One of the less visible symptoms of menopause, at least initially, may be hair loss. The parting gets gradually wider, the hair gets thinner on the top of the head or around the temples, and it can be easy to overlook until it starts to affect how a woman feels about her look.
It’s also far from unusual. Hair loss occurs in nearly half of women during the menopause transition. However, many women still don’t discuss menopausal symptoms with a healthcare professional. In a 2016 Ipsos Mori poll for the British Menopause Society, half of women aged 45 to 65 said they had gone through menopause without seeking professional help.
There is much more talk about menopause, and hair thinning is gaining traction as a concern. It has also broadened the range of treatments available. Established options are surgery, clinic procedures, and a drug-free topical protocol could provide a more accessible alternative.
Why menopause can change the hair
Hormonal fluctuations beginning in perimenopause, particularly declining oestrogen, can affect the hair follicle. Hair may become thinner or change in texture, while reduced blood flow can diminish hydration and increase the need for scalp nourishment.
Dr. Manav Bawa, Medical Director and Aesthetic Physician at the Time Clinic in London, says female hair thinning can begin as early as the late thirties. In menopausal hair loss, increased shedding commonly becomes noticeable through the middle parting and at the crown. This pattern is known as androgenic alopecia, or female pattern hair loss.
The temples can provide an earlier warning. Dr. Bawa says 75 per cent of his pre-menopausal patients with thinning hair also have loss in the temporal area. “This can happen even before the mid-section and crown start to look thin,” he says.
That makes timing relevant. Hair loss may be easier to address when treatment begins soon after the first signs appear, rather than after the reduction in density has become pronounced.
Treatment should begin with the cause
Menopause may be a significant contributor, but it isn’t the only possible explanation for increased shedding. Dr. Bawa begins with a detailed consultation and a blood panel to identify any underlying health concerns or vitamin deficiencies that may be involved.
One piece of that equation is lifestyle. Stress, poor diet, disrupted sleep, and dramatic weight loss can cause shedding. Dr. Bawa also points to the high consumption of ultra-processed foods and the physical shock that can accompany rapid weight loss from GLP-1 medication.
This doesn’t mean that lifestyle measures alone will reverse menopausal hair loss. Rather, appropriate changes may support the results of a topical treatment protocol. Improving sleep and following an anti-inflammatory diet are among the small adjustments he recommends as part of a broader approach.
A topical protocol under investigation
Dr. Bawa is conducting an ongoing study involving 12 perimenopausal women aged 37 to 54 with mild to moderate hair loss. The study uses the Calecim Professional Advanced Hair System, which combines a topical serum with derma-stamp microneedling.
The serum contains PTT-6, a proprietary ingredient described as being rich in more than 3,000 proteins, growth factors, exosomes and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
In a test, participants received in-clinic treatment at baseline and the derma-stamp was used at a depth of 1.25 mm. This allowed the serum ingredients to reach the scalp and hair follicles. Participants then performed five weekly at-home treatments with the stamp to a depth of 0.5 mm, in conjunction with the serum, and saw strong results.
Microneedling is used both to assist absorption and to create a mild, controlled injury intended to stimulate repair and collagen synthesis. Results were reviewed after six and 12 weeks, then presented by Dr. Bawa at the 2025 Aesthetic and Anti-Ageing Medicine World Congress in Monaco.
Dr. Bawa reported seeing a difference in every participant reviewed at that stage. Some had experienced a small amount of regrowth, while others showed a more substantial change. Participants also reported that their hair appeared thicker and healthier and that they felt more confident.
Dr. Bawa says outcomes can depend on hair type, lifestyle and the severity of hair loss. He also notes that the best results are generally becoming apparent at around six months, beyond the study’s initial six- and 12-week reviews.
How the options compare
A hair transplant is described as the gold-standard intervention for hair loss, but surgery represents a considerable physical and financial commitment.
In the clinic, a less invasive option is platelet rich plasma or PRP. The patient’s blood is drawn, spun in a centrifuge and purified so growth factors and nutrients can be injected into the scalp to stimulate repair. However, the outcome can be variable, partly depending on a patient’s age and health. “PRP was very painful for many of my patients,” says Dr. Bawa.
Another option is minoxidil. It is a topical drug used for male and female pattern hair loss. It is considered a viable option that can produce mild to moderate results, although it can carry potential side effects.
The Calecim Professional protocol is positioned differently: it is topical, drug-free and can be continued at home after an initial consultation. Dr. Bawa says the outcomes he has observed are comparable to, and sometimes better than, those he previously achieved with PRP. In his experience, Calecim’s hair loss solution is a great alternative to PRP, as it’s convenient and affordable.
He attributes part of the response to the serum’s cytokines, which help reduce inflammation, and to its exosomes and growth factors, which improve communication between cells and prompt follicles to produce thicker, fuller hair.
A promising option, with realistic expectations
Calecim Professional’s approach addresses a genuine gap between topical drugs and more expensive clinic procedures. For women noticing early thinning, the most practical first step is a professional assessment that considers health, nutritional, and lifestyle factors. If a topical protocol is appropriate, starting before the hair loss becomes advanced may offer the best chance of a meaningful response.
