Nearly everyone has some hair loss with aging. The rate of hair growth also slows. Hair strands become smaller and have less pigment.
For most women, this occurs sometime between the ages of 44 and 55. When your ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone—two hormones key to menstruating—this is when you go into menopause. Estrogen and progesterone also happen to be linked to your hair's health, including its growth.
Over time, hair fibers become thinner and drop out; unfortunately, they never regenerate. There are natural pigment changes that occur in hair as you age as well.
As you age, your hair may continue to grow, but the growth will become slower, and the follicles that were once coarse and thick will often become finer, thinner and lighter in color.
One good thing: Unlike men, women tend to just thin out overall and don't generally have concentrated areas of hair loss, or baldness. Another good thing: Menopausal hair loss can grow back. Your postmenopausal hair might not be the way it was before, but it can grow back.
“Vitamins are essential for healthy hair growth and may help in preventing hair shedding and thinning,” says Michele Green, M.D., a cosmetic dermatologist in New York. “The best vitamins for hair growth include B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc, biotin and iron.
Hair growth rate slows at midlife and beyond—it spends less time in the growth phase and more in the resting phase, which means it will grow more slowly, and won't be able to grow as long as it once did. Good news—wonder-drug minoxidil can make your hair stay in the anagen phase longer and grow faster.
Just like a person's skin, hair goes through five specific signs of aging, says AGEbeautiful. They are: thinning hair, wiry gray hair, graying hair, dryness and dullness.
Minoxidil is FDA approved age 18 to 65. Given the extreme stability of your hair loss over the past 2 decades it is unlikely to benefit. Minoxidil is used after age 65 in what is called an "off label" use and may help a very small proportion of men with ongoing genetic or age-related hair loss.
Here's the truth: You can't change the size of your hair follicles. If you were born with fine hair, it's genetics, and no product will completely alter that. Of course, there are ways to maintain your hair health, add volume, and keep it from getting any thinner.
Pubic hair and hair on the body doesn't usually grow back after the menopause, this is due to levels of estrogen and progesterone remaining low as we continue to age.
At what age do people typically start to lose their hair? Hair loss can start as early as your teenage years or might not occur until you're well past retirement. Generally, people begin noticing signs of hair loss in their 30s and 40s. More significant hair loss often happens when people reach their 60s and beyond.
In women, hereditary hair loss usually starts after the age of 40. Roughly 40% of women have noticeable hair loss by the age of 50. And less than half of women get through life with a full head of hair.
Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, stimulates keratin production in hair and can increase the rate of follicle growth.
Sources of Biotin
Foods that contain the most biotin include organ meats, eggs, fish, meat, seeds, nuts, and certain vegetables (such as sweet potatoes) [2,12].
Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss.
How much B12 should I take daily for hair growth? The lowest amount recommended that should be traceable in your body is 2.4 mcg. While you are looking for a difference in your hair growth you can increase this dosage to 3 mcg and beyond.
As we age, some pubic hair thinning, or loss, is normal. However, certain conditions like alopecia or an adrenal issue can also cause hair loss. If you have any concerns, it's best to contact your Axia Women's Health provider.
B12 levels and hair loss
Another simple nutrient deficiency that is easy to test for, and manage, when it comes to menopausal hair loss is vitamin B12.