Best Hair Growth Products for Menopausal Women

Best Hair Growth Products for Menopausal Women – For female hair thinning in the setting of menopause, the top three (most suggested on my readings) drugs/ group of drugs are minoxidil topicals (Rogaine Women’s 5% foam), targeted supplements (Nutrafol Women’s Balance), and shampoos/serums with DHT blocking agents (caffeine, saw palmetto, rosemary).

What hair changes do women see with menopause?

During perimenopause and menopause, a decrease in Estrogen and Progesterone with increased relative Androgens could also result in a decrease in the anagen phase,  an increased Telogen and thinned shaft, with the apex being most sparse at the crown and part line. Products best suited to help these folks: anything that can stimulate the follicles (Minoxidil, a few peptides), or is a testosterone and DHT blocker (saw palmetto, caffeine, pumpkin seed).

Which categories of products do indeed work?

1) Minoxidil topicals(The Gold Standard of Regrowth)

Minoxidil foam for women (Rogaine Women 5%) OTC 14b1 foam. (OTC) (Elsewhere prescribed) Hair regrows slowly in the parting in 8 of 20 women over 6 months. It also prevents further loss which in many women over 50d equals hair loss including on the top of the head female pattern thinning (NBA)

How to use: Cool and apply to dry scalp 1 or 2X/day as directed; wait 3–6 months before judging, and continue as needed.

2) Menopause-Focused Hair Supplements

Nutrafol Women ‘s Balance – Suggested as best “drug- free” product for perimenopausal /postmenopausal hair loss:  has biotin, zinc, marine collagen, with additional botanicals for stress, hormone support:

Viviscal Women‘s Hair Growth Supplement is a marine protein based supplement has some clinical data for reduction of shedding and increase in thickness in 3–6 months.

It may also be advantageous to use Collagen + biotin + zinc/iron formulas if diet is low in protein or the micronutrients involved;  provide a nutritional adjunct to blood test in establishing deficiency (iron, ferritin, vit D, B12).

3) DHT-blocking and scalp-stimulating shampoos/serums

Caffeine shampoos & Tonics. (e.g. Alpecin, Plantur 39/Phyto) – Caffeine acts on the follicle to counteract DHT and extend the growth phase,  Plantur 39 is designed for menopausal women.

Saw palmetto & pumpkin seed infused into serums/shampoos–billion dollar botanicals providing a milder inhibition of 5alphareductase than the pharma you take for some trivial condition, and as a result less DHT action at the follicles.

Rosemary oil – A few small trials have suggested you can use rosemary oil in the same way as low strength minoxidil for androgenetic hair loss. (It is commonly found in serum and oil for the scalp).

4) Professional treatments worth considering

PRP (platelet-rich plasma) Injections – Using your own growth factors in the clinic to stimulate follicles. Used for women who have the menopausal thinning who want a more aggressive approach.

Microneedling (dermarolling) with topical actives – May enhance the penetration of minoxidil or serums; performed once weekly or biweekly to the requirement of the patients.

Hormonal Changes and Hair Loss

Menopause:  decreased estrogen and progesterone levels and relatively increased androgens (notably DHT) promote shifting of the hair cycle to an increased anagen to catagen switch leading to a decreased hair diameter and increased hair loss.  Estrogens promote a stable anagen phase: less estrogen results in a switch of more follicles to the telogen phase and increased loss. DHT promotes follicular miniaturisation resulting in female-pattern hair thinning (widened parting, thinning at the crown).

Hormonal changes and Hair Loss There are many different reasons for hair loss; one of which is a hormone imbalance.

Estrogen (za) -no longer desired for a longer anagen, although has the thickest shafts of all. Replacement with ovarian failure results in diffuse thinning.

Progesterone: works together with estrogen in stabilizing the growth phase and therefore contributing to the poor level of sheanding. If you decrease the hormone levels your sheadding will get worse.

Androgens (testosterone-> DHT): Repmt in the follicles receptors; in Androgenetic alopecia, The follicles go smaller with produced finer hair.

Thyroid hormones if depressed or over-active, the thyroid can cause diffuse shedding of the scalp hair.  Once hormones are restored, the hair usually regrows after 3–6 months.

Cortisol (stress):  Persistently elevated circulating cortisol can contribute to telogen and telogen effluvium.

Best Hair Growth Ingredients

Search for actives that re initiate/ hasten growth phase or terminate DHT to follicle.

 Actives after Clinical testing

Minoxidil (2–5%): prolongs anagen, enlargement of follicles. First line for FPHL in menopausal thinning.

Caffeine: Reaches the follicles and likely interacts with DHT used in follicle stimulatory shampoos/tonics to promote increased growth and reduce shedding.

Saw Palmetto: Botanical 5alphareductase inhibitor; decreases follicular DHT in pattern hair loss.

Rosemary Oil:  small trials resemble low strength minoxidil for androgenetic alopecia:  anti-inflammatory & promotes circulation.

Copper Tripeptide: it increases growth factors, extends the anagen phase and reduces inflammation around the follicles.

Niacinamide (topical): Increases microcirculation of the scalp and energizes follicle energy metabolism. Some published results show increased density.

Procapil / peptide complexes: Sync together the DHT blocking / anchoring + the microcirculation action to lower breakage,  enhance retention.  Useful articles

Biotin + Panthenol:  Help keratin, and reduce breakage;  good if diet is borderline but not a cure-all for a ‘single regrowth’.

Hyaluronic Acid: Moisturises the scalp,  enabling it to stay hydrated.  Provides a beneficial fertiliser to aid the growth and development of cells inside the hair follicle.

Marine collagen / protein combinations, – When combined with some other actives they can have positive results on shaft thickness and shedding.

Scalp Care During Menopause

But more often when menopausal scalps tend to be dry, itchy and/or sensitive then the inflammation could be aggravating the shed.

Gentle cleansing: sulphate free, pH-balanced cleanser;  enough to dry the skin out. Regular application to control the oil.

If your scalp suffers from lack of moisture:  hydrating serums with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide or glyceride could help.

Anti-inflammatory action: Rosemary, caffeine and copper peptides have a cooling action on the body and therefore help to reduce the inflammation at the level of the follicle.

Anti-inflammatory action: Rosemary, caffeine and copper peptides have a cooling effect on the body and act to reduce the inflammation at the level of the follicle.

Steer clear of aggressive treatments listed below:  lower the bleaching treatments and the use of heated appliances,  hairstyles which cause traction stress

Product Selection Guide

Match products, pattern, scalp type and tolerance. Diffuse thinning / broader part: For the more diffuse thin areas or broader parts.

Core: Minoxidil 5%-foam (once daily) or 2% solution (twice daily).  Other: Coffee or saw palmetto shampoo 3–4times/week. Leave-in scalp serum with peptides/rosemary.

Support: Menopause specific supplement targeted (eg/biotin/zinc/collagen/saw palmetto) for 3 6+months.

For an acne prone, clammy scalp

Serums should be lifeforce or glow/tonic/phytocyd type.  Use not diaboligic serums such as mildly comediagonic (eggache water/ gel based) serums neither of which should be greasy oils.

Do clarifying but mild shampoos containing salicylic acid or tea tree 1 2x/week for unclogging of follicles then apply DHT blocking/caffeine formulas. Use minoxidil foam (less sticky than solution) on part lines only and allow to dry thoroughly before hair styling.

Reading the label‘s

Prioritize products that list

• Accurate % of key actives eg. Minoxidil 5%, niacinamide 4%.
• Clinically studied complexes (Pocapil, Capixyl etc.) rather than just “proprietary blends”.

If you have a sensitive or acne prone skin (however do not recommende for pimples and soultion) Other agents maybe cause irritation, thus sensors should be prevent in sensitive skin (high alcohol, strong scent).

Lifestyle Factors Affecting Hair Growth

Hair is slow to react – so this isn‘t just about what you do in the shower.

Protein & micro-nutrients: which refills protein, iron (ferritin), D and B12 and zink.  All deficiencies increase wave shedding.

Stress & sleep:  chronic stress and sleep deprivation enhances cortisol and disrupts cycles: managing stress effectively (yoga, breathing, therapy…) can bring a dramatic overall decrease in slow shedding.

Exercise: Regularly being active improves your blood circulation and insulin utilization, both of which indirectly benefit the health of your follicles.

Avoid smoking & excess alcohol Neither causes hair loss but both are associated with poor hair density and slow regrowth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will HRT applications work for female androgenic alopecia during menopause?

While hormone replacement therapy may help some women achieve an appropriate level of the estogen missing in Hereditary Hair Loss, it is all dependant on a woman s condition and the formulation chosen. It is not a guaranteed hair treatment,  speak to your Clinician.  I can‘t believe how fast I could sense a change!

Many of the evidence-based treatments take 3 6 months for change to occur and 6 12 months for all of the effects to be seen and then 6 12 months back before completion and the discontinued treatment causes that not greater reduction.

Are the natural oils sufficient?

Other oils, e.g., Rosemary, may be helpful, but in moderate to severe thinning, should be used with minoxidil or other clinical actives rather than by themselves.

When should I see my doctor?

To screen for other reasons for hair loss in women if she has rapidly hair loss,  patchy,  uneven hair, with any tiredness and/or change in weight/shifted periods, she should be tested for her thyroid status, anaemia, PCOS or other hormonal problems.

Conclusion:

Hormone-related hair loss during the menopausal transition is predominantly a result of varying concentrations of estrogen and progesterone leading to an overall trend of thinning. The use of formulations of Minoxidil, supported by other oral, hormonal and volumising products are recommended in reducing the breakdown of the pillar-weakened strands.