I'm going through menopause and my hair has become very dry

Thanks so much for getting in touch with me. This is certainly a big topic at the moment with a light finally being shone on women and their symptoms going through menopause.

Firstly, it’s great that you haven’t experienced too severe of symptoms. I think at the moment there’s a lot of information out there but also a lot of scary stories that make most women terrified of what lies ahead of them at a certain age.

When oestrogen levels drop in a woman’s body it can result in so many changes in the female body. Firstly, skin and hair getting dryer is something most women complain about as it’s a common symptom.

Hair loss and thinning is another side effect of menopause that some women experience. Again, this is because of the hormonal changes in your body. These can throw your hair out of the normal hair growth cycle and put your hair in an early telogen stage. This would account for the shedding that you’re experiencing.

This type of hair loss usually is diffuse hair loss that occurs all over your head as opposed to one specific area. It may appear thinner on the top, sides and around your hairline.

Another main cause of hair loss during this time can be a hormonal imbalance. This is due to the lower production of oestrogen and progesterone. These hormones help hair grow faster and stay in a growing cycle for longer before they shed. When the levels of oestrogen and progesterone are low hair can grow slower and also become thinner. During menopause, this lowering of oestrogen can trigger a rise in male hormones.

These can lead to the follicles shrinking and a higher loss of hair. Sometimes women find that they start to grow hairs on their face which they never experienced before.

I would recommend that you talk with your doctor about how you’re feeling and also have some blood tests done to check your thyroid and iron levels. It’s wise to check that there’s no underlying condition causing your hair loss.

It’s easy to blame menopause for your hair loss but there are other causes for hair loss in women.

Stress can play a big part in hair loss so it’s good to look at your lifestyle and see if you can make some changes to your lifestyle. Relaxation techniques can help such as meditation, yoga and breathing exercises.

Here are some tips to help you.