Hair loss support thread

[Marasme]

I did find an old 2012 thread and thought I'd post something new here.

After a shitty year or so at home and at work, I noticed that my scalp was showing more than usual along my parting. Further investigation using the selfie camera on my phone revealed an awful little bald patch at the top of my head, as if the parting was widening at this place.

Absolutely terrifying :( and not helping the fact that I suffer from some pretty bad health anxiety.

I now feel sucked by the entire "remedy" industry despite the strong belief that they are just snake oil peddlers.

Looking for anyone, from the old thread or not, to join in sharing positive stories...

Ilovecherries love your wigs you look fantastic.

I have realised I am having an issue with hair loss. I noticed it in January and from reading online and this thread it is most likely due to my youngest dc being diagnosed with cancer in November. His prognosis is now really good but the shock was unbelievable.

However, I also seem to have a lot of potential culprits:
I am 49 and probably pre-menopausal/menopausal.
I often have had low ferritin and need to take iron.
I lost about 25lb in 2017 (slowly and while increasing protein and adding meat which I don't usually eat).
I changed my birth control pill to one where I only get a period every 3 months.
I think I could be taking too many multivitamins and overdosing on Vit A accidently.
We also moved last year which was also very stressful.

I have an appointment soon with my dermatologist for my skin so will ask about my hair (I am in the US).

Have been reading this thread with interest, I have been diagnosed with low iron & very low ferritin. Have been losing my hair since teenage. I used to have thick, straight hair but it changed in my teens and has slowly been getting worse. I don't have bare/bald patches, there is good coverage, but there is no actual body of hair no matter how long I grow it. I have literally nothing of a ponytail, the ponytail would not even be a 5p thickness size despite hair being shoulder length, and there's just nothing of it. Like a toddler bunch. I have toddler hair If I hold a strand up it starts off (fine, thin, but there) and tapers out to nothing after around 5-6 inches.

Anyway. I'm hoping to correct the iron and ferritin but came on to answer TInkerbell's earlier question re extensions. I use clip in extensions, specifically the quad weft from Milk + Blush. It works a little like a topper I suppose except it goes more towards the back of your head, so the crown hair covers the join. The quad weft means more hair per piece, so instead of putting in 10 thin extensions I just put one big one in and job done. This only works if you have just enough hair to cover the join - it's a good solution for thinning hair but not missing hair on the scalp, as such.

I think it's pretty good and it gives me more confidence. My hair has never been good, so I didn't wear it down often, tying it back instead (to disguise the lack of volume and also because it's so flyaway and looks so thin and weak) but now there's not even enough to put in a clip without it sliding out. So the clip-in extension has been a complete relief to me and it doesn't take any messing around, it's very quick. It comes in different length but you could buy a longer one and get hairdresser to trim it to suit.

I don't go out without my clip-in on. The only time I don't wear it is swimming but I hate not having it in.

I really wish I had my childhood hair back but it's been gone far longer than I've had to put up with my wispy fine hair I remember the days when hairdressers had to thin it out as it was so heavy, straight and thick. Until teenage years. My mum never got me tested or took me to Drs but she would refer to it in public (still does, says things loudly like "well what with your hair being thin" (and that's with the extension in... god knows what she'd say if she saw my actual hair). It's always been something I've felt ashamed of. Now I have my extension piece I don't have to feel like that although there's always the worry of it being found out somehow - perhaps if the join showed, my own hair only just disguises it really. No one knows I have it except my DH and my hairdresser.

Also Ilovecherries I wanted to say that your wigs look amazing, you would never ever know they are wigs, they look so natural. I'm so happy for you that you have found that solution and it looks so good. I was in despair of my own hair until I started using the clip-ins. It's not perfect but to the untrained eye it looks fine. The trick is getting a good colour match so it blends in, and fortunately one of the colours on the site I buy from has a very good colour match for my own hair. Also helps that my own hair is straight as are the clip-ins.

Getting ready to go out used to take hours because I would have to try to make my own hair look thicker or even reasonable and even then it still looked fragile and thin. Now I know the clip-in gives me something more to work with. But I worry for how long, before my own hair becomes so fine that the join can be seen. Having seen your wigs I would definitely give that a go if it came to it - you really look fantastic.

I am hoping and wishing that sorting out my long-term iron and ferritin problem might improve things for me. Has anyone here had any thickening success from ferritin/iron level raising? I have read up on the internet where there are lots of low ferritin stories but all I can find is people saying they can see new baby hairs etc growing but nobody actually says their hair thickened back up eventually. Maybe if it comes back they don't feel the need to post on the hairloss sites any more?! (here's hoping)...

LilacClouds - yes, my hair thickened up when I was put on iron tablets. It took about 6 -8 months before I started to see a change. It started off with lots of small baby hairs. It was my hairdresser that suddenly saw all the new hair and commented. I then noticed when I was washing my hair that I was losing less hair and slowly my hair returned to how it was.

I also increased my intake of red meat. I am not a big meat eater at all but I did add some good quality red organic meat into my diet. I read somewhere that red meat has something that really helps hair. I had this about once a fortnight.

I also started using Philip Kingsley Elasticizer which is a hair mask and the Liz Earle shampoo and conditioner. Those products also really helped with the condition of my hair too.

The other thing I did was try not to wash my hair too often. I think there is differing information on this because some articles I read said you should wash your hair everyday. I went with cutting down on the washing. A lot of the time I would put my hair up and just damp down the fringe and restyle that. When I washed it I would then put the hair mask on prior to shampoo and conditioner. I tried to let it dry naturally and then style it when it was three quarters dry.

I think all of the actions I took helped but the iron/ferritin tablets were probably what made the most difference.

Hope this helps. I don't think it is until you are in this situation you realise how distressing it is. If you have been diagnosed with low iron I am sure the tablets will help. Just give them time and take care.

Ilovecherries - also wanted to say you look absolutely fantastic. I would never think you were wearing a wig. They really do look great as do you.

Thiscant - thanks, good to know that some people have managed to get past this to the other side. Would you mind sharing what iron/ferritin tablets were you on? From research, it seems as though ferrous fumerate (can only seem to get it on prescription?) is the better one, ferrous sulphate is more widely available online but I don't think it works as well/quick (although it is probably kinder on your tummy?). I am also looking into iron infusions, that seems to be an immediate way of boosting your iron stores especially if like me there might be absorption issues with tablets so no matter how much iron you take orally, it doesn't stay around. I've been on zinc, b complex, expensive hair support tablets and omega for years and more recently florisene tablets and some ferritin sulphate but it's very weak looking at the dose.

I've also read that l-lysine and vit c doses should be added, to aid absorption of the ferritin, did you do that too? I have vit c tablet in water every day but no l-lysine yet.

I am really pinning my hopes on an iron infusion but I don't know if that's going to work, has anyone had it and if so any success a) getting ferritin levels up after that and b) hair growing back (in particular, thickening up) ?

to all those suffering with hair related issues. It is really awful and knocks your confidence so much.

LilacClouds - the tablets that worked really well for me are:

Pregaday: Ferrous Fumarate EP/Folic acid EP - 322 mg/0.35mg
(I was not pregnant)

This was the second tablet my consultant prescribed. I didn't get on very well with the first one as iron tablets can be notoriously difficult to tolerate. I actually stopped taking them, when I saw my consultant he said always say if you don't get on with a tablet as there are always other tablets to try. Although these tablets are obviously for pregnant women. I was never pregnant while taking them, my consultant thought I might tolerate them better and he was right I did. I always took them with a meal though. They are quite strong and if I ever took them on an empty stomach (well I only did once) I felt quite sick.

I was given these on prescription but I know you can buy this exact tablet over the counter at a Boots pharmacy. So maybe you could check with your doctor first and he might prescribe them or you could have a chat to the pharmacist at your local Boots Chemist.

I never took vitamin c tablet but I do try and have a diet rich in omegas, vitamins etc.

I don't know if Ferrous Fumarate is better than Ferrous Sulphate but these tablets took my ferritin to a really high level and my hair recovered.

I would definitely say these are worth a try and ask your doctor to prescribe them. Over the counter they are only about £2.60 per pack for 28 tablets but do check with your doctor or the pharmacist to make sure they don't interfere with anything else you are on and if you do take them eat something first. Good luck

Also, just to say it did take around 6 months before I saw a change. It was gradual, my hair loss slowed down then my hairdresser noticed the baby hairs coming through. My hair then got thicker and stronger over the next few months.

Thiscant - thank you so much. That's so helpful. I feel like it's a really complicated jigsaw puzzle that I'm slowly putting together and this thread and advice has been so helpful - and kickstarted my latest never ending (it seems) quest for hair. If it wasn't for reading this thread I wouldn't have gone back to get ferritin tested and now I know it's so low it could well be a contributing factor (of course, it's all trial and error, but there's a chance it's down to that).

I have really suffered with this thin hair for so long and only now am I beginning to see any hope (although only in terms of things to try, let alone regrowth) but at least I'm now finding out things that might help. I will ask the dr about those ferrous tablets before I buy, I'm not on any other medication but obviously everyone should double check these things with Drs as you say. Thank you very much for the recommendation. and I'm thrilled for you that your hair came back. and thanks again for sharing your info.

LilacClouds - thank you very much for your message and it's a pleasure . Threads like this are a great support and hearing about other peoples experiences can really help with finding out about other options.

I am keeping everything crossed for you, take care XX

Lilac Clouds can't you see the extensions through your hair?

Is your hair thin all over rather than a wide part? I have clip on extensions but you would be able to see the tracks if I didn't use fibres too.

I take viviscal, vit d, folic acid and regaine. I feel the viviscal is working somewhat. I introduced that in October.

Hair - no, I don’t have any scalp showing and have a parting which looks normal. That’s as good as it gets with my hair though. The actual hair in a ponytail is thinner than my finger. Imagine a toddler head in bunches - there’s no scalp showing but the ponytail or bunches are tiny and Wispy.

I think my problem is definitely low ferritin and low iron. This means hair doesn’t reach its full potential so it starts off ok at the root but then falls out too early so many of my follicles are in the resting phase.(or fall out prematurely due to low iron stores (ferritin).

When I was pregnant I actually had enough hair (volume wise) to put in a ponytail and it looked normal. Not the thickest out there but a normal amount in the band and a decent volume hanging down. Of course it all dropped out after 4 months after birth, but it at least proved to me that my hair could grow or retain more hair on my head. It’s not that I don’t have the follicles, probably 50 per cent or less of my potential hair isn’t growing at any one time.

Anyway, the extensions - they have an invisible join and you clip them in roughly ear to ear on the back of the head then comb the top section over. I don’t know how good it would be if you have scalp visible but if you have very thin hair (but no scalp on show) it does give volume. I tie mine back quite a lot so it stays in place and can’t fall out 🙂

Also hair - have you had your iron and ferritin tested? Ferritin especially is important but doctors often just test iron and not stores. You have to be around 70 ferritin for hair to grow at its full potential I believe. Not many doctors know (or care?) about it. I have low iron and low ferritin so I’m working on increasing those levels. I don’t have female pattern baldness or alopecia, but my hair is honestly terrible.

I had all my hair cut off my this morning. I was a bit tearful when it was being done, but it actually looks a lot better. Bald patches aren't nearly so in your face, and it feels very light and free. I'm hoping it will also act like Velcro for the wigs. I just couldn't face one more day of watching hundreds go down the shower drain. I'm done with it, and while I'm sad, I also feel enormous relief. It can grow, or not, my emotional investment in it is over.

@ilovecherries lots of hugs to you, you are so strong!

Yesterday I was a tousled redhead with beach waves and copper hair. Today I'm rocking the silver and channeling my inner Parisian.

Love that redhead one.

Also I don't know if anyone has mentioned it but Celiac Disease (immune system and gut is damaged by Gluten) can definitely be a cause of hair loss. Always have blood tests done to check for Celiac when hair loss is unexplained.

I am in the USA and I know the UK spells Celiac differently. A good friend in the UK had thinning hair for years and from at least her 20s. It wasn't until her first child was diagnosed with Celiac that she was finally checked, and sure enough she was suffering from Celiac disease. It runs in families. Sometimes there are no other symptoms except hair loss. It is due to the gut, which has been damaged by Gluten, being unable to absorb certain nutrients.

Very interested in this thread, as i am losing hair too, mainly on one side, not the side i sleep on, but i have too much ferritin so i cant see it being for that reason, ,as it was happening then too,
I went to the Drs a few years ago, because my hair was thinning then, he did a thyroid test,which came back normal, but my ferritin was almost 2000, i have to have blood taken regularly to keep it down, it is quite low at the moment,only 67, but wondering if its connected with HRT as recently been put back on it
My mother and her mother both had very thin hair though on top, so dread that happeningf to me,
I read about someone on gransnet who takes VIT B3 and she says it has made a big difference
Superdrug are selling something forget what its called, a shampoo and a spray, heard that someone has had success with the spray,

Cherries - love both of those! They look amazing (and so natural). Really good.

Moveable - good point about the coeliac/celiac, thanks. I think it causes absorption issues which would include that of iron intake.

Thank you for this thread, it's great!!

I am 30 and have had hair loss the past few years. Been to the dermotologist who diagnosed Female Pattern type due to PCOS and genetics. Also been doing loads of research over the years.

I don't know much about other types, but female pattern is either caused by an excess of androgen hormones, or a scalp over sensitive to a normal amount of androgen hormones. I have read the genetic aspect is from your mother or your mother's father line.

The derm confirmed that the only real treatments which work for this are minoxidil which doesn't always work, and the combined pill (especially dianette or yazmin) and a medication called spironolactone.

Estrogen helps hair so if there is a lack of it or an excess of progesterone (ie the mini pill) then it can be worse.

I have tried spironolactone but it made me prone to urine infections so I stopped it. I am on the combined pill and find it does make my thinning which is mostly receeding hairline and a bit at the back and thinning parting, a bit better. I dread having to come off the pill as my shedding gets much worse if I come off, think I will ask for HRT when I have to come off. Dianette I found really good but didn't like the increased risks so now I take Marvelon which does help nearly as much.

I did have low iron, B12 and vitamin D on blood tests but these have been corrected and no change, so I think it's more the hormones. I intend on getting a blood test once a year to check still ok and still taking the odd iron tablet. Thyroid can do havoc to hair but that was ok.

I am currently using 5% minoxidil (and sometimes Nizoral shampoo, derm advised it blocks hormones) for a couple months, haven't seen regrowth but I have definitely noticed a huge reduction in that horrible burny/itchy scalp I usually get before a big shed, so hopefully it's doing something.

In the house or scruffing around I wear it scraped back with a wide hairband and in winter I wear hats a lot. I do have a hair topper which I like, it makes me feel so much more glamourous and non-frumpy, when I take it off and my hair is on a stand I too get the sad feeling ): ): I don't wear it everyday as it was really expensive, and as it's blonde it goes too light in the sun so wear it with a hairband sometimes. I can only afford one topper every 18 months if I had more money I would experiment with different kinds, but found the cheaper ones rubbish on me think cause blonde looks more shiny. There is a facebook group called Alopecia UK and it is great, really helped me not feel so alone.

Sorry for the mammoth post, just found this thread and I admire everyone dealing with this as well.

Does anyone who uses minoxidil have trouble with getting it on your actual scalp if your hair is thinning and not completely bald?? my hair is sparse but what hair I do have I find most of the minoxidil sticks to it and doesn't go on the scalp as it should. Anyone know how to remedy this as sure it would work better??

Also, I have real trouble being confident with my DP because of this, am always feeling he must be wishing he was with someone else (I don't mean that in an offensive way, just how I feel) and I snap that at him often it really ruins things between us. Anyone else go through that too??

Hi Imalone

I've got general thinning all over so a complete lack of volume, my "ponytail" is about the size of a marker pen when it used to be a banana (I saw someone else describe their hair thickness as such and it's a very good description of mine) but (as yet) no scalp showing, so I haven't experimented with the hair treatments you are trying. I have lots of ways to disguise it though too.
I do feel inferior to women with normal or great hair . I am always amazed when people are able to do different things with their hair, or talk about getting different things done, mine has been exactly the same for years now as there is no volume to cut a shape into and it's too fragile to dye. I am really sick of never being able to change it, not even really style it differently let alone cut/colour it, because I don't have enough of it to change.

Hoping things get better for all of us!

Lilac the fact that you have diffuse thinning rather than just on top make me think you have something that could be fixed, rather than us no hoper androgenic types. I think that people who have hairloss due to something like low iron would lose hair from all over rather than just the crown.

Cherries that tousled wig looks fab. The hairline is amazing. I can't see the lace at the front at all.

Imalone great post. It's hard to get minoxidil completely on the scalp but am sure enough of it would get on, plus it used twice a day. I have added viviscal into the mix plus nioxin which claims to be a dht blocker. I saw an increase in my hairloss when I went on the pill and then get worse with the coil. I look back old pictures and it wasn't great before the pill but somehow I never noticed then. I'm not keen to remove the coil because it has stabilised now and I've read that any hormonal change can have a detrimental effect.

Hair - well, it'd be nice to think but to be honest it's been so bad for so long that I don't know what it would take.

When I was pg my hair went back to "reasonable" and "acceptable". Not to it's former glory (thick heavy straight), the texture was still fine but there was a more acceptable substantial amount for a ponytail. I thought that might be because I wasn't having periods during pregnancy so not losing the iron maybe, but from further research it seems it's the hormones in pregnancy that make your hair hang on for longer, not iron.

See if women can have thicker hair (for whatever reason) in pregnancy why can't they make a tablet that does the same out of pregnancy? (wails).

I am a bit nervous tbh because this is my last chance to ever getting my hair back to anything like it was. If I get the iron etc sorted and my hair has no change, (or goes worse, eek) then I will have to accept it permanently. I mean it's as good as permanent now but I've always had a shred of hope, like you do, that if only I took this or that multivitamin or hair tablet it'd magically resolve. Of course I've taken all sorts and it hasn't changed a bit. But I've never tried iron/ferritin, that's new to me.

If it doesn't work then my last bit of hope (which wasn't a real hope but was there) has gone IYSWIM. I know it's "only hair" but I kind of live in fear of being "found out" for my extensions. I would be mortified if they fell out in front of someone for example. If I don't wear it my own hair looks wrong by itself - like I've been ill or something and I'm waiting for it to recover, but of course, it never does. It doesn't just look like fine, but normal hair. Maybe because it starts off (medium-fine but not scant) at the root and the ends just go to wispy. If it was fine all over from root to tip that would just be naturally fine hair and that's that, sort of thing. But I guess the root hair still has a smidgen of its original strength/texture (just a smidgen, it's far from good) so it's very much at odds with the wispy ends. Like someone has taken a thinning scissors that hairdressers use and hacked all the length off.

I'm wittering now but tbh it's good to talk about it. I don't talk to anyone about it, because I find it embarrassing.

How is everyone doing? I have a victory to report (I think!). Today I went shopping with my shaved head. No wig or hat. And you know what - no one died. Including me. In fact no one really gave me more than a second glance. I did wear a fair amount of make up and a bright red lipstick, plus fancy ear rings and my favourite clothes, as I wanted to ensure I didn't look sick. It has given me a huge morale boost. I wish I'd shaved a long time ago, for me, it's a much more together look than the horrible strands arranged over bald patches and covered with toppick that I used to wear. I've been building up to it, and today the sun was shining and I felt happy and just decided today was the day. I love my faux hair, and I WILL wear it most of the time, but it's also good to know I can survive au natural if I need or want to. I have realised two things. One, it's chilly with no hair and two, I need to put sun protection on my head if it's uncovered. There is life after hair loss.