Midlife Motivation
http://midlifemotivation.com/bm/health-wellbeing/managing-your-menopause/your-hair.shtmlYour Hair
Thinning hair?
Changes to your hair
Most hair grows naturally thinner as we age. The onset of the menopause can increase the process of hair thinning, as the body's production of oestrogen decreases, resulting in thin patches, poor growth, dullness, split ends and dryness. Lack of exercise, stress and a poor diet will all take their toll on your hair.
To help counteract these effects we can take measures to improve the look and feel of our hair. Each hair folicle is nourished deep beneath the surface of the skin so looking after your hair is much the same as looking after your skin.
On a personal note I was the only one in the family to have thin hair. My mother would get very cross when brushing it and impatiently swipe me across the head saying 'You've got now't hair and I can do now't with it.' Since then I've been able to do now't with it either and now, after the menopause, I have the added blessing of a receding hair line.
Though all is not lost. A year ago my younger sister introduced me to 'hair product'. Hair thickening shampoo, full volume conditioner and enriching thickening spray all of which have made a big improvement to my hair. The downside is when using all that 'product' I can hardly get a comb through it, so on days when I'm not going anywhere, I revert back to my old shampoo and conditioner and back to my easy to comb, whispy thin now't hair.
Susan Loveday - Editor
In this article you will find sections on ►Looking after your hair ►Pubic hair ►Unwanted hair along with other useful Related links at the foot of this page.
Looking after your hair
- East a healthy diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and trace elements
- Take regular exercise
- Protect your hair from the sun by wearing a hat or using hair sun protection products
- Drink plenty of water (two litres a day)
- If you are dieting, try not to lose more than 2 lb a week
- Allow yourself some relaxation time to de-stress
Pubic Hair
You may notice a thinning of your pubic hair or bald patches where the hair has ceased to grow. Pubic hair can also spread to a wider area onto the upper legs and thighs. Your underarm hair may also become thinner. All these changes are normal. With the decrease of oestrogen during the menopause our male/female hormone ratios alter resulting in them more likely to follow the male growth distribution pattern.
Unwanted Hair
New hair grown on the chin, upper lip, chest and abdomen can be worrying. However this is not a sign of masculine tendencies but simply a hormonal balance shift in your body. Getting rid of unwanted hair can be a tricky business due to the extremely sensitive skin in these areas. Methods used are: waxing, chemical hair remover, electrolysis, laser hair removal and shaving.
Most women doctors recommend shaving for the bikini line. Prior to shaving, scrubbing the area with an antibacterial soap to reduce the amount of bacteria on your skin is recommended. Then scrubbing again after shaving. Washing the area twice a day will help reduce the chance of infected follicles erupting into little bumps. After washing an astringent can be dabbed over the area followed by a mild hydrocortisone cream to soothe irritation and help it heal.