Hair Loss!

[JohnStuartMillions]

Hello, (I posted in a hair loss thread too)
It's nice to hear from other people in a similar situation, I thought I was alone. I have been losing hair for about 4 months. I am 23 and have been on anti-depressants for 8 months, I have had the mirena coil for 20 months and I have a 2 1/2 year old ds.
I started to notice a thinning of my hair at the end of January 2013 and didn't worry about it too much. After a few more months of it thinning I decided to visit a doctor and was told, after blood tests that were all normal, it was probably due to 'dying' it. I stopped dying my hair anyway (I use only all natural stuff) at the first sign of thinning, after months of no dying and no significant hair growth I thought perhaps it wasn't hair dye. I have now seen another doctor who has said it may be due to my anti-depressants. I have stopped these.
I am into a week of a complete reduction of anti-depressants. My hair loss is worse. I am experiencing lots of hair fall (it is generally very thin all over) and 3 thumb size bald patches have appeared.
I have blonde curly hair so luckily it covers/blurs the bald patches if I avoid wind or bright light.
I miss my hair and it is hard getting over depression without significant hair loss.
Thanks for reading. I hope I can get somewhere and it can grow back!
I would love to hear if anyone has any success stories or advice.

xxx

I think you need to go back to the dr. Hair loss can be a symptom of lots of things & might be easily treated but it sounds like you are losing a lot.

Sorry I don't have any more constructive help. I have hair loss associated with an illness but mine is curly too so isn't as obvious as it might be.

Thank you for the reply.
All my blood tests were normal so the doctor doesn't seem too worried about illnesses. It is quite frustrating not to know the cause. I will go back to the doctor soon, I think.

Yes, do. They probably checked thyroid etc but your hair shouldn't fall out as much as it is and, if it is, they need to know why. At least it's sunnier now so you can hide it under a hat!

agreed, hair loss can be caused from a few things, when I was around your age I was suffering from hair loss, and it almost came from nowhere, I went to the doctors who told me it could be as a result of a lack of iron in my system, so I took iron tablets to help improve this, I would also make sure I was keeping my hair healthy by getting regular hair cuts (every 6 weeks) but there was not a drastic change, instead I did some research and found some hair loss products that can be used to help prevent hair loss, I used the Shampoo products and I noticed a big difference. My situation was different to others as I did not want hair growth or restoration, just to prevent any more hair loss. But you should definitely have a look, speak to your doctor and see what can be done to help.

I suffer hairloss and it is soul destroying, I know exactly where you are coming from. I paid privately to see a trichologist and was told its female pattern hairloss. They put me on drops and I'm still waiting nearly two years on for an improvement. I am now looking into wigs. My advice to you is to get everything ruled out first and then visit a trichologist who will be able to give you a swift diagnosis. After all ferritin levels of below 70 are considered very low for hair growth and yet doctors do not recognise this. Good luck.

Hi, it sounds like you are either having telogen effluvium triggered by the antidepressants (hair loss is a common side effect) or some sort of alopecia if you have specific patches. Can you see a dermatologist or trichologist (I would recommend the former over the latter)?

I am also experiencing hair loss and it really is awful, so I can fully sympathise with you. Mine appears to be hereditary and it has been falling out for almost 10 months, and is so much thinner everywhere.

Good luck, hope you are able to find a solution.

Can't offer any advice but just wanted to show support. I've always had thin hair and am now starting the menopause. In the last 3 months or so it's noticeably thinner on the top/sides. It looks crap. Just had blood tests done and results are normal so none the wiser.

I'd definitely ask for a referral as others have said.

I'm waiting for a delivery of Nanogen which are keratin fibres that attach themselves to your hair (even the tiniest hair, so they say) and camouflage thinning areas. It comes in a pepper pot type dispenser and you just shake it over the area you need and plump it up with your fingers. I will report back. If it's good stuff it might be helpful while you are trying to get to the bottom of what's causing yours OP. Good luck.

Thanks for all the advice and support. It's horrible to be losing hair and people don't expect it to happen at 23 however I know that female hair loss in your 20s is not a myth- it can happen to us all, it would seem, at any age. Anyway I will get to a doctor after I move, I am moving to a different area of the country in a week and a referral to a dermatologist won't be quick enough. I'm not sure I can afford to see a trichologist as you have to pay?
Hopefully it will stop falling out soon, that would at least be something and if it doesn't I will have to get a wig .

The next step may be asking on here for a good wig maker.

xxx