Excessive hair loss is not uncommon in women approaching menopause. Fortunately, there are a few tips for hair loss prevention to try if you've a few too many extra strands in your hairbrush.
3 Ways to Prevent Hair Loss in Women
For women in menopause, the root cause of hair loss is the hormonal changes their bodies are undergoing. However, there are a few ways to prevent further hair loss.
Lifestyle Changes
The most basic way to prevent hair loss is to make a few helpful lifestyle changes. These changes include:
- Maintaining a balanced diet
Ensuring the body is receiving proper nutrition is key for hair loss prevention. Inadequate amounts of vitamins A, B, or C as well as iron and protein all contribute to hair loss in women. Women trying to prevent hair loss should ensure they are receiving all these essential nutrients.
- General well-being
Exercising regularly and avoiding excess caffeine or alcohol can help prevent hair loss. Further, excessive pulling or twisting of hair, either from harsh styling techniques or from mindless habits, can contribute to hair loss.
Alternative Medicines
- Phytoestrogenic supplements
These supplements can help combat hair loss by increasing estrogen levels in the body. Since low estrogen levels are a major cause of hair loss, introducing new estrogen into the body is a logical step to take in preventing hair loss. Always remember to check for side effects, as some phytoestrogens may react with medicines your are currently taking.
- Hormone-regulating herbal supplements
Unlike phytoestrogenic, these supplements do not introduce estrogen into the body, but stimulate a woman's body to produce estrogen naturally, thereby helping prevent hair loss caused by hormonal imbalances.
In conjunction with a few lifestyle changes, alternative medicine treatments offer women a powerful ally in preventing hair loss.
Prescribed Medications
Prescribed medications for menopause, such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), have been shown to prevent hair loss in women as well. However, this procedure is only recommended for those with serious menopausal symptoms, as some side effects can be serious. Talk to your doctor to learn more.
Hair Loss Prevention: More Information
A combination of lifestyle changes and herbal supplements can help prevent hair loss and other symptoms of menopause. Click on the following link to read more about hair loss treatments.
Sources
- "Hair Loss". Mayo Clinic. www.mayoclinic.com.
- Dr. McNair, Trisha. "Hair Loss". BBC Health. www.bbc.co.uk.
- "Womens Hair Loss". The American Hair Loss Association. www.americanhairloss.org.