Understanding Menopausal Hair Loss: Causes, Management, and Coping Strategies

Your hormones are all over the place, you haven’t slept through the night without interruption in weeks, your period’s irregular… and now, you’re experiencing hair loss?

Welcome to the rollercoaster of menopause, where all kinds of symptoms will make themselves known alongside the more commonly anticipated ones. 

Hair loss during menopause can, for many of us, be one of the most distressing experiences it brings our way. This common issue can cause immense frustration as we navigate our changing body’s needs, creating uncertainty and even a sense of loss of identity for some. 

It’s not all doom and gloom, however. If we can build a better understanding of why menopausal hair loss is common, we can use positive treatment options and helpful coping strategies to reduce its impact throughout these pivotal years. Today, we’re diving into the world of menopausal hair loss, looking to understand why it happens – and what we can do to slow it down!

Hair loss’s menopause connection

You know how pregnancy hormones can cause all kinds of chaos when it comes to hair growth or hair loss? Well, menopause’s impact on hormones can bring similar kinds of challenges.

As oestrogen and progesterone begin to decline, the crucial support oestrogen provides for hair growth begins to disappear. 

At first, this may cause hair growth to slow, before causing thinning and hair that’s more at risk of shedding. 

While these hormonal fluctuations are the most likely culprits for hair loss, there are a range of other menopause-related factors that can also increase hair loss rates throughout this season. Stress is one such culprit, and can often accompany menopause throughout each key stage. 

High stress levels are like a screaming ‘stop’ sign for hair follicles, keeping them from growth and contributing to overall shedding and hair loss.

It’s likely no surprise that our diet can also have an impact during this time, with nutritional deficiencies playing their part in hair shedding. As menopause can make it more difficult for women to maintain a balanced diet, deficiencies such as iron, vitamin D, and protein can all make it more difficult to keep a healthy head of hair. 

Finally, certain medications that are commonly prescribed during menopause can also increase the risk of hair loss, creating a chicken-and-egg scenario for many women. 

Find support for hair loss and other menopausal symptoms at the Australian Menopause Centre.

What are the treatment options for hair loss during menopause?

Like with so many menopausal side effects, we wish we could recommend a magic solution to hair loss as a side effect – alas, one doesn’t exist.

What does exist, however, are a range of treatment options that can help to slow it down. For some women, these options can dramatically reduce the challenge of menopause-related hair loss, with a careful and considered approach to giving their hair the best support possible throughout this season of hormonal fluctuations. 

These options look like:

• Eating your way to healthy hair. Vitamins and minerals aren’t just good for your hair, they’re good for your overall health and wellbeing. Foods that are high in protein, great sources of healthy fats, and key essential vitamins will not only help your hair to get the support it needs as oestrogen drops, but will also support key organs and internal functions throughout this time.
• Opting for supplemental support. Struggling to get the vitamins and minerals you need in your daily intake? Since individual health challenges can, for some, get in the way of the necessary absorption of these key supports, supplements can be a great way to guarantee the resources you need throughout menopause. Have a conversation with your healthcare team if hair loss is a concern for you throughout menopause, looking for their professional advice as to which supplements can reduce this side effect. 
• Treating your hair with TLC (tender, loving care!). Now’s the time to throw the very best defence into action when it comes to hair care. We recommend staying away from intense chemicals, putting down the heat styling tools whenever possible, and choosing looser hairstyles that reduce the risk of potential breakage. It’s also important to check the ingredients in your shampoos, conditioners, and hair styling products. Look for gentle, hydrating products. Hair treatments that are designed to support growth and overall nourishment can also be worth their weight in gold during this time.
• Exploring medical treatments. At the Australian Menopause Centre, we work with women all over Australia, experiencing all kinds of menopausal symptoms, to develop personalised hormone replacement therapy pathways. This can be transformative when it comes to managing and minimising menopausal symptoms, including hair loss. 
• Keeping your stress levels low. Since stress can contribute to hair loss and hair thinning, it’s high time to kick it to the curb. Stress-reducing practices, including yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises, can all help to bring those stress levels down (and that hair growth up).

Building a healthy relationship with hair loss

While there are a number of ways you can minimise hair loss throughout menopause, as with many changes this transition brings, you may find that it’s still an ongoing challenge as hormonal levels change over time. This is why it’s crucial to focus not just on reducing hair loss, but also on building a healthy relationship with this experience, keeping your mental and emotional health protected.

One of the best ways to do this is to build strong connections with other women who are also in the menopause trenches. After all, you’re not the first person experiencing this – and certainly not the last! Support groups are a great place to find comfort, advice, and share the inside jokes that become part and parcel of each moment of menopause-related change. If you haven’t found a support group yet, our friendly team can help you find a great option in your local area.

Practically, this may be the time to explore new styling approaches. Hairstyles that add volume can help to minimise the appearance of thinning hair. Opting for a shorter cut, embracing layers, or even playing with colour can help to reduce the visual impact of menopause-related hair loss.

Conclusion

There’s certainly no guarantee when it comes to what menopause will bring, and for some of us, the hair on our heads can become a clear marker of this changing season. If you’re looking for support to manage menopause’s many symptoms, the expert team at the Australian Menopause Centre have got your back – and your hair!