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...

I'm taking Viviscal. In third packet but keep forgetting to take it. Think I'll put it where I see it every day. Not expecting to see a difference for a few months.

I'm waiting to see a dermo, Cider. The GP took skin scraping biopsies because of the tenderness, but they were all fine, and he says scalp tenderness is actually very common in the shed phase. I've been hanging round hair loss forums, and loads of people report this as well. At the moment, I'm using phyto9 or something for shampooing - sits with the hair loss products in Boots.

Is viviscal the same as nourkrin? That's the only one I can take as it doesn't contain iron (familial haemacromatosis)

not sure what is so special about viviscal compared to other supplements?

For me it was that I had remembered someone on MN recommended it. Having now had a look on th Boots website I think I'm using the wrong one. There is one to maintain growth and one for maximum growth. I'll have a look at them and ingredients etc and see if there is anything similar and maybe cheaper. Boots do an own brand similar one. They aren't with the hair stuff but with the vitamins.

Thanks! I will have a look next time I'm in Boots

I think viviscal and nourkin mostly have the same ingredients. It's the fish oils that make it so expensive, a friend is using root rehab natural hair vitamins from Amazon, they're about £15 a month but she swears they're just as good / better than viviscal. I'm too scared to try just yet but am thinking of transitioning into them in a few months and they're so much more affordable. They taste super fishy though for anyone who can't abide that sort of taste.

Yes, nourkrin is disgusting. I have the stomach of a ox, but I start gagging as soon as I smell them. I'm on month 3 of them, and no discernible improvement (in fact getting worse), but now I've added regaine in, if it works, I don't know which it is, I guess. Though if I get hair again, I will be so chuffed I guess I won't care, and will continue to spend £££ a month to hang onto it.

some weird special marine protein in viviscal, apparently shark cartillage and oyster extract snake oil?

viviscal is soooo expensive it s untrue!

I have my derm appointment this afternoon - feeling very anxious about it :(

Hope you get some answers marasme. Come and tell us all about it afterwards.

I am just about to buy some Biotin for the same reasons. My hair is long and I end up with handfuls falling out when I wash it. My worst problem is at the hairline on my temples.
I have had a couple of people mention Biotin so I thought that would be my first trial

I have PCOS and have been battling hair loss since 2002. I suppose the good news is that I don't look that much worse than I did 15 years ago, although the only time I've had significant regrowth was during my pregancy.

I will come back and post some more when I have time, but don't waste your money on the expensively re-packaged basic vitamins that are Nourkrin, Viviscal, even Perfectil. Their ingredients can be put together separately for a fraction of the price and you will be able to absorb them better for it. For example, zinc and iron shouldn't be taken together, and yet they feature in so many hair-skin-nail products. A blogger called Philippa Bloom is today claiming Nourkrin cured her hairloss in a fortnight. That's not clinically possible, babe; your hair stinks of bullshit and I have even less respect for this brand than I did before.

My parents and siblings are all doctors and I've got full Bupa; I've had access to literally all the best derms and endos in the country. Female hair loss is such a taboo that there are many people and brands queueing to offer expensive snake oils.

I promise to come back and post my regimen but in the meantime, those of you with low ferritin: you can better absorb Ferrous Fumarate with Vitamin C and L-Lysine. You also need to make sure your Vitamin D levels are around 100. Do not take Biotin on its own, but as part of a Vitamin B Complex vitamin.

thanks for the insight @thesaurusgirl - looking fwd to reading what you do...

How did you get on today, Marasme?

the derm appointment has come and gone - and I am none the wisest. He looked at my scalp with various devises and "did not see anything very exiting". To him, it could be either chronic TE or early FHLP.

i had washed my hair this morning so my scalp was OK - however, within 6hours, it usually starts itching like mad. I have to restrain myself from scratching. But nothing said about this.

As for lotions and potions - his advice was to not bother and consider minoxidil if my situation gets worst. He does not believe ferritin really matters for hair, nor biotin, nor vit D nor any magic lotion for scalp.

so I left... with no more ideas than when I went in!

:(. That's disappointing. How are you feeling about it now?

in denial - avoiding mirrors!

i hate the lack of consensus or explanation or the idea i should wait and see how much things worsen...

not sure what to do now...

@Marasme, what shampoo are you using?
I have a hair appointment on Saturday. I had grown my hair with the hope that I could sort of up do it over the less haired bits but it turns out I can't be arsed. I'm going to go short and have my roots dyed so my lack of hair is less obvious.
I hope.

@BWatchWatcher - never really had a specific one (just whatever was on offer) but have shopped around recently - I ve tried the fibrology combo, the T gel 2-in-1 and head and shoulders itchy scalp... I cannot say I am in live with any of these.

recently, my hair texture went funny and never "rinsed" properly so I started using a vinegar rinse (diluted clear vinegar) which helped a bit - but not aure it is a great idea long term... I of course forgot to ask the derm (who thought Head and shoulders was fine)...

Hi @Marasme
It may sound weird but you mught be able to get a sample of a lush honey based shampoo
uk.lush.com/products/fairly-traded-honey
Honey can be really soothing on dry flakey skin.
Or maybe try lots of warm coconut oil?

i am keen to find something that works - have been looking at sulfate-free shampoos but there are soo many out there!

re the oil treatments- how do you even get the hair clean after? does it not take loads of shampoo rounds?

Hello everyone. How are you doing? I am back to trying to be proactive about this problem as last night I kept on getting woken up with an itchy scalp - surely this must be connected somehow to the hair loss problem? I have noticed that it is worse on Sunday nights (we always eat pizza on Sunday nights) so maybe it is triggered by pizza!

I have also looked up my old blood tests which the doctor told me were fine - but ferritin was 17 which isn't great, is it? I really need to go back to my doctor but he is really dismissive of hair loss as a problem.

Ooo scalp intrigue!
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/3109705-In-light-of-the-soap-vs-shower-gel-revelation-solid-shampoo

Oh @Marasme, Coconut oil isn't too bad to get out, just shampoo once or twice.
I went to the hairdresser, spent a lot of money on a good cut and colour and feel much better. The lighter colour means my roots are less visible and I look less obviously bald, I hope.
I have ordered an iron supplement from amazon.