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Original poster

Losing a lot of hair

20 replies

ChillWith · 15/10/2025 16:58

Hi all, I am late 40s and suspect it could be p/menopause, but I am posting in case anyone has had similar and it turned out to be something else.

In the last fortnight, I have suddenly lost a lot of my hair and it is noticeably thinner. The shedding has literally clogged the shower every other day and so much comes out when I brush too. My scalp is very sensitive, which is unusual, and feels the same as sunburn but without having been in the sun.

I am so tired and have been sleeping for 90 mins most evenings after dinner.

This week, I've had really bad night sweats. Have woken up dripping wet.

My periods are regular as clockwork. I have some problems sleeping but have been working on this.

I will ask my GP for a blood test to check there isn't anything obvious. But it's v worrying to suddenly see my scalp! Can anyone relate?

OP posts:
Carolynpig · 15/10/2025 18:20

I’m so sorry to hear you are going through this as I know how devastating it feels. Look up telogen effluvium and think back 6/8 weeks to see if you had a physical or emotional trauma in that time, even covid can be a cause or any new medication. If it is Telogen Effluvium it does resolve itself with time usually but I would definitely go for a blood test.

Comeonbabylightmyfire · 15/10/2025 18:22

Are you on any medication?

Original poster
ChillWith · 15/10/2025 18:43

@Carolynpig thank you for responding and sorry to hear you have experienced the same. It's such a shock! I have had a stressful few months but can't think of something in particular that's triggered this. Perhaps it's a culmination of it all... I will look up TE and mention to my GP too.

@Comeonbabylightmyfire no, only a multivitamin (Well Woman Plus). If anything, it should make my hair much better...

OP posts:
Carolynpig · 15/10/2025 18:47

I hope you soon find a solution, mine had a definite cause, a few weeks in critical care with sepsis, it was a horrible shock when I finally got home and started losing lots of hair. On the positive side, six years on, my hair is thick and down my back again and the condition is usually only temporary. Good luck and fingers crossed for you. Don’t be conned into believing there is a miracle cure with shampoos etc, self care and time should heal and any tablets the doctor prescribes of course.

Original poster
ChillWith · 15/10/2025 18:52

Oh {mention:Carolynpig}@Carolynpig, you poor thing. That must have been a very worrying time for you and your family. I am so glad you came through it and are doing well now. I bought a medicated shampoo yesterday to ease my scalp and will contact my GP tomorrow. Thank you again x

OP posts:
Carolynpig · 15/10/2025 18:54

Yes funnily enough I remember noticing pain as though my scalp was bruised before my hair started to shed. It could also be a thyroid problem for you so the GP is a good first port of call. I do hope your ordeal is soon over.

Melonjuice · 15/10/2025 21:04

Mine was so bad I was referred to the hospital. I’m 47. The hospital found that I was severely deficient on zinc and iron and that was the cause.

JillMW · 15/10/2025 21:39

ChillWith · 15/10/2025 18:52

Oh {mention:Carolynpig}@Carolynpig, you poor thing. That must have been a very worrying time for you and your family. I am so glad you came through it and are doing well now. I bought a medicated shampoo yesterday to ease my scalp and will contact my GP tomorrow. Thank you again x

Hair loss is awful, it can happen for a lot of reasons. Definitely see your Dr as this seems a very sudden change for perimenopause, hot sweats do occur with other conditions. The burning scalp sounds most uncomfortable. Please don’t try a medicated shampoo, the ingredients are very harsh and are known to be irritant for some people. I hope you get it all sorted. Good luck.

Seaoftroubles · 15/10/2025 22:11

OP, as you mention night sweats your hair loss could be due to peri menopause as that is often an initial symptom but a blood test won't show for sure as hormone levels fluctuate so much. However hrt can be prescribed on symptoms alone. It could also be caused by thyroid issues or anaemia so it's good to get bloods done to check those.
I had hair loss in peri and found that hrt halted it as well as stopping the hot flushes literally within a couple of days. Blood tests showed l was also anaemic due to very heavy periods and iron tablets helped, as well as increasing protein in my diet. Good luck with finding a solution as its so distressing to deal with.

Ohplesandbanonos · 15/10/2025 22:20

I have started taking a pumpkin seed oil and saw palmetto supplement - it's supposed to block DHA? I'm now about 6 weeks in and starting to notice a decrease in how much I'm shedding. I was at the point where I couldn't touch my hair without it falling out now there isn't much on the brush and it doesn't come out when I push it about.

I also use pumpkin seed and rosemary oil on my hair overnight the day before wash - so about 3 times a week.

Creamteasandbumblebees · 16/10/2025 07:50

I had very similar with huge patches around my hairline that were almost bald.
I think a medicated shampoo will be very harsh.
I use shampoo and conditioner from the Cornish Seaweed Bath Company, they have been an absolute game changer for me. The conditioner is incredible and can be used to soothe the scalp too. I have also been taking pumpkin seed oil with Saw Palmetto which has really helped. My hairline has been restored and I dont have any shedding

bugalugs45 · 16/10/2025 07:55

Yes it’s deffo a side effect of peri, that combined with me
taking mj had me worrying I was going to be bald by Xmas, I take biotin every day now and pumpkin oil , does seem to have helped

HatStickBoots · 16/10/2025 08:22

ChillWith · 15/10/2025 16:58

Hi all, I am late 40s and suspect it could be p/menopause, but I am posting in case anyone has had similar and it turned out to be something else.

In the last fortnight, I have suddenly lost a lot of my hair and it is noticeably thinner. The shedding has literally clogged the shower every other day and so much comes out when I brush too. My scalp is very sensitive, which is unusual, and feels the same as sunburn but without having been in the sun.

I am so tired and have been sleeping for 90 mins most evenings after dinner.

This week, I've had really bad night sweats. Have woken up dripping wet.

My periods are regular as clockwork. I have some problems sleeping but have been working on this.

I will ask my GP for a blood test to check there isn't anything obvious. But it's v worrying to suddenly see my scalp! Can anyone relate?

Hi, I think I have had what you are describing. Three years ago at some point, my scalp became unbearably sore. My hair at the roots felt like it was being pulled and tugged. It was long at the time. It hurt when the wind blew it. Then I noticed that a clump had come out and left a bald spot and I was shocked. I didn’t go to the doctor but I should have. Make sure you go and get your bloods done. They might refer you to a specialist. I was given a steroid lotion to apply to stop the inflammation around the hair follicles (which happens before the hair loss with this particular problem). I did have a long history with stress and had had an itchy scalp and hair loss before but nothing like this. It was like a final wake up call to focus on me for a change. My sudden hair loss coincided with Covid vaccines and illness at the same time so I’ll never know if it was directly caused by those or the stress of the pandemic itself and the pressures from other aspects of family life. In your case, hopefully you catch it early and find the cause. I’ve still got the scar on top of my head and sometimes my scalp starts getting sore when I am ill but nothing with every bug I catch… However, in general, with a lot of self care (the right food, vitamins and minerals, sulphate free shampoo, scalp massage, meditation) it’s 100% better.

Melonjuice · 16/10/2025 17:55

bugalugs45 · 16/10/2025 07:55

Yes it’s deffo a side effect of peri, that combined with me
taking mj had me worrying I was going to be bald by Xmas, I take biotin every day now and pumpkin oil , does seem to have helped

@bugalugs45 it’s not correct to say “ it’s definitely a side effect of Peri” could be thousands of reasons why
my sisters mum and friends never lost or had thinning hair through peri and my mum had several rounds of chemo and still never lost her hair
OP needs to get bloods done and eliminate other reasons first

Cucy · 16/10/2025 18:29

I am assuming you’re not on weight loss injections, as hair loss is a very common side effect of them too.

Raindropsnroses · 16/10/2025 18:42

@Ohplesandbanonos and @Creamteasandbumblebees, would you mind sharing, please, which brand of Pumpkin Seed oil you’re using as this is something thinking about trying for the same problem. Thanks!

sussexman · 16/10/2025 18:45

You need to see a Doctor for this, especially given that it is sudden. It could be fine, and any of the OTC remedies might be great, but other serious conditions can also cause these symptoms.

HatStickBoots · 16/10/2025 19:03

I need to add to my post above that I didn’t go to a doctor straight away… but I should have. I didn’t make time for it because I was under so much pressure with my ex partner that I couldn’t even think straight. By the time I did see my doctor a few months had passed and I went because the hair hadn’t grown back and I had expected it to. I had blood tests done which were inconclusive but I was refered to a dermatologist who gave me some scalp injections and the steroid lotion. My cause was thought to be stress induced from multiple sources. So I agree with other pps, see your doctor. I hope everything will be ok.

Ohplesandbanonos · 16/10/2025 20:40

@Raindropsnroses I got these ones from Amazon

amzn.eu/d/4aGkIG2

Original poster
ChillWith · 17/10/2025 07:44

Thanks all for comments and support. Very helpful. I am having a blood test and will discuss results with my doctor. @HatStickBoots your experience is v similar to mine. I think as a woman of a certain age, a lot is put down to p/menopause but this episode is definitely sudden. I'm not on weight loss injections or any medication so it is quite odd. Will update once I've spoken to doc. Thanks everyone

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