HELP! I'm losing my hair!

[AssumeItWasSomethingClever]

I've been shedding a lot of hair recently. I noticed that our carpet had a black tinge to it where I sit and do my hair- I'd only hoovered it about a week previously. Whenever I get out of the shower there's probably thirty hairs that have fallen out. Even more fall out when I brush it.
I've noticed that my parting is getting wider and I've got a bald spot on my crown and it's getting very very thin. I'm only 26 so it's (hopefully) not age related. I'm also getting really dry skin on my scalp and it leaves massive flakes, not sure if this could be related. Please help as I'm really stressing!

I'm sure it's not age related at 26, maybe go to doctors and get them to run some blood tests like thyroid.

I've got a doctors appointment but can't get in until Wednesday. I was hoping it was just me being a bit paranoid but my Mum made a joke of me going bald and it's really gotten to me!

The first thing my dd noticed when she started with scalp psoriasis was she was losing hair. She was saying tonight she has some bald patches. She had lots of scaly pieces in her hair from this. Do you think it could be that?

I’m sorry to tell you that my hair started thinning in my late 20s, so it could well be hereditary hair loss. Good idea to see your GP though as it might be something that can be dealt with more easily.

Thank you all for your responses! It's very much appreciated.

@Merry I have got spots of dry skin on my arm, eyelid and top lip so it could be. How is your daughter getting treated?

@Metalhead My Mum does have quite thin hair but hers has only got thinner in the past 10 years- she's now 55. So it'd be early for me if it is hereditary. How are you managing the thinning?

I've done some googling, which I know is the worst thing to do, and it seems to be quite common when you've got a hormone imbalance due to Thyroid problems or PCOS (which I'm really hoping it isn't). I've also just come off the pill so I'm hoping it'll stop shedding and will fill back in once my hormones have leveled out. Has anyone experienced or heard of hairloss after coming off the pill?

Get your ferritin checked as well.

She is, at the moment, using the soap shampoo from Lush that someone on mn recommended. It's lovely and I use it too. Can't remember the name but it's the one they promote for psoriasis, eczema and dandruff.

@Merry Thank you very much. I'll have a look into it. How is she coping with the loss/thining?

I was diagnosed with under active thyroid last year, my hair is really thin and my skin is the driest it’s ever been. Any other symptoms like tiredness or weight gain?
Possibly just a skin condition if hair & scalp are the only symptoms.
doctor will be able to tell
You more.

Hi @Wetwashing00 Thanks for responding. I'm constantly knackered but that's not really a new thing. I put on a about 3 stone in the past 3 years and have put that down to having a sedentary job. I've lost nearly 1.5 stone but finding it increasingly difficult to lose and more.
Are you being treated for it? Any change in your hair/skin since being diagnosed?

Hiya

My alopecia started this way and then boom I just chopped my hair for charity last year and have a very short cut (with a wig for daily use).

Thyroid, Ferratin and any chance PCOS in family- that's a major alopecia trigger there and what causes mine?

Avoid hairsprays, dyes and anything toxic to scalp - a good hair cut will take weight off hair and let the natural bounce back at root.

I use argan oil shampoo and also the red solid cinnamon shampoo from Lush - great for hair and they do a hair masque worth looking into as well - home bargains do argan oil shampoo and condition in huge bottles for 1.50 which are good

Apart from that it's just see what bloods say and hope it's just a wee phase.

I had hair fall after coming off the pill, agree with getting bloods checked. Also, have you suffered stress in the last 3 months?

I lost about 40-50% of my hair about 3 years ago, aged 25. I thought it was a reaction to hair dye but my ferritin was also very low, I ended up having an iron infusion and it stopped shedding for the most part. My hair looked exactly like yours, almost like an extended parting with a bit of a bald patch at the back. I wore a lot of bandanas to hide the patch. I had quite long hair beforehand and the best thing I did was get it cut into a long, straight bob. The patch was no longer noticeable as there wasn’t much hair weighing it down. It’s all good now, it never all grew back but the patch disappeared with new hair growth.

Try not to panic about it too much as stress can make it worse. Easier said than done though, I know!

I’m taking thyroxine, but it’s been a long process. Dose increases have to be taken slowly.
I still lose a lot of hair, but haven’t noticed any bald patches.
My skin is better, but always is in the warmer seasons.

I would ask your doctor for a thyroid check, I thought my weight gain & tiredness was due to being a busy, working mum of 2. But as my second child got older I never felt any different to when he was a newborn.

Thanks all for replying

@gryffen I'm not sure about PCOS but my Aunt has an underactive Thyroid. I've stopped using anything on my hair and I've just ordered some Argan Oil shampoo, thanks for the recommendation. I've also stopped wearing it up as I'm worried it's going to put tension on the roots. I'm just pinning my fringe back to cover up the bald spot.

@sharon Did you get any regrowth after being off it for a while? Did you see a doctor about it? IME they're very reluctant to blame any symptoms on the pill. I did have some stress in February . I suffered stroke symptoms so ended up in A&E after to-ing and froing from the doctors. Turned out it was migraines. I'm kind of hoping it's just a mixture of this and the hormone drop from coming off the pill. As then hopefully it should grow back!

@Friends "Extended parting" is such a good description of it! I'll have to look into getting a bandanna/hair wrap to cover it if it gets any worse.

Thanks for the advice**@Wet** I'll have to make sure my doctors don't fob me off as I'm not very good with insisting they take me seriously.

I am having thinning hair problems too, and just made an appointment with Dr, in case of thyroid problems, but overactive in my case,as losing weight too, also low ferritin, for me,
I have hemochromatosis,so ferritin should not be too high,but its too low at the moment and going down not up,
I have dropped a stone in recent months, and have anxiety, also a very stressful 18 months,

Assume Not much you can do if it’s hereditary, I tried Regain once but found it a massive faff and didn’t really seem to help. A good haircut and highlights is how I’ve managed so far.

I have bought some of the Roots shampoo and hair growth spray from Superdrug, but the spray has to get very close to the scalp of course,but not easy to do
No results yet, but only had it a week

@Love I've just bought myself some of the Roots as well as it's got very good reviews online. Fingers crossed it works for us both!

I have very thin hair. I agree with the getting bloods done. If it's not fixable, forget hair restoring shampoos. Get a good haircut and learn how to volume. It's upsetting but manageable. xx

@sharon Did you get any regrowth after being off it for a while? Did you see a doctor about it?

I did get regrowth, yes and no I didn’t see a dr, I paid to see a tricologist (which was a waste of money overall). I’d read a lot of anecdotal stuff about the pill and it was giving me headaches anyway.

I keep on top of my iron as well.

AssumeItwasSomethingClever i hope so,but the shampoo doesnt lather very well does it, conditioner is lovely though

I think you have to use it for 90 days to see a difference,although its the spray thats the most important bit,no harm trying
It is only one side of my hair that is thinning noticeably
Yes the reveiws are very good

Assume she is only 20 so finds it especially hard. She's living abroad this year so I have to step back and let her deal with it. I'm hopeful for this Lush shampoo though. Good luck