What is causing this hair problem?

[Wuxiapian]

I used to have lovely, thick hair.

The past few years it's become so thin and I'm losing loads of it each time I run my hands through my hair, wash or comb it.

It's really quite upsetting. Can see my scalp in places where hair should be.

I've tried different conditioners. I've tried washing every day. I've tried not washing it every day.

My diet is pretty healthy - get a good variety of foods in me.

Could this hair loss be a sympton of anything else?

Any responses very much welcomed and appreciated.

I am the same
I was told it was hormonal!

Who told you it was hormonal, Mrs? Did you see a GP about it?

I saw a GP because AF was all over the place (bleeding heavy for weeks then only a 2 week break etc Sorry if TMI) GP said it wsa all related to hormones gave be some tablets which made the AF worse so he told me it would settle down in time. AF did hair still dreadful falls outs a little less these days but then again its so thin!

He blamed pregnancy. Last DS was 3 at the time. He is 7 now.

Can be a symptom of either under OR overactive thyroid. Along with about 27,000 other things, but might be worth checking out.

I'm worried that I'l be fobbed off and made to feel like I'm wasting my GP's time if I go.

How would a thyroid condition be tested for?

Just a thought, talking of hormones ....my sister has polycystic ovary syndrome which has made her hair fall out, especially around the front/fringe area. Her GP was sympathetic about it and had some suggestions for managing the condition.

I though PCOS made to tend to veer towards being more hairy, not less?

...which I meant to add before I hit 'post'! Mostly it was to do with losing weight and exercising since with PCOS you need to stabilise blood sugar levels carefully I believe (tho not an expert so cant swear on the detail here)

ComeOveneer - yep, charming condition which tends towards male pattern baldness (ie loss at the front) and hairiness elsewhere. Horrible condition, talk about bad for self esteem.

I do suffer with excess hair - bodily and facial - have done for quite a number of years.

I had to have a laparoscopy a few years back because I used to suffer with severe abdominal pain. The gynae told me everything was in "pristine" condition.

I did wonder whether I may've had PCOS, but wouldn't the gynae have picked it up during the procedure?

And yes, my confidence and self-esteem is shot to pieces.

Might be worth checking again with GP in case it is PCOS? No idea what you can see during a laparoscopy, but yes, cysts on the ovary are obvious symptom. Tho harmless I gather. There was medication of some kind my sister was offered many years ago that should have helped, sadly it disagreed with her (she has a very sensitive tummy) so she couldnt take it but at least it suggests there is something that can be done with PCOS. (I have the body hair thing too and did find going on the pill realy helped incidentally, tho cant remember which pill it was.)Anyway, hope you get to the bottom of it and find a solution....good luck.

I was on the pill Dianette for acne, but stopped as it wasn't really helping.

It's supposed to slow down hair growth, too, but, in my case, it didn't.

How does your sister manage her PCOS, Older?

I can offer no solutions, only sympathy, as I have the same problem. It started when I was trying to get pregnant with DD, then of course I had lovely thick hair when I was pregnant, but for the last two years (dd is now 2.3) is has been really thinning - particularly at the front and the top. It's incredibly distressing for me. I orginally saw my GP twice for it, but they were very unhelpful, but I managed to get a referral to a private dermatologist who specialises in hair loss. But it didn't help. All my blood tests indicated that everyting was normal, and I was told to try to take iron and zinc supplements. But it has not helped at all. I am scared that I am going to end up bald, and I am only 35 ! My theory is that it was triggered by stopping taking the pill after being on it for over 10 years.

I was going to suggest iron as well, as hair loss can be a sign of anaemia. My 3 year old DS lost a lot of hair earlier this year and the GP thought it might be an iron deficiency. It's worth getting yourself checked out.

It makes you wonder, doesn't it, Mum? I mean, all your blood test results came back normal.

I'm 30 and been on and off the pill for 15 years, but only had this problem the past 4/5 years.

I even wonder sometimes if it's something I'm eating/not eating, even the water I drink/wash my hair in... could drive yourself mad with it all.

How long did you give the iron/zinc supplements?

I actually used to suffer with anaemia, band, but all through that, my hair was beasutiful! Just cannot understand it.

Hi, never before have i had so much hair loss as in the last 2 weeks, its everywhere, blocks the plug when i shower, on my pillow in the morning, on my clothes when i take them off, should i go to my GP? I am 33, trying to come off anti depression tablets at the moment, do you think the GP will tell me it's just stress???

Wuxiapian - I only took the zinc and iron for a couple of months, to be honest, but the reason why I was sceptical about it is that when I was younger I was vegeterian and had much lower iron level but no hair loss problems !!

Pandorasof - I suggest you do go and see you GP and ask to have some blood tests just to rule things out - but if your blood tests come back normal, then yes, I expect your GP will tell you it's just stress !

Makes you wonder if it is hormone related, then, Mum.

They must be out of whack.

Does anyone know if there's any way possible to settle them?

To answer your question Wuxiapian - my sister has never really got on top of the PCOS to be honest...once it was apparent she couldn't take the medication offered that was rather it. She was lucky tho and didnt have fertility problems with it which can happen (2 lovely kids!)so the main issue for her has been problems losing weight(she is obese), the body hair and the hair loss. Apparently PCOS can make it hard to lose weight....and I think that the weight in turn then exacerbates the PCOS. From what I've read and what shes said I think the key for her would be exercise and eating better but she has issues with food and can't get her head round that. Im a bit out of my expertise zone here but Im pretty sure PCOS is associated with insulin resistance, hence the weight issues (and hence the need to be more careful with what she eats) so with her at least, I think stabilising her blood sugar and exercise would maybe help. But then what if you have PCOS and are thin and eat well? I dont really know how it all works. I guess Id want a sympathetic GP to talk me through it all if this was the problem. And if its not the issue then forgive me for having waffled!!

I think there are varying degrees to the condition. Some slimmer, healthier woman can suffer with PCOS, too.

I've battled with excess hair for a long time, since early teens.

But, my periods have always been regular and I had no trouble conceiving my son. I did put on 3.5 stone when pregnant but slowly lost is all. At my fittest (gym workouts 6 days a week) and healthiest, I still had excess hair to deal with!

This hairloss is horrible, though and I feel really freakish.

Only me again bumping.

Just wondering if anyone's tried anything that works to slow hair loss/thicken hair/give the appearence of thicker hair.