My Lovely Hair, Where Have You Gone?

Whether you love your hair or hate your hair, we all want our hair to look its best. And this means wanting it to be lush, shiny, and healthy! But this vision for our hair can be at odds with what happens to our hair in midlife.

My hair is already drier and duller than ever before. And then I was combing my hair after my shower the other day and I could not believe how much hair came out in my comb. I thought to myself, “Seriously? Now this? I am going to be bald if this keeps up.” I mentioned this to a friend who laughed in commiseration and said she had noticed her hair was starting to thin too.

To be honest, I did not know this was something which happened in midlife. Being the curious sort, I decided to learn more. And what did I discover? A whopping 50% of women experience hair loss by age 50! So, if this is happening to you, you are not alone.

What is Causing Your Hair Loss

The average healthy person loses 50 – 100 hairs per day. Hair growth generally slows with age and therefore it is not uncommon in midlife to grow less hair than you lose each day.

Female Pattern Hair Loss

The most common reason for hair loss in midlife is your genes. You might have inherited a gene from one or both parents that causes androgenic alopecia, a fancy term for female pattern hair loss (FPHL). If you did, there is a good chance you will begin to experience a widening along the center part of your scalp in your 40s and 50s.

Other Physical Causes of Hair Loss

While FPHL may be the most common form of hair loss there are other reasons you might be losing hair. For women, dropping estrogen levels can lead to thinner hair on the top and sides of the head as well as contributing to slowing hair growth.

Other possible causes include under active thyroid, anemia, higher than normal of levels of male hormones (common in PCOS), infections, and autoimmune diseases. Also, general inflammation of the scalp can harm hair follicles and cause scarring which can also lead to hair loss. Common sources of inflammation include “migraines, tension headaches, autoimmune disorders like psoriasis…as well as sunburns, rashes and wounds.”

Other Causes of Hair Loss

Telogen effluvium (TE) is temporary hair loss which usually occurs a few months after a stressful or traumatic event. Hair loss can also be a result of decades of over styling which has damaged the hair follicle. Damage can result from treatments which cause inflammation of the scalp and hair follicles (like relaxers) or styles that put pressure and tension on hair roots (tight ponytails and braids).

Diet can also play a role in hair loss. Certain vitamins, especially micro-nutrients, play a critical role in the normal function of the hair follicle cycle. And while there is not yet a large body of evidence in support, it is theorized a lack of vitamins and minerals can negatively affect hair growth (would make sense to me).

The research which exists shows evidence that iron and (the most common) B12 (rarer) deficiencies can lead to hair loss. On the other hand, “over-supplementation of certain nutrients, including selenium, Vitamin A and Vitamin E has actually been linked to hair loss.” So, best to see if you are deficient before you start supplementing!

How Hair Loss is Measured

Did you know there is a scale for measuring hair loss? It is called the Savin density scale. It has “8 stages and describes hair loss around the midline part as well recession in the front of the hairline. Some women lose hair to various degrees around the midline and/or in the front of the hairline. Some women experience hair thinning all over the scalp.”

What You Can do About It

If you start to lose clumps of hair or notice the hair on your scalp thinning you should check with your doctor or discuss with an endocrinologist. “The pattern and severity of female hair loss helps determine the appropriate course of treatment.” Early identification of problems can help stop hair loss and depending on the cause, you might even be able to regrow some beautiful new locks.

The good news is there are many different types of treatments from laser therapy to nutraceuticals to prescription drugs. I have not tried any of these and can not offer a personal perspective.

Laser Treatments

One of the newer options is laser therapy for the scalp and hair follicles to promote hair growth. Two options in this category, both FDA-Cleared, are Kiierr Laser Cap System for Hair Growth and iRestore Laser Hair Growth System. Kiierr claims a 93% success rate in clinical trials.  

Nutraceuticals

There are many products out on the market. I chose to mention Nutrafol here as a few friends have used it with success and Nutrafol claims clinical proof of the product’s efficacy. And it is a drug free option. Their formulas use “clinically effective, medical grade plant extracts” to support hair growth. They offer a couple of different products: Nutrafol Balance for perimenopausal and menopausal women, which has additional hormone support, and Nutrafol Women for women 18-44.

Clinical Options

The only FDA approved treatment for hair loss is minoxidil (this is the main ingredient in Rogaine). This medication is available OTC and is applied topically a couple of times a week. Following this regime “has been shown to produce minimal regrowth in 40% of women and moderate regrowth in 19%; possible side effects include itching and redness of the scalp.”

Prescription options include “antiandrogen medications, which may slow hair loss and even stimulate growth in some women.” For hereditary hair loss these medications include spironolactone and finasteride.

Other Options

The last category of options includes scalp tattooing (who knew?), wigs, PRP (platelet rich plasma) scalp injections, and hair transplant surgery.

Lifestyle and Hair Loss

Like everything else in our lives, managing stress levels, getting enough sleep, and eating fresh, healthy food is important for supporting hair growth.

Iron and vitamin D have been found to be helpful in treating androgenic alopecia and telogen effluvium. In terms of other vitamins, vitamins A, C, and E are all recognized for their role in promoting cell and tissue growth. And foods rich in calcium, antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids can also help promote healthy hair growth.

Parting Thought

I’ve decided there is no sense spending time wishing my hair looked like it did when I was 20. Instead, I am going to do my best to embrace my hair (or lack thereof) as it is with grace. It is after all just another part of my midlife journey.

See you next week…