My Top Supplements For Hair Growth In Women Over 50 Are:
You may well have landed on this page looking for the best supplements to help with hair loss during menopause. So letâs start here.
But before I give you my favorite supplements⦠Hereâs how supplements fit into the big picture when it comes to reversing hair loss:
If thereâs an underlying hormonal issue causing the hair loss, the supplements will help but not that much. Getting to the underlying hormonal imbalance is what will turn things around and start your hair growing again â then the supplements will just help it to grow faster.
Here are my favorite supplements for women over 50. Each of these can help support thicker, fuller, shinier hair this year and in every year to come.
Be sure to watch the video to learn more about why I recommend considering each one of these!!
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More itemsJan 31, 2020
What Are The Cycles Of Hair Growth
Hair goes through three cycles:
- The anagen phase can last from two years to eight years. This phase generally refers to about 85% to 90% of the hair on your head.
- The catagen phase is the time that hair follicles shrink and takes about two to three weeks.
- The telogen phase takes about two to four months. At the end of this phase, the hair falls out.
Your shorter hairs like eyelashes, arm and leg hair and eyebrows have a short anagen phase about one month. Your scalp hair can last up to six years or even longer.
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What Role Does Hormone Replacement Treatment Play In Hair Thinning During Menopause
Hormone replacement treatment during menopause may help with thinning hair if its related to hormone changes. Our provider may prescribe estrogen replacement therapy to help bring your hormones back into balance and back up to healthy baseline levels if you have low estrogen during menopause. This may help your hair in a few ways.
First, as we learned, estrogen plays a significant role during hair growth. Increasing estrogen levels during hormone replacement treatment may help your hair stay in the growing phase for longer than it would without hormone injections. It can also help your body keep testosterone levels in balance to help reduce the shrinking effects testosterone can have on hair follicles. In addition, some studies show that if you start hormone imbalance treatment early on for menopause symptoms, it may help you maintain your current hair density. This can help you reduce how much hair you lose throughout the course of menopause.
Anxiety Can Cause Inflammation
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury or infection. It’s a way of protecting the area and promoting healing. However, when inflammation occurs chronically , it can lead to a number of problems, including hair loss.
Chronic inflammation can damage hair follicles and prevent them from growing new hair. It can also lead to the production of inflammatory chemicals that can further damage hair follicles and cause hair loss. By reducing inflammation, you can help to protect your hair follicles and reduce the risk of hair loss.
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F Clinical Hair Growth Effects Of Estrogens
There are only a few reports on the use of systemic estrogens for hair loss management. Estrogens have been used for topical treatment of hair diseases for more than half a century and constitute a firm staple of management strategies for female pattern androgenetic alopecia in central Europe . Orentreich observed in 1969 a decrease in daily effluvium during therapy with systemic estrogens , which were reported to increase the proliferation rate, slow down differentiation, and, thus, postpone telogen effluvium . On this basis, even intralesional stilbene administration was once recommended for the treatment of alopecia areata . Some studies have reported an increased anagen and decreased telogen rate after treatment with estrogens, compared with placebo . However, professionally executed, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, prospective clinical trials on the efficacy of topical E2 in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia and non-androgen-dependent telogen effluvium are still painfully missing.
The Hair Follicle Cycle
The hair follicle cycle is divided into three main distinct phases: the anagen, the catagen, and the telogen . Some authors also identify one additional phase: the exogen.
Hair growth phases: anagen , catagen , telogen , exogen .
The most prolonged phase is the anagen, which lasts 27 years. It is also called the growing phase. During this phase, cells divide rapidly at the lower part of the hair, while matrix cells migrate outward.
The catagen phase is a short transition period, which is defined as involution or regression. This phase lasts around three weeks. During this phase, the hair shaft loses the connections from the papillae and contracts.
The telogen phase can also be referred to as the resting stage. This phase can last about three months and is described as the regression of the matrix and retraction of the papilla to a location near the bulge. There is no significant proliferation or apoptosis during this phase.
The exogen phase is an additional distinct phase where the active hair shaft and new hair continue to grow.
At any given time, up to 8590% of the hair on the scalp remains in the anagen phase, whereas the remaining follicles are either in the catagen phase for 2% of the time or in the telogen phase for the remaining 1015% of the time . However, this percentage of telogen hair can be overestimated, with novel data indicating that only 3.6% remain in the telogen phase .
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How To Treat Low Estrogen Hair Loss
Since several health issues can cause low estrogen, theres no one-size-fits-all medication that can treat low estrogen hair loss.
If your estrogen levels are low, your healthcare provider may suggest using medication to boost your bodys estrogen production. You may also benefit from treatments designed to improve hair growth and promote healthier hair.
Weve listed the most effective treatment options for estrogen-related hair loss below, along with information on how each treatment works
Pharmacodynamics Of Combined Estrogen And Progestogen Therapies
The interplay of estrogens and progestogens in combined hormonal therapies is complex.
Both estrogen and progestins have antigonadotropic activity by providing negative feedback on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and thereby decreasing endogenous production of androgens and estrogens .
The androgenic activity of some progestogens may be counteracted by the concomitant activation of ERs. Ethinyl estradiol/estrogen can increase the levels of SHBG which binds testosterone and therefore limits the amount of free, unbound hormone that is available to exert androgenic effects . Estrogen also inhibits 5-reductase, decreasing the conversion of testosterone to the more potent DHT . Some authorities assert that regardless of the androgenic properties of the particular progestin, the net effect of all combination oral contraceptives is antiandrogenic when they contain ethinyl estradiol . Some COCs have been FDA-approved for the treatment of acne based on their antiandrogenic effects, and they include: ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate, ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone acetate/ferrous fumarate, ethinyl estradiol/drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol/drospirenone/levomefolate .
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Can You Reverse Thinning Hair
Most cases of thinning hair are caused by male pattern baldness. … There’s insufficient evidence that taking vitamins can reverse hair losswith two big exceptions. Finasteride and minoxidil, used in combination, are considered more effective at reversing certain kinds of balding than either one alone.
Why Do We Lose Estrogen
All estrogen is produced within the ovaries. This means that the health of your ovaries is directly linked to estrogen production. During perimenopause, the ovaries make less estrogen than they used to. This decline is a natural part of life. Then when menopause hits, estrogen production stops. However, other factors can impact estrogen production, such as:
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Treatment Of Hirsutism In Women
Treatment and management will depend on the underlying cause. In addition to your usual doctor, you may need specialist doctors such as an endocrinologist and a gynaecologist.Treatment options may include:
- medications to block the effects of androgens
- anti-androgen medications to reduce your bodys ability to make androgens
- medications to help block the manufacture of androgens in the ovaries, such as the oral contraceptive pill
- insulin medications, if hyperinsulinaemia is present
- surgical removal of an adrenal or ovarian tumour
- for women who need contraception and help with menstrual cycle control, six months treatment with the oral contraceptive pill can significantly reduce excess hair growth.
Midlife Hormonal Changes May Contribute To Thinning Hair
Hair loss might also be related to a shift in hormones, says Faubion. Androgens, a group of hormones that include testosterone and androstenedione, dont increase during the menopause transition, but the ratio between estrogen and androgen changes, so you have less estrogen and relatively more androgen, she explains.
DHT, a metabolite of testosterone, has been linked to male baldness in research. Theres a theory that changing ratios may be related to hair loss in women, says Faubion.
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How Is A Hormonal Imbalance Diagnosed
First, make an appointment with a health care provider for a physical exam. The health care provider will ask about your symptoms. Then, depending on your symptoms, they will suggest which hormone imbalance tests to do. These could be evaluations like:
- Blood test: Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroxine, TTH, insulin, and cortisol levels can be detected in the blood.
- Pelvic exam: A health care provider will search for any lumps or cysts.
- Ultrasound: Images of your uterus, ovaries, thyroid, and pituitary gland can be obtained.
Can Hormonal Hair Loss Grow Back
Hormone issues Both men and women can develop hormonal imbalances that can cause hair to thin or fall out. Often, treating the imbalance helps your hair regrow. … Once your hormonal imbalance is corrected, your hair should begin to grow again — plus you’ll probably feel more energetic and better overall.
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Why Does Pcos Cause Hair Loss
The female body produces male hormones, also called androgens. This includes testosterone. Androgens play a role in triggering puberty and stimulating hair growth in the underarms and pubic areas. They have other important functions as well.
PCOS causes extra androgen production, resulting in virilization. This refers to the development of more masculine features, including excess hair in places where it doesnt usually grow, such as the:
These extra androgens can also cause the hair on your head to start thinning, especially near the front of your scalp. This is known as androgenic alopecia or female pattern hair loss.
Lifestyle And Habit Changes
If you have low estrogen levels due to a lifestyle factor for example, excessive exercise your healthcare provider may suggest making changes to increase your estrogen production.
You may need to adjust your activity level or diet. If youve experienced weight gain over time or are clinically obese, your healthcare provider may suggest losing weight. Other lifestyle changes, such as reducing your stress levels, may also help to promote optimal hormone production.
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Symptoms Of Hirsutism In Women
The symptoms and signs of hirsutism depend on the underlying cause, but may include:
- a sudden change in hair colour, rate of growth, thickness or distribution
- excessive body hair in typically male areas of the body such as the face, back, abdomen, inner thighs and buttocks.
Additional symptoms may include:
Hair Loss As A Menopausal Symptom
Estrogen and progesterone are two of the essential female hormones that can prolong the anagen or hair growth phase. They act as nourishment so that the hair will stay on your scalp longer and may even stimulate faster hair regrowth. Once a woman begins menopause, theres a hormonal imbalance due to low oestrogen levels and possibly high androgens.
One of the early signs of menopausal hair loss is when you see more loose hair falling out when running your comb or brush through your locks. While bald spots are not as common during menopause, it is possible to see thinning hair along the hair line. New hair growth will also be significantly slow during menopause.
Other menopausal symptoms due to fluctuating estrogen and progesterone levels are vaginal dryness, metabolism changes, weight gain, hot flashes, irregular or heavy periods, bloating, mood swings, night sweats, insomnia or sleep problems, and muscle aches and joint pain due to loss of bone tissue.
Hormonal hair loss may also be triggered by other factors like stress, lack of essential nutrients, and underlying illnesses. Severe cases of hair loss may prompt the need to see a doctor to check your blood count, thyroid tests, and hormone levels to identify its cause.
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Vitamin B12 The Energy Vitamin
To keep hair follicles active, you need healthy blood flow the oxygen-rich red blood cells feed the hair follicles. Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, does exactly that it promotes healthy hair growth by assisting in the production of these red blood cells.
Vitamin B12 is nicknamed the energy vitamin, and it makes sense that its deficiency can manifest as weakness and fatigue symptoms that appear to overlap with other types of deficiencies described in this blog. If you’re worried you may be deficient, a serum vitamin B12 test can rule out abnormalities. B12 deficiency is usually more prominent in folks with digestive issues , in older adults, vegans, vegetarians, and with excessive alcohol intake. Vitamin B12 is found in animal-sourced foods such as meat and dairy, and in some fermented veggies. Plants dont make vitamin B12, but during the fermentation process, certain types of bacteria can supply some of this nutrient.
How Effective Is Camrese Lo
Yes, Camrese Lo is a combination pill, which means it includes two hormones that effectively prevent pregnancy. When used exactly as prescribed, this medication has a 99 percent effective rate for pregnancy prevention. Certain drugs can interact with Camrese Lo, rendering them or the birth control pills ineffective.
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Sex Hormones Not Just For Reproduction
PREGNANCY: Remember all that hair that you didnt lose when you were pregnant? I loved my luxurious pregnancy hair so strong, thick and shiny. It wasnt me who had the pregnancy glow, it was my hair! Pregnancy increases the number of hair follicles in the anagen phase. The enhanced supply of estradiol and progesterone in pregnancy are particularly nurturing to hair, expanding the growth phase and preventing shedding. Little did I know that at about 3 months postpartum, when my hormones were trying to re-equilibrate themselves and adjust to a new normal, my hair would all come out in clumps, washing down the drain, falling out so fast it was a seeming miracle any of it actually remained attached to my head.
Hair changes in pregnancy are common however, every woman is different and therefore hair changes are all individual. If hair loss is experienced in the postpartum period, most women will experience a full recovery, although the process may be slow.
MENOPAUSE: Along those lines, when the levels of estradiol and progesterone fall in menopause, hot flashes and night sweats are not the only symptoms that seemingly appear out of nowhere. What many women are unaware of and unprepared for is the fact that they may also find themselves facing hair thinning. And just like the postpartum hair loss, it has everything to do with hormones. However, unlike the postpartum period, hair loss in menopause is irreversible, unless hormone replacement therapy is introduced.
What Are The Myths About Hair Loss
Myths about hair loss are widespread. Nothing in the following list is true:
- Youre losing hair because you shampoo it too much, or because youve colored it or gotten a perm.
- Dandruff causes permanent hair loss in women.
- Stress causes permanent hair loss in women.
- If you shave your head, your hair will grow back twice as thick.
- If you stand on your head youll increase circulation, stimulating hair growth.
- If you brush your hair 100 strokes a day that will make your hair healthier.
- Hats and wigs cause hair loss in women.
- Hair loss only affects intellectual women.
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What Are Some Tips For Dealing With Hair Loss In Women
There are some things you can do on your own. You might check with your stylist or try some of these:
- Coloring your hair adds volume to the strands, making your hair seem fuller.
- Massaging your head, like when you are washing your hair, can stimulate blood flow to the scalp and hair follicles.
- Getting your hair cut shorter, and having layers added, can make your hair seem fuller.
- Using the right kind of shampoo can also help. Look for a shampoo that adds volume without using sulfate detergents.
- Using the right kind of product at the right time can also help. There are products that add volume that you add while your hair is still wet. However, using too much product can add weight.
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