Why do we love trending topics? To learn what’s new? Yes. Educate ourselves? Yes. Discover industry newness? Yes. What’s another reason? Trending topics increase awareness. Especially important if said trending topic affects approximately fifty percent of women at some period of their lives.*
May 2025 L+A Report
Why Feminine Health Matters to Medical + Spa Aesthetic Professionals
For decades, menopause was spoken about in hushed tones—if at all. Referred to simply as “the change,” it often carried a vague, almost mysterious connotation. We grew up hearing about hot flashes on sitcoms, where menopause was portrayed as a punchline or a dreaded life event. I can still remember episodes where characters treated it like the end of youth, the end of beauty, or even the end of relevance.
But things are changing.
Thanks to mainstream advocates—yes, even Oprah—the conversation around menopause and feminine health is shifting into the spotlight. We’re finally seeing more open, honest discussions about how hormonal transitions impact the entire body, not just fertility.
We are talking about women and hair loss. Genetics, poor health, and aging are a few of the reasons that cause hair loss in women. One increasingly growing topic transcending multiple industries and gaining the awareness it deserves is hair loss and thinning in women during menopausal phases, including the perimenopausal phase. While the most common occurrences when thinking about the “change” are hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, and increased stress levels, it’s time of add peri- and menopause phases to the list.
Harvard Health reports that approximately one-third of women experience perimenopausal hair loss at some point in their lives, and as many as two-thirds of postmenopausal women experience thinning hair or bald spots.**
Contribution by Michael Contorno, President/CEO M.A.D Skincare
Mr. Contorno has over 20 years of experience in the cosmeceutical skincare space. He continuously remains engaged in the development of next generation skincare products that will entice the consumer, enchant the professional, and embrace the newest and most exciting materials, captivating and invigorating the skincare market.
As a founding member of M.A.D Skincare, Michael has developed the core philosophy of the brand as well as created a global training program. The well-received program, including the introduction of M.A.D Mapping®, is designed to educate skincare professionals on how to effectively treat not only specific skin concerns, but treat multiple skin concerns at once. M.A.D Skincare’s mission is to deliver the best possible products with the best possible ingredients, embracing the power of science and nature, marrying traditional philosophy with revolutionary technology, targeting multiple skin concerns for maximum results.
How Does Menopause Affect Hair Loss in Women?
Hair Growth Cycle
Hair growth occurs in four separate phases: anagen (growth stage), catagen (transition stage), telogen (resting stage), and exogen (shedding stage).
During peri- and menopause, there is a fluctuation of estrogen and progesterone levels. Hormonal changes affect the hair follicle’s metabolism and growth cycle, which can result in hair thinning and loss. Estrogen production plays a role in hair growth and reinforces the anagen phase (growth stage). When estrogen levels decrease, this phase shortens, delaying hair regrowth. The follicle may also prematurely enter the telogen phase (resting phase) causing excessive shedding and thinning of the hair. Androgens can also impact hair quality.
Growth Factors
Growth factors are fundamental for a healthy scalp, continual follicle development and hair growth. These proteins function as signaling agents and are vital for normalizing multiple cellular functions, promoting cellular communication, stimulating scalp rejuvenation, and aiding in healthy hair growth. Unfortunately, as we age, growth factor production slows, causing hair thinning and shedding; receding hair lines; poor hair health; and hair loss. Hair strands may also become finer and more fragile as dryness weakens the hair shaft.
Hyaluronic Acid
It’s common to talk about hyaluronic acid, the face and skincare. We know scalp is skin too, and the importance of this naturally occurring polysaccharide in relation to promoting a healthy environment for active hair growth shouldn’t be overlooked. Hyaluronic acid helps improve blood flow to the scalp, delivers oxygen and vital nutrients, and reduces inflammation by soothing and hydrating the scalp. Hyaluronic acid levels naturally decrease as we age.
This leads to changes in the scalp and hair including damage, lack of blood supply, stunted hair growth and less hydration in the hair shaft increasing hair breakage due to an unhealthy scalp environment.
Treatments
Surrounding the growing awareness around hair loss in women, particularly during the peri- and menopausal stages, there has been a surge in research, information, and technology. Pair new findings with your knowledge and your client care by helping address their hair loss concerns while expanding your services and growing your business.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy involves injecting concentrated platelets from the patient’s own blood into the scalp to stimulate hair growth. Rich in growth factors, PRP has shown to activate dormant hair follicles and promote thicker, healthier hair.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic Acid supports scalp health—crucial for hair growth. A hydrated scalp supports hair follicles while increasing blood flow, delivering more oxygen and nutrients to the follicles, promoting a healthy scalp environment and hair growth.
Growth Factor Serums + Modalities
There are four key growth factors involved in hair growth and scalp normalization: Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGF), Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-beta), and Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF). When combined with modalities, including microneedling, microchanneling and RF, growth factors work by stimulating hair follicles, rejuvenating the hair growth cycle, and revitalizing the scalp. These growth factors help maintain the anagen stage while improving cellular communications and pathways for re-energizing the hair growth.
Resources
*All 159 Hair Loss Statistics Of 2025 For Journalists; 1/24/25
**https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/thinning-hair-in-women-why-it-happens-and-what-helps-2020032719267