy hair growth.
Stop smoking. Smoking can contribute to hair loss. Consider working with a healthcare provider to create a personalized quit plan.
Give your hair some TLC. Choose gentle hair care products and always condition your hair after shampooing. Wrapping your hair in a soft towel instead of rubbing it with a towel can also help prevent breakage.
Beat the heat. Heat can damage your hair. Limit styling with hair straighteners, curling irons, or blow dryers.
If you’re still worried about menopause and hair loss (or you’ve already started to notice some thinning), make an appointment with a healthcare provider to discuss your concerns.
Every woman’s menopause journey is unique. A healthcare provider can help identify the cause of your hair loss and create a personalized treatment plan just for you.
Get your free hair profile and let us connect you with a hair loss healthcare professional. Take the quiz today!
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