Anyone else’s hair falling out by the handful?!

[Fortheloveofscience]

Not quite general health, not quite S&B hope it’s ok here.

The last few weeks I’ve lost a ludicrous amount of hair - I feel groups of strands sliding down the back of my legs when I shower, it’s all over the bed, the floor etc etc - it’s worse than the dog! Reckon I’m easily hitting the 100 strands a day that is the ‘normal’ limit.

I normally do lose a bit of hair in the autumn, but this has been going on for about 8 weeks now and is far more than normal. I was wondering if it was something to do with the weird weather this year, so thought I’d see if anyone else is finding the same?

Mine! It's driving me potty. I come out of the shower looking like cousin it!

I’ve been shedding more than usual - I hate it! Can’t think what’s causing it either

Yes. I've always been a 'moulter' but used to have such thick hair it wasn't too much of a problem. This past year though something is happening. If I run a brush through I have to clean it every time. I need to vacuum my carpet constantly and it feels so very thin now. My parting looks far more noticeably too. I think it's maybe down to stress for me as I've been out of work all year. Could stress be the cause for you maybe?

Get your thyroid checked.

And ferritin. Not just iron, but stored iron! Needs to be above 50.

Wow I thought I was the only one, also been shedding a ridiculous amount over the last few months! No idea how I have any left on my head tbh, although it has thinned considerably I should be bald given the amount I have to remove from the shower, hairbrushes, carpet, bed, clothes and anywhere else my head may have come into contact with

I know what's causing mine. (Low iron)

I have recently lost an incredible amount of hair. A recent check has shown I'm severely vit D deficient and low on folate. So I'm hoping getting on supplements will slow it down as my hair is getting terribly thin.

I had this about a year ago and a blood test detected low Vitamin D. Was put on a high does of Vit D tablets. Higher dose than you can buy in the health shop. Its just started to happen again, so I presume I need to get another blood test!

As previous posters- just 4 weeks ago I went to doctors about this and feeling cold more etc- my Vit D came back v v low- and borderline thyroid issue.
I’ve been put on 20000 units of Vit D x 3 days a week ( although I’ve had to alter dose as felt ill taking so much too soon) but my hair has stopped shedding like yours.i used to block plug hole after every shower.
So I would say have a blood test to see.
Failing that try a 1000mg dose of Vit D tablets over the counter to see if improves, should improve within a week or two.
Btw I work outdoors all year so was v v shocked at Vit D result ( possibly my kidneys don’t absorb well) especially after the summer we had!

Yes, I lose so much hair. I know my iron levels are low. I did't realise it was connected. Thanks for that!

Have you experienced an unusual amount of stress anytime in the past three months or so?

Me too!!! And come to mention it, my iron was a little low last time I checked, I wouldn’t be surprised if vit D was down as well.
I had an extremely stressy time a few months back, I thought the hair loss is a result of that. It comes out in clumps every time I run my hand through.
Thanks for that, I’m on it!

Which brand of vitamin D 1000 IU would people recommend, there are loads on amazon, not sure which one to choose!

My hair has also been falling out in handfuls. It's making me wonder if I produced any vitamin D at all this summer. With it being so nice for so long I wore less clothing than usual and used fake tan on all my skin, then sun cream on top of that. My skin probably didn't get any sun exposure at all.

I was losing loads, so I started using that caffeine shampoo. It works.

I put the loss down to the menopause, but I will get my iron levels checked because I’m prone to anemia.

Me too. I don't know if that's why I'm noticing more threads on here about it. It's like an epidemic!

For me I suspect it's perimenopause but maybe I should get my bloods checked just in case.

Mine
But due to being very underweight
Could that be a cause?

If you search for the mn poster bettertobehealthy they are expert on this subject - maybe they will come on this post ?
@bettertobehealthy

@Bettertobehealthy
(Capital B!)

I've had this for a few months.
I have put it down to stress. My hair is really thin now. I didn't know it could be linked to low iron or vitamin D.

Trying a supplement wont harm, will it? Will a general 'women's health' type one be ok?

Yes me too! I'm under a lot of pressure at the moment but it seems to be the time of year too as I remember thinking the same last autumn

Age? If you are peri menopausal hair can come out by the handful.

I thought I was possibly peri- menopause but alledgely it’s not easy to tell especially if like me your on contraception.

Thanks everyone, this is so helpful! I had bought some Floradix in case I was iron-deficient, but just checked and that doesn’t contain Vit D so I can get some of that too. Thinking about it, I spent pretty much all this summer indoors because it was so hot!

Im early 30’s so hopefully not peri-menopause (not least because I’m TTC at the start of 2019!). Since the consensus seems to be that there tends to be some underlying condition I might get a GP appt and blood test. Don’t feel unwell and have tons of energy, so hopefully it’s not something like thyroid that I can’t fix with a vitamin pill!

Vitamin D3 is best. For some reason I always shed more at this time of year (natural moulting time maybe?) but under certain lights you can ‘see through’ my hair and it’s awful as I can see people looking at it.