When should menopause-related hair loss be evaluated by a clinician?
It’s a good idea to have menopause-related hair loss evaluated any time it’s new or getting worse in midlife, because hormones aren’t the only possible cause.
At Alloy, we’d be especially more cautious about getting it checked if the hair loss is sudden, rapid, or patchy, if you’re seeing a lot more shedding than gradual thinning, or if the front hairline is changing. Those patterns can point to causes other than typical menopause-related thinning, including telogen effluvium, autoimmune hair loss, or a scarring condition that needs early diagnosis.
It also deserves a clinician review if hair loss is happening along with new facial hair growth, a deeper voice, or if it isn’t improving as expected, since doctors may want to look for higher androgen levels or other contributors. A clinician may also check for things like thyroid problems, iron deficiency, nutritional deficiencies, medication side effects, stress, recent illness, or rapid weight loss.
If you want a fuller overview, this article is a helpful place to start: Does Menopause Cause Alopecia? Diagnosis and Treatments. And if you’re ready to look into treatment options, here’s our hair consult page.
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