Thinning, receding and dry hair after 40 - any useful products or routines that can help reverse this?

[lemon8de]

Posting here as posted on the beauty forum and got no responses, so hopefully people here will have some suggestions;

I am mid 40s and have noticed my hair has thinned a lot, my hairline seems to have receded a bit and got dryer lately.

I don't think I am menopausal yet as still have regular periods and nothing else has really changed but might be pre-menopausal I suppose.

Can anyone recommend a product, routine or supplement (vitamins, minerals etc) that really made a difference to the thickness and texture of their hair and helped to reverse thinning?

I'll follow this post as lately my hair seems to be falling out a lot especially when I brush my hair. My hair was never very thick to start with but I've noticed my pony tail getting thinner and thinner. I don't have bald patches just general thinning all over.

I'm putting it down to stress (recently started sertraline for depression and anxiety) and/or a deficiency of vitamins/minerals and have a blood test tomorrow as I have a poor diet.

Hopefully someone will know of a magic cure!

Caffeine shampoo is marketed for hair treatment during menopause. There's a shampoo called Alpecin. There was research showing the positive effects of using a soya based diet to counteract side affects during menopause.

Are you getting enough iron and omega oils in you diet?

Me too.

I don't mind getting older (it's better than the alternative) but, I'd prefer not to be bald as well as fat and old.

GP says I'm not menopausal. Which is odd seeing as how my periods are changing, I'm having night sweats, I had a bout of anxiety and I'm putting on weight...but the blood test "says no".

vivariumvivariumsvivaria I had those symptoms after having my DC and when breastfeeding. I put it down to a big shift in hormone levels. My periods went a bit out of sync when I gained weight and again, I think it was because of hormone levels changing. Is there a specific test to check oestrogen levels? Dr Phil's wife did a very interesting show about how she got specific hormone tests done during menopause. They did regular blood tests and balanced her hormone levels based on the results. As per, the US are miles ahead with medical research and treatments. I'm not sure if it is available worldwide iyswim.

Me, too! I’m 41 and my hair has thinned a lot the last few years. I did develop Hashimoto’s at 34 and know that thinning hair comes with the territory.

Last summer I did high dose evening primrose oil, and it gave my legitimately thick hair again...but it also gave me acne, as I think the Omega 6 element was too inflammatory.

All of my hormones look perfect on paper. I see a fantastic doctor who quarterly tests all my sex hormones and a full thyroid panel, so I don’t know 🤷‍♀️

Not the same situation but I did find when I started taking folic acid before fertility treatment, my hair and nails were the best they’ve ever been.

I found Viviscal worked really well for thickening my hair, but iron content upset my stomach...now I take Nourkrin, gentle iron and B vits (all separately) plus Omega oils and it's growing back slowly!

Wishing you luck!

I have noticed a difference with mine due to taking Biotin.

I've found that the Full Potential products from Bumble and Bumble do help quite a bit - there's shampoo+conditioner+ styling spray although I don't often use the conditioner.

I use bed head shampoo and conditioner, that seems to have thickened mine up really well.

This stuff. You can buy in home bargains!

If you haven’t already had your thyroid checked you should do so as thinning hair, dry skin, sweats, tiredness are all symptoms of an under active thyroid.

Watching with interest. Loads of my hair fell out a few years ago because of the bastard mirena coil, and it’s never recovered.

Just wanted to add to the previous comments.....get your thyroid levels checked! It does sound like an underactive thyroid (another symptom is feeling cold a lot of the time).

Another great way to improve the condition of your hair is to eat gelatin....I used to buy a pack of jelly cubes and eat a couple of them a day.

My DM had an under active thyroid and her hair was literally coming out in handfuls before she got a diagnosis/medication.

I don't have thin hair, but it is a lot drier than it used to be. I use argon oil. If your hair is damaged then keratin oil is good.

Thanks for your replies, really helpful!

Lock away your hair dryer & let your hair dry naturally.

Don't comb your hair. Just run your fingers through it with conditioner in the shower.

No product you use will thicken your hair or reverse thinning. Vitamin supplements can help. Otherwise, just lay off heating/drying & pulling your hair.

Biotin & iron tablets has stopped the thinning for me. Also I stopped using a hairdryer in the hot weather & the dryness & general condition has improved massively.

I don't blow dry mine either.