We have heard it before – as men get older, they lose hair from their scalp but somehow it starts growing everywhere else, especially their lower backs, ears, and eyebrows. Menopausal women may see their beautiful head of hair becoming dull, brittle, and falling off.
Their body hair thins out as well and is not as dense as before; it also starts growing in new places, such as the nipples, facial area (especially sideburns and chin), and the vertical line between the navel and bikini. It can even target menopausal acneic skin.
In a very interesting study, the following was discovered: there are two very different patterns of hair loss, generalized scalp hair loss and diffused body hair loss.1 In the study, women were asked which type they suffer from:
26 percent of women said they experienced generalized scalp hair loss.
9 percent found their frontal hair receding.
39 percent experienced increased facial hair (especially on chin and upper lip).
The only good news was that body hair loss was significant.
The cause is attributed to decreased estrogen.2 This hormone stimulates a blood protein called SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin). SHBG absorbs and captures (deactivates) any male hormones such as testosterone or DHEA which circulate in small amounts in all women. All is fine when the hormone is stable, but what happens when it decreases? When premenopausal and menopause is reached, ovaries start to ovulate irregularly so estrogen levels drop and androgen levels are more free to stimulate hair growth. The testosterone is then converted in the skin to dihydrotestosterone by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. It is all a chain reaction that results in very unhappy women because if vellus hair is stimulated, it is changed to thick, coarse terminal hair. Many women will come to the spa for help, and skin care professionals must remember to be gentle because most women will not take this lightly.
There are many side effects that occur during menopause and since even the scalp can be affected during this phase of life, skin care professionals, as well as clients, must be ready to face it!
References:
- Ali I, Wojnorowska F. Physiological changes in scalp, facial and body hair after menopause: a cross-sectional population-based study of subjective changes. Br J Dermatol 2011;164:508-13. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21128905
- According to an article written by Frederick R. Jelovsek MD that appeared in Women’s Health http://www.wdxcyber.com/ngen16.htm
Want to read more?
Subscribe to one of our monthly plans to continue reading this article.