Hair loss - feel a bit desperate

[Househunter]

I have always had fine hair but after two pregnancies I had lots of it and it was lovely and healthy. I've suffered with acne all my life so got prescribed a course of roaccutane. I've been on it for 3 months and since starting it I have lost quite a bit of hair. My dermatologist isn't convinced its linked but I feel I can't afford to take the risk so I've stopped it. When my hair is wet you can see a lot of scalp, and even when its dry my parting seems wider and under a bright light you can see my scalp shining though my hair. I'm using all sorts of thickening shampoos/sprays and my loving hairdresser gave me some Kerastase Aminexil which I've been using for about 6 weeks. I don't seem to be losing any more but my hair still seems really thin.

I just want to cry as I've lost my lovely hair and I haven't taken a full course of roaccutane so my acne will probably relapse as well

I just feel like such a freak and worry that other people will notice how thin my hair is.

Has anyone got any advice/tips? I have heard about Nanogen Nanofibres but would this just look like I've poured a load of dust on my head?

What about Regaine?

If anyone could share their experiences that would be really helpful. TIA.

I have been reading a lot about roaccutane and hair loss can definitely be a side affect but so could stress, weight loss, infection, thyroid issues. If it is due to the accutane then it should start to grow back but accutane is very powerful and makes permanent changes to the cells that provide structure to skin and hair, sometimes this can be permanent (very unlikely but hard to know before hand).

If this is something that only started recently has there been any other changes in your lifestyle, diet, job that could cause this?

Could you wear clip in extensions until it starts t grow back to boost your confidence?

I don't know about nanogen fibres but I have a similar powder to create volume and it just makes my hair sticky but it wasn't as expensive.

Thanks for your reply Rudawakening. The dermatologist sid it could be stress and I have gone back to work after maternity leave but I'm really enjoying it and was really enjoying life until this happened. The only stress is the hair loss!

I'm also taking zinc but I don't know if there are other supplements that might help.

I don't know much about extensions. I've never been very good at styling my hair so I'm not confident I could manage them. I think the main problem is the top of my hair and I guess extensions would just add 'bulk' to the sides rather than cover the top?

What powder did you use? Did it add volume at all or just make your hair sticky?

Thanks again

here's the recent thread from s & b praising Lee Stafford Hair Growth treatment and also sea-kelp supplements, hth

www.mumsnet.com/info/search?query=lee+stafford

Wow, that sounds quite promising - will check that out. Also like the sound of sea kelp being appetite suppressing - could do with a bit of that! Thanks.

It could be genetic it could be female pattern hairloss. You need to get a diagnosis, get yourself to a trichologist if you can afford it.

I think it is genetic as my mum is the same. I can't really afford a trichologist, feel bad enough about spending enough on all the treatments...

What's your diet like? I know when I'm eating badly or cutting back on carbs or dieting it has a drastic effect on my hair.

Anaemia could cause this. I'd be asking my GP for a blood count.

I should have said I've had blood tests and I'm not anaemic and my thyroid is fine. I eat well - lots of fruit and veg.

I'm searching for sea kelp on Boots website but can't find it - does anyone know if you can still get it instore?

As a tv makeup artist we use nanogen for men who are balding at the crown and need to stop the lights shining through and making them look balder. It's effective in a sense as it does sort of fill in the gaps.

I don't know about you using it - it's fibres- like flocking so It wont look like dust. Use sparingly and get the right shade.I would say it is better than a powder or a dry shampoo as it is actually adding something to your hair and could be effective to make your parting look less sparse.

I'm not sure if this post is much help but wanted to tell you what I know and wish you well - I really hope it gets better for you.

I've just started using a Redken kit as recommended by my hairdresser - if you don't see a difference after 30 days there's a no quibble money back guarantee. It's called Intraforce. She said people seem really pleased and some come in a month later with growth of baby hair.

I'm only a week in so no real comments yet.

I too was going to suggest blood tests as your story is exactly the same as mine was 12 months ago, minus the acne treatment. I turned out to have very low iron, ferritin level of 4. My gp prescribed iron tablets and in the last year I have seen 2 dermatologists, the 2nd much more eminent and sympathetic than the first.

Both were rather dismissive of the iron factor and said based on family history female pattern hair loss is the cause. However after 10 months on iron tablets and a mirena coil fitting to stop the cause of the iron loss I have lots of new hair growth. All over I have hair sprouting which is now about 2 inches long.

I still hate standing under bright lights like you and am still very aware of my scalp, but friends and dh say it is honestly not visible to anyone but me. I would say get yourself to a good dermatologist with an interest in hair loss. Mine was in Sheffield and NHS. I accept now that I do have a family disposition to this but even the consultant, in his letter afterwards, said iron could have been a contributing factor. Hope this may help others if not you OP. Investigate further.

I used the nanogen fibres to hide a couple of alopecia spots and it works really well. I sometimes use it for the bits where it's thinning at the front too. Get the right shade, use sparinly and don't forget to use a bit of hairspray to lock it in place.

Thanks for everyone who has taken the time to post - I really appreciate it. whojimmyflip - your last sentence brought un-MN tears to my eyes!

mrsrhodgilbert - thanks for sharing your experiences. I'm pretty sure my iron is fine as my haemoglobin was 12.something. I haven't really had periods for a while as I've been on the implant so I should have plenty of iron, although I became concerned that the implant could be another culprit for the hair loss, so I've had it removed.

Those of you who have experience of nanogen - can you tell that its not someone's own hair if you look closely or does it blend in and look natural? And do you need the Nanogen spray or can you use any old hairspray?

If someone really looked very closely and was focussing on it then I think you could probably tell, but they would need to be within very intimate distance.

I use normal hairspray (Elnet), not the Nanogen stuff.

Just for info, its not just the HB lebel to look out for, it's the serum ferritin too. My HB was about 8 but ferritin levels were almost non existent at 4. I'm sure your gp would have checked this though.

Have you spoken to your mum about when and how her hair became so thin?

The only thing the dermatalogist did recommend was Minoxidil, said this does work. But it has to be used forever or the hair that has grown will be lost again so it's a big committment and not cheap. I decided I didn't want to go down that path.

You have my sympathy, it's absolutely horrid, but have you noticed how many women you see around you have a similar problem? I became obsessed with other peoples hair and a huge number have thinning. You are certainly not alone.

Thanks again. worldgonecrazy -its reassuring to know that its not too obvious if someone is using the Nanofibres as my hair loss is not evident from a distance and I would hate to draw attention to it. I will have to order dark blonde and hope its a good match as I have to do it online.

mrsrhodgilbert - I agree about minoxidil. My dermatologist also suggested it but its so expensive and its a lifelong commitment. I want to try other things first. I have also started looking at other people's hair and I have noticed other people with thinning but what gets me down is they are all a lot older than me, and so many of my friends have beautiful thick hair

Sympathise OP. I have fine hair & have never fully made up what I lost having my two DCs. I would also second the ferritin check. My HB levels are always just OK, by my ferritin drags along at ridiculously levels & when I don't take iron supplements - as well as feeling awful, I also lose hair badly.

Househunter - you are more than welcome I've been thinking about it and I remember I have used it on women with thinning hair too. From what you and others say it sounds like nanogen might be just the ticket. It is very subtle yet effective. And any old hairspray would do ( as other posters say). Just not a shine spray. If you are not sure about colours let me know. I would say if you are torn between 2 go for the lighter one.

Thanks. Will ask GP about ferritin but I suspect its fine.

whojimmyflip That's great. I think I will order some. I have naturally mid brown hair that is highlighted every few weeks so is a golden blonde. I think I will go for the dark blonde shade as although I am very blonde I am not platinum, which I assume is the light blonde shade. Bit scary spending loads of money on a guess re colour though!

I've tried Regaine and thought it would be the only thing that would work as the Minoxidil is proven to work........however,
It has to be used on a daily basis and when you stop using/applying it the effect stops.
The female 2% solution (only males get the 5% for some reason!) is in propylene glycol which is a horrible base to leave on your hair. With already fine hair it makes it flat and looks even worse before so .

Lee Stafford hair growth treatment didn't make any difference for me.

Thanks morag, that's helpful to know. I've been put off regaine by the thought of it being a lifetime of spending money and not even bring sure it's working as I understand that it just stops further hair loss for most people, although some people do get regrowth.