Does Scalp Aging Cause Hair Loss? What To Know About the TikTok Ice Cube Test for Your Scalp
Plus get pro tips to boost hair growth during perimenopause and menopause
Often, we hear the term “superager” as a good thing. It describes older adults who are thriving well into their 90s and beyond, often with minds as sharp as someone 20 to 30 years younger. (Shout out to the Blue Zones.) But lately, social media is also calling out “bad” superagers—when parts of our body, including our scalp—age too fast and cause problems like hair loss. These posts claim that skin on our scalp can age 10 times faster than skin on the rest of our bodies and 12 times faster during menopause. Here, experts explain the scalp aging obsession and offer advice that can help turn back the clocks and reverse hair loss after 50.
The ice test to check how your scalp is aging
Social media is buzzing with a self-test to see if you have a superaging scalp. In the test, you place an ice cube or a washcloth dipped in cold water on the top of your head for three seconds. If you sense goosebumps or tingling, it suggests your scalp nerves and muscle reflexes are still sensitive. (These components, the videos claim, are the same ones that help trigger hair growth.) If no goosebumps form, your scalp has gone dormant and is struggling to grow hair.
What do experts make of this self-test trend? They debunked it. “Unfortunately, I do not think there is much truth to this test,” says female hair loss specialist Mary Wendel, MD, founder of Medi-Tresse. “While the nerves around the hair follicle may play a role in regulating the growth cycle, when it comes to scalp health, it is more important to think about the scalp microbiome.”
Woman's World Answers
Should we worry about scalp aging?
If you’re concerned about having a scalp superager, rest assured. “This is definitely not a medical term,” says Dr. Wendel. “A lot of terms out there are created by marketers to help sell products.” But we all know hair loss is very real. And multiple Reddit threads are devoted to trying to fix or prevent female pattern balding. So we’ve got some guidance for you.
First is addressing your scalp microbiome, “an ecosystem of microscopic organisms like bacteria and fungi,” Dr. Wendel says. “When your microbiome is in balance, it can help protect your scalp and provide a healthy environment for hair to grow.” Just like gut microbiome is important to our overall health, so is our scalp health. It reflects the nutrition our body is getting.
“Your hair is fighting for the same vitamins and nutrients as your vital organs. So when you are deficient, your hair loses out,” explains Dr. Wendel. “It is also why we see so many people experience hair loss from crash diets or when on GLP-1s.”
Menopause also plays a role in hair loss
Dr. Wendel notes that it’s also important to understand that hair loss is a complex issue, with other contributors like genetics and immunity. And of course, hormones are a major factor.
“Scalp health is certainly important to hair health, but for many women, the biggest factor is the hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause that they are dealing with,” says Dr. Wendel. “Women see a 75 to 80 percent drop in estrogen during menopause. And while testosterone also drops, it drops only about 20 to 25 percent. This means the ratio of testosterone to estrogen increases, which is not good for hair. This can accelerate female pattern hair loss.”
Should you get your scalp checked?
Anyone experiencing hair loss should get a proper evaluation, advises Dr. Wendel. “Hair loss is not a diagnosis. It is a symptom of an underlying condition.” She adds, “For most women, their hair loss is genetic and there is a hormonal component to it, which is why we see it get worse during peri/menopause.”
Dermatologist Brenda Dintiman, MD, of DermUtopia Wellness, agrees hair loss is a holistic issue. She says, “Not only looking closely at patients’ scalps, but evaluating their overall physical and nutritional health and hormonal status is important. The skin and hair are a window to your overall health and stress level.”
How to regrow hair when your scalp is aging
If your scalp is showings signs of hair loss or thinning, these strategies can help:
Eat a healthy diet
Aim for an anti-inflammatory diet, full of antioxidant rich fruits and veggies.
Get more vitamins and minerals
“Nutrients such as vitamin D, iron and zinc have proven benefits,” Dr. Wendel says.
Try supplementing
“Almost anyone experiencing hair loss can benefit from a good hair loss supplement,” says Dr. Wendel. Her practice recommends Dr. Wendel’s own line of products, including Tresse Fortifier, Tresse Revitalizer and Tresse Prebiotic, which include a combination of vitamins, minerals, fish collagen, protein precursors and botanicals.
Regulate hormones
Dr. Wendel says, “Progesterone, estrogen and testosterone (PET treatment) can make hair regrow and look thicker.” It’s also wise to have your thyroid function checked.
Consider other treatments
Dr. Dintiman recommends treating hair loss with oral minoxidil or even doing platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, if needed. This is where your blood is injected into your scalp to help trigger dormant follicle growth.
Be kind to yourself
Managing stress is an important part of treating hair loss, and that includes going easy on yourself. “Hair loss can be extremely emotional, and it is important to know you are not alone in this journey,” says Dr. Wendel. “While trends on TikTok can be exciting, there are lots of great treatment options available. Finding a medical provider that specializes in hair loss that can truly diagnose the cause and find the right treatment is so important.”
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