Fifty percent of postmenopausal women have noticeable thinning of the hair on their scalp. The reason is most likely loss of estrogen which is protective of hair. You shed some hair naturally every day but the loss is considered significant if you start to see thinning behind the hairline or your part is widening.
One key thing to remember is re-growth (which may be a slow process) is a possibility 80 percent of the time.
The first step in minimizing the fallout is working with a doctor to identify why your hair is thinning. Also, your doctor may recommend a trichologist (hair and scalp specialist). Your doctor can determine whether your condition is temporary or chronic.
When it's temporary:
If your thinning is triggered by a specific event (childbirth or a high fever or a period of intense stress) it will probably manifest as excessive (more than 100 hairs a day) and sudden shedding. Once the trauma passes, your hair will grow back within a few months. And if a blood test traces your widening part to a thyroid imbalance, endocrine disorder (like polycystic ovarian syndrome), dietary deficiency, or a specific medication, your hair will most likely return to its former glory once the underlying issue is addressed.
When it's chronic:
The most common cause of female hair loss is androgenetic alopecia, a genetic condition in which new hair shafts grow in progressively thinner. Women usually notice a wider part and gradual reduction in overall volume, often with a concentrated thinning at the crown. The condition can begin any time after puberty but often becomes noticeable during and after menopause, when it's compounded by hormonal shifts.
If androgenetic alopecia is the culprit, you won't achieve full regrowth but you can effect improvement with one of the following treatments:
Minoxidil (Rogaine). The only Food and Drug Administration-approved medication for female hair loss. Applied topically, minoxidil prolongs the hair's growth phase. It's available over-the-counter in two and five percent formulas. Only the lower dose is approved for women, but many doctors recommend using the higher dose (though it carries a risk of increased facial hair growth). Massage minoxidil into the scalp twice daily; regrowth should appear in about six months (a three-month supply costs around $50). If you stop treatment, hair density returns to what it would be if you had never used the medicine.
Finasteride (Propecia and Proscar). This prescription-only pill is not FDA-approved for women, but some doctors prescribe it off-label to postmenopausal patients. (It's generally avoided for women of childbearing age because it can cause birth defects.) The higher dose (in Proscar) is usually more effective in women who find it slows hair loss in 75 percent of postmenopausal patients. Finasteride is taken daily and works only as long as you're using it. A one-month supply costs about $70.
Lasers. There are no large independent trials proving the efficacy of light sources in treating hair loss. But for patients who have not had success with minoxidil or finasteride, some doctors suggest the HairMax Laser Comb ($495). Of several over-the-counter handheld lasers marketed for hair growth, it's the only one with FDA approval. You glide it over your scalp for ten to 15 minutes three times a week. After about six months it can grow some hair in about 25 percent of cases.
Hair transplant. A possibility if your hair loss is concentrated in specific areas. Hair follicles (in groups of up to four) are surgically removed from an area on your scalp where growth is dense and then implanted in the thinning patches. Since female hair loss is often diffuse, only about 20 percent of female patients with thinning hair are candidates (the price tag can run from $3,000 to $15,000).
Thickening tricks. Most hair loss treatments take anywhere from three months to a year to yield results. In the meantime, a few styling techniques can create the illusion of a thicker head of hair. Don't overload hair with product because that will weigh it down. Also, overcompensating with too much volume will result in thinner-looking cotton candy hair. You may want to opt for a sleek style. Also, avoid parting your hair in the center; an uneven side part will make your hair look fuller. Thickening shampoos can also make hair appear fuller.
Other tips and tricks. Keep your length above shoulder level and consider a blunt cut (ends will look less wispy). If your hair is thickest in front, deep bangs can conceal thinning at the crown. Coloring your hair helps, too because the dye swells the hair shaft. Choose a shade that's close to the color of your scalp (if you have dark skin, don't go blonde; if you're pale, keep your hair light). And stay on top of your re-growth (noticeable roots draw attention to a wide part).
African-American women with thinning hair might think it's a genetic issue, but they may in fact be dealing with a more common reason for hair loss: central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia. Its exact causes are unknown, but if the condition is left untreated, bald patches can form. Both topical and injected steroids can help stop the progression.
Your Eyebrows Become Sparse
Are your eyebrows getting patchy? Perhaps you'd like to consider an eyebrow transplant. In the restoration procedure, which takes two to three hours in a doctor's office, individual hair follicles from the back or side of the head (where they aren't noticeable) are removed and placed into the brow area to re-create whatever density you like. Why wouldn't the hair grow as long as it would if it were still on your scalp? It does. The transplanted follicles don't know that they've been moved, so you get something like bangs growing from your brow-bone. If transplants sound too scary, forget transplants and try an eyebrow pencil or powder. Choose one that's a shade lighter than your hair color and with feathery strokes, fill in the patchy areas. Brows grow a little longer as we age; brush them upward and trim.
Sources:
http://www.hairfacts.com
www.oprah.com
https://health.google.com/health
http://www.webmd.com/
MC Ortega is the former publicist for the late Walter Payton, Coca-Cola and Dunkin’ Donuts. Ortega is a senior communications and messaging executive specializing in media relations, social media, program development and crisis communications. Also, Ortega is an avid traveler and international shopper. Ortega resides with her partner, Craig, dog, Fionne and extensive shoe collection. Ortega also enjoys jewelry design/production and flamenco dancing.