Dear Savvy Senior: I’m a 68-year-old woman and over the past few years my hair has become noticeably thinner, especially on top. Is this just part of aging, or could it be a sign of a health problem? And are there treatments that really help women with hair loss? —Thinning Thelma
Dear Thelma: Hair thinning is a common concern for women as they age, especially after menopause, but it’s not something you should automatically dismiss as getting older. While some hair loss is a normal part of aging, it can also be linked to underlying health conditions, medications, nutritional deficiencies, stress, or other treatable issues. The good news is that in many cases, the cause can be identified and sometimes successfully treated.