The Importance of Scalp Health During Menopause

Many women may feel like menopause is leaving its mark everywhere—and the scalp is no exception. 

Research shows that nearly half of all women navigating the menopause transition experience scalp hair changes, like hair thinning, loss of volume, and hair loss, to name a few.¹

In this article, Bonafide Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Alyssa Dweck, shares what may be driving these changes and explains how women can work to improve their scalp health and support better hair growth during menopause and beyond.

Why Does Scalp Health Change During Menopause?

If you’ve been pregnant, you may recall a time when your hair felt thicker and more luxurious, a process driven by the high levels of estrogen required to sustain a healthy pregnancy.²

Once those estrogen levels drop after childbirth, you likely experienced some level of postpartum hair shedding, a usually temporary, normal occurrence that happens several months post-birth.³ A similar hormonal phenomenon is at play during menopause, explains Dr. Dweck. 

“Estrogen helps to maintain both scalp and hair health through regulation of the hair cycle,” says Dr. Dweck. “Estrogen decline during menopause contributes to hair changes, due to changes in the hair cycle in women during this life stage.”

To help explain changes in scalp health and hair growth related to menopause, Dr. Dweck points to the hair follicle cycle, which is primarily driven by our body’s endocrine system—the same system that experiences widespread fluctuation during the menopause transition.⁴

“Briefly,” she says, “phases of the hair follicle cycle include the following— which are all fundamental to scalp health:

• Anagen—growth phase
• Catagen—regression phase
• Telogen—resting phase
• Exogen (possibly)—shedding phase”

"Estrogen promotes the telogen and catagen phases,” she adds. “Estrogen is also associated with androgen, a male hormone,” she concludes,—which also affects hair.

When estrogen levels drop during perimenopause and menopause, androgens levels are relatively higher, shortening the duration of the anagen (growth) stage of hair for many women.⁵ 

“Hair follicle phases determine hair density, length, and quality,” explains Dr. Dweck. “Declining estrogen affects these phases, thus influencing hair thinning and shedding during menopause.”

How Scalp Health Changes During Menopause

What are some ways these hormonal shifts affect scalp health during menopause?

It’s not uncommon for women to experience the following scalp changes or scalp hair changes during menopause: ^6,7

• Hair loss/shedding
• Hair thinning
• Dryness
• Itchiness
• Flakiness
• Sensitive scalp
• Texture changes 

More specifically, Dr. Dweck details that the above symptoms tend to be most noticeable on women’s scalps at the part and crown. 

“Common scalp and hair issues noted in menopausal women include female pattern hair loss, a progressive decline of hair density and caliper with outward symptoms, like a widening of the part, thinning of hair, and hair loss on the crown, while sparing the frontal hair line,” she says.

Learn more about how your skin, including your scalp health, may change during menopause in this quick clip from Bonafide Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Alyssa Dweck: 

Ways to Improve Scalp Health

Wondering how to have a healthy scalp during and after menopause? There’s no magic cure to totally prevent changes, but there are steps you can take to improve and support your hair and scalp health.

Diet Matters

Nutrient deficiencies may weaken the health of your skin and hair, causing scalp issues and hindering hair growth.⁸ 

To combat this, consider boosting your diet with foods that contain protein and biotin, two nutrients essential for hair health.⁹

Foods rich in biotin and protein include: ¹⁰

• Eggs
• Salmon
• Pork Chops
• Lean Beef
• Tuna

 Other foods, like sweet potatoes, spinach, sunflower seeds, mushrooms, and almonds are lower in protein than the animal products listed above, but they are still rich sources of biotin and other scalp-supportive nutrients.¹¹

 Experts also recommend a balanced, low-fat diet as a defense against hair loss and for general wellness. The Mediterranean diet is a popular diet that takes this approach and includes lean protein, whole grains, fruit, vegetables, and heart-healthy fats like olive oil—all beneficial for scalp and hair health.¹²

Manage Stress Levels

Many problems with scalp health—namely hair loss—can be associated with high stress levels.¹³ Fortunately, hair and scalp issues caused by high levels of stress are often manageable. 

Common strategies to lower and manage stress can include:¹⁴

• Regular exercise
• Meditation or mindfulness practice
• Connecting frequently with friends and family
• Sleeping at least seven to nine hours per night
• Keeping a journal
• Getting creative
• Talk therapy

Treat Your Scalp and Hair Gently

If you’re losing hair, dermatologists recommend a gentle approach to caring for and styling your hair. Tips often include:^15,16

• Limiting the use of hot tools like hair dryers, straighteners, and curling irons.
• Using a gentle shampoo that has no drying, oil-stripping ingredients.
• Using a leave-in conditioner or detangler to help with breakage.
• Using conditioner to moisten strands after shampooing.
• Avoiding at-home coloring, perming, and chemical straightening.
• If you have to blow dry, using a low-heat setting.
• Avoiding wearing hair tightly pulled back into a ponytail, bun, etc.
• Being gentle when brushing.

When to Consider Prescription Medication(s)

If scalp and health issues persist, consider talking to a dermatologist or healthcare provider about medications that may help with hair loss. A few common prescription medications include the following.

Topical Minoxidil¹⁷

This medicated foam or liquid stimulates new growth and stops hair from thinning—a common problem during menopause. It may take up to four months to see a noticeable difference, and hair loss often resumes if treatment stops. 

Antiandrogenens¹⁸

Some prescription medications inhibit androgens—sex hormones that may damage hair follicles on the scalp. Spironolactone and some oral contraceptives fall under this category. Anti-androgens are sometimes used for female pattern baldness and may take up to four months to lead to results. 

Antifungal Gels, Shampoos, or Lotions^19,20

During menopause, conditions like seborrheic dermatitis—also known as dandruff—may worsen. 

Your healthcare provider may suggest trying a product with ketoconazole or ciclopirox—antifungal products that help to combat this condition. Medicated shampoos are suitable for use two or three times a week until symptoms clear, after which you should use the product once a week to maintain scalp health.

Talk to Your Healthcare Provider

If you’re concerned about your scalp health during menopause, a healthcare professional may be able to help find the root cause and troubleshoot solutions. A healthcare provider can also provide you with guidance on changes in diet and lifestyle or prescribe medications for hair loss, dryness, and other scalp problems common during menopause. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a healthcare provider if you notice sudden, intense hair loss, as this may be a sign of underlying medical conditions unrelated to menopause. 

Learn More About Silvessa®

Silvessa® is designed to restore and protect hair and skin affected by estrogen decline due to perimenopause or menopause.*

Learn More Here

Resources

1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10669803/
2.  https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-health-wellness/hair-loss-during-pregnancy/
3. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23297-postpartum-hair-loss
4. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10669803/#B19-biomedicines-11-03041
5. https://www.mymenopausecentre.com/symptoms/hair-changes/
6. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/heres-how-menopause-affects-your-skin-and-hair
7. https://www.oprahdaily.com/beauty/hair/a40517158/menopause-hair-loss-thinning-treatment/
8. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-for-hair-growth
9. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-for-hair-growth#eggs
10. https://www.everydayhealth.com/nutrients-supplements/foods-high-in-biotin/
11. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/biotin-rich-foods
12. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/food-for-hair-growth
13. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/expert-answers/stress-and-hair-loss/faq-20057820
14. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relievers/art-20047257
15. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/treatment/tips
16. https://www.healthline.com/health/mild-shampoo#benefits
17. https://nyulangone.org/conditions/hair-loss/treatments/medication-for-hair-loss
18. https://nyulangone.org/conditions/hair-loss/treatments/medication-for-hair-loss
19. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seborrheic-dermatitis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352714
20. https://www.mysebdermteam.com/resources/hormones-and-seborrheic-dermatitis-whats-the-connection