Is this a normal amount of hair shedding in the shower? (Pics)

[SinkGirl]

(Just warning of the pics in case you can’t stand drain hair - will post them in the next comment!)

My hair has been thinning for a long time (I’m 37 now, it’s been years) - is this what you should expect when you wash your hair? One is today and the other was two days ago so it’s frequent (don’t wash my hair every day in case that makes it worse).

This obviously doesn’t include the hair plastered on my body, in my hairbrush, shed all over the place, stuck to my hairband etc.

It’s noticeably thinning around my temples but no other obvious bald patches, just thinner all over. You can see a lot of scalp at my parting. My hair is shoulder length and not thick.

Seeing my GP tomorrow about a host of symptoms I’ve had for a long time (and had many blood tests over the years) so wanted to see first if this was the norm.

Thanks :)

Hair band for size reference!

Can't see any pics?

Following with interest, I’m the same. 38, had really thick hair until about a year ago, been rapidly thinning out since. The front and temples are worst, in direct light I can see too much scalp for my liking!

I can now. It is difficult to tell really. I guess if it is more than you are used to shedding, and you are noticeably thinning, plus if you are having other symptoms then it is definitely wise to see your GP about it, especially to be tested for anemia. Get your actual blood levels from them as often it wont be flagged even if it is low.

I lose more than that in each hair wash since I had my son nearly 5 years ago. I've always assumed it could be hormonal but I naturally have a lot of thick hair so it's never concerned me much.

Hopefully the gp can help, could be down to a lot of things.

I’d find it hard to judge from photos but just to say my hair was thinning for ages. Years. I had blood tests and they ruled out the usual suspects for this - thyroid, iron, etc. It was only after some time I had a private blood test which indicated a massively deficient level of vitamin D. A side effect of this deficiency is hair loss. 6 months after starting supplements I’ve got new hair growth (lots of new little whispy hairs!) and the loss has stopped, so in asking for your bloods ask them to include vitamin D.

That looks like a fair amount to me especially if your hair is fine not thick. I lost a lot of hair when I was low in iron and once after antibiotics. I think good fats in your diet also help.

No I would say that was more than normal. They say 100 hairs a day but I don't see more than ten in a shower and maybe another in hair brush.
But if you think your hair is thinning at your age I'd see someone for sure.

Classic sign of an under active thyroid OP.get your bloods done at the GP.

I am 44 and in the same boat btw. I suspect I have age related hereditary thinning, my hair is a fraction of the thickness it used to be, and the texture has completely changed. A few years ago it really stressed me out and upset me. Nowadays I try not to worry. I am healthy otherwise so...

That's been my normal for a few years; and I have fine hair but loads of it. I just seem to shed like crazy!

If it's different for you, come back and let us know (I tried to get my thyroid tested last year but the doctor wouldn't do it)

I easily lose that amount of hair.

I have an under active thyroid

Could you be anemic? That can make your hair fall out like this - as I found out last year

It does look a lot, mine has been falling out too for 18 months (I'm 44), I went to the doctors to ask about that plus a few other things such as extreme tiredness, twitchy eyelid and anxiety.
I had a blood test which showed I'm perimenopausal plus folic acid levels very low, the doc put me on Citalopram and I've been taking folic acid tablets, biotin and using Plantur 39 shampoo for about 6 months and it's finally almost stopped falling out.

I lose that sort of quantity of hair when i shower, i don't miss it though, have more than enough left.

Get your thyroid checked, I was losing that much hair in my 20s and it turns out that I have an underactive thyroid. I still lose quite a bit, but it's not as bad it was before thyroxine.

I hope you get some answers, I know how horrible it can be to lose that much hair.

I had this go to your gp and have your bloods tested I was low in vit d. Took a high dosage course for 6 weeks and hair loss reduced.

Mines the same. I've had blood tests but my thyroid is within the threshold. I have itchy arms and legs at night and sweaty palms, can fall asleep on a washing line and 2 siblings with thyroid problems but because I'm in range there's nothing happening. I think I might book another appointment. I've gone from having loads and loads of hair to having fuck all.

Thank you everyone. It’s really helpful to know that this is unusual for most people (I know we are all different).

I’ve posted about my health issues before and had so many blood tests over the last 10 years I’ve lost count.

My thyroid levels are variable (I’ve done multiple private tests where TSH is high 3s, once it was 5.95, but other private tests and GP tests where it’s as low as 1.4 - always seems to be low when the GP tests!) plus antibodies are low, well within normal range

I did have a very bad vit D deficiency but have been on the vit D protocol for a year and my levels were optimal last time they were checked. Still taking it so doubt that’s changed.

I have an ME diagnosis but I don’t think it is ME. I also have endometriosis and adenomyosis.

Current symptoms are very severe fatigue, irregular and insanely heavy periods, hair shedding, can’t lose weight, constantly cold, severe constipation, fluctuating heart rate and palpitations, horrible cystic acne on my face and spots everywhere (chest, back, in my ears), anxiety, occasional high BP (if my watch is accurate but not sure it is)... I’m sure there’s more.

Basically textbook hypothyroidism symptoms but “normal” blood results. Haven’t been tested for a while so will ask for another plus ferritin etc. I’ve just had enough of feeling like shit, having a blood test, nothing being found and then that’s it.

Wondering if it could be perimenopause but these symptoms have been going on years. I did have low oestrogen on one test but then it was repeated at another point in my cycle and it was low in normal range so they shrugged it off. Might ask to go back on the combined pill and see if it helps.

OP you need bloods done. Mine is just beginning to thicken up again. I lost loads because I was severely deficient in vit d
All of my bloods for hormones (perimenopause) were fine. Which was initially what the gp wanted to fob me off with, without checking other things.

My vit D was 19.9 when it was first tested over a year ago so I started the vitamin D protocol on a high dose and when I last had it checked (about October I think) it was 126 so that should be fine. GP won’t check it again (they say there’s no point once they’ve found a deficiency and you should just continue on supplements) but if I do any more private blood tests down the line I’ll double check. I unfortunately didn’t see any change in the hair shedding since my levels improved.

Seeing a really nice GP tomorrow so I’ll ask what he suggests. Just had a period of such awful fatigue a week or so ago, worse than it has been in years. It was affecting me mentally as well as physically - it’s really hard to explain, I’ve had depression in the past but this felt totally different, like a total overwhelming hopelessness. Sounds very strange I know, I really can’t explain it properly.

I have no worries that it’s anything sinister or anything like that, I just want to feel well.

My hairs was falling out like yours in handfulls and my periods became long and heavy so I got acupuncture. Cost about £300 for six treatments for this over a few months in addition to the ones I get for my ME/CFS (which really help balance me) and my hair stopped coming out so much.

Im Perimenopausal and on iron b12 and folic acid now.

The GP also looked at my scalp and gave me a special shampoo as it was infected with dermatitis or something.

Apparently if the skin is dry or inflamed or shedding too quickly the hair follicles fall out and weaken too, and that’s also a cause of hair loss.

So go to your GP for bloods and shampoo if necessary. Good luck op.

Ps the acupuncture also helped with that overwhelming feeling of hopelessness. In my case more sadness and tearfulness.

Thank you. A few people have suggested accupuncture but I’m ridiculously terrified of needles! I had a couple of sessions many years ago (in an NHS hospital!) and some of them were so painful I’ve never forgotten it. Trying to summon the courage.

My scalp seems fine, occasionally I get a bit of psoriasis but nothing at the moment.

Just had a look in the mirror and the thinning is definitely much worse on one side.

I used to have such lovely hair. Lost a lot of hair volume on a hormone treatments for endometriosis many years ago and it never fully came back. Got worse during and after pregnancy (I had twins and I think they sucked every speck of nutrients out of my body 😬), but then calmed down when my twins were six months or so, so nearly three years ago. I’ve continued to lose hair but it is gradually worsening I think.

Just as an alternative, my (lovely woman) gp has suggested coil for specifically reducing heavy period blood loss at pre/perimenopausal stage. That's after 6 months of iron tablets and folate to get back to normal ranges after routine blood donation found my levels were on the floor. And I felt utterly shit. Dr thinks coil plus patches, if needed, are a way around HRT pill shortage too

Hair loss/thinning over winter and/or as we age is normal. I did get thyroid levels checked so it's worth doing that, but I think there's a lot to do with hormones, diet, being in a vit-d deficient northern zone.

I'm taking vit d mouth spray (redhead), eating more soya (on Dr advice and reading up on what's good for perimenopausal/menopause). That's personal view though. I just feel a bit more in control of the weird shit that's happening to my body right now!