Women's Health Articles
Hair Loss & Hair Thinning at Menopause
During menopause many women experience hair loss or hair thinning. Let’s take a look at the factors involved and some of the solutions available.
It is normal to lose 50-100 hairs each day. These are constantly regenerated by the hair follicles. However due to various reasons, it is possible for a far greater hair loss to occur, particularly in women undergoing the transition of menopause.
One of the most common causes of hair loss at this stage of life is low thyroid function, which is quite common among menopausal women. While thyroid dysfunction frequently causes general hair loss from the hair on the head, a unique and characteristic symptom of an underactive thyroid is loss of the hair on the outer edge of the eyebrows. General loss of body hair from areas other than the head may also occur. If you do have an underactive thyroid and want a natural remedy you may want to look at Thyromine™. You can find more information at www.thyromine.com
Other factors that influence hair loss include: changes in hormone levels, increased testosterone, increased stress, various medications, scalp and dermatological issues and heredity.
When ovulation ceases there is a change in the hormone balance of the body. Estrogen levels fall and as a result the ratio of testosterone to estrogen in the female body changes. Prior to menopause, a woman’s body is constantly producing estrogen, which binds excess testosterone to proteins called globulins. Therefore, there is little excess testosterone in a woman’s body. After the onset of menopause this estrogen is no longer present, thereby exposing it to a similar although milder type of syndrome that males go through concerning the overproduction of DHT. An interesting note is that once again, the syndrome of menopause and its unique effects are not as common in the Eastern world, but are specific to Western civilization. The key differences are the consumption of less red meat and fatty foods in Eastern lands than in the West and less daily stressors in most Eastern lands as compared to Western civilization.
There are a number of supplements that can help with the kind of hair loss that occurs during and after menopause. Clinical trials indicate that the herb saw palmetto, taken in adequate doses, helps to block the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. This action may result in an improved outcome for women experiencing hormone related hair loss. One supplement specifically formulated for Women and utilising a high-grade Saw Palmetto, as well as other botanical compounds for hair regrowth is made by Provillus™. The details can be found at www.provillus.com
Women have enough to deal with during menopause without having to worry about hair loss or thinning. Being able to slow or stop the problem with a natural solution can go a long way to making this life transition easier.