Hair Loss during peri Menopause

hair loss brush Hair loss is a common and upsetting peri menopausal symptom. Hair Loss during peri Menopause can really knock a woman´s confidence if not given the necessary attention. Understanding why hair loss during peri Menopause happens and being aware of its triggers will help women manage it in the best possible way. Please read the following article which provides useful information about hair loss during peri Menopause.

What is hair loss during peri Menopause?

Hair loss, also known as alopecia, means that a person is losing more hair than usual. Normally, each hair grows approximately 1/4 of inch per month, and continues growing for up to 6 years. Once the hair falls out, another grows in its place. Hair loss during peri Menopause occurs when the amount of hair that falls outnumbers the number being produced.

Generally hair loss is believed to be a condition affecting men but all women experience some degree of hair loss during peri Menopause or hair thinning at some point, and two-thirds of women will be severely affected. However, unlike with men, hair loss during peri Menopause in women does not typically result in complete baldness. In fact, most women suffer hair thinning, which is a loss of hair density (clear areas in the scalp) but not total loss of hair.

Due to the fact that excessive hair loss during peri Menopause can affect a woman´s self-esteem it is vital to be able to deal with it appropriately. The following articles provide details on the different causes of hair loss during peri Menopause.

What causes hair loss during peri Menopause?

The causes of excessive hair loss during peri Menopause vary from woman to woman but generally they fall into two categories; psychological and physical.

Psychological causes for hair loss during peri menopause: Anxiety, emotional stress, overdoing things and fatigue can all lead to hair loss during peri menopause or hair thinning. If these factors are not controlled, they can result in a woman becoming emotionally unstable. Usually these cases are temporary and hair loss during peri Menopause or hair thinning stops when periods of stress are over.

Physical causes for hair loss during peri menopause: Hormonal imbalance is the main cause for hair loss during peri Menopause. Testosterone is the main hair-producing hormone in the body but the DHT hormone, which comes from testosterone, has the opposite effect. The DHT hormone is the one responsible for under-producing hair in certain areas (especially the head). Yet, even though DHT is produced with testosterone, it is in fact controlled by estrogen.

When women are younger, estrogen and testosterone hormones are balanced, ensuring that DHT is controlled. But when women approach peri menopause, estrogen levels fluctuate leaving DHT production unmanaged and this results in excessive hair loss during peri Menopause or hair thinning. This is why maintaining estrogen hormone balance is important in controlling hair loss during peri Menopause.

The most important thing in establishing the right treatment for hair loss during peri Menopause is to work out whether your problem is psychological or physical.