How to Keep Your Hair Healthy and Strong During Perimenopause
8 min read
October 28,2024
HEALTH
How to Keep Your Hair Healthy and Strong During Perimenopause
8 min read
October 28,2024
HEALTH
We understand how important your hair is to you. It's not vanity; it's part of how you present yourself to the world. When you start going through perimenopause, and you start finding more hair in the drain, less hair in your thinner ponytail, and a widening center part, it can be a significant blow to your self-image and confidence. Lucky for you, it's never too late to begin taking steps to prevent and even reverse hair loss.
We understand how important your hair is to you. It's not vanity; it's part of how you present yourself to the world. When you start going through perimenopause, and you start finding more hair in the drain, less hair in your thinner ponytail, and a widening center part, it can be a significant blow to your self-image and confidence. Lucky for you, it's never too late to begin taking steps to prevent and even reverse hair loss.
01
The Role of Hormones in Hair Health During Perimenopause
Hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause are a primary reason you’re noticing changes in your hair. While shifts in sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone are considered the main culprits behind these changes, minute fluctuations in a number of critical hormones cause imbalances that can have widespread consequences for your hair's health. Let’s break down the key hormones involved and how they impact hair health:
Estrogen & Progesterone
Estrogen and progesterone are essential for keeping hair thick and vibrant. During perimenopause, as these hormones begin to wane, many women observe reduced hair density and increased shedding. Estrogen’s role is particularly vital, as it keeps hair in the growth, or anagen, phase longer. When estrogen declines, hair may shift to the shedding, or exogen, phase more rapidly, causing noticeable thinning.[1]Progesterone acts as both a hair-loss inhibitor and a hair-growth promoter. Progesterone inhibits hair loss by preventing the conversion of testosterone into DHT, a hormone that can shrink follicles. By stimulating hair follicle growth and reducing scalp inflammation, progesterone helps promote your hair's growth and overall health.[1]
01
The Role of Hormones in Hair Health During Perimenopause
Hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause are a primary reason you’re noticing changes in your hair. While shifts in sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone are considered the main culprits behind these changes, minute fluctuations in a number of critical hormones cause imbalances that can have widespread consequences for your hair's health. Let’s break down the key hormones involved and how they impact hair health:
Estrogen & Progesterone
Estrogen and progesterone are essential for keeping hair thick and vibrant. During perimenopause, as these hormones begin to wane, many women observe reduced hair density and increased shedding. Estrogen’s role is particularly vital, as it keeps hair in the growth, or anagen, phase longer. When estrogen declines, hair may shift to the shedding, or exogen, phase more rapidly, causing noticeable thinning.[1]Progesterone acts as both a hair-loss inhibitor and a hair-growth promoter. Progesterone inhibits hair loss by preventing the conversion of testosterone into DHT, a hormone that can shrink follicles. By stimulating hair follicle growth and reducing scalp inflammation, progesterone helps promote your hair's growth and overall health.[1]
Testosterone & Androgens
Testosterone is often misunderstood in the context of hair loss. While elevated levels of testosterone can lead to hair thinning, testosterone therapy has not been found to cause hair loss in menopausal women; the hormone can sometimes even help improve hair health in women with androgen deficiency.[1,2] Instead, women with female pattern hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia, generally have higher ratios of androgens than ovarian hormones. Progesterone, for instance, regulates testosterone’s conversion into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), an androgen that contributes to thinner hair and hair loss.[1,3] The relatively quick drop in progesterone during perimenopause can play a significant role in hair loss through this pathway as the ratio of androgens to ovarian hormones increases.
Testosterone & Androgens
Testosterone is often misunderstood in the context of hair loss. While elevated levels of testosterone can lead to hair thinning, testosterone therapy has not been found to cause hair loss in menopausal women; the hormone can sometimes even help improve hair health in women with androgen deficiency.[1,2] Instead, women with female pattern hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia, generally have higher ratios of androgens than ovarian hormones. Progesterone, for instance, regulates testosterone’s conversion into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), an androgen that contributes to thinner hair and hair loss.[1,3] The relatively quick drop in progesterone during perimenopause can play a significant role in hair loss through this pathway as the ratio of androgens to ovarian hormones increases.
Cortisol
Cortisol, the stress hormone, can impact your overall hair health. Perimenopause can be a stressful time, but your body will also naturally begin producing more cortisol with age.[4] High levels of this hormone in the scalp and hair are directly associated with the degradation of important modulators of hair health. In addition to disrupting other hormones like progesterone, increased cortisol levels can cause increased stress-induced hair shedding, known as telogen effluvium.[5]Understanding the intricate web of hormonal interactions during perimenopause can help you navigate your hair changes with greater insight and control.
Cortisol
Cortisol, the stress hormone, can impact your overall hair health. Perimenopause can be a stressful time, but your body will also naturally begin producing more cortisol with age.[4] High levels of this hormone in the scalp and hair are directly associated with the degradation of important modulators of hair health. In addition to disrupting other hormones like progesterone, increased cortisol levels can cause increased stress-induced hair shedding, known as telogen effluvium.[5]Understanding the intricate web of hormonal interactions during perimenopause can help you navigate your hair changes with greater insight and control.
02
Common Hair Changes During Perimenopause
As hormones fluctuate during perimenopause, it’s natural to experience shifts in hair health. Here are a few common changes you might notice:
- Thinning Hair: As hormone levels change, hair growth cycles shorten, leading to thinning hair. Many women may notice smaller ponytails or more hair left behind in brushes and drains.
- Hair Loss (Alopecia): Increased ratios of androgens like DHT can lead to hair thinning or loss at the temples or crown. Genetic predisposition plays a large role in pattern hair loss, so family history is worth considering.[6]
- Dryness, Brittleness, and Texture Changes: In addition to thinning, you may notice that your hair feels drier, more brittle, or has a different texture as your scalp starts producing less oil. You also may find that products that once worked for you no longer provide the same benefits.[7]
- Accelerated Graying and Oxidative Stress: Oxidative stress can increase during perimenopause, impacting melanin-producing cells in hair follicles and contributing to cellular aging and increased graying.[8,9]
- Increased Senescence: Diffuse age-related hair thinning, even in individuals without a family history of hair loss, is termed Senescence Alopecia, and it’s due to increasing levels of senescence in the body with age, particularly affecting the cells in hair follicles. In many people, age-related hair thinning can co-exist with pattern balding, and research indicates that senescence may also contribute to pattern balding.[10]
02
Common Hair Changes During Perimenopause
As hormones fluctuate during perimenopause, it’s natural to experience shifts in hair health. Here are a few common changes you might notice:
- Thinning Hair: As hormone levels change, hair growth cycles shorten, leading to thinning hair. Many women may notice smaller ponytails or more hair left behind in brushes and drains.
- Hair Loss (Alopecia): Increased ratios of androgens like DHT can lead to hair thinning or loss at the temples or crown. Genetic predisposition plays a large role in pattern hair loss, so family history is worth considering.[6]
- Dryness, Brittleness, and Texture Changes: In addition to thinning, you may notice that your hair feels drier, more brittle, or has a different texture as your scalp starts producing less oil. You also may find that products that once worked for you no longer provide the same benefits.[7]
- Accelerated Graying and Oxidative Stress: Oxidative stress can increase during perimenopause, impacting melanin-producing cells in hair follicles and contributing to cellular aging and increased graying.[8,9]
- Increased Senescence: Diffuse age-related hair thinning, even in individuals without a family history of hair loss, is termed Senescence Alopecia, and it’s due to increasing levels of senescence in the body with age, particularly affecting the cells in hair follicles. In many people, age-related hair thinning can co-exist with pattern balding, and research indicates that senescence may also contribute to pattern balding.[10]
03
Scalp Changes During Perimenopause
The scalp may also change during perimenopause, contributing to hair health challenges as it affects your hair follicles. Here are some of the more common scalp issues that may arise:
- Scalp Sensitivity and Dermatitis: During perimenopause, hormonal fluctuations, especially progesterone and its anti-inflammatory effects, can trigger scalp sensitivities and conditions like dermatitis. This inflammatory response often results in redness, itching, and flaking.[7,11]
- Sebum Production: Decreased estrogen levels can also affect sebum production in the scalp, leading to dryness and potential dandruff. An overly dry scalp may lead to itchiness and discomfort, creating a cycle that makes it challenging to maintain healthy hair.[7]
- Scalp Inflammation: Greater sensitivity and inflammation during perimenopause may aggravate scalp issues like eczema or psoriasis.[11]
03
Scalp Changes During Perimenopause
The scalp may also change during perimenopause, contributing to hair health challenges as it affects your hair follicles. Here are some of the more common scalp issues that may arise:
- Scalp Sensitivity and Dermatitis: During perimenopause, hormonal fluctuations, especially progesterone and its anti-inflammatory effects, can trigger scalp sensitivities and conditions like dermatitis. This inflammatory response often results in redness, itching, and flaking.[7,11]
- Sebum Production: Decreased estrogen levels can also affect sebum production in the scalp, leading to dryness and potential dandruff. An overly dry scalp may lead to itchiness and discomfort, creating a cycle that makes it challenging to maintain healthy hair.[7]
- Scalp Inflammation: Greater sensitivity and inflammation during perimenopause may aggravate scalp issues like eczema or psoriasis.[11]
04
How to Care for Hair During Perimenopause
Now that you know how perimenopause affects hair health, you’re ready to take action. Here are some science-backed strategies to help keep your hair healthy and strong:
Maintain a diet that helps your hair
With hormonal changes during perimenopause, shifts in your gut microbiome can make it harder to absorb nutrients, so a well-balanced diet becomes even more critical for keeping your hair healthy.[12] Even if you’re eating a balanced diet, deficiencies in nutrients like iron, healthy fats, biotin, and vitamin D can cause your hair to thin or your scalp to dry.Here are some of the best sources of each:
- Iron: Found in leafy greens, legumes, tofu, and red meats–high in heme iron, which is more easily absorbed by the body– iron supports hair growth and strength by enhancing oxygen flow to follicles.[13]
- Healthy Fats: Omega-3-rich foods like fatty fish, avocados, nuts, seeds, and olive oil help promote scalp health and reduce inflammation.[14]
- Biotin: Eggs, nuts, sweet potatoes, spinach, and bananas are rich in biotin, essential for hair strength and growth.[15]
- Vitamin D: In addition to sunlight, fatty fish, mushrooms, egg yolks, and fortified foods contain vitamin D, a nutrient that is essential for hair growth.[16]
04
How to Care for Hair During Perimenopause
Now that you know how perimenopause affects hair health, you’re ready to take action. Here are some science-backed strategies to help keep your hair healthy and strong:
Maintain a diet that helps your hair
With hormonal changes during perimenopause, shifts in your gut microbiome can make it harder to absorb nutrients, so a well-balanced diet becomes even more critical for keeping your hair healthy.[12] Even if you’re eating a balanced diet, deficiencies in nutrients like iron, healthy fats, biotin, and vitamin D can cause your hair to thin or your scalp to dry.Here are some of the best sources of each:
- Iron: Found in leafy greens, legumes, tofu, and red meats–high in heme iron, which is more easily absorbed by the body– iron supports hair growth and strength by enhancing oxygen flow to follicles.[13]
- Healthy Fats: Omega-3-rich foods like fatty fish, avocados, nuts, seeds, and olive oil help promote scalp health and reduce inflammation.[14]
- Biotin: Eggs, nuts, sweet potatoes, spinach, and bananas are rich in biotin, essential for hair strength and growth.[15]
- Vitamin D: In addition to sunlight, fatty fish, mushrooms, egg yolks, and fortified foods contain vitamin D, a nutrient that is essential for hair growth.[16]
Take care to avoid damaging your hair
If you want to extend your hair's longevity and prevent unnecessary hair loss through perimenopause, a few small habits make a big difference:
- Limit sources of dryness: Limiting heat exposure or using a sulfate-free shampoo can keep dryness and hair loss at bay.
- Get frequent trims: Regular trims every few weeks help fend off split ends and keep your hair healthy.
- Prevent breakages: Be gentle when brushing, especially on wet hair. A wide-tooth comb or detangling brush is perfect for this, ensuring your hair stays smooth and resilient without unnecessary breakage.
Take care to avoid damaging your hair
If you want to extend your hair's longevity and prevent unnecessary hair loss through perimenopause, a few small habits make a big difference:
- Limit sources of dryness: Limiting heat exposure or using a sulfate-free shampoo can keep dryness and hair loss at bay.
- Get frequent trims: Regular trims every few weeks help fend off split ends and keep your hair healthy.
- Prevent breakages: Be gentle when brushing, especially on wet hair. A wide-tooth comb or detangling brush is perfect for this, ensuring your hair stays smooth and resilient without unnecessary breakage.
Professional Treatments
If you’re noticing more severe hair loss during perimenopause, a visit to a dermatologist or trichologist might be worth considering, as they can offer a range of effective options:
- PRP Therapy: Using the power of your own platelets, PRP injections can help rejuvenate hair growth naturally.[17]
- Laser Therapy: Low-level laser therapy stimulates your follicles, helping boost hair thickness without invasive procedures.[18]
- Microneedling: By creating tiny channels, microneedling promotes collagen production, enhancing the impact of growth serums.[19]
Professional Treatments
If you’re noticing more severe hair loss during perimenopause, a visit to a dermatologist or trichologist might be worth considering, as they can offer a range of effective options:
- PRP Therapy: Using the power of your own platelets, PRP injections can help rejuvenate hair growth naturally.[17]
- Laser Therapy: Low-level laser therapy stimulates your follicles, helping boost hair thickness without invasive procedures.[18]
- Microneedling: By creating tiny channels, microneedling promotes collagen production, enhancing the impact of growth serums.[19]
Topical Treatments
Topical treatments can make a difference for your hair and scalp during perimenopause. Here’s what to try:
- Minoxidil: Minoxidil is known to increase blood flow to hair follicles, stimulate hair follicle growth, and combat thinning. Minoxidil is a great option for re-growing thicker hair.[20]
- Scalp Exfoliants: Exfoliating removes buildup, keeping your scalp clean and allowing you to absorb other hair growth-boosting ingredients better.[21]
- Botanical Oils: Some essential oils, like rosemary oil, have been demonstrated in animal studies to reduce inflammation, boost circulation, and prevent hair loss.[22,23] Because of the lack of human clinical trials, however, the efficacy of botanical oils in treating hormone-related hair loss in perimenopausal and post-menopausal women is unclear.
Topical Treatments
Topical treatments can make a difference for your hair and scalp during perimenopause. Here’s what to try:
- Minoxidil: Minoxidil is known to increase blood flow to hair follicles, stimulate hair follicle growth, and combat thinning. Minoxidil is a great option for re-growing thicker hair.[20]
- Scalp Exfoliants: Exfoliating removes buildup, keeping your scalp clean and allowing you to absorb other hair growth-boosting ingredients better.[21]
- Botanical Oils: Some essential oils, like rosemary oil, have been demonstrated in animal studies to reduce inflammation, boost circulation, and prevent hair loss.[22,23] Because of the lack of human clinical trials, however, the efficacy of botanical oils in treating hormone-related hair loss in perimenopausal and post-menopausal women is unclear.
Key Takeaways:
- Hormonal shifts during perimenopause, especially in estrogen and progesterone, shorten the hair’s growth phase (anagen) and are primary drivers behind hair thinning and shedding.
- Women with higher androgen-to-estrogen ratios may experience thinning at the temples or crown, a common female pattern hair loss trait.
- Higher cortisol levels during perimenopause can increase hair shedding due to telogen effluvium, a stress-related condition.
- Scalp sensitivity, dryness, and conditions like dermatitis may intensify during perimenopause.
- A diet rich in iron, healthy fats, biotin, and vitamin D can help prevent hair dryness, thinning, and breakage by providing essential building blocks for hair health.
- Bioactive supplements targeting hair health can help cover nutrient gaps that impact hair strength and growth.
Key Takeaways:
- Hormonal shifts during perimenopause, especially in estrogen and progesterone, shorten the hair’s growth phase (anagen) and are primary drivers behind hair thinning and shedding.
- Women with higher androgen-to-estrogen ratios may experience thinning at the temples or crown, a common female pattern hair loss trait.
- Higher cortisol levels during perimenopause can increase hair shedding due to telogen effluvium, a stress-related condition.
- Scalp sensitivity, dryness, and conditions like dermatitis may intensify during perimenopause.
- A diet rich in iron, healthy fats, biotin, and vitamin D can help prevent hair dryness, thinning, and breakage by providing essential building blocks for hair health.
- Bioactive supplements targeting hair health can help cover nutrient gaps that impact hair strength and growth.
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7432488/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3380548/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4174066/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10426230/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27538002/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4174066/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35377827/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3952404/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2929555/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378512214003259
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3888685/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28778332/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3678013/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5315033/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4989391/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34553483/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4622412/#s1title
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8906269/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6322157/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6691938/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6369642/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227622001302
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10186041/
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7432488/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3380548/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4174066/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10426230/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27538002/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4174066/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35377827/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3952404/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2929555/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378512214003259
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3888685/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28778332/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3678013/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5315033/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4989391/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34553483/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4622412/#s1title
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8906269/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6322157/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6691938/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6369642/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227622001302
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10186041/
Reviewed by Alessandra Zonari, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and Co-Founder of OneSkin
Alessandra earned her Master’s degree in stem cell biology, and her PhD in skin regeneration and tissue engineering at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil in collaboration with the 3B’s Research Group in Portugal. Alessandra did a second post-doctoral at the University of Coimbra in Portugal. She is a co-inventor of three patents and has published 20 peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals.
Reviewed by Alessandra Zonari, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and Co-Founder of OneSkin
Alessandra earned her Master’s degree in stem cell biology, and her PhD in skin regeneration and tissue engineering at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil in collaboration with the 3B’s Research Group in Portugal. Alessandra did a second post-doctoral at the University of Coimbra in Portugal. She is a co-inventor of three patents and has published 20 peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals.