Thinning Hair in Women Past Menopause

Thinning hair in older women is one of the changes that often accompany menopause. Menopause is when a woman ceases to menstruate, which is usually around age 51 but may occur several years before or after that age.

Symptoms

• Hair thinning in women is different from the typical male pattern baldness. For women, thinning is mainly on the crown and top of the scalp. The first indication is usually a widening area along the part line. The front hairline mostly remains intact, and the thinning rarely results in compete baldness.

Causes

• The most common type of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia, or pattern baldness, according to Harvard Medical School. This condition centers around androgens, which are hormones found in both women and men. Most women eventually have some thinning hair, and it's often most noticeable after menopause, when hormone levels change.

Treatments

• Hair thinning due to female pattern baldness is permanent unless treated. The only medication approved by the Food & Drug Administration is minoxidil, which is used on the scalp. According to the National Institutes of Health, minoxidil may help slow or stop hair loss in most women, and may help grow hair in up to 25 percent of women.

Considerations

• Although hormonal changes are usually the cause of hair thinning in women, other conditions may be at fault, such as a skin disease, iron deficiency or stress. Consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis.