Is Menopause Causing Your Itchy Scalp? Here’s How to Stop It

Is Menopause Causing Your Itchy Scalp? Here’s How to Stop It

How Menopause Affects Your Scalp and What to Do About It

If you’re going through perimenopause or menopause and a constant scalp itch is driving you to distraction, you’re not alone. A dry, flaky, itchy scalp is a common and distressing side effect of hormonal changes during menopause.

 

What Happens to Your Scalp and Hair During Menopause?

The hormone estrogen has a direct influence on your scalp and follicle health. Estrogen also drives the production of your natural skin oils (sebum) that keep your scalp moisturized and your hair smooth and shiny. When estrogen levels go down during perimenopause and menopause you may notice dry skin overall, changes in your hair’s health and texture, and an itchy scalp.  

Read more about how menopause affects your hair health. 

 

 

As a Trichologist (haircare expert) I often see clients whose scalp health has changed after menopause. The good news is that there are many ways to soothe your itchy scalp.

Here’s what I tell my clients they can do to improve their scalp health during perimenopause and menopause:

 

How to Help Your Itchy Scalp During Perimenopause and Menopause

1 - The Best Diet for Scalp Health During Menopause

As a stylist and haircare expert, I know that your diet plays a big part in menopausal hair and scalp issues. One recent study1 showed fewer menopausal symptoms in women who were eating more fruits and vegetables. 

While hormones are the main cause of your scalp itching and hair growth changes, your diet also plays a significant role. Your muscles, bones, and teeth tend to come first when it comes to getting the nutrients from your diet so, if you’re not eating a balanced diet, your hair can suffer.

 

 

Here’s how to boost your scalp and hair health during menopause:

Get enough Vitamin D: this vitamin plays a big role in scalp health and hormonal changes in hair growth and health. Research shows that vitamin D acts on your scalp and hair more like a hormone than a vitamin.2

Check your iron intake: low iron levels can contribute to hair thinning and loss.

Calcium is key: not enough calcium can cause dull, dry skin and an itchy scalp.3

Omegas 3 and 7 reduce dryness: up your fat intake especially from omega 3 from fish, nuts, and oils like flax, and hempseed.

Increase antioxidants to slow your grey hair growth: a diet rich in antioxidants slows aging by reducing free radicals – unstable atoms that cause damage to your hair and scalp at a cellular level.

    Read more about diet and scalp health here. 

    When my client Allison Conrad and I co-founded Arey, we launched our haircare line with the antioxidant-rich nutritional supplement Not Today, Grey. That’s because we know that nutrition is the cornerstone of any scalp and haircare routine.

     


     

     

     

    2 - Clean Haircare Habits Can Soothe an Itchy Scalp

    Your scalp and hair are more vulnerable to damage during perimenopause and menopause so it makes sense to choose clean haircare. Clean haircare means products that are planet-friendly, and free from harsh chemicals that can irritate your scalp and damage your hair. 

    Arey clean haircare products follow the Credo Clean Beauty Standards. That means they are always free from harmful ingredients like phthalates, parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, and formaldehyde. They are also always gluten-free, cruelty-free, and vegan.

     

     

    Here’s how to quickly reduce scalp itching:

    Avoid shampoos with sulfates: as your estrogen levels decline, you produce less scalp-moisturizing sebum and your scalp can become dry and itchy.

    You can help your scalp by avoiding shampoos that contain sulfates and salts – strong chemical detergents that over-cleanse, and dry out your scalp skin. If you have a dry, itchy scalp, look for a sulfate-free, gentle shampoo and conditioner like Wash and Smooth

     

     

     

    Detox your scalp with an exfoliating Scrub: as your scalp skin becomes drier from menopause, it can become unbalanced and vulnerable to conditions like dandruff.

    Dandruff is caused by an overgrowth of a bacteria called Malassezia that dries out your skin to the point of flaking. Combined with the effects of menopausal dryness, you may find yourself regularly dealing with flakes and itching.

    The solution? Regularly detoxing your scalp with a gentle exfoliator like Scrub can rinse away irritating buildup (dry, dead skin, hair product, and oils) and restore moisture. Combining Scrub with a scalp massage allows the active ingredients to penetrate your scalp skin plus you are boosting blood flow to your follicles.

     


     

    Soothe your itchy scalp with a lightweight scalp serum: lightweight serums deliver moisturizing ingredients to your dry scalp that won’t clog your pores or leave you with greasy roots. 

     

    Here’s how to choose the perfect serum for your scalp:

      • If your scalp is more itchy and irritated after using hair dye: Calm It Down™ is a clinically effective scalp serum that you can use before and after coloring to protect and soothe your scalp skin. Read more about Calm It Down™ here.

      • If your scalp and hair generally need moisture: To The Root™ is a clean topical scalp serum that you can use every day to deliver hair-growth-boosting ingredients to your hair. It also contains the Arey Mela-9™ Complex to help slow, delay, and even repigment grey hair. Read more about To The Root™ here. 

     

    A targeted scalp serum is helpful in getting and maintaining an itch-free scalp during menopause.

     

     

    You can protect and soothe your scalp with Calm It Down™ before and after coloring your hair, and then maintain the results with daily use of To The Root™. With consistent use, you should experience relief from dryness and an itchy scalp in a few weeks.

     

     

     

    3 - Can HRT Improve Your Scalp and Hair Health? 

    In addition to dietary changes, supplementation, and clean haircare habits, many women also consider Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). So, if you’re experiencing pattern hair loss, excess scalp dryness, or overall hair thinning, it may be time to talk to your doctor about HRT.

    While research isn’t conclusive about the role of estrogen on your scalp and hair health, some studies suggest a link between hormones and hair thickness and growth.4 HRT is a long-term solution and can take 4-6 months before you see any real results. 

     

    Arey, With You at Every Stage in Your Hair Journey

    From before your first grey hair to menopause, we make products that support every stage of your haircare journey.

    We want you to have your best hair at every age. That’s why we offer 25% of all auto replenish orders so you can easily achieve your hair goals.

    We are Arey.

    Have questions? Check out our FAQ page or say hey@areygrey.com.

     


    Jay Small with customer

    AuthorJay SmallJay Small is a sought-after hair stylist and Trichologist in Los Angeles with over 22 years of experience. His clients consist of high-profile business and creative leaders. He trained as an apprentice to the owner of Paul Mitchell and worked in education and product development for Paul Mitchell Systems. Jay is incredibly passionate about the creative process both in terms of styling hair and developing effective products.



    REFERENCES:

    1. https://journals.lww.com/menopausejournal
    2. https://www.nytimes.com/
    3. https://www.endocrinecenter.com/
    4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16877675/