Shedding loads of hair - help! :(

[eatsleepread]

I'm 46. My hair has always been my crowning glory; it's long, naturally blonde and wavy. I am also rather fat, so this isn't a stealth boast 
Thing is, I'd really appreciate your help with it, mumsnetters, as it's a bit of a nightmare. I don't mean the overall style or appearance of it. I mean the fact that I am shedding LOADS. It's embarrassing. The children I work with end up getting it on them , I can't see the bristles on the brush after brushing my hair, as the brush is so covered in hair, it blocks the plug hole in the shower, it gets in food even though I tie my hair back when preparing anything, my clothes end up covered.
Admittedly I don't brush it every day; usually just before I wash it. It goes frizzy when I brush it, you see. I have a beachy wavy look, if that makes sense, so it looks fine unbrushed anyway.

It is really getting me down.

Today a clump of it came out in class (it comes out at the ends).

I am ageing and it is thinning, and I'm finding it hard to come to terms with. I dread washing my hair, as I shed like a dog for a day or two after.

I am having blood tests on Monday to rule out anything untoward.

Does anyone have any advice? Perhaps a shampoo or hair product you'd recommend, to promote thickness?
Maybe a vitamin I could take that's good for this kind of thing?
I should add that this is a relatively recent issue.

Thanks in advance.

Did you have covid at all? I have heard that this can cause hair loss.

When this happened to me it was an underactive thyroid. See if your doc will test your TSH levels. Once I was medicated it improved although it still happens to a degree.

Oh my goodness, YES, I did! And come to think of it, it's only since then it has been a big problem.
I had it back in January!
Good thinking @PammieDooveOrangeJoof !!

@Lifeisforalimitedperiodonly

Thanks. I believe that's one of the blood tests they're doing on Monday.

Get your b12 checked as well.

I will, thank you. Both my sisters need regular B12 injections at the doc's. They feel so grotty without it that they paid for them privately during lockdown.

Just read an interesting fact about Covid and hair loss. Apparently the hair loss starts about 3 months after. It's been about 2 1/2 months for me, so it does more or less tie in.

Caffeine shampoo can be good for thining hair. Worth a shot.

This is also happening to me. I didn’t have thick hair to begin with though. I would say I have lost about half the volume of my hair. It’s actually terrifying and so depressing and I sympathise so much.

I have also had COVID and understand there may be a connection. I am also post menopausal and stressed to buggery after being redeployed to COVID ICU.

I spoke to my GP who did some bloods and Vit b12 came back as borderline but I suspect that is not the issue. I am desperate for hairdressers to open because it is an absolute mess. I am told it should settle soon if it is telogenic effluvium (google it). Photos of me last August are the last ones to look normal so I reckon it’s been going on now for about 6 months.

I am really not convinced about vitamin supplements or special shampoos etc. It’s a physiological process that has to work itself out and I bloody hope it does before it gets much worse but it is seriously getting me down.

Have you spoken to your GP ?

Have bought some, thanks, and used it for the first time today. Time will tell.

Mine is thinning too but I suspect it’s linked to my overactive thyroid. Annoyingly the only symptom I have (rather than the more appealing weigh loss one.) I’m taking zinc and biotin and apparently selenium is good too.

So sorry, AF. It's rubbish. It's so embarrassing at work too, when my hair gets everywhere. I honestly can't believe how much of it I'm losing!

Have had a telephone consultation with a GP, and bloods will be taken by the nurse on Monday.

Hope your hair sorts itself out soon.

Good luck to you too. Let us know how you get on.

Hi. Hope you don’t mind me chiming in as I’m 23. The cause of my extreme shedding was initially thought to be telogen effluvium, but I have since discovered that I am sensitive to the fragrance ingredients in my hair products! Who would have thought that my shampoo for hair loss was causing my hair loss?!

Many people can suddenly become sensitive to fragrance so it’s definitely something to consider for optimal scalp health, and in turn optimal hair growth conditions. As are supplements if you’re deficient in anything.

I highly recommend minoxidil. It is quite a daunting thing to start but I have seen results already.

I had a severe sinus infection a few years ago that really floored me. Only time in my life that I had to get signed off work rather than being in the self cert window.

3 months later I had lots of hair loss and saw the doctor as I was also trying (and failing) to conceive and wondered about my thyroid.

Thyroid was fine, but gp said hairloss a few months after serious illness was quite common. Hair eventually went back to normal thankfully.

It’s really strange. I think I had covid last March (worked in a school where lots of people had it) but obvs was never tested. I had lots of hair fall out about 3 months later but assumed it was because I was just tying it up not looking after it properly etc. It stopped and seemed to calm down.

I then had covid for sure in December and again have had some hair loss but not as bad as last year. Lots of baby hair growth now.

I have been taking collagen supplements for the last couple of months so maybe they are helping. Hope it eases up @eatsleepread

I know it’s horrible. I dreaded washing it as felt like so much was coming out each time.

I think I’m a bit older than previous posters, so thinning hair might be expected, but since the first lockdown I’ve been taking Hair, skin and nail supplements and iron.
My hair has seriously reduced falling and my nails no longer flake and split. I will be getting a blood test when my surgery is back to normal.

I was told by my doctor that hair loss due to trauma or illness happens 3 months later due to the lifespan of individual hairs.

Thank you so much everyone. First time posting on S&B and you've all been incredibly helpful and kind.

Hopefully the blood test will shed some light (no pun intended). My guess would be:

• thyroid
• anaemia or Vit B12 deficiency
• possibly peri-menopause or diabetes, but less likely without other symptoms

Have you lost weight recently? Both times I lost weight, about 3mths after starting the diet, I started loosing hair as you described. It did grow back though. Best of luck and don't forget to update us.

It's definitely worth taking biotin as a supplement- I take it because I had weight loss surgery last year and rapid weight loss can cause hair loss.

I have had rapid weight loss but no problems with my hair - actually it has been growing really quickly since I've been taking biotin, which is a bit of a nuisance at the moment when I can't get it cut!

Hugs OP. I have thinning hair too. If you had Covid a few months ago then that could well be the cause. If so, I believe chances of it growing back are good.

I’ve had one lot of blood tests and about to have more. Next lot will test iron levels and a full hormone panel. I won’t be surprised if my hormones are abnormal as I’ve suspected for years that I may have PCOS. I have long term acne issues, some excess hair (fairly mild though), gain weight on my belly and have to drop calories to a very low level to get to a ‘normal’ BMI. Oh and I have never really had regular periods (they’re almost regular now at 44 strangely) and have had undiagnosed abdominal pain in the past which may have been a burst cyst. Eek!

Anyway, I’ve finally decided to do something about as my temples are thinning and it’s hugely impacting my self esteem. My GP gave me a referral to a dermatologist so fingers crossed that helps. The first GP I went to dismissed it as nothing so you do have to be persistent.

I’ve the same - v sudden and huge breakage too and my hair was v fine to behind with but plenty on top so when my parting started to thin I was completely freaking out. One thing that has massively helped is MSM- it makes your hair grow seriously fast. I also take collagen and have just started iron as my ferritin level is 16 but it has been 8 so not sure if that is the cause. I also found a recipe for a topical solution which has among other things uses MSM and fenugreek , will post the link later and a friend recently said she thought my hair had never looked better. It’s a v slow process and I expect not linear bit the things I am doing have helped I think and won’t hurt to try.

Covid hair loss

Hi.
Please do join "telegon effluvium- an evidence based support group"

Hair loss a couple of months post covid is TE and needs nothing exceptional doing. The hair loss post covid can be fast and huge.

It will grow back

I use seavit shampoo, wash every other day, I don't comb and let it dry nsturally after a towel dry

I have been shedding for 7 weeks, new growth has started and can be seen under a microscope, but the shedding is still there.

I wash and apply olaplex 7 with Moroccan oil

DM me if any questions

wingsnthat can i ask how long you have been using minoxidil,and how long it took for you to see any new growth?
I have been using it for severe hair thinning,but not seen any difference,
Mine is mainly at the back, which i can't even look at, although my daughter thinks it is looking a bit thicker
Do you use the Regaine,and what strength?
I keep thinking i am going to give up, as it is quite expensive,don't mind if it works, but getting a bit disheartened now
A dermatologist i have seen a couple of times said it would regrow on it's own eventually as he said it was stress related