Name two types of hair loss seen in menopausal women.

• A. Androgenic alopecia and telogen effluvium
• B. Alopecia areata and traction alopecia
• C. Telogen effluvium and cicatricial alopecia
• D. Androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata

Answer: (A)

Menopause brings hormonal changes that influence hair growth, so patterns tied to androgens and to shedding after a hormonal shift are most common. The typical female pattern hair loss is androgenic alopecia, where follicles in the crown gradually miniaturize under the influence of androgens, leading to diffuse thinning while the frontal hairline is often preserved. Alongside this, telogen effluvium is a common response to the hormonal transition and other stressors during menopause; a larger portion of hairs prematurely enter the resting phase, resulting in diffuse shedding that appears a few months after the trigger and is usually reversible as the system rebalances.

Other patterns are less characteristic of menopausal changes. Alopecia areata presents with sudden, patchy bald spots and autoimmune features. Traction alopecia comes from prolonged tension on the hair, typically related to hairstyles. Cicatricial (scarring) alopecias involve inflammation that destroys hair follicles and leads to permanent loss, not specifically tied to menopause.

So the combination most often seen in menopausal women is androgenic alopecia and telogen effluvium.