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...

Hi - have been lurking but wanted to chip in to say that I've found the Phyto Phytocyane range really good - there's a shampoo, serum and vitamins called phytophanere. I'' a Luddite so not sure how to post a link here but I had a visible receding hairline and using this stuff seems to have filled in the gaps a bit. The vitamins seem to have the best effect on the overall hair - hair seems a lot "bouncier" and denser after 2 weeks of the vitamins. Also eyelashes looking thicker although I'm a bit spotty now 😂

Also wanted to say that there is another range they do called phytolium which is much more intensive - phytocyane is aimed at temporary hair loss due to stress etc

I was on that original 2012 thread....
Maybe get your thyroid function tested as well as iron levels first.

Everyone is different, but here's what I did at that time and there is a massive improvement. Not overnight, hair growth is cyclical, but it worked.
1 a day vitamin D pill
3 a day Victoria Health specific hair vitamin

Also, I have an underactive thyroid so take thyroxene and also omeprazole for gastric problems
I used to take both these medicines together first thing in the morning. That's when my hair loss was really noticeable to me. Then I read how the omeprazole can affect absorption of other vitamins/minerals. Now I take the omez first thing and the thyroxine with dinner and the vitamins with lunch, dinner and before bed. ( so nothing with the omez)
My hair is restored, honestly it's a thatch. I know it's an awful thing and a dreadful worry

And to add, on the Health thread on mumsnet...I found out that 'within range' thyroid results in the UK could be judged as too low in the US as their 'range' is lower. So even if your thyroid test comes back lowish but ok from the GP you could be lacking.

that's very encouraging bejazzled - did you know you were hypothyroid at the time?

Gerry - which product do you use?

I'll be waiting for these bloods results to see if there is any plausible explanation - I am trying to tackle my undereating just now, but finding it impossible to find the calories in the types of foods I eat :(

I can only speak from my personal experience, my hair thinned massively after having DD and didn't get much better over the years. I was advised to take MSM vitamin (1000mg daily) which I take with a water soluble vitamin c or redoxin. I take vitamin e caps, cod liver oil & biotin as well. I also use Olaplex on my hair like a serum every other wash. I now have 'normal' hair. I do know that iron deficiency can also be a reason - it wasn't for me but I seem to have found a solution (fingers crossed so far).

encouraging primamadona - and glad it worked for you!
i think that s the problem: everyone is different which makes targetting the best approach so difficult (when in some cases only minoxidil would be the answer!).

I use a steroid lotion on prescription from GP called betnovate it's actually for scalp itchiness but as it's a strongish steroid that's what doc said to use as it can't promote hair growth, nothing yet though on the bald area. I believe it can take a while though. To be honest if the patch that I've got is as bad as it's going to get I can live with it as it's not easily seen, I can cover it. I am wondering if I'm having early menopause though as have some symptoms and I know thinning hair is also one.
I personally wouldn't use regaine because I wouldn't want to be tied to using it forever, and it doesn't work for everyone.
I did look at hair toppers as a last resort /backup, I found a lady did some vlogs about them, they are basically a hair piece that clips onto your existing hair and covers thinning areas, they do look amazing!

I'm hypothyroid and I find that when my thyroid is well-treated (ie when I'm on a high enough dose of the right meds) my hair cycle is faster than normal, so I still get lots of hair fall but also lots of new growth. It wasn't until I started liothyronine (in addition to thyroxine) that my hair got thicker.

If you find taking iron is giving you stomach issues maybe try the gentle versions. I've used different brands and always tolerate them very well, even multiple capsules on an empty stomach. I often take three or four at a time, or two/three twice a day, always with a vit c capsule. Spatone is fine if you're a little low but I doubt it will reverse a serious struggle with low iron, and it can stain teeth, so if you need to take a lot of it try using a straw, and you'll still want to use vit c to aid absorption.

Just fyi re the iron pan/iron fish, for years I've cooked with a pressed iron pan almost exclusively (incl acidic foods like tomato sauces, lemony dishes etc) and it didn't prevent my levels from getting and staying very low. So again it might be ok if you're a little low but if you're struggling to keep your levels good I doubt it will make a big difference.

I suspect my obsessive tea drinking is doing me no favours so I'm trying to keep tea to the first half of the day and taking iron at the end of the day (before bed) on an empty stomach.

If you are hypothyroid ensure you keep the iron well away from your thyroid meds as they bind to each other and you'll be underdosing yourself.

Good luck all. Hair loss is such a drag.

Oh and Regaine worked really well for my mum, but it can mess with colour/texture, so be aware if you colour your hair it may alter the result.

A couple of years ago I noticed how much my hair had thinned.
My fringe which I would need three tongfuls would only need one or two.
Had bloods checked .. all fine
I was also extremely fatigued
I started on 1 drop of nascent iodine a day and adrenomax and adrenal extra
www.nutriadvanced.co.uk/adrenomax-90-caps.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAus_QBRDgARIsAIRGNGg8Qeo6oH2uFwAQYbiQ60gVwyJ4s2826T1wk9U8MVHczcOPEosj7xkaAgMWEALw_wcB

Vit d3 spray with k2
Dhea I took for about 4 months. Not good to take all the time
Total b vitamin and b12
My fatigue got so much better and after 18 months my hair hasn’t thinned any more
I won’t say it’s got more.
I’ll see if I can dig out a photo I’ve used before.
My mum had very thin hair.
I wash it about every 5-7 days as I’ve got older it doesn’t get greasy m if anything it gets drier
I get it highlighted every two months

This was July this year.
Sorry I don’t have a before photo, but my parting was looking wider

peppermint oil - proven scientifically more effective than the medical treatments like minoxidil - several drops mixed with cold pressed castor oil, massaged into the scalp as often as you can (I do it a few times a week), left on overnight and washed out in the morning has really helped me regrow some balding patches and hairline... it is greasy and sticky but worth it.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4289931/

Here’s a link to peppermint, lavender or rosemary for hair

blog.viviscal.com/how-to-apply-peppermint-oil-for-hair-growth/

I like the idea of adding it to shampoo then if it irritates it’s easily washed off

would definitely recommend the castor oil part if you can do it, there's so much anecdotal evidence of this helping and seems to have worked for me :)

I add it to my shampoo as well as leave on overnight with the castor oil.... (although do a patch test first to check it won't irritate). Not had any irritation myself...

i have a stupid question: i did lose loads of hair after DD2 4.5 years ago. Considering that the hair lost would have regrown at the same time (?) would it be expected to fall again simultaneously, at the end of the hair life (say 3 to 5 years)?

My already fine hair became very thin, particularly at the front, about two years ago. Tests showed no thyroid problems and slightly low iron levels. I tried the lot- biotin, kelp, iron supplements, laser treatments-you name it! Caster oil seemed to help slightly thicken the existing hair but did not address the loss. On my GP's advice, I started using Minoxidyl and after a couple of months, my hair is almost back to normal. I am happy to keep using it long term and quite frankly it's a lot cheaper than keep trying things which haven't worked for me. I have also found Olaplex treatments have improved and strengthened my hair

so another one for minoxidil :) Do you use it every day? on thin areas only?

the cost of "other things" is definitely real!

just been scouring the regaine website - it says that there is no familial genetic hair loss and if hair loss is somehow "sudden" then regaine should not be used.
Thing is, I am not sure when mine started - but I cannot remember being worried about my hair at all last year :( and having looked at pics, my mum's hair seems fine, my dad has receding temples, but quite a bit of hair left considering his age...

ARG

Hi Marasme. I don't think anyone else in my family has had hair loss- not even grandparents. I'm not sure how long my hair had been thinning but it seemed to come on quickly and it's certainly helped me.

Oh, and I just use it on thinning areas so a bottle lasts 2-3 months rather than the month stated on the bottle..!

God, I feel sick :(. Our shower drain has been very slow, DH just dismantled it and DESPITE having a drain filter, the pipe was nearly totally blocked with hair. And he's bald, so it's mine :(. He's being so bloody kind and sympathetic about it all, but I am devastated. I insisted he took another photo of my head, and it's much, much worse than even a couple of months ago. It's minoxidil foam I'm using because GP said to get the 5% stuff, but already my hair is stiff with it, feels like it's full of dry shampoo. I'm >< close to taking a razor to it.

My sympathies to everyone posting. It’s so very horrible to lose your hair. I can highly recommend the trichologists @ Phillip Kingsley. I see Jane Martins who is lovely. Hair loss can be due to multiple causes often in combination- ferritin, thyroid, hormones, diet, stress. Yes It’s expensive, but worth it as they will identify the factors at play and treat them. I use their 3m drops which combine Minoxidil and anti androgens. Feel free to PM if any questions