If you’ve noticed your scalp feeling itchier, flakier, or experiencing more hair shedding at certain points across your cycle, or after you started menopause, you’re not imagining it. New research from Polytar shows that hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle and menopause can have a visible impact on women’s hair and scalp health.
While scalp health is often linked to diet, environment (like hard water), or stress, our nationwide survey reveals that women experience noticeable scalp changes at key points during their time of the month and menopause.
In this blog, we’ll explore our findings and how your cycle and menopause can affect your scalp, why some women notice it more than others, and what steps you can take to support scalp health throughout the month.
How common are scalp changes during the menstrual cycle?
Almost one in five women (18%) say they experience negative scalp changes at some point during their cycle, meaning that hormonal fluctuations may be having a greater impact on women’s hair and scalp health than we realise.
Those who noticed changes around their time of the month spotted three common symptoms:
• Dandruff (40%)
• Greasier scalp than usual (33%)
• Increased hair shedding or breakage (33%)
These findings suggest that hormonal shifts not only affect the scalp’s environment but can also impact the strength of our hair fibres, making women more likely to notice changes in both scalp health and hair quality.
When in my menstrual cycle might I notice changes?
Fluctuations linked to menstrual cycles, pregnancy and menopause can make the scalp more sensitive. Timing within the menstrual cycle itself matters too, as the scalp is most affected at certain times. The menstrual cycle has distinct phases, each with a different hormonal profile that may affect the scalp in different ways.
Interestingly, our research found that one in ten women (10%) notice the most pronounced scalp issues in the lead-up to their period or during PMS (premenstrual syndrome), when these hormone fluctuations are at their peak.
Many women already experience a range of symptoms before their period, including mood swings, irritability, anxiety, fatigue, bloating, breast tenderness and food cravings. For those affected by any of these symptoms, negative scalp changes can feel like another unwelcome addition to an already challenging time.
Can the menopause affect my scalp?
Age and life stage play a significant role in hair and scalp changes. Hormonal influences on the scalp don’t stop after menstruation. In fact, we found that women experiencing menopause can have more persistent and pronounced scalp issues, with over half (53%) of menopausal women saying they have noticed changes in their hair and scalp compared to before starting menopause.
When asked about their symptoms, menopausal women reported:
• Increased hair shedding or breakage (42%)
• Persistent itchiness (40%)
• Increased flaking (20%)
The menopause is a time when many women experience fluctuation in their hormones. Hot flushes and night sweats are common symptoms, but the addition of scalp changes shows just how much hormones can impact the body.
How to support your scalp through hormonal changes
Despite these widespread experiences, some women ignore their scalp issues. Our research reveals that 16% of women cover up symptoms, hiding visible signs of scalp issues or styling their hair differently, rather than treating the underlying cause.
However, on a positive note, there is growing openness to support scalp health. Working with, not against, the menstrual cycle, one in two women (45%) say they would consider adapting their haircare routine to align with their menstrual cycle.
Trichologist (hair and scalp expert) Ruth Collis said,
“From a trichological perspective, hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle can have a direct impact on scalp health. Oestrogen rises through the first half of the cycle, peaking around ovulation before falling, while progesterone increases during the luteal phase and then declines ahead of menstruation. These shifts influence oil production, skin cell turnover, and the scalp’s inflammatory response, which is why many women notice flaking, itchiness, and other scalp issues at consistent points in their cycle. During perimenopause, these hormonal patterns often become more erratic, leading to more frequent or unpredictable scalp flare-ups, while in menopause, the long-term reduction in oestrogen can result in increased dryness, sensitivity, and irritation."
“A more effective approach is to work with your hormones rather than against them. If you know your scalp tends to flare at hormonally sensitive times, using a medicated shampoo like Polytar preemptively can help support the scalp before symptoms escalate. Used once weekly alongside a supported routine that considers nutrition, stress, sleep, styling habits and environmental triggers, it can help calm inflammation, regulate excessive skin cell turnover and rebalance the scalp environment. This proactive approach supports long-term scalp health, rather than simply reacting once symptoms are already visible.”
Polytar is a coal tar shampoo designed to help manage scalp conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, dandruff, flaking, and itching. If you suspect that hormonal changes are connected to irritation, flaking or other negative changes on your scalp, adding Polytar to your weekly haircare routine may help to soothe and rebalance things.
Methodology
Polytar Stress on the Scalp Report 2026 with 500 nationally representative women.
