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Hair Loss and Menopause
Hair Loss And Menopause
Most people picture a man when it comes to the topic of
losing hair, but for many women hair loss and menopause go hand in
hand. Why do so many women lose their hair during and after menopause? This
is the leading female hair loss question that most doctors receive, and the
loss can be explained by the hormonal changes that occur in a woman’s body.
Prior to menopause, a woman’s body produces enough estrogen to offset one of
the male hormones that a female’s body also produces, called
dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Once estrogen starts to decline, however, the
relative level of DHT rises. This in turn can cause loss or thinning of a
woman’s hair. So the question arises, what can be done about it?
Women rarely go bald in the same way that men do; rather, they may notice
loss of hair on the sides or front of their hairline, or general thinning of
hair all over their head. Menopause by itself can be quite stressful for the
female body and a woman’s sense of self-esteem. When you add on the emotions
and feelings that accompany loss of hair it is easy to understand why so
many women ask questions about and seek treatment for this potentially
distressing situation.
Female hair loss treatment options are
a bit different from those for men, however. When menopause is the cause of
thinning or shedding, it can sometimes be slowed or stopped with hormone
replacement therapy but the risks that go along with that treatment are
generally too high for it to be used for these reasons alone. To answer the
question on how to treat this condition: it is a better and safer option to
use topical hair loss products such as
minoxidil, marketed under the brand name Rogaine.
Rogaine is an over the counter liquid medication that is applied to the
scalp areas where loss or thinning of hair has occurred. It has been shown
to be effective at regrowth of hair in females whose loss is due primarily
to menopause. Once regrowth has occurred, though, if the use of Rogaine is
discontinued then the hair will once again be lost.
For more answers to your questions see:
causes of hair loss in women
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