How stressed for hair loss?

[Franklyfrost]

My hair is falling out. I now have a wide parting line, viable scalp and you can see the shape of my skull through my hair. All in about a month. I’m busy all day every day from when I get up to when I go to bed with no leisure time. I’m not very unhappy but I’m definitely always doing something that has to be done (kids, work, housework). I’ve certainly been sadder and more stressed in the past without getting hair loss.

Does anyone know how much stress and what kind of stress makes your hair fall out?

Also, how is losing my hair going to help me chill out ffs?

Thyroid issues, low iron, low B12 or Vitamin D deficiency can all cause hair loss. I’d book a chat with the GP & request blood tests.

Yes book in for test with gp to get checked over. This happened to me all my bloods were fine tho so it must of been stress/anxiety. I have started eating a better diet with more veg and protein also taking vit C with zinc my hair has started to improve and looks like it's thickening again not alot but there is definitely improvement.

Mine is the same but I do have two kids with Sen. GP was a bit dismissive last time even though I had bloods which showed low vit D. I am considering a transplant as the front has thinned over the last ten years.

I was hoping to eliminate stress before going to the gp. Going to the doctor for my lousy hair feels wrong. It could be stress or at least busyness as I’ve taken some extra things on in the last month or so. But I’ve got symptoms that could go with the other things suggested too.

My question is can you be so stressed enough for your hair fall out but not be stressed enough to know you’re stressed?

@MSQuinn

Did you look into diy hormone testing? It's expensive and I’m very suspicious of medical sounding things sold to cure our insecurities. But I’m tempted...

I get alopecia areata which is different, I get 50p sized patches in random places, and it is stress induced. It’s a certain type of stress for me, you know that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach? The caught-your-husband-cheating, lost-a-family-member, ongoing-neighbour-issues kind of stress that puts you off your food over a prolonged period? Guaranteed six weeks later, I will find a bald spot.

@StormBaby
Gosh I know that stress. Luckily I haven’t been experiencing any of it recently. How awful to have annoying neighbours/ar**hole husbands take control over your hair, that would make me furious!

I'd forget about evaluating stress OP. Almost everyone has had a stressful year, but not everyone's hair is falling out. You need blood tests. It isn't a waste of the GP's time because it's a symptom of something. It'll be more work for a GP if you wait and it gets worse.

Maybe OP but until you need to eliminate other reasons for the hair loss first. Thyroid, hormonal changes like peri/menopause, stress, scalp irritation (which may not be sore or itchy), diet and also if you've had a very high temperature it can trigger hair loss a while later. Something to think about and which you can tell your doctor - are you noticing lots of hair falling out when you wash it and you're pulling it off your clothes/pillow etc or does it seem normal but just getting thinner as in normal hair drop doesn't seem to be replaced with new hair? That's an important thing. Also does it feel like it's thinning all over or just in certain areas? GP is definitely the place to start with blood tests and a good description about how your hair has changed, you know what's normal for you. There's loads of things, some easy to remedy, others not so much and some things which will just right themselves.

@Youdontknowwhatyouronabout
Thank you, I hadn’t thought of b12 and will give it a go. (Vitamin d I already take. I am chronically anaemic but can’t take supplements and haven’t lost my hair because of it... yet?)

@Snorkelface I don’t know where the hair is going but it’s definitely gone, I think a bit all over but will keep a watch on my remaining locks. Thanks for the advice. Interesting about the high temperature but I haven’t had one. (Random aside: my great aunt got measles and lost all her teeth after she recovered).

Also you can always use Nizoral shampoo or similar (from Boots) to have a go at anything which might be irritating your scalp in the meantime but I'd be tempted to see the GP first and take it from there. OMG your great aunt OP!

Anaemia would definitely affect your hair and can cause hair loss.

Very interesting discussion. Anything related to hairloss, I can't miss out reading. Its so annoying to see the hair fall everyday. Even the quality of my hair has reduced. Am getting very impatient about it now.