Hair loss

[thedogdaysareover2]

I'm noticing that my hair parting is getting more and more sparse over the last few months/years which I suspect is due to the menopause. I'm also losing hair at an incredible rate. I need to comb big balls of hair out of my brush on a weekly basis which is so depressing!
I'm 48 and have been on HRT since I was 43 so I don't think this is helping specifically with hair loss. I'm on Estrogel 4 pumps daily, Utrogestan 100mg daily and testosterone gel, a pea sized blob every second day.
Has anyone had any success with minoxidil? I can't really use the hair colour spray things on my scalp as I have light blonde hair. Thanks

Should have added that I take biotin every day and while it's helped my nails, it hasn't made any difference to my hair.

Do you take a multi-vitamin? I find that helps with my hair loss.

Also - a bit random, but have you had Covid recently? I've had two bouts of Covid and both were followed by terrible hair loss, lasting 2-3 months after the Covid infection.

I use Nioxin, and found it's made a huge difference to the thickness of my hair and the new hair growth. I think I use system 4 for coloured hair. I'd say it took around 6 to 8 weeks to see a difference.

I'm 51, btw.

@Antarcticant interesting. I had covid about 2 months ago. I had barely any symptoms so didn't make the connection with my hair loss but yes that might be it. Good to know that it might just be temporary fingers crossed. I don't take a multi vitamin as I kind of think they are a waste of money. I'm going to try and get a GP appt though to get my bloods checked and see if I'm deficient in anything.
@Badger1970 brilliant. I'll check that out and give it a try. Good it's worked for you!

I've stopped the testosterone gel now as my hair loss is down to that I'm convinced.

Interesting. I'm on testosterone gel too. Have you noticed a difference now you've stopped?
I would have thought that testosterone might cause more a male pattern baldness in women if levels of testosterone are too high-so maybe baldness at the crown or a widows peak pattern??
Also my husband uses testosterone gel for low endogenous levels of testosterone. He's been on it for years and has no baldness at all (he's 49). I realise that's not very scientific though 😂

I only stopped a few days ago and I'm hoping it will settle soon. It's the only thing that changed so I reckon its that. It was going from everywhere but I especially noticed it at the hairline and crown. I have a face like a cushion so any hopes of an elfin cut a la Mia Farrow have been dashed. I cannot go bald.

Take ferrous sulphate, iron levels need to be above 70

@BloodyCamping I got my bloods checked by my GP last week so I'll get the results soon and if my Hb is low I'll definitely supplement. Thanks

@BloodyCamping I got my bloods back today and I don't think my GP checked my iron levels. My haemoglobin was 139 and my ferritin was 44. Ferritin looks at the low end of normal but still normal