Any supplements for thinning hair?

[sammyg1]

Hi

I have had lovely thick hair in my 20's and 30s but recently and after that it seemed to be thinning out:(, thus now I am in my 40's and have really fine thinning hair, anyhow recently my local Holland & Barrett have a half price promotion running, I am sure you have seen the advert, anyway while this promotion is going I have thought that maybe I could get or stock up on some supplements that would help this problem, I read somewhere Folic Acid, Iron or Bioton may help, but there are so may supplements about its confusing to know which to get for this problem, so can I ask does anyone know of any supplements that would help this problem?

[canei22]

I use tricologic by wellwomen and have had very good results on my thinning hair.

The problem with these supplements is you need to take them long term so it takes some months to see an improvement. I have tried quite a few different brands nourkrin was very expensive and didn't seem to make an improvement. The Holland and Barret ones didn't do anything for me al all.

One good thing is that in Boots it is 3 for the price of 2 on all vitamins and supplements. Also if you have a boots card you get lots of points! This makes it a bit more affordable.

[foxinsocks]

Hi sammy. I posted many months ago about my thinning hair problem. It was so bad, when I put my hand through my hair, loads and loads would come out.

I was having a blood test for something else anyway - but they picked up I had a v bad vit b deficiency. In fact I was recommended for the injections (vit b 12) but they still haven't found the cause of it so for the time being I am taking supplements.

I was short of vit b 12, serum folate and some other things (can't remember) - but v v low levels.

I have a proper vit b tablet but in the meantime am finishing off an old supply of Sanatogen Mum To Be vitamins as they have a good proportion of vit b vitamins. 6-8 weeks of taking them and my hair was far better. I forgot to take them for 2 weeks and I have started getting cracks in the corner of my mouth again!

I would recommend a blood test just to check you aren't short of anything you need. Then failing that, I have heard people have had great success with tricologists (or whatever they are called!).

[BettyBleu]

this?

Haven't tried it though I'm afraid, so I can't say if it helps or not.

[nightcat]

There are hair/nails supplements around, but I think the main ingredient you need is zinc. Zn is often combined with B vits which are also good.

My hair was awful for many years and I always had it short as it was simply dreadful. A few years ago I went gluten free b/c of my ds and added some of his supplements too (he was Zn deficient). First time in decades I have decent hair, it's shiny, wavy and now longer than it's ever been (shoulder length). I am convinced it's thanks to Zn although gf diet also must have helped. I also v occasionally take revalid.

[sammyg1]

God that sounds awlful foxinsocks that must of been really really worrying for you, glad you sorted it out now, although hearing your story mine is not as bad as that but its still worrying.

I have had blood tests and thet seemed fine although next time i am down the docs i think i will check that as they will have my records.

I wouldered though if it could be related to my scoliosis (curvature of the spine), I have had this since school, it was only spotted in my late teens by my mother as it was never spotted at any school medicals ect..:( so it was too late to do anything and the curvature in my spine is not as bad as others, it kind of renders one side weaker then the other and my hair does seem finer on the weaker side, so perhaps thats contributed, it would be great if someone who has scoliosis could back this idea up for me but i think this this would be the wrong forum to ask.

[Deesus]

Eating a cube of jelly a day works wonders for strengthening hair and nails....!

[nightcat]

agree with Dee, we have included jelly in our diet too so it probably made a difference as well :)

[sammyg1]

I only heard the cubes worked for nails not hair, but wow! i wonder whats in jelly that does that, perhaps there is a supplement substitute as not everyone has jelly in their diet.

[nightcat]

it's collagen and zinc, they basically work on improving connective tissue
(Zn often deficient in vegeterians as zinc from veg is less absorbable than from animal protein), Zn often deficient in people with hypermobility (eg my ds and a couple more I know of)

[cabbageroses]

If you can afford it, got for an appt at a Philip Kingsley salon, or see a trichologist.

Thinning hair is often hormone related so you may be peri-menopausal.
Eating ahealthy diet with quality protein is important, as well as vitamin c. also yes, thin hair can be due to lack of iodine, or iron.

[sammyg1]

Just been to Holland and barret to get something for my mothers arthriris so I thought i would get some skin nail and hair supplements and some Aloe Vera supplements, to try and see if they work.