Please help... I'm losing my hair 😓

[Anothernamechanger1]

I'm not even 35 and noticed hair was thing slightly on one temple since Iv had the DC. Iv just noticed on the crown (flipping typical) I'm losing my hair, there's a bald spot which isn't being hidden by the hair that's there.... Iv always looked after my hair, heat protect it, deep condition each week etc. My hair is long, I can only cover it by annoying up dos I don't like. I'm going through a lot of stress and I'm taking that has made it this bad.... What can I do to bring it back?! My hair is my 'crowning glory' so to speak. I love my long hair 😓

[MsStricty]

It is rarely picked up by GPs. Rarely.

As soon as I was diagnosed, I burst out crying because finally I had someone tell me what I had long suspected - I was losing my hair, and no amount of iron, ferritin was going to reverse it.

They are thorough - they rule out thyroid, iron, zinc, B12 deficiencies, and other hormonal issues.

[MsStricty]

At my 12 month check-up, the trichologist showed me all the baby hair growing back - masses of it, and sure enough, all the gaps where I saw my scalp had gone. This was after nearly 5 years of seeing gradual, sustained hair loss.

[Anothernamechanger1]

I may have to have a hard think then.

If I'm honest I haven't been looking after myself that well the last 6 weeks or so..... With everything going on at home. Haven't had an appetite due to stress and haven't eaten the right things. DC always been fed properly etc but I haven't looked after myself. Maybe this will be my wake up call.... I'm taking the fereglobin which won't do any harm if it doesn't help, hair supplement, have the regaine and need to access my diet.

Does anyone know what I should be eating more off/in plentiful to help my hair? I'm vegetarian but I eat quorn and never been anemic or anything

[DuckWaddle]

Re your ferritin levels they are good. Mine were so low they couldn't detect any!
I know how scary hair loss is and awful seeing it come out so I hope it passes quickly,

[Curlgurl]

Allowing a ferritin level of 13 to be considered normal is disgusting. I felt so shit when mine was around that level

[Bagina]

I've been following this thread as I'm having difficulties with my own hair. What dosage iron supplements should I be looking for please? I want to buy some online.

[Bagina]

The basic boots ones have 14mg per day.

[Bagina]

Just a gentle bump and apologies for slight hijack.

My ferritin is 39 and b12 is 220. I'm getting some Feroglobin b12 capsules today thanks to the advice on this thread.

[Anothernamechanger1]

Your ferritin is fine according yep what my GP said, it's in the 'normal' range. Iv started to take fereglobin and it seems a better all rounder than just taking iron supplements

[Anothernamechanger1]

No idea where 'yep' can me from, should be 'to'!

[Bagina]

I think that's the problem, isn't it? People on here say it should be double that. The normal range on mine says 10-150. It says that the normal b12 range is 191-663. Mine is almost at the bottom of that. The tablets have good reviews on the Boots website. Good luck to us both. Mine is looking very thin and I'm only 30s! I first noticed after a very stressful period, but have since had 2 dc which I suppose hasn't helped my hair or my stress levels.

[Anothernamechanger1]

I was so on edge waging my hair this morning. I bought a 'natural' shampoo and conditioner (as natural as they can be) it's drying up in a towel at the moment. Dreading styling it. Will cut down on products except heat protector. Won't straighten near that section. I am now a noticing every hair coming out and I don't know if there is more or if it's just because I'm looking!

[Anothernamechanger1]

Washing!!

[Bagina]

I was the same this morning. I whipped the towel off quick though as I keep thinking that the tight turban is pulling the fragile hair at the front.

I'm a veggie with sore tongue etc. so am having a lot of other symptoms.

[Anothernamechanger1]

I'm vegetarian also. But never had any issues as I eat well. (Other than the last 2 months with the stress of home life) sounds as though you could be run down as well? I get ulcers when run down. The fereglobin stuff seems great, I have the liquid as can't really swallow tablets without gagging. It turns your pee bright yellow FYI!

[Bagina]

As long as it doesn't give me the black tarry poo like the iron tablets did when I was pregnant!

[seahorse106]

I have alopecia and mine started with an actual bald patch at the back of my head. I didn't notice it thinning as such it just seemed to fall out in patches.
I am very anaemic and had to have an iron infusion recently although it wasn't mentioned as a reason for my alopecia.
I went to a proper hair loss consultant and she recommended eating lots of certain foods one of which is avocados (can't remember what else, sorry)
They can look at your scalp under a microscope and see if the hair follicles are still there or have actually gone.
Alopecia universalis which I have is an autoimmune condition so there's not a lot I can do about it unfortunately xx

[Anothernamechanger1]

Oh seahorse I'm so sorry to hear that. Thank you for sharing your situation though. It seems to be such a hush hush thing not to discuss but it shouldn't be!

[seahorse106]

Thank you,
I normally wear a wig, and most people who know me know I'm bald. I wouldn't go out without any hair although I'm happy to not wear one indoors.
I once took my wig off in mcdonalds and nobody took any notice!
I'm hoping that now a few of the Olympic competitors have alopecia and aren't scared of showing their bare heads it will stop being so secretive xx

[Curlgurl]

When my ferritin was 3 I had to take iron tables 3 times a day. The black poos took a bit of getting used to

[poppym12]

Ferritin levels need to be at least 70+ consistently to sustain hair growth. Zinc deficiency needs testing for too and a vit d test would be wise. Please have these checked and try to correct them before messing with anything like regaine as it's best to fix the real underlying issues first to try to prevent it happening again as soon as you stop using products.

[Sturmundcalm]

My hair started to thin a few years ago. Runs in the family... I tried one of the regaine type treatments but hated putting stuff on my hair as it's curly and it just didn't work for me.

I started taking phytophanere capsules about 2.5 years ago and it has made a bit of a difference- even my hairdresser commented. My hair is still quite thin at the front but hasn't got any worse and has thickened up at the back. Considering it's not ridiculously dear and is easy might be worth a try? You should take for two months then break for a month.

[Anothernamechanger1]

Poppy all of those were checked and doctor said there were all fine?

Stur What are the capsules you mention? And why do you take a break oh then?

[poppym12]

To a gp, your ferritin levels probably were fine as they were within the vast range that is classed as normal for general health. However, to our bodies, hair growth isn't an essential thing and for hair to grow and continue to grow, ferritin needs to be at least 70 consistently. (personal advice from private dermatologist and a trichologist).

Also, with supplements, always leave at least 2 hours between zinc and ferrous sulphate as one stops the absorption of the other or something (gp advice).

[poppym12]

Also, any major stresses or illnesses you experienced 3 months ago (ish) will now be showing in your hair growth or loss. If you can pinpoint a nasty illness a few months ago, it could be telogen effluvium which should correct itself once the illness or stress has passed.