Rapid Hair shedding

[Rose03]

Hi, just want some advice or suggestions please. My 4 year old has been starting to hair a lot of hair fall out over the last 4 weeks and it’s still falling out each time it’s brushed, on the bed, floor, and I’m really worried as I think her iron levels etc are shown to be ‘normal’. Has anyone experienced this? Any suggestions on what’s caused it and if it’s get better? Thanks in advance.

Did she have any significant illness, like a bad infection, a few months ago? Have a look into telogen effluvium, it can affect children as well as adults but the good news is that it is usually temporary and hair will grow back normally. There isn't a treatment as such but there is advice about what not to do, eg not overbrushing, tight hairstyles etc.

I've had it as I was very ill during the summer, 3 months later the hair fall started (I tend to moult in the autumn anyway so took a while to notice) but has now stopped and things are improving slowly. I found a very short haircut helped but I know it's more difficult with kids of that age.

Dc had hair loss at age 4. The reception teacher thought they'd had a bad haircut! It was very noticeable. It turned out to be coeliac disease.

No I can’t think of anything major that’s happened really so that’s why I was even more concerned. I have cut her hair short so I don’t have to tie it back but I just use clips but it’s still pretty bad I can the hair everywhere!

Oh really, how did they get to diagnose that if I may ask? I’ve been to the doctors several times they just brushed it off said can’t see any signs of much on her head. Will send her for routine bloods and that was it! Not found them helpful at all to say it’s a toddler they seem not to really care.

When mine drops out theres usually a stomach upset a few months ago. Takes a while for the hair to catch on or something.

I've never job joined up those dots with kids though. Something is up though. I'd want it investigated and not taking no for an answer.

I know that’s why I’m trying to gain an overview of what or where it could have stemmed from. I’ve started to give her multivitamins aswell trying to eat better (although kids are fussy) so not quite sure what else I can do at this point.

I'd go to GP

I’ve been twice at least expressing my concern and even taking the hair chunks and I got a quick check over her scalp seems fine; she seems fine can only get a blood test booked in. And they just fibbed me off and I saw different doctors too.

So did they do the blood test?

They said you book it in but earliest is after nearly 2 months! And they said they can’t do anything to expedite it.

Her bloods from before that she’s had done a few months ago are normal according to the doctor so not sure what’s happened.

Does she eat properly, is she underweight?

They did some general bloods which found a low iron level, so then did further testing which included coeliac bloods (had to have it confirmed by biopsy).

Op Doctors often say bloods are normal when they’re actually in low range and definitely not optimal. If you look at her last blood test, what was the ferritin?

Gosh I thought 5 weeks was a long time to wait for a blood test, but 2 months?! I’d be worried too, could you afford to see a private GP and get the bloods done privately as well?

Ferritin level is the thing that influences hair loss and it is considered normal if it is over 20, but needs to be over 70 to prevent hair loss. So you can have iron that is low enough that it will cause hair loss, but still be considered normal by the GP. If you’re going to give iron tablets then remember it always needs to be taken alongside vitamin C, and the best thing to get it sorted is Ferris fumarate tablets from the chemist. They are very cheap, and effective if taken every day over a six months or so period.
This however is all from research I’ve done for my daughter who is a teenager, don’t know if any of those figures or anything is different for a four-year-old.

@maryberryslayersshe isn’t underweight I like to think she has a staple diet mixture of fruit veg foods etc

@LeDix she used to have very low iron and has been on the ferrous sulphate liquid for a long time but then I was told that her levels were in the normal range so this has happened after the range is normal.

@Ivyyi was looking into getting them done privately so will have a check and see.

@Pineapplechunksandcreamokay well I’ll have to see if I can get some further testing done then if anything if found in the bloods

Two months! My daughter had a ceoliac blood test same day.
I would keep pushing and ring back.

Even routine bloods are done within 2 weeks where I live. Post code lottery I guess.

Well I’m waiting to see if I can get cancellation to get seen sooner! If I do will see what they come back with and hopefully may shed some light on the situation.

This happened to my son when he was five, similar time of year. I kept finding lots of hair on his school shirts whereas previously I wouldn't notice any, and if I pulled at his hair gently at least 3/4 hairs would come out every time. I started inspecting his pillow and counting hairs on there daily. I was in a panic. He is now 7 and completely fine

@SpinnergouSorry to hear that. Did you try and get some testing via doctors or try things out for yourself? Could you find a link or correlation with anything that could have triggered it?
And did it automatically just stop after a certain time; ie weeks, months or just slowly stopped falling? Thanks for sharing everyone! At least I’m not the one worried mum!

Don’t underestimate stress or worry as a possible cause. Are there any factors that may be concerning her? Alternatively could it be that your concern is causing her to worry?

@categorychaosI know I was asked that aswell when i initially took her but I can’t see any direct connections to major anxiety or stress factors. I just think I can try my part and do what I can and see if it helps her and then wait for the medical side and see what the outcome of that is.