How to Deal with Hair Loss During Menopause

Menopause is a natural transitional period in a woman's life, but it brings various hormonal changes that impact not only the skin and metabolism but also hair health.

Many women begin to notice that their hair becomes thinner, sparser, and more brittle, along with increased hair loss. During menopause, there is a significant drop in female hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. According to hair treatment specialist Dr. Renata Melo, menopause is a turning point for women's hair health. “With the drop in hormones, the strands can thin, lose density, and fall out in greater amounts,” she states.

These hormones play a fundamental role in hair health, as they help keep the strands in the growth cycle and prevent progressive thinning. With this reduction, the following occurs:

• Thinning of the strands: Hair may lose volume and become more fragile.
• Reduction in hair density: Strands take longer to grow and are born thinner.
• Increased hair loss: The hair growth cycle becomes shorter, causing strands to fall out prematurely.
• Genetic predisposition: In some women, menopause may accelerate female androgenetic alopecia, a type of baldness that causes hair thinning primarily on the top of the head.

The good news is that there are highly effective clinical protocols to strengthen the strands, stimulate growth, and prevent hair miniaturization. “They help strengthen the strands, recover hair density, and prevent hair loss from becoming permanent. The secret is to act early and adopt a personalized protocol,” explains Renata. Among them, she highlights:

1. Biorremodelers like PDRN and EXOSOMES: Help strengthen the scalp and activate hair follicles, stimulating the growth of thicker and healthier strands.
2. Hair Drug Delivery: The use of devices like Mesoject gum or fractional lasers to enhance the absorption of medications directly into the scalp is a highly effective technique for stimulating hair growth.
3. Laser and LED Therapies: Low-level laser improves scalp vascularization, increasing oxygenation of the follicles and reducing hair loss.
4. Hair Mesotherapy: Involves the direct application of active ingredients such as vitamins, antioxidants, and growth factors to the scalp to stimulate hair growth.
5. Use of Lotions and Medications:
   • Topical or oral Minoxidil: Helps prolong the growth phase of the strands.
   • Dutasteride and Finasteride: For cases of female androgenetic alopecia, these medications block the action of hormones that accelerate hair miniaturization.
   • Vitamin supplementation: Deficiencies in iron, vitamin D, zinc, and biotin can worsen hair loss, so maintaining balanced nutrition is essential.

Some actions can also minimize the impacts on hair health:

“Take care of your diet, consume proteins, iron, omega-3, and vitamins, which are essential for hair formation. Avoid aggressive chemical processes: Dyes, straightening treatments, and excessive bleaching can further weaken hair during this phase, and try to reduce stress,” suggests Renata.