Perimenopause – Hair Loss and Other Symptoms
During perimenopause, hair can go through a lot of things – it can grow thinner, thicker (although this is very rare) it can show up in places you don't want them to, and thin out in places where they're supposed to grow plenty.
Perimenopause hair loss is the result of stress levels and hormone imbalance. Because, aside from the estrogen and progesterone imbalance that is the hallmark of perimenopause, another type of imbalance also presents itself – that of an estrogen-androgen nature.
Androgens are the leading source of testosterone, which is not only known as the male hormone, but is also responsible for hair growth and regeneration. Normally, during perimenopause, your body would have more androgens than estrogen. This can result in you having more hair in places where hair isn’t supposed to grow and less or thinner hair in places where you should be growing them.
If you also aren’t taking enough vitamins and minerals, then this can also cause hair loss (or hair thinning). Thyroid problems or a dysfunction in your body's ability to produce insulin can also trigger unusual hair loss. If you suspect the latter, you can have yourself checked by an endocrinologist who will do a series of blood tests to rule it out.
This is an interesting fact. Did you know that during menopause, some women may have episodes of pubic hair growing in patches, so most women just shave everything instead of having clumps of hair.
Usual treatments for this and other symptoms (and what some doctors would advice you) is still HRT (or hormone replacement therapy), but you can also use alternative treatments to manage your perimenopause symptoms.
At about the same time that hair loss (or unusual hair growth) is observed, another often overlooked perimenopause symptom also reveals itself. Dry skin is usually caused by a decrease in the reproductive hormones (estrogen and progesterone; testosterone included) and a drastic change in collagen production.
These hormones are responsible for the stimulation of the skin’s oil glands, which in turn is responsible for skin suppleness. With the waning of these hormones, the skin's oil glands are not stimulated well, and this results in wrinkles and dry skin.
Sometimes, it isn’t just dry skin – you experience itchy skin too. Though perimenopause is a reason for dry skin, a deficiency in essential fatty acids and nutrients can also be a possible cause of skin abnormalities.
Both perimenopause hair loss and dry skin can often be managed by alternative medicinal herbs. Most commonly used are the so-called women’s herbs – ginseng and black cohosh.
Combine medicine with a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle through exercise and clean living (no smoking, no alcohol consumption, etc.), you are well on your way to becoming the best you can be.
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