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...

Reading with sympathy, I may well have been on the 2012 thread, I was on one but think it was a couple of years earlier. I developed alopecia areata during a stressful time at work and lost about a third of mine in distinct patches. It was an awful time. I saw a dermatologist privately who prescribed steroid ointment and it did grow back (six months of getting more and more patches then 6 months of them starting to regrow in the same order they appeared. It was charcterised by my scalp tingling and I still get into a panic if I feel any sensation in the same area. It hasn't recurred but I still dread it.

Hi,
I wanted to add to this thread as I’ve actually found out what causes my alopecia (doctor just said stress etc but it happened when life was good and I felt well).

I have a known allergy to salicylates (which are in lots of soaps, shampoos etc). Usually I get very itchy hands and it triggers my eczema. I have allergy tablets to help as it’s hard to avoid.

Anyway, I recently checked my shampoo (Aussie) which never used to contain salicylates but the new one does. As soon as I stopped using it growth was visible.

I know we try everything and this has taken me 8 years to find the cause for me so if anyone else eliminates salicylates and finds an improvement then it’s worth me sharing.

v interesting Motherofdragons! I wanted to add myself that what made loads of my hair fall out was IPL, I bought one of those hair removal laser machines you use at home (I used the boots smoothskin) and it made me really ill. Not only did loads of my hair fall out but it ruined my skin and loads of other nasty stuff happened. It's only just growing back now... be warned people!

BTW I should add that I didn't use it on my head, but it sent my whole body into shock, and the hair on my head fell out as part of it! (I wouldn't be stupid enough to use it on my head hair :)

And I used it as per instructions...

the one i found is a dermatologist who also deals with scalp / hairloss at the Nuffield...

crap :( i've done one of these selfies of the top of my head, which is rather greasy today. Very wide parting, and the scalp is showing through big time :(

I feel ridiculous, but also vain, as a couple of good friends are going through hairloss due to chemo :( - does not feel like complaining when they have to face real hardship...

Thanks @Marasme I’m going to look into it

good luck

I have gone into full panic attack mode - feels like one giant tailspin, motivated by vain - FFS

Now googling v short buzz cuts (which off course always look lovely on models with heads full of lovely thick hair :/) while trying to breath slowly.

This is my head shot. Now bare in mind this is after thickening shampoo,mousse and hair spray so not a true reflection.

Should I see my gp about it or just buy the minoxidil? I feel like I'd be wasting the doctors time. I think mines hereditary-no one in my family is follically blessed!

i think i am between you two retainer and ilove - i have not jumped the step of minoxidil yet, as worried to do so without a GP recommendation and before my blood results.

I have also wasted time reading about Plattelet Rich Plasma therapy

my blood results are back, except for the ferritin.... all satisfactory :(
It's good in a way, but also a bit depressing because it does not afford me with any explanation for my hair loss...

I'll wait to hear about the ferritin next week...

It’ll be the iron levels.

What was your thyroid?

TSH 1.93
fT4 13.2
they did not run T3
not sure if they ran Vit D

Hb is "satisfactory" and ferritin still missing - hopefully by Monday...

Aaargh....wish I hadn't found this thread in a way. Just did a scalp photo and discovered I have a bald spot too! Obviously I knew my hair was very thin but thought it was more generalized. I have tried minoxidil, Elasticizer, iron tablets, not shampooing, vitamin supplements.....nothing has worked. I have a very short pixie crop, not because I particularly like them, but because it makes the hair loss less obvious although I am probably kidding myself about this. Commiserations to everyone else going through this. If you met me in real life, you would probably wouldn't realise that I spend hours and hours obsessing about my blood (lack of) hair!! I hate to admit it but it really brings me down.

sorry you found us Allegretto - I wish I was still oblivious too in a way
Knowledge is definitely NOT power!

Super short pixie crop is what I am thinking about - despite the fact that I just went from super long to bob last week. Just washed my hair and saw all these little fuckers float away towards the drain :/

Sadly I am going to join this thread.
I have a small bald patch at the front of my head, and on that side my hair has suddenly thinned massively.

Went to doc, who said blood test, but am needle phobic so not gone yet. She mentioned thyroid.
But I'm
Very interested by all the ferritin stuff- I have been low on that before.

I tried taking a multi-vit in case that helped but it made me so nauseous I stopped. (Well woman)

So shamelessly place marking so I can come back and read all your helpful advice.
And will book blood test.

Sigh me too
I grew my hair long because I thought I could kind of cover it by putting it up.
Are short hair cuts better do you think?

I have no idea what is best - my fear of going super short is that it becomes even more obvious :(

I don't know about hairstyles. My hairdresser insists short would be a disaster. But then I spend a bloody fortune there on colouring and trims every few weeks, and that round stop. If I get it cut short, the one benefit I can think of is getting rid of endless colour jobs. I'm not sure it could be worse!

ilove - what colours do you mean?
I don't colour mine and I have no idea what would made it look less dramatically thin (lighter? darker? shorter? longer?)

I also have no idea about hair styling (or using scarves or hairbands)

My hair has a lot of grey at the front, I just get that covered and a few low lights through the rest of it. I don't think it conceals the baldness at all. I was having it done long before I had this problem. Hairdresser insists it would be worth without, but really not convinced. I also tried the fibre stuff you pain on your scalp but a) disaster when it rained b) pillows were always filthy looking with it.

Paint, not pain.