My sisters hair is falling out any ideas or advice please?

[ScoobyDooooo]

My sis is having a bit of a crap time, her hair has been falling out over the last few months & her hair which used to be very thick is now very very thin.

She is scared to even wash it, she says it is falling in clumps when she even brushes it now

She went to the doctors today because she is feeling depressed (have noticed a big difference in her in the last year) the doctor has done a blood test.

She is very stressed with work & her commute to work, she is also feeling down because she is going to be 30 soon & feels she is a failure because she is single (come out of long term relationship bout 2 yrs ago) & and she has not yet started a much longed for family.

I feel really sorry for her but don't know what to do? she is normally such a happy easy going, laid back person but she is not even half the person she was

Does anyone have any ideas about her hair & what it could be? she is so worried that this is the begining of losing all her hair & said if this did happen she would be devastated to say the least!

[Mumpbump]

My sister has hair loss when very stressed, but has never lost all of her hair, just wound up with very thin hair. Can't say much else other than try to relax. Worst case scenario is that it could be alopaecia (sp?) and I think that is stress related.

[ScoobyDooooo]

Well she is very worried about alopecia (?) i am not sure if you lose your hair quite qucikly with that though or if it can happen over months?

[Mumpbump]

Don't know, I'm afraid!

[Mumpbump]

If it is any consolation, my sister has had this for years and, as mentioned before, has never lost the lot. I guess she could see a nutritionist to make sure her diet is okay...

[ScoobyDooooo]

Thanks Mumpbump hopefully she will be ok, the doctor has done blood tests to test her iron levels & things & she has to go back on friday.

[ScoobyDooooo]

[Notquitegrownup]

I suffer from hair loss with stress. The first time I noticed it I was terrified I was losing it all, which made life all the more stressful. Like her, I was afraid to wash it, or brush it. The advice I received at the time is that you are unlikely to lose it all through stress - there are a couple of very rare illnesses that can cause total hair loss, but they are incredibly rare. Mine grew back in time, once I was on a more even keel. But each time I get above averagely stressed, it starts falling out again. I now use it as a sign that I need to do something about my stress levels.

[ScoobyDooooo]

Thank you Notquitegrownup that is reassuring to know, i personally don't think all her hair will fall out but i think she is just worrying because it is soooo think & still falling out.

Not alot she can do about stress at the moment because she has to work & i suppose feeling down is not helping. She has alot on her plate at the moment & just seems to want to be alone.