Hair Thinning In Women Over 40

When women’s hair starts thinning all over this is called female pattern baldness. It frequently will be seen in premenopause and menopause.

Betty says her long beautiful hair began thinning around early menopause. Her thyroid tests were normal, no surgery or medication causes. She maintained the length but what good is that if her scalp was clearly visible? Not even her beautician could camouflage it very well, especially when she also had several small bald spots.

Estrogen helps hair grow faster and stay on the head longer, resulting in thicker hair.

Kate’s estrogen levels started to fall before her periods stopped, causing thinning- -the first sign of approaching menopause. Not all women get noticeable alopecia (baldness) after menopause but most have a little thinning.

Other possible causes of female hair loss or hair thinning in women:

• Anemia
• Hypothalamic or pituitary disorder (glands in the brain)
• Thyroid, liver, adrenal or ovarian disorder
• Childbirth
• Drug toxicity - anesthesia, chemotherapy
• Eating disorder - anorexia, bulimia
• Essential fatty acid deficiency
• Protein deficiency (common with vegetarian diets)
• Severe infection
• Severe stress
• Starting or stopping birth control pills
• Various medications, including bromocriptine, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, amphetamines, anticholesterol agents
• Mineral or vitamin deficiency
• Perms, hair color, bleach, improper brushing/combing, hair styles that tightly pull on the hair
• Autoimmune disease – example is lupus
• Any hormone imbalance such as low progesterone, estrogen dominance
• Allergies
• Recent hepatitis B shot.

Hair weaving, hairpieces, or change of hairstyle may disguise female hair loss and improve cosmetic appearance.

Experiment with beautiful scarves or hats. Get ideas from trusted close friends or family. Use your imagination.

I spoke with a man whose hair was well coifed and complimented him. He confessed to wearing a hairpiece. He said it is much easier for a woman to hide her hair loss or thinning than for a man. Perhaps.

Minoxidil is approved for women but is very expensive, takes six months for any results and the hair loss may return when minoxidil is stopped.

Hair thinning in women requires consultation with a qualified and knowledgeable physician to carefully evaluate any medical causes of female hair thinning or loss due to a disorder of the ovaries, adrenals, pituitary, hypothalamus, liver, thyroid or gastrointestinal tract. Make this your first step before investing a lot of money on various products.

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