Hair loss really upsetting me. Any advice?

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Hello,

So my previously thick, luscious hair, is a shadow of it's former self. I've lost roughly a third to a half of it over the past 5 -10 years and I'm pretty sure it's down to my pitiful iron stores (ferritin) which hovers in the 20's.

I'm taking ferrous fumerate every other day (all I can tolerate and doc recommended) upped my vit d, vit c, protein, red meat and have been taking a new heme based iron supplement for the past 2 or 3 months and I really thought my shedding had been slowing down a little. The shedding was INSANE a few months back. Mostly when washing, but pretty much every time I ran my fingers through my hair, I'd get anywhere between 5 and 20 hairs in my hand each time.

That seemed to be slowing a bit and I really thought I'd turned a corner thanks to the new highly absorbed iron supplement.

Anyway, had another blood test and my ferritin is exactly the same as it was a year a go! I can't seem to get it over 30 and apparently it needs to be over 70 for hair growth. Something I've recently noticed recently is that my hair has thinned much more on one side. The grey is really kicking in now too Nice.

Have started taking hydrolysed collagen very recently out of desperation. Was reluctant, but giving it all a go now! I think as I'm now in my late 30's, the aging process generally is really getting me down and to sum up, I'm just feeling a bit shit about myself.

Anyway, I'm starting to waffle now, so any advice very much welcomed! 🙏

Thank you.

Do you know why your iron is low ? Have you had your poo checked, or is it heavy periods ?
How old are you ?

@KangarooKenny my periods are just stupid, crazy heavy. Don't want to take hormones - Don't agree with me. Can't have an ablation, as I've had a c section. Late 30's.

I started using minoxidil a year ago. It has worked for me.

Oh, thanks for your reply @KangarooKenny btw.

@Pruneaux I hear good things about it and I'm glad it's worked for you, but it's something I'd personally rather not use.

Bumping this, hoping for some advice 🙂

My hair fell out massively 2 years ago at age 38. My iron levels were a little low but not hugely off. I started taking supplements (hair&nails gummies, menopace, vitD, calcium, magnesium) and it has helped. I also got a shorter cut with highlights and layers so my hair appears thicker.

Sorry no help to you OP - but I know how upsetting it is, I'm in a similar situation (early 40's). I've sorted out my heavy periods years ago with the pill, yet this is happening...

I’m dealing with this also. The thinning hair prompted me to finally go to my GP about horrific periods and I’ve now been described metformic acid to try and reduce blood loss. I’m also taking ferrous sulphate three times a day - I don’t feel great on it, but I can tolerate it so am sticking with it. My ferritin was 29. I’m planning to get bloods done again after 12 weeks of taking the iron. But to me it seemed pointless without dealing with the root cause of the blood loss, otherwise you’re not closing the loop. I fully understand your reluctance to use hormones, but struggle to understand why you wouldn’t try metformic acid given the impact this is having on you. My Gp said it’s variable in success and I’ve only taken it for one period so far but I would say it make some difference. If it doesn’t do enough I’ll reluctantly get a coil.