Hair thinning

[Booboosweet]

I am 40 years old and have always had a big bushy head of fine hair. Very fine but lots of it. Over the last month I've had really flaky scalp and now in the last two weeks I've lost lots of hair and it's become really thin. I'm freaking out wondering if I'm going to lose all my hair. Is it menopause? Does anyone else have experience of this?

It could be the menopause, anaemia, thyroid issues, pcos, many different possibilities.
I would suggest a blood test with the gp as a first port of call.

Have you had Covid, Booboo? I've heard of a few people having lost some hair afterwards. I agree with Crystal though, GP in the first instance.

It could be the contraceptive pill, if you've recently gone on that?

Thank you for replying to me. I don't think I've had covid. I'm double jabbed and haven't had any symptoms. I'll try the GP. I wonder if it could be menopause.

Iron deficiency or a diet poor in protein can also cause hair thinning. Have you been dieting?

I got that. With peri menopause. Lost two thirds of my hair in two years. Can see the individual strands now and my scalp through them. It sucks.

There are dry scalp conditions that can lead to this though and your gp can provide prescriptions for various shampoos and scalp moisturisers.

My scalp was so dry the skin was flaking off and the roots were falling out as not enough secure skin to keep em in.

I got shampoo and ointment called cocois (or something like that, scuse spelling) coconut scalp treatment. It really helps but I have to keep using. Basically it’s moisturiser for hair. But it looks greasy so you have to use like face packs, put on hair, leave in an hour, wash out. Twice a week.

Apparently menopause causes roots to thin so that makes them more likely to fall out.

Not fun OP.

I used the Nioxin 1 and it sorted out the flaky scalp but I’m still losing lots of hair (I used to have unmanageably thick hair which got frequent comments - not anymore). Anyhow I started using My Fitness Pal & looked at the nutrition bit and it turns out I’m barely eating any iron, my sugar & carbohydrates are off the charts & I’m not eating enough protein. So, I got blood tests done with GP & I bought an iron tonic. I’m a carb junkie so I really need to increase my protein & decrease the carbs.

The GP said it’s stress but it’s been going on for many years. It started when I went on hormones … I think a good diet will remedy it as I found it improved in the past. A shorter haircut helps too OP-less weight on the hair.

I’m hoping this will all work & I hope it works for you too. Menopause can do all kinds of things but it doesn’t have to. My mother has gorgeous bouncy thick hair that was unaffected by menopause. She didn’t ingest hormones for 20 years like I did though! That’s when it all started for me.

Oh, there is a huge list of possible reasons for this!

The last time this happened, my gp gave me blood tests and I had to take many vitamins for months. On the other hand, when my mum was losing her hair, turns out she had thyroid problems.

Check it out, it should be reversible, but your gp needs to know. Good luck and keep us posted!

See your GP and get a referral to a dermatologist.

I’m 45 and had sudden thinning at my temples earlier in the year. One side was nearly bald! Have since seen a dermatologist and had decent regrowth with some medication. I can now wear my hair up again after being sure I’d never be able have a ponytail again. It’s not perfect but if you didn’t know about much issues you wouldn’t be able to tell.