Will a GP be able to do anything about thinning hair?

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

I am mid 30s. My hair has thinned massively over the last year. I now have a stupidly wide parting due to the hair loss, and significant patches where my scalp is visible through the top (now v thin) layer of hair.

I dont want to go see the gp if theres a chance they will fob me off. It will be so disheartening to be told "theres nothing we can do, live with it".

Has anyone had this and successfully received treatment which has worked?

I've always had incredibly thick hair. It's very upsetting.

Ok. I'll make sure I request a copy of the notes.

Are platelet rich plasma treatments available here? They seem to be quite big in the US these days for hair loss for men and women but not sure if they're a thing over here yet.

Mine was the same. It went completely white as well as thinning. I've started taking b12 and iodine and a host of other vitamins. I also used some hair serum from the ordinary. Im not sure which bit worked but my hair has started growing back. Even on patches that have been thin for years. Unfortunately after having snow white hair for a couple of years my hair is growing back dark. Even the white is changing back to dark. My gp was useless about the possibility of thyroid issues or vitamin deficiency despite the fact I'm coeliac so I just did some research and set up a vitamin regimen myself.

I’ve had thin very fine hair since been on prednisolone went to dr who did thyroid check I already have been taking levothroxine for years but has never improved, used to have very thick hair

When I was in your situation I was told by my doctor that my bloods were normal. He was very dismissive of my hair loss. I went to a trichologist who looked at the same blood results and said my ferritin levels were extremely low and this was impacting my hair. I was diagnosed with telogen effluvium (shedding) and alopecia areata (an autoimmune disorder). For me, I was just happy to know what I was dealing with and to talk to someone who was sympathetic to what I was going through. Your doctor may be helpful and I hope they are, but don't just accept what they tell you. Good luck.

If the bloods come back normal I will ask for a referral. Thanks.

@WhatMattersMost how much are we talking?
I have 'male pattern hair loss' according to doctor and they basically said there's nothing much they can do. they initially prescribed regaine (the pharmacy gave me the male one which says FOR MEN ONLY all over the bottle) and after Googling I decided not to use it.

I take a multi vit daily.

My hair line is receding, and thinning and I hate it.

You need to get the actual results so you can see for yourself. Don't accept "normal" as a conclusion. You could be borderline with something. My hair loss turned out to be due to low iron due to gastrointestinal problems (which were asymptomatic at that point.

I second this. DDs hair loss turned out to be due to a functional B12 deficiency, ie, it doesn't show in bloods, but other test results can point to it

@Piffyonarockbun yours sounds very likely to be B12 deficiency

My grey has lessened with B12 injections too & my eyebrows are back, after practically disappearing for some years

[quote poshme]@WhatMattersMost how much are we talking?
I have 'male pattern hair loss' according to doctor and they basically said there's nothing much they can do. they initially prescribed regaine (the pharmacy gave me the male one which says FOR MEN ONLY all over the bottle) and after Googling I decided not to use it.

I take a multi vit daily.

My hair line is receding, and thinning and I hate it. [/quote]
You're looking at a couple of hundred pounds for your initial consultation, and then about £150 per year for follow-ups. You can see if your GP will do your bloods, which they ask for - in my case, they were happy to do this. And you'll need to spend about £75 every 6 weeks on hormone drops.

It is expensive, but it has definitely been worth it for me! The alternative was horrendous to experience.

Thank you!

Now just need to chat to DH...

Mine was really thinning but following moving in with dp I have improved my diet eating breakfast cereal with milk, bread with seeds in and proper dinners (with exh we were eating tons of takeaways then I didn't eat properly at all after he left me) anyway my hair has recovered quite a bit and I'm using a caffeine shampoo

Have you had covid? I lost 80% of my hair while recovering. Its quite common and the Dr's can't really do anything. It is a case of waiting for it to grow. Which it is, finally, after about 5 months. Its only about. 5cm but that's long enough to cover the scalp. The rest of the hair is thin and wispy but at least my scalp's covered.

It totally drains your confidence.

Feel for you.

I had covid dec20, so it may be related to that! I'm pretty sure it was thinning before then though

@GingerFreaker you might want to have a look on the Pernicious Anaemia Society website re long Covid. They are connecting it to B12 deficiency/PA & that was certainly my experience of Covid

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

I had covid dec20, so it may be related to that! I'm pretty sure it was thinning before then though

Many women have post-Covid hair loss, and hair works in 3-month cycles, so this can happen:

"around 12 weeks after restrictive dieting or a high fever, you may experience telogen effluvium (sudden diffuse hair fall). This occurs when your anagen (growth) phase is cut short, and many hairs enter the telogen (resting) phase at the same time – resulting in increased hair fall 3 months later during the exogen (shedding) phase."

Just wanted to add another condition that causes hair loss pcos polycystic ovarian syndrome. Would recommend the website verity if you wish to know more symptoms include weight gain fertility issues body hair growth and hair loss from head. Hope you get some answers op I know how distressing it can be x

@Piffyonarockbun

Mine was the same. It went completely white as well as thinning. I've started taking b12 and iodine and a host of other vitamins. I also used some hair serum from the ordinary. Im not sure which bit worked but my hair has started growing back. Even on patches that have been thin for years. Unfortunately after having snow white hair for a couple of years my hair is growing back dark. Even the white is changing back to dark. My gp was useless about the possibility of thyroid issues or vitamin deficiency despite the fact I'm coeliac so I just did some research and set up a vitamin regimen myself.

I am also coeliac, what vitamins do you take ? I tried the ordinary serum but I think I didn’t use it religiously or for long enough. Maybe I should try again.

Sirvix
I take a b vit complex, magnesium zinc and calcium (all in one), iodine, vit d, vit c, iron and I have periodic b12 injections when I'm feeling tired. It's taken me a while to find what works but my hair is growing back (although I'm gutted it's dark) and I'm slowly feeling less exhausted. I approached the gp lots of times as I've had various symptoms that could be thyroid or vit b12 related but he kept sending me away until he finally lost patience and said 'ill diagnose you with fibromyalgia if you want'. He didnt do any tests for anything else so ive no idea how he could have diagnosed anything! And I don't fit any symptoms of fibromyalgia really. The tiredness he blamed on me working full time and having a small child but I was just fobbed off. I get the vits from holland and Barrett and just check the labels carefully to make sure its a high enough dose.

I dont use the serum religiously, every few days but my hairline seemed to be receding so I put it round the edges as well and I've got some regrowth. It's not expensive so I'll keep going with it just in case .
Hope all that helps

Thanks Piffy I will get some extra vitamins.

Bloods came back the other day. I asked for a copy but was told to come fill a form in - I said I would just do it at the follow up appt.

Had the follow up appt today with the hair/skin GP who said it definetly looks like female pattern baldness, that there are no skin issues present

Possible on the cusp of low iron, worth taking iron tablets for a good 4 months. Suggested Regain but said if I do it, it has to be done every single day for 3-6months before I will know if it works. And then if it does work, I have to stay using it daily or the female pattern baldness will resume.

At least I now know what it is - even if it is an absolute gutter.

Gonna try Iron and B12 supplements for 4 months see if that does anything. If not, I'll start the Regain

Oh and when I mentioned getting a copy and filling out the forms he just smiled and printed them there and then for me to take away.

I can’t see a vit D test on there, might be an issue or worth supplementing anyway.

PP @CambsAlways mentioned hair loss and weight gain and taking prednisolone. Look at Cushing’s syndrome, as long term steroid use is potentially a cause and together they would be symptoms.

Toppik powder is good for disguising thin sections, from Amazon.

Hmm....I dont take any steroids so not sure if Cushings would apply to me (possible though!)