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Original poster

Hair loss - 16 year old DD

10 replies

123fushia · 29/07/2018 08:43

Daughter has long, straight hair which has begun to fall out. Lots of it around the plug when she showers, and in hairbrush. She did her GCSEs this year and has had a good rest since the. She decided to go vegan in the middle of her exams, and with a few exceptions has kept this up (with a lot of help from DH and I.) We would rather she go vegetarian first. She has a fierce outbreak of spots on her forehead, and the hair loss is beginning to frighten me a bit. I have made an appt at the doctors tomorrow with a lovely lady doctor, and DD is happy to go. She has had a busy week with friends round every day, and going out to see others too. She is sociable and I think she is happy enough though she can also spend long periods in her bedroom - phone in hand. If anyone has any experience of something similar, or any advice to offer I would be grateful. Thanks

OP posts:
Ilmb · 29/07/2018 08:46

Could be a combination of stress and deficiency if it coincides with both a stressful time (exams) and a big change of diet? Has she been getting enough iron through the change of diet? Does she take multivitamins?

TheVanguardSix · 29/07/2018 08:47

thyroid and/or iron deficiency are my first thoughts.

Lupus occurs to me as well, but that's sort of on the extreme end of things. Might be worth getting an ANA done.

Ilmb · 29/07/2018 08:47

I only ask those questions as I went through a very bad time about a year ago and my hair started to fall out, I also wasn’t eating properly (I’m a vegetarian) and these were the first things the doctor looked at.

Whyohsky · 29/07/2018 08:54

If it’s any reassurance at all, my hair falls out all the time, so does my DM’s. We both still have super thick hair. I’m not saying it’s nothing, but it doesn’t have to be something, either. Mine is triggered by very hot weather, almost like I’m moulting!

Ekphrasis · 29/07/2018 21:42

Agree thyroid/ iron. It's not normal at her age.

Veganism means your access to iodine is greatly reduced as it's in dairy and white fish. Low iodine can cause mild hypothyroidism, low iron can also hit how the thyroid functions too.

The vegan society makes a multivitamin with the rda if iodine in (unless pregnant or bf; you need more then). M and S plant milks (eg soya, oat milk) have a level of iodine comparable to dairy added to them (others do not yet.)

Too much iodine through herbal supplements can be harmful.

Ekphrasis · 29/07/2018 21:43

To add, the uk do not add iodine to foods but the us does so some vegan info online omits that iodine needs to be catered for.

Original poster
123fushia · 30/07/2018 13:12

Thanks all. Visited doctor this morning for advice about spot cream prescription, hair loss, vegan diet. She has changed her prescription, sorted some blood tests for different deficiencies and advised her to take care with her diet. DD has decided to eat a much more balanced and mostly vegetarian diet too. NHS is just fab. So grateful for it.

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 30/07/2018 19:44

In terms of her diet, it would be wonderful if she would be willing to eat eggs. They are truly the world's most "perfect" food in regards to protein and nutrients. My daughter became a vegetarian at 15 but wisely decided to continue eating eggs after doing a lot of research on nutrition. I hope your girl will be all sorted very soon!

Original poster
123fushia · 30/07/2018 22:51

Thankyou so much. Eggs for breakfast tomorrow. X

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