This article is from "What No One Told You" by Dr. Karen Tang, a board-certified gynecologist whose series is part of Featured Voices, The Washington Post’s partnership with independent creators.
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For women going through perimenopause or menopause, hair thinning can be one unwelcome change.
Hair loss can happen after almost any major change in your health. This is called telogen effluvium, a temporary form of hair shedding that can be triggered by significant illness, stress or hormonal changes. Women who have given birth may recognize this phenomenon: The sudden drop in hormones after pregnancy can also cause telogen effluvium and noticeable hair shedding.
But menopause isn’t the only possible explanation. Hair loss can also be associated with iron or other nutritional deficiencies, thyroid disease, medications, genetics, scalp infections and autoimmune conditions such as alopecia areata. That’s why it’s important to consider other potential causes rather than assuming hormones are responsible.
As a board-certified gynecologist, I also talk to patients about the role hormones themselves can play in our hair. Estrogen helps regulate the phases of hair-follicle growth, promoting the anagen, or growth, phase. It also supports the production of sebum, the oil produced by the scalp. When estrogen levels decline, hair growth can diminish and the hair and scalp may become drier.
Declining estrogen can also lead to a relative increase in hormones such as testosterone. This hormonal shift can contribute to hair loss on the scalp while, frustratingly, also contributing to new facial hair on areas such as the upper lip and chin. Female-pattern hair loss often appears as thinning around the crown of the head or a widening part, while the front hairline generally stays in place, unlike typical male-pattern balding.
So what can you do?
Even when hormones are contributing to hair loss during menopause, hormone replacement therapy alone generally does not lead to significant hair regrowth. Instead, if you’re experiencing hair loss during perimenopause or menopause, talk with your doctor or a board-certified dermatologist. They can help determine what’s causing the hair loss and discuss which treatment options may be appropriate for you.
This episode is reported and produced by me in partnership with The Washington Post and sponsored by Hers.
The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your physician or another qualified healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns regarding a medical condition or other health-related issues.
