Multivitamin for thinning hair

[Ypsilanti]

Unsure whether to post this in here or general health.. but can someone recommend me a good multivitamin to support hair growth? I’ve been taking a Boots probiotic multivitamin for a year or so and it doesn’t seem to have made any difference; I want to give a hair-specific product a go for 6 months before going to see my GP.

But the hair-specific products are all very/much more expensive - I don’t want to shell out for snake oil. Has anyone had a positive experience taking a particular one (or conversely, tell me not to waste my money)? FWIW I have a good diet and feel well in myself - just my hair falling out by the handful when I don’t have much to start with :(

Thanks!

i take this one (when i remember...):
www.amazon.co.uk/Supplements-Phyto-Phytophanere-Supplement-Beautiful/dp/B0096E8C7E?tag=mumsnetforum-21

which isn't a multivitamin but does help I think (my hairdresser even commented at one point). although it's dear you're apparently supposed to take 2 months then have a 1 month break so the one linked to is a 6-month supply

Great, thank you - just the sort of thing I was thinking of! Yes, my hairdresser has commented too... I

Why are you putting off going to your gp? It seems the obvious place to go? I have a similar issue and a blood test showed my iron was on the low side so I'm taking that now to see if it helps.

Have you had blood tests for iron and thyroid? When my hair was falling out like that it turned out to be those two. So I knew what to supplement with - as well as iron, lots of zinc, selenium, B12 and other Bs and D. This worked a bit. Then I shelled out for Perfectil skin hair and nails, extra hair one, or max. Yes v expensive, got them on 3 for 2 at Boots. That stopped hair falling out, which was a great relief. And my thyroid went up to an acceptable level so I haven't had to start taking thyroxine.

My hairdresser had been telling me to do it for months, said other customers swore by it, so not only it worked for. When I stopped taking it, hair started thinning again. It still hasn't really started regrowing though, maybe I need even more vitamins

I guess I just feel embarrassed about going to see my GP for (what might be seen as) a cosmetic issue. I have always had very fine, very thin hair, it’s just getting worse. Did you have any other symptoms, if you don’t mind me asking?

Sorry, that was to @fruitpastille

Ferritin levels need to be 50 but ideally 70. NHS considers about 12 to be ok though! Ferrous sulphate with orange juice helped me. Avoid tea and grains an hour before and after.

Also the contraceptive pill can cause hair loss

@cordillera That’s interesting, thank you. I’m pleased to hear the supplements have halted the thinning - at this point I’d take that alone - but sorry that you’ve not seen much regrowth. Do you mind me asking you the same question about other symptoms? I feel absolutely fine which is one of the reasons I’m hesitating about going to the doctor. I’m 38 so not young as such, but definitely too young for it to be menopausal thinning (daresay I have that to come..).

@Labradoodliedoodoo Yes, the only time my hair has shed as badly as it’s been doing the past 2/3 months is about 10 years ago when I switched from a combined pill to Cerazette (I stopped it pretty damn quickly at that point). I don’t take any hormonal contraception now though and haven’t since then.

Nutrihair used according to the label. Cerazette can cause terrible hair loss in some women.

I would urge you to go to your GP, it's very easy to test for anaemia and vitamin D deficiency and cheap to treat. If you are low on these, you should treat them at a higher dose than just a daily multivitamin.

I didn't have other symptoms although I must admit that I also went about my dodgy knee at the same time! I had extremely low vitamin d around 6 months ago but this is right up now following supplements and lots of sunshine. My ferritin was about 25 but my GP thought this was on the low side and prescribed iron tablets (they are cheaper over the counter though). He took my concerns seriously even though actually to look at my hair looks ok.

I didn't have other symptoms, no. I was (am) always tired but I think that's life with a young child, job, partner, elder parents, and sleepless nights. I waited quite a while before going to GP, it was reading threads on here where similar OPs were told go to the doc that made me decide to. Wish I had gone sooner as less would have fallen out. I always had thick hair, lost half of it and it's so different now.

Wanted to come back and thank everyone for their advice - it’s been really helpful. After reading your comments and some old threads on here I went away and ordered a ferritin test which arrived yesterday. I’m sure they're not the most accurate but it came up with a positive result, which according to the test indicates my ferritin level is below 20ng/ml. So I’ve made an appointment with my GP.

Will update this thread in due course in case it’s helpful to anyone else. Thanks again.

Quick update while I remember. So my various blood tests (ferritin, thyroid, FBC) etc all came back in the normal range.

Ferritin was only 29 however - GP said the normal range started at 10 (!) but conceded that it could be low enough to be affecting my hair. Recommended I try ferrous sulphate (200mg twice daily) for 3 months and see how I get on. I’ve also started taking a vitabiotics hair supplement. It’s early days but I definitely feel as if I have more energy. Fingers crossed I see some improvement in my hair.

I think the hair supplements you are taking probably already contain Biotin? If not, try Biotin tablets for hair and skin. Also start using Philip Kingsley elasticizer.

Yes, the multivitamin has biotin in (150 micrograms) but I’ll look into the PK elasticiser. Thanks.

Maybe more Biotin is worth trying as well. Minimum 2500 microgram I think to see a difference. I will look for the research on it when back home in case I'm remembering incorrectly!

@Ypsilanti, hi OP, where did you buy the home test from please? TIA

From here but you can buy cheaper ones on eBay/amazon I think.

Thank you x