I’m actually ready to shave my hair off I can’t cope with this.

Try taking spirulina. It certainly helps my hair grow, but I don't have alopecia so can't say if it will work for that.

I had alopecia areata and lost about half my hair in big patches. It was pretty traumatic OP so I really feel for you and understand that panic. Initially I used Toppik hair fibres and Mane hair spray. Links below for you. It makes you feel less self conscious. You need a diagnosis really. Have you the money to pay for a private dermatology appt? In my area I think nhs wait was about a year!
Mane
Toppik
I used fake ponytails as well to make my hair look thicker by wrapping it around my own hair in a bun. My hair eventually came back after I'd tried every treatment going, including a clinical trial and had accepted that it wasnt growing back. I honestly do think once you stop worrying about it, it comes back. Sending lots of love. 💐

My hair loss is intermittent (I have crohns). I found it one of the hardest things to deal with tbh.

Get copies of blood work and get them looked at properly. What’s ‘ok’ for some is really not. I am thinking particularly thyroid. You already have an autoimmune illness so your parameters may be different.

Sending a hug.

Heya

I completely get how you feel. I have alopecia areata, and my head looked like a patchy globe.

Best thing I been did was buzz my head down to a 3. What it didn't give me was long flowing hair, but I got my sense of power back. Watching clumps fall out, checking how it looks in lighting and trying to cover it is exhausting and takes an emotional toll.

You can see a private dermatologist for a biopsy to confirm the reason for hair loss, but it is quite pricey and then base your treatment options around the results.

If it's Teflon effluvium then a good cut like you're having and some time can make all the difference.

From somebody who was full uncle fester at one point, I promise it gets better, sometimes it's not the hair that does but you will find a place where you feel like you again.

I love wearing wigs and I also like my fuzzy buzzcut. Take care of yourself.

Looking at photos mine went to this stage through stress. Still recommend very high quality vitamins B Complex, Zinc ( 50mg) highest safest dose , V12 ( 1000mg ) highest dose and simply iron and multi from quality supplier. Look eBay. Can't recommend enough these vitamins in the above dose.

Quality iron and multi try Boots but have to say B Complex for me are always the answer, again quality bought from online sellers eBay ect. They will recommend the highest safest dose.

I had hair loss that looked quite similar to yours. I think mine was just stress and it's growing back now so hopefully yours will be the same

Go for it! I did and never looked back.

Started with grade 4 which was too much! Now I do a 6 in summer and an 8 in winter.

It suits me, I haven't been to a hairdresser in years and I look years younger.

It doesn't resolve the initial problem though I know.

This looks like telogen effluvium and could have been caused by the anaemia.

I have been through this 6 times in my life, each caused by a mental or physical stress. Three/four months after the event my hair starts falling out in handfuls. Brushfuls. So much in the shower. On each occasion it has fallen out for 3 months and then the loss reduces to a normal amount and the hair starts to regrow. Regrowth is slow and annoying because it sticks out and can’t be styled, but it does eventually grow back to normal lengths to even out with the thin and straggly hair that didn’t fall out.

In your position I would try and stay calm for three months after you noticed it start to fall out. Hopefully it will have stopped falling out in such amounts by then. Then you’ll have a month where you can’t tell if it’s growing back or not, before you notice short spiky stubble coming through and you’re in to the regrowth. Try and ignore it until after Christmas and then see how it goes.

Yrs! I have a friend who wears a topper and its fantastic. It looks incredibly natural. Expensive though

i feel for you OP. Have a look at hair loss treatments like op suggested. I’ve seen results and yes it is pricey, it hurts like hell, but the results can be fabulous. Good luck

Any specific recommendations please? My iron is 44 and I’ve been on 210mg for about 12 months. Think I need something all round better!

So sorry youre going thoguh this. I agree with PP about a wig and silk bonnet at hple but I would look into PRP hair treatments. I use to do them on balding men, and it was so satisfying to see hair grow back and come back thicker.

It can be little pricey, and you will have to do maintainence but seeing results for my own eyes I couldnt believe it until I started seeing it with men coming back.

It's likely hormonal. I take daily folic acid for different reasons and my hair has never been better.

I'm sorry OP, I've had a couple of bouts of hair loss and it is especially distressing for women.

Minimise washing as much as possible as that can be quite stressful for your scalp but when you do wash give yourself a really decent scalp massage especially round the temple and hairline areas that tend to show the loss most.

Not sure how you usually wear your hair but the style in the photo is likely to be causing tension so try to wear it in a low loose pony when you can.

Hopefully it'll pass ASAP for you 💜

I lost about half the volume of hair on my head when I was a child due to stress. I was put on anti anxiety medication and eventually my hair started to grow back. I know there’s often a physical cause for hair loss, but even the resulting stress and worry about the hair loss itself could exacerbate things. Just wondering if that might be a factor.

Try a carnivore diet or if that's too extreme ketovore

I was about to suggest a wig or headscarf theres so many lovely ones around now and i think they look lovely
Theres lady who lives in our village who has lost her hair through illness and she wears a different wig every day, different colours lengths styles and she looks brilliant
She has something different to match everything she wears , shes only young id say late 30s/early 40s maybe

I’m 36 and have telogen effluvium. I’ve had it now for 2 years and still haven’t found the cause but it’s most likely stress. I have finally started seeing a little bit of growth after changing my shampoo etc and upping pretty much every vitamin possible.

It’s awful 😕

That's a shame because minoxidil is very effective.

But if you do succeed in getting pregnant, your hair will definitely improve. Good luck 🙏xx

If you’re on instagram look at Sofiahairhealth

Anything new that you try will take months to have effect so keep at it. I know a couple of people with alopecia who have Symprove probiotic drink during flare ups which seems to help. The patches slowly start to fill with baby hairs that get thicker and then regrow darker. It’s expensive but there’s frequently offers so don’t pay full price. Could try bone broth for general/gut health?

I’m currently alternating nizoral shampoo (the dandruff one) and the new L’Oréal growth boost shampoo. I then use the conditioner and serum from the same range. Boots have sm offer at the moment, so £20 for all three.
Every evening I’m using The Ordinary Peptide hair serum. I massage it into my scalp. Hair is not greasy in the morning.

it might be a fluke, but after two weeks of keeping this up, my hair loss has already massively reduced. It remains to be seen if I will start regrowing baby hair.

I’ve also ordered some pumpkin oil and saw palmetto supplements, as these are natural DHT blockers.

Yes I have FFA but can’t tolerate hydroxychloriquine, my dermatologist recommended dermovate steroid cream which hasn’t really helped. My age and an extremely stressful year are against me.