What is the problem? 

Hair loss, also known as alopecia in dermatology, is an accelerated loss of hair and body hair. It is often one of the first symptoms of the menopause that a woman notices. 

The loss of 50 to 100 hairs per day is normal. These are constantly regenerated by the hair follicles. However, hair loss can be significantly more severe, especially in women going through the menopause. In contrast to male pattern baldness, which is characterized by a receding hairline and a bald patch on the top of the head, hair loss in women tends to be more subtle: The hair loss combines with the fact that the hair is thinning. Here are the symptoms that occur most frequently: severe hair loss when shampooing, tufts of hair appear on the brush or comb, greasy scalp, possibly reddened with itching, small hairless patches, hair thinning at the front, sides and top of the head.

Hair loss is not very pleasant, because a woman's hair is also associated with her femininity and appearance. Here are some explanations and solutions.

What are the reasons for this?

Hair loss during the menopause is usually a direct result of fluctuating hormone levels. Two hormones in particular are involved in hair growth: oestrogen and testosterone. In the case of oestrogen-related alopecia (the most common type of hair loss in menopausal women), hair loss is directly attributed to falling oestrogen levels. Oestrogen helps hair to grow faster and stay on the head longer, resulting in thicker and healthier hair.

Oestrogen is not the only hormone that plays a role in hair loss in post-menopausal women. Androgens, or male hormones, often rise when estrogen levels drop. This leads to androgenetic alopecia, another form of hair loss. An androgen known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT) appears to bind to hair follicles and force them to enter their "resting" or telogen phase earlier than normal, causing new hair to become thinner and thinner with each hair growth cycle.

What solutions are available?

A healthy diet of iron-rich foods, proteins, fresh fruit and vegetables is certainly the first thing you should consider. A dietician or nutritionist can help you find the right diet, so don't hesitate to seek help.

As far as nutritional supplements are concerned, there are a large number of products on the market that are designed to strengthen the hair. There are two B vitamins that are important for hair and skin. These are vitamin B8, also known as biotin, and vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid. 

In adolescents and adults, the daily requirement for biotin is between 30 and 60 micrograms. Vitamin B8 is found in foods such as eggs, pork liver and salmon. However, to meet the daily requirement for biotin, you would have to eat 2 to 3 eggs or around 200 grams of salmon a day, which is not always feasible. As biotin is also water-soluble, the body does not build up reserves and excretes the excess instead. Supplementation can therefore be effective.