In addition to hot flashes, insomnia and mood swings, hair loss is a common phenomenon during menopause. More than 50% of women during or after menopause experience noticeable hair loss, with the hair becoming thinner rather than bald spots appearing. Hair loss on the sides, front or top of the head and hair falling out in clumps can occur, especially when brushing or showering. This hair loss is the result of a hormonal imbalance, particularly reduced estrogen and progesterone production. These two hormones help hair grow faster and stay on the head longer, but when hormone levels drop, hair grows slower and becomes thinner.
It's normal to lose about 50 to 100 hairs per day, but as you lose more hair, you start to notice hair loss.
There are three types of hair loss including:
- Anagen effluvium, which is caused by poisoning of the hair follicle by drugs such as chemotherapy.
- Telogen effluvium occurs when an increasing number of hair follicles reach this phase, causing the hair to fall out.
- Alopecia in women generally results in thinning hair on the top and sides of the head. The causes usually lie in old age, menopause or in the family.
In addition to the reasons mentioned above, there are many other factors that can lead to hair loss. These include extreme stress, illness or nutrient deficiencies. A diagnostic blood test can help rule out these causes.
Natural Ways to Avoid Menopausal Hair Loss
There aren't manymedical measuresthat you can take to prevent hair loss.
Keep it natural
Stay away from heated devices such as hair dryers, heat rollers, curling irons, and styling methods that can weaken hair. Dyes, perms, extremely long-lasting gels and hair sprays can also affect the health of your scalp and hair. The bottom line: stay as natural as possible.
Hair loss during menopause: eat healthy
A balanced diet with whole grains, fruits and vegetables helps maintain hair health. Look for monosaturated fats from olive or sesame oil and fatty acids from salmon, tuna, flaxseed oil, almonds or walnuts. Protein is also crucial for healthy hair. Your hair is primarily made up of long-chain amino acids, peptide bonds and proteins - so your hair is really what you eat. To promote healthy hair growth, you should alsoEat plenty of the following substances:
- Omega-3 fatty acids and amino acids – nuts, beans, tofu, soy products, fish, poultry, spirulina and other meats
- Zinc – Whole grains, beans, lentils, chocolate and nuts
- Selenium – nuts
- Magnesium – dark green vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains and beans
- Biotin – eggs and beans or lentils
- Protein and Iron – Whole grains, beans and lentils, chicken, eggs, fish, red meat, liver, nuts, spinach, kale, wheat germ, cottage cheese, yogurt, tofu, dried apricots, dates and raisins
- B vitamins – eggs, salmon, whole grains, red meat, poultry, liver, pork
- Folic acid – spinach, kale, chard, broccoli, lentils
- Vitamins A and C – dark green vegetables and carrots
- Vitamin E – Avocados, nuts, seeds and olive oil
- Calcium – low-fat dairy products
- Sulfur – meat, fish, nuts, legumes and vegetables (especially onions)
Multivitamin or mineral supplement as a supplement
Take a multivitamin or mineral supplement daily to get the nutrients you missed in your diet and to replenish important nutrients. Biotin, flax oil, evening primrose oil and zinc can stimulate hair growth. Herbal supplements such as green tea can also help reduce hair loss.
Hair loss during menopause: Drink plenty of fluids
For people struggling with hair problems, it is important to keep the body well hydrated. In addition to water, you can drink coconut water or fresh fruit juice at regular intervals. Papaya, watermelon and cucumber are also known to hydrate the body.
Hair Loss in Women Over 50: Reduce Stress
Decreased estrogen production can affect brain chemistry and lead to anxiety, mood swings, or depression. Prolonged stress puts the body into survival mode, depriving hair of the proper nutrients. Yoga, meditation and breathing exercises are particularly helpful in combating stress symptoms.
The best herbal remedies for hair loss
Moisturize the Scalp: A well-nourished and moisturized scalp can help combat hair loss. To combat dryness, you can massage your scalp with aloe vera extracts for about 15 minutes and then wash it off with a mild shampoo. Using hibiscus oil or neem oil (antifungal and antibacterial properties) will also bring perfect results.
Hair loss during menopause: oil massage can help
An oil massage (coconut oil, olive oil, castor oil, evening primrose oil) improves blood circulation and ensures healthy hair growth. Do a warm oil massage at least twice a week, keep the mask on for 30 minutes and rinse with a mild shampoo suitable for your hair.
Make your own hair mask for hair loss
An olive oil and egg hair mask is known to promote hair growth to a great extent. All you need are two eggs (well beaten) and olive oil (4 tablespoons). Mix the ingredients well and apply throughout your hair. Washthe maskoff after 10 minutes.
Healthy lifestyle habits
Don't compromise on your sleep and keep your body weight within a healthy range.Exercise regularly(30 minutes a day can also be very helpful).
