To make a doctor appointment about my hair ...

[ilovelamp2]

Feel a bit silly about it but in the last month or two my hair has completely changed in texture from relatively smooth, straight and shiny to dry, brittle, frizzy and crispy. Two big chunks have snapped off completely leaving frizzy tufts (thankfully they are not on the top layer so not very visible.). The rest is now really frizzy and kinky (?!) Really worried that more of it will snap off or that this could be the beginning of hair loss ... I am 39.

Sorry for long post but to avoid drip feeding:

I have not changed anything in my hair care routine. It is in a bob, I wash it every two to three days, blow dry but no straightening. I do the roots myself every 6 - 8 weeks with the same brand of dye I've used for 20 years.

Could it be stress related? I have had a pretty crappy few months. Skin cancer, ugly graft, random other illness which resulted in hospital admission, a few other biopsies. All clear now but looking back, when I saw my graft for the first time it was the lowest point of my life ... totally lost it - think I went into shock actually.

So - what should I do? Reading about how brittle hair can be linked to anemia and thyroid issues but symptoms don't really match up, apart from tiredness and occasional insomnia. But then I have just returned to my full time, pretty demanding job and have a five year old so who wouldn't be feeling tired?!

I have had more appointments these last few months than I have had in my whole life - don't want Dr to think I am some sort of hypercondriac but thinking I should try to rule out any kind of physical/stress related condition before I go down the route of extra iron/vitamins or expensive organic shampoo.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

[PuntasticUsername]

I haven't a clue what might be the cause of your symptoms, but I'm really sorry to hear about the rough time you've had lately and I would say a GP visit was definitely merited, to try and get to the bottom of what's going on. It could easily be stress related, I would have thought; or it could point to some dietary deficiency, or something else entirely.

[Rivercam]

If you have not changed your hair care routine, or had your hair coloured recently, then definitely go to your gp. A change in your hair condition could be an indication of an underlying condition

[Behooven]

Quite right to get it checked out - hope things get better for you soon

[Dixiechickonhols]

YANBU. I'd go and say exactly what you have said here.

[ilovelamp2]

Thanks everyone - will ring for an appointment tomorrow. Think I have kind of got used to always worrying about something so am minimising as usual. Thank you for your good wishes and flowers - Merry Christmas to you all!

[blueteapot]

Doctor here. Make a GP appointment and discuss it / get bloods checked, if you are tired all the time could be thyroid / anaemia / B12 etc. No new medication?

Hair, skin and nails can say a lot about whats going on on the inside

[Marynary]

Definitely go and see your GP. Do you have any other symptoms apart from the brittle hair? Are you on any medication?

[HazelOrBigwig]

Hi OP, I hope you get things sorted out and that things get better for you soon.

I lost an awful lot of hair more than once when my thyroid medication needed adjusting. It also went a bit frizzy, I looked slightly like I'd had a perm recently then brushed it out!

Almost the only symptom I had at the time.

[ilovelamp2]

Thanks blue. No new medication other than usual anti biotics, morphine and other pain killers when in hospital but it started before then. I am not tired all the time and am just getting on with everything as usual so thinking probably not any of those things you mention - unless I've just been tired fir the last five years and haven't really noticed it! Thanks though, good to know that I'm not being silly.

[ilovelamp2]

Cross post with Hazel - interesting. So you didn't feel exhausted either? Hope you're on the right needs now and feeling well.

[HazelOrBigwig]

Well, it's funny, but like you said 'unless I've just been tired for the last five years'- I noticed I felt a LOT better when my thyroxine was increased. So I think it's very possible get used to feeling tired all the time, but I didn't notice it at the time really.

I'm much better now, thank you

[WhatsGoingOnEh]

Is your hairdryer quite old? My hair had been AWFUL for the past few months -- dry, tangled when wet, really hard to comb, an awful cotton-wool texture... It turned out my hairdryer (about 5 years old) was burning the crap out of it! The thermostat must've gone. I smelled burning hair one or two times (definitely not every time).

I now have a new hairdryer and my hair is on the mend. Just a thought.

[ilovelamp2]

Pleased to hear you're feeling good Hazel. Hoping that whatever it is, it is treatable as I will admit, I am vain! I have always had good hair and good legs (boobs are non-existent!). Now one leg has a big chunk out of it and the other a sizeable scar. Really need my hair right now!😕

[catrin]

Obviously am not a medical professional, so please don't take this as a diagnosis.... Mine did exactly that, like it had had a bad perm and fell out in handfuls. I had a permanent layer of sticky-upy tufty bits.
In addition, I had blurry eyesight and felt like utter shite.

Turns out I had a mammoth Vit D deficiency. I know if it is low now as the symptoms come back. Def worth exploring.

[LadyPenelope68]

Definitely make an appointment to be checked out. My hairdresser commented on a dramatic change in my hair texture and advised me to go to the GP to get checked out. Was diagnosed with severe anaemia and now in medication.

[Permanentlyexhausted]

Do make an appointment with your doctor. There could be all sorts of reasons for hair loss, and yes, it could be stress related.

I found this webpage quite useful to explain different sorts of hair loss. It could be something called telogen effluvium which can be caused by stress or illness. I'd never heard of it until my little girl had it a few months after she was seriously ill, although yours doesn't sound quite the same (DD's wasn't brittle, it just came out in handfuls).

I hope you have an easier time of it soon.

[spiderlight]

I had telogen effluvium as well, three months after a serious illness and a very stressful hospital stay the week DS started Reception. I wish I'd seen a doctor sooner because mine was exacerbated by severe anaemia, which could have been sorted relatively easily.

[thecitydoc]

see your GP

[ilovelamp2]

Thanks what'sgoingon - not a daft suggestion at all. Hairdryer is a couple of years old ... It could be that, I guess. Would be an easy fix which would be nice! Tomorrow I will make Dr appointment, buy new hairdryer and some organic shampoo. All bases covered approach?!

[WhatsGoingOnEh]

Switch your hairdryer on to its hottest setting, and blast it against your hands. If it feels really quite fecking hot, it might be that.

Good luck! I'm sending you loads of good-hair vibes. By the way, if you want to give it a treatment, I found the Herbal Essences Bee Strong intensive conditioner (from superdrug) was surprisingly effective for a cheap, high street product .

Please report back xxxxx

[ilovelamp2]

I am gong to test my hair dryer first thing in morning- good one! And thanks for the product tip too. Am off to Boots tomorrow for hair treats.

[MonkeyBrainiac]

Sorry to hear that Ilovelamp2 - that sucks. I can totally relate as I have been having the exact same problem in the last few months.

I wondered what products you have been using? Mine seemed to get worse after a while of switching to Fibrology (I have since stopped). Also I dye my roots with Nice n Easy (as I have done for years). Do you use any of these? On my last root dye I seemed to lose a lot more hair then normal and have been too scared to do my roots since then.

Like you my texture changed - it seemed to tangle a lot quicker and more seems to fall than usual. I have recently found like you, a section at the back where the hair appears to be broken. Perhaps from wearing a ponytail?

I am interested in the poster who mentions a Vit D deficiency. I have now started eating more protein, taking vitamins (inc vit C and Hair and Nails vitamins) and wearing my hair in a lose plait instead of a ponytail.

I will be watching this with interest!

[MonkeyBrainiac]

I meant I have been taking vit D...

[kittypaws]

biotin, MSM, bamboo extract vitamins are for hair growth.
With biotin it can break you out so take it one day then miss a day until you get use to it.
Castor oil is good for hair growth, if you do it on a day off, mix with olive oil and leave it in your hair for at least 2 hours then wash out.
Use sulfate free shampoo, I use one called organix, they sell it in boots.
You also probably should change your conditioner, if you use the same shampoo/conditioner your hair gets use to it and it stops working.

[Headmelt]

Could it be hormone related or a thyroid problem?