Menopause is a time of change, a time of reflection, and a time of celebration of womanhood. Try the following tips to prevent hair loss from causing you stress during menopause.
1. Banish Any Misconceptions You Have About Menopause
Myths and misconceptions do exist in our culture about menopause. Knowledge is power. Educating yourself about the process and what to expect overall during this time will empower you and give you more confidence.
Every woman experiences it in unique ways, and not all women experience any noticeable hair loss. During menopause, a lowered production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone can cause hair to grow more slowly and become thinner.
Menopause also encourages the production of hormones called androgens. Androgens shrink hair follicles contributing to menopausal and post-menopausal hair loss.
2. Know the Contributing Factors of Menopausal Hair Loss
In addition to the primary cause of hair loss, the hormonal changes that a woman experiences, there are many other contributing factors to hair loss during the menopausal years. Knowing these contributing factors allows you to take action to protect your overall health, and protect your hair during and after menopause.
- Busy, stressful schedules
- Inadequate nutrition- lack of fatty acids
- Inadequate sleep or disrupted sleep patterns
- Illness
- Medication side effects
Knowing these contributing factors allows you to take action to protect your overall health, and protect your hair during and after the menopausal years.
3. Schedule Fun into Your Calendar for Stress Management
So many women are living such busy lifestyles today that, in order to ensure you enjoy some fun activities, you might want to consider actually scheduling time for fun. The health benefits of smiling and laughing are proven. Having fun boosts your immune system, balances hormones, releases endorphins and improves circulation. These are especially helpful.
If your fun includes physical activity, you have the added healing bonus of regular exercise. Schedule fun times each week, each month or even each day and notice the improvements in quality of life. Try scheduling some of the following:
- Go snow skiing or hiking along a scenic pathway
- Join a weekly or monthly sports event
- Have a game night with family or friends
- Join a local social club
- Go dancing
- Attend a concert or theater production
- Sing or play music
- Laughter is said by some to be the best medicine.
- The ‘happiness’ chemicals released during fun times help with a multitude of menopause discomforts and can lead to less hair loss from stress.
4. Communicate Concerns with Health Care Professionals
Menopause is a challenging time for many women. It is best to communicate any discomfort or possible symptom of illness with a health care professional. If you notice hair loss, speak to your doctor and a hair loss specialist.
Symptoms of menopause are different for every woman, and it is better not to presume that discomfort you feel is related to menopause. Keep an open communication with your health care team for optimum physical health care and psychological support.
5. Celebrate Yourself in Creative and Loving Ways
Menopause is a time when we are reminded of the importance of identifying with our gender. We contemplate what it means to be a woman. We wonder about femininity and sexuality.
Some women struggle with a feeling of loss, even a feeling of deep grief at the onset of menopause. Hair loss is known to be exacerbated by stress, and hormonal imbalances that cause hair loss are worsened by grief. Menopause is a natural process and yet it continues to be a time when women often feel less confident about themselves.
Celebrate yourself and know that your life is abundant with creative possibilities. Focus on your strengths and remind yourself of your personal and professional successes. Make bold plans for a fun and active future.
Women suffering from hair loss due to menopause are often prone to be lacking in self-confidence. At Transitions of Wisconsin we help women get their confidence back. The best way to determine which hair loss solution is right for you is to meet privately with a professional Transitions of Wisconsin hair loss specialist. If you’re interested in scheduling a free consultation, contact us today!
Sources:
http://www.healthline.com/health/menopause/hair-loss
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-j-bauman/hair-loss-during-menopause_b_3873608.html
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/basics/definition/con-20019726
