Is hair loss in women around menopause an inevitable change?

Menopause, a major turning point in life, brings many changes to a woman's body. Among them, noticeable loss of hair and thinning hair is a problem that reduces confidence and causes depression for many middle-aged women. It's easy to give up and say, "I can't help it as I get older," but menopausal hair loss is by no means a natural phenomenon. Although this is a symptom that everyone experiences, the amount and duration of hair loss varies from person to person. Therefore, it is a ‘red flag for health’ that must be accurately understood and actively dealt with.

1. A ‘perfect storm’ is coming for menopause and hair loss.

The reason why hair loss progresses rapidly during the perimenopausal period is because various aggravating factors come together like a ‘perfect storm.’

• Sudden changes in hormones:Estrogen, a female hormone, acts as a ‘guardian angel’ that extends the hair growth period and keeps the hair abundant. However, during menopause, this protective barrier disappears as estrogen levels rapidly decline. On the other hand, the influence of male hormones (androgens) becomes relatively stronger, resulting in a pattern similar to 'male pattern hair loss' in which hair follicles atrophy and hair becomes thinner.
• Aging of the hair follicle itself:Just as wrinkles appear on the skin as we age, hair follicles, which are the factories that produce hair, also age after the age of 40, and they age even faster, especially before and after menopause. As hair follicles gradually become smaller (miniaturized) and their blood supply function deteriorates, they become unable to produce thick and strong hair as before.
• The added weight and stress of life:The 40s and 50s are a time of greatest stress in life, including children's independence, raising parents, and changes at work. This mental stress acts as an important factor that disrupts our body's immune system and promotes inflammatory responses, making hair loss worse.
• The burden of frequent dyeing:Gray hair begins to appear around the age of 40 and becomes especially noticeable around menopause. So, I dye my hair to hide my gray hair, but the problem is that the dyeing cycle gets shorter and shorter. The various chemical ingredients in hair dye can irritate the scalp, causing contact dermatitis, and can harm the health of hair follicles, accelerating hair loss.

2. Characteristics of menopausal hair loss: Where and how does it fall?

Hair loss during menopause has different characteristics than hair loss during youth.

• ‘Christmas tree pattern’ that becomes hollow from the top of the head:Rather than the hairline receding into an M shape like in men, it usually begins with the parting line on the top of the head widening. The characteristic pattern is that the parting appears wider towards the front, resembling a Christmas tree when viewed from above.
• Overall thinning hair:Rather than losing just a specific area, the entire hair loses its strength and becomes thinner, drastically reducing its overall volume. When you tie your hair, you often feel that it is not as thick as it used to be.

3. Active treatment and management is needed instead of resignation

Like this, hair loss in women before and after menopause is a problem with complex causes such as hormonal changes, aging, stress, and external stimuli. Therefore, if you blame it on “age” and ignore it, the condition will only continue to worsen. Hair loss in women before and after menopause is a physical change that everyone experiences, but the degree of hair loss varies from person to person. This difference is believed to be due to the level of health and personal effort made before and after menopause. Therefore, hair loss management during this period goes beyond just hair problems and is connected to the process of regaining overall women's health.

• Professional diagnosis and treatment:A decrease in female hormones is an unavoidable change, so we need to supplement our body so that it can adapt well to this change. In particular, active treatment and management are needed to prevent the hair growth function from weakening easily, promote blood circulation in the scalp, and supply nutrition to the hair follicles. In particular, the 5 to 6 years before and after menopause can be said to be an important period for hair care and treatment.
• Minimize scalp irritation:Dyeing cycles should be at least 6 to 8 weeks apart, and products that are less irritating to the scalp should be selected and used.
• Balanced Nutrition:It can also be helpful to consistently consume legumes rich in isoflavones, which have a structure similar to female hormones, iron essential for blood production, and biotin and zinc, which are good for hair health.
• Stress Management:Regular exercise, meditation, and a positive attitude are very important to balance your hormones and stay healthy.

Menopause is not an end, but a new beginning. You should consider the changes in your hair during this period as signals from your body and actively manage and treat them to maintain the healthy and vibrant beauty of middle age.