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As women, most of us are used to the effects of fluctuating hormones. Whether it be as a result of our menstrual cycles or even illness, over the years, we become pretty good at knowing when our hormones aren’t playing ball. When it comes to one of our biggest hormonal shifts, however, many women feel ill-prepared and ill-informed. And it makes sense, the topic perimenopause is simply not discussed enough. And while menopause can change a whole number of things when it comes to our bodies (our mood, skin, libido, weight and energy levels can all be affected), one of the newer conversations in the world of beauty is the effect that it can have on our hair.
Over my years as a beauty editor, I have had the opportunity to sit down with a number of trichologists, doctors and experts to pick their brains on what it is women really need to know about perimenopausal hair loss – and I’ve learned some really insightful stuff. Here is everything I think you should know…
For starters, let’s make sure we’re clued up on what perimenopause actually is – and in order to understand what perimenopause is, we need to understand what menopause is. In short, menopause is the name given to the time at which women stop menstruating. While this typically happens between the ages of 45 and 55, it can happen at any point in a woman’s life, affecting anyone who has periods.
Perimenopause is the term given to the time around you encounter menopause – because menopause does not just happen overnight. In the run-up to menopause (and indeed for some, afterwards) our bodies go through hormonal fluctuations, which have a plethora of side effects. Hot flushes, mood changes, reduced sex drive, muscle aches, weight changes, dry skin, headaches and sleep disturbance are all considered symptoms of perimenopause. Another effect? Hair thinning and hair loss.
Our hair growth and the speed of its cycle depends heavily on our hormones. While hormone levels are a complex thing to get your head around, the bottom line is this:
Higher oestrogen levels (a female hormone) tend to go hand in hand with thicker, fuller hair.
The androgen (male hormone) DHT plays an important role in healthy hair growth on the body, but when it comes to the hair follicles on our heads, high levels of DHT are thought to lead to shrinkage of hair follicles, which can result in a shorter, thinner, weaker hair shaft and more frequent hair loss.
Progesterone (another female hormone) works to counteract the hair-loss-causing characteristics of DHT.
In essence, a healthy head of hair relies on the levels of these hormones being in sync and working in perfect unison.
When our bodies are perimenopausal, our hormone levels go through a dramatic shift, throwing this ‘perfect’ unison off kilter. Oestrogen levels can fluctuate wildly while slowly decreasing over time, and progesterone levels also start to gradually decline. With these female hormones at a lower level, DHT levels are comparatively higher, meaning those negative effects of hair follicle shrinkage (weakening and thinning of the hair shaft, brittleness, thinning and delayed regrowth) come into play.
No one knows your hair better than you do. It is perfectly normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs from your head a day – but this varies from person to person. So what constitutes abnormal levels of hair loss? If you are noticing consistently more hair fall when washing or brushing your hair and it is causing you concern, your first port of call should be your doctor.
The psychological impact of hair loss and thinning in women during perimenopause is not to be ignored or overlooked. If you’re feeling down about increased hair thinning or loss, be sure to book an appointment with your GP before taking measures into your own hands. It is thought that HRT can also play a role in the impact of perimenopause on hair, but whether it betters or worsens the situation depends on the individual – your doctor is the only person who should advise you on this as a course of treatment.
A signifier that you might be experiencing perimenopausal hair loss is located thinning around the crown and parting. Experts have long told me that it doesn't typically affect the hairline or temple area.
If your doctor has confirmed you might be experiencing perimenopause hair thinning or you want to prevent it as much as possible, there are some tweaks you can make to your daily hair care routine that may help.
1. Cleanse often
DHT is prevalent in sebaceous areas. Not only does it trigger the sebaceous glands in the scalp’s follicles to produce more sebum, but it is also thought to be carried in the sebum it helps to produce – leading to scalp build up and, therefore, a vicious DHT cycle. For this reason, it is typically recommended to increase the number of times a week that you wash your hair, with some experts even recommending a daily cleanse. Look towards deeply cleansing shampoos that work to rid the scalp of oil build-up. L'Oréal Professionnel Shampoo is formulated with magnesium sulphate which effectively cleanses the scalp from sebum and is also thought to help reduce DHT levels on the scalp.
2. Hair growth serums
While the hair growth serum market is, admittedly, tricky to navigate (many don’t work in the way they promise to), some formulas are worth looking into. It’s true that no serum alone is going to result in a full head of lusciously long and healthy hair, but certain products might help. A small number of studies, for example, have shown that some ingredients help to inhibit DHT production in the scalp. Pumpkin seed oil is one of these ingredients, and it can be found in Follicle Boost Hair Density Serum . Along with retinol and lactic acid, the serum works to rid follicles of oil build-up and promote healthy hair and skin cell renewal.
3. Strengthen hair
When it comes to heat styling, be as gentle as possible in a bid to minimise heat damage and breakage. Be sure to use a heat protectant and look towards kinder-to-hair tools that reduce tugging, like the KEEO Genius .
Beyond that, you might benefit from strengthening treatments that condition weak fibres. Act + Acre is a brand that specialises in scalp health and hair thinning. The Restorative Conditioning Mask uses an impressive combination of proteins, fatty acids and oils to nourish dry, fragile lengths and seal in moisture.
4. Be gentle on hair
If you are experiencing the effects of perimenopausal thinning, chances are your strands are feeling weaker and more fragile. It is therefore important that you be as kind to your hair as possible. Look to hair brushes that don’t tug (Wet Brush is one of my go-tos), silk pillowcases to reduce abrasion-related breakage (the ones from Slip are super luxurious) and avoid tight hairstyles that cause friction.
5. Research Treatments
While most treatments for perimenopausal hair loss are still in their early stages of clinical research, there are some that are rising in popularity, most notably microneedling and red light therapy. Before booking in for one of these treatments, it’s advised you speak with your GP and arm yourself with the information you need to know – and never try them yourself at home.
Microneedling is offered by many clinics as a treatment for hair thinning and hair loss. The treatment involves using a number of fine needles to create small punctures in the scalp, often with a dermaroller. The theory is that creating a number of small wounds kickstarts the skin’s repair process, causing it to create an increased amount of growth factors. It is also used as a means to increase absorption of topical hair loss treatments.
Red light therapy or LLLT is a newer treatment for hair loss that has piqued the interest of researchers. It is thought to work by using focused beams of red or near-infrared light to stimulate the hair follicles into producing healthier hair.
