Hair loss

[pinkfairy270]

Hi there I'm 17 and experiencing hair loss of some sort, I'm used to some hair loss as I have bleached hair and thick hair however this is different for me personally. I recently lost a lot of weight from not being very well and also have found out I have a folate deficiency which I have been taking folic acid for. For the last two months or so but I would say the last two weeks excessive hair lost this may not seem a lot of hair but that was just on the back of my jumper from walking around today and if I run my fingers through my hair loads are just coming out, My diet could definitely be better but I'm just wondering what else I can do to prevent this from continuing.

Bump

Are your iron levels low?

How are your thyroid levels?
Are you now on any hormones for anything?

Are you pregnant?
Are you stressed out?
Could you have a scalp infection?
Or a very dry scalp?

Lots of things can cause hair loss. I’d be going to my gp and getting it checked out.

I’m peri menopausal and mine is falling out but you’re too young for that.

@Elieza I have low folate levels so am taking folic acid but I would have thought that would have helped by now and not it causing symptoms to occur now everything else seemed to be fine, I do suffer with a really dry scalp and itchiness though I always have done, I was gonna say maybe doctors is the best shout but I didn't know if I was just being silly.

You might need iron too. I’m on prescription ferrous fumarate (apparently it absorbs better than ferrous sulphate) as well as folic acid.

For my scalp I have a shampoo and cocois scalp treatment. It’s working a bit but the gp says there are plenty alternatives he can try.

If the gp doesn’t know your hair is coming out please let him/her know. You might need bloods some again and other tablets to sort it.

@Elieza thank you so much!

I'd recommend you see your doctor - if your folate is low you will need a "loading dose" of folic acid, which is only available on prescription. Good luck, I've been there myself x

This happened to me - nearly 30 years ago now. I had also been ill and lost a lot of weight very quickly - 1 1/2 stone in 3 weeks due to not being able to eat. It was about 2 - 3 months afterwards that I noticed my hair was falling out a lot. GP did a load of blood tests to check for various causes and concluded that it was down to depletion of vitamins and minerals from my illness. Hair did eventually grow back nice and thick again although my previously straight hair became curly and still is. I cut my hair short in the interim as the thinness showed up much more on longer hair.

It might be Telogen Effluvium - the hair can fall out for a whole matter of reasons, stress, sudden weight loss, illness, vitamin deficiencies.

I developed it last year having been ill for a while (non-COVID but possible cancer) & a very rapid weight loss - 30% of my weight. There was a lot of stress as I was having to deal with it alone due lockdowns etc.
Plus there had already been hair thinning as a result of the menopause, the gift that keeps giving

At the time nothing happened but a few months later & woomph! The hair loss started.

I saw a dermatologist/trichologist who diagnosed the TE & also mentioned I had psoriasis which wasn't helping.
I use Nizoral once a week & massage in coconut oil over night at times to ease the tightness of my scalp.

Once I'd recovered from the illness my diet went back to what it had been previously ie good nutrition. We did bloods & my levels had returned to normal.
I take a general vitamin for menopausal women, fish oils & collagen plus HRT. I try to eat lots of protein - full fat milk & eggs.

My hair is slowly returning. I was fortunate that I had a real mop of thick hair so the hair loss, whilst noticeable to me, doesn't look too bad to others - or so they tell me, bless 'em.
Keeping it short helps.
The hair is growing back grey & very fine. It tends to snap easily so I'm very careful about styling & have bought a silk-lined beanie as usual hats to make my hair break off..

The main reason I have about possibly getting COVID is that I don't want any more hair loss if Im really poorly. Vain or what?!?!

There are various support groups on Facebook - the Telogen Efflovium Support Group has been brilliant - lots of support & care.
If it is TE, the hair will grow back, it'll just take time.
Please try not to stress too much - just treat your body well, eat good foods, make sure your vitamin levels etc are ok, do some exercise.