Hair

Why is my hair thinning?

By Body After FortyChecked against medical sources · 3 min read

Short answer: Falling oestrogen shortens your hair’s growing phase, so many women notice thinner hair in perimenopause. Low iron from heavy periods and an underactive thyroid cause hair loss too, and both are easy to test for. Eat enough protein, avoid crash diets, and ask your doctor about treatments that work.

There’s more hair in the plughole than there used to be. Your parting looks wider in photos. Your ponytail feels thinner in your hand. Thinning hair is one of the changes women least expect in their 40s, and one of the most upsetting.

Is hair loss a sign of perimenopause?

It can be. Thinning hair is on the list of menopause symptoms, along with dry skin and weight gain around the middle. In a survey at one UK menopause clinic, more than half the women said their hair had got thinner. As oestrogen falls, fewer of your hairs are in their growing phase at any one time, so your hair can look thinner, often on top and at the front.

What else could be causing it?

Before you blame hormones, rule out a few common causes that are easy to fix.

  • Low iron. Periods often get heavier in your 40s, and heavy periods are one of the most common causes of low iron. More hair coming out when you brush or wash it is one of the signs.
  • Underactive thyroid. It can cause hair loss, dry skin and weight gain, so it’s easy to mistake for perimenopause.
  • Stress, illness or losing weight fast. These can make your hair shed for a while. It usually grows back.

Ask your doctor for a blood test that checks your iron and your thyroid. It’s quick, and it means you’re not guessing.

What can I eat to help my hair?

Hair is made of protein, so have some at every meal: eggs, fish, chicken, beans, lentils or Greek yoghurt. If you’re low in iron, red meat, beans, lentils and dark green vegetables help, and your doctor may suggest a supplement too. And don’t crash diet. Losing weight fast is a common trigger for shedding.

Do hair growth shampoos and supplements work?

Mostly, thickening shampoos make the hair you have look fuller. They don’t regrow it. Supplements only help if you’re actually low in something, which is why the blood test comes first. Minoxidil is a treatment you put on your scalp, and it can help with female pattern hair loss, but it only works for as long as you keep using it. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start.

What about new hairs on my chin?

You’re not the only one. Around half of women grow some new facial hair after menopause, because the balance between oestrogen and testosterone changes. If it appears suddenly or there’s a lot of it, mention it to your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

Go if you’re worried, if your hair is coming out in patches, or if it’s falling out fast. Hair loss can be a sign of something else going on, and the sooner you know, the sooner it can be treated.

Hair loss from a medical cause usually stops or grows back once the cause is treated. That’s why finding the cause matters more than any shampoo.

Tick your hair changes on the free checklist and take it with you, so your doctor sees the whole picture.

Sources

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