To be upset about my hair..

[howdidillydoodily]

Since eldest DC(7) was about a year old my hair has gone through phases of shedding massively. It was long and thick, now it's short and thin.. my fringe has all but fell out and I can see my scalp at the front.
GP has done tests and other than being low in iron, nothing has come up.
The only thing I have noticed is that when I'm on the pill, the shedding seems to stop?? I currently have the mirena for the past year and other than my hair it suits me.
I'm 35. I'm at a loss. Anyone had similar?

Op how low is your iron.
Someone on here says it needs to be 70 and over for good hair.

I hope yours doesn’t progress to this, but mine starting falling out when my little one was almost a year and progressed to alopecia universalis. I’ve been completely hairless for 6 months now and like you, the only thing ‘wrong’ is low iron (28). Please keep pushing for answers, and keep up the iron tablets. Have you tried minoxidil? Vitamin d was also recommended, as well and biotin. I think mines too far gone now (and I know there are probably underlying autoimmune issues) but try everything!

My trichologist said that 90 or above is preferable for iron/ferritin. Also maybe check your thyroid levels - this can cause hair loss and can also change post partum.

@Odingodof this time last year it was 26ug and last month I'd got it up to 66ug. My hair just doesn't grow.. my DD is 2 and I had my fringe cut in when I was pregnant with her.. it's still not grown out!

It's about 10 hairs that I can call a fringe anyway 😢

@JacquiDaytona I'm so sorry to hear this. How long did the process take from the shedding starting to losing most of your hair?

It will take a 6 months to a year for hair growth to start once proper iron levels have been reached. keep going.

Oh really? I'll start taking them again. I had stopped as they give me stomach problems but I'll start again for a while

Did they test your thyroid? The timing would fit with thyroid issues (often triggered by hormonal upheaval like birth and menopause) and doctors are routinely pretty shit at properly testing for and diagnosing it.

Check if it was a) tested and b) optimal (ie not at the crappy end of the ‘normal’ range).

Shedding was on and off since he was born but always came back very quickly. Then from it really ramping up, it took 10 days til I shaved my head then another week to lose brows/lashes/body hair. How are your nails? Mine also all flaked off and peeled and have never grown.

@howdidillydoodily I use nutrihair ferritin tablets. i was diagnosed with "hypothyroid induced alopecia" with severe iron deficiency. Since taking my medication (Levothyroxine) and iron tablets (iron still low at 60) I have noticed hair growth - they are grey(!) but theyre there. also worth noting that you need to take vitamin a to absorb iron and also avoid calcium a few hours either side/empty stomach if poss.

I’ve had similar issues with previously thick hair going very thin on top/around the fringe. I’ve not got it back to how it used to be, but I’ve noticed a marked improvement after using a really good hair/skin/nails supplement for the past 4 months or so.

This might or might not make a difference but I noticed last year that I was loosing more and more hair during brushing and showering. Before and after. I've since been purchasing the high strength of biotin from Holland and Barrett... and well, it's definitely helped improve things. I'm noticing I'm not loosing as much hair. I'd even go as far as to say that the hair I am loosing is just a normal amount that is to be expected. And this was within just a few weeks of using. Maybe worth a try ?

I'd probably lose the mirena. My daughter lost about 50% of her hair within about 6 months of being on it and it is only starting to grow back now

Iron, Biotin, JS Hair & Energy, MSM & Vit D
Tea rinse before washing and check out curly proverb for her hair oil recipe. It saved my hair

Takes about 4 months to notice any difference but the tea rinsing (green tea bags soaked - spray on the roots about 30 mins before washing hair and massage in. Then in the shower dump the rest over you hair. Stops you losing any hair while washing.

Have you had covid within the last 6 months or so? I ask because I know of a couple of people who had covid and a few months later their hair fell out.

I’m in a similar boat. It’s very upsetting. I lost a LOT of hair after having the babies, went back to normal but they’re now 8 and 10 and last 18 months or so lost a lot again. It seems to go through 3 month cycles or super-shedding, then calms down and new hair grows but it’s so uneven

in my case it could be peri-menopause (I’m 45) and due to many other symptoms I’m about to start hrt.
Peri menopause is unlikely at your age but just wanted to say I feel your pain. I am tempted by those “toppers”. Expensive but an idea for the future to supplement what hair I still have.

I've had chronic telogen effluvium for nearly three years now, all bloodwork fine. I used to have fine hair but loads if it but randomly started shedding and have lost tons. I've just kind of accepted this is the way it is now- I haven't gone bald so I guess hair is still growing but it looks super thin and ratty. I saw a dermatologist who prescribed minoxidil but I never took it as the side effects looked horrible. He also confirmed that all these supposed miracle serums and shampoos will do precisely sod all!

This is common with low iron.

Mirena is associated with hairless- I lost loads on it. I’d get rid of it if I were you and start taking biotin

Thanks everyone. I'm not sure whether to blame the Mirena or not though as I've had hair loss on and off since 2018 and only had it fitted last year.

As I say the only thing that seems to help is being on the contraceptive pill, that makes it grow and stop shedding.. but is it worth taking it for that at 35?

My TSH (I think that's thyroid) was 1.6 whatever that means!