Menopause almost always affects the hair on your scalp. Symptoms of menopause can also include dullness, dryness and thinning of your skin, hot flashes, mood changes, decreased sexual desire and increased facial hair.
Fifty is the average age for menopause, but changes to your hair can begin long before, and is one reason why hair thinning during menopause is difficult to counteract. Nobody over 40 has the same volume of hair they had in their twenties, but menopause is an extra and accelerating cause. The pattern of menopausal hair thinning is similar to the early stages of male pattern hair loss.
Most commonly, you may notice a reduction in the thickness (volume) of each strand. This is not immediate, but gradual. There may also be recession at your frontal hairline and temples, or you might have increased hair fall.
PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT
Hormonal fluctuations during menopause are often the most distressing. From a psychological viewpoint, it is very common for a woman to scrutinize herself in the mirror more closely, and particular attention might be paid to hair. Hair has deep psychological and sexual meaning.
Both menopause and loss of hair are often associated with loss of femininity and sexuality. These thoughts and changes can all feed into each other, and it becomes a vicious and demoralizing cycle. Rest assured, though, it is very rare for a woman to go bald. And things can be done to get the best out of your hair during this stressful time.
