Need to hear success stories of hair regrowth after low ferritin! Am so worried.

[Twoanklebiters]

Hello I have got fine curly hair and have always shed a lot, but recently have noticed my hair is coming out heavily. If I’m stood under bright overhead lights you can see my scalp through the hair at the front, and there are super thin areas at the sides and the temples where you can now see my scalp.
I had a blood test at my ferritin level was 13, (I have also been feeling pretty spaced out but assumed that was down to having two kids and upping my exercise recently.) I’m now taking ferritin tablets, 200mg twice a day but am only two weeks in and already panicking that my hair will just continue to get worse.
Can anyone offer me some hope that things will improve? I feel panicky every time I have to wash and brush my hair as so much comes out. I hate tying my hair back as yo can see the thin bits and I just feel unable to enjoy life! I’m so worried and sad about it all.
I’m really hoping people can reassure me things will improve and let me know roughly how long it might take? I’ve just ordered some vitamin D tablets as well.
Thanks so much to anyone that can help me!

@Mia5 I started taking a marine collagen supplement a few months ago: Collagen doesn't promote hair growth itself but it can prepare the scalp and the follicle sac which in turn can lead to healthier hair growth (I believe!)
I'm getting virtually no hair loss now and it's definitely thicker: I really hope that yours comes back soon too:

@Mia5 Sympathies to you, it is a really distressing experience.

I started to notice the hair loss decelerate after a month or so of taking 210g ferrous fumerate properly. But before that I made the mistake before of taking the ferrous tablets daily with a big milky oaty breakfast which I think explains why I had a month or two of no results beforehand! Do check that you are taking them in a way that allows for max absorption.

This has given me results around the hairline too - lots of new baby growth coming through. www.beautypie.com/products/renewed-density-anti-hair-loss-ampoules

Can you try a marine collagen to help with your hair too? Really helped my hair and nails

hi i went to the hospital dermatology 4 weeks ago. The consultant prescribed liquid Iron, The doctor would not do this.
He said your ferritin level has to be more than 70. When mine was 3 the GP did not acknowledge this.
So i have been taking the medicine for four weeks and tonight, the front v which was receding is sprouting new hair.

Your D3 and iron needs to be well over the standard NHS guidelines. I was told Ferritin over 70 and D3 about 90, more if you’re ethnically South Asian or Black.

Hux D3 is the tablet I was told to take - it’s available over the counter. I take mine daily at lunch October-February every year.

I also take ferrous fumarate 210, lysine and vitamin C at bedtime daily to keep my levels up (am peri menopausal now and have had large fibroids all my life so heavy and frequent periods).

The bad news is that even with this regime I no longer have “good hair” or even normal hair. It’s very thin and very frizzy without products, but it has stopped falling out and therefore getting worse.

Make sure your blood tests and GP examination have ruled out thyroid problems, lupus, heart problems, lichen, and fungal issues as hair loss can be symptomatic of underlying health conditions.

@Valkirie I take my iron with breakfast. Am I not supposed to? It makes me feel nauseous if I take it on an empty stomach.

Is taking Floradix liquid iron a good way to raise ferritin levels?

Floradix is just a food supplement. It doesn’t have anything close to the iron in a prescription or OTC product. Even Spatone would require you to have multiple sachets a day to come close to one 210mg tablet of FF.

cutecockerpoo2
Which liquid iron do you take?

Is there a better time to take it?

How does it affect your digestion?

Thanks

Do also ensure you’re eating enough protein and fat. I was a vegetarian for many years and I’m now convinced it was the worst decision I ever made for my health. (I’ve got bone density loss and several crowns to repair cracked teeth to add to my shit hair).

My dermatologist told me she can always tell whether her South Asian patients are Hindu or Muslim because the former don’t usually eat meat and therefore have visibly thinner hair.

Nowadays there are many more veggie and vegan protein options than there were in my day, so don’t let up on your intake.

@WhereAreWeNow have you tried ferrous sulphate? I haven't had any problems with it. I take it as soon as my alarm goes off at 5am with a Vitamin C tablet and that way I can have my coffee 2hrs later.

I haven't had any sickness or constipation.

Can you recommend an otc one for me? I’m clueless and losing hair by the handful 😞

I have definitely had good recovery and lots of Regrowth after taking iron tablets. However, I've noticed my hair is very sensitive to low iron and stress. So I've had several cycles of heavy shedding/thinning and re growth over past 5 years - caused by anaemia, stress, Covid, recovery from surgery etc. Basically, take iron and keep an eye on it for the future so you can avoid it happening again where possible.

I take Ferro Ess, OTC at Tesco Pharmacy, but there are many brands which are all more or less the same formulation. Far too much information but I have a fibrous diet, so constipation isn’t a problem for me, but your mileage may vary. It also turns your poo very dark and sticky so I now use moist toilet paper to avoid a sore bottom!

The liquid iron the consultant at the nhs hair loss clinic (dermatology) prescribed was Sodium feredetate iron (sytron).
it is very expensive that’s why GPs don’t prescribe it . I had previously tried the ferrous sulphate/ fumate, that the GP prescribed but couldn’t tolerate these.
the consultant also said take stand alone zinc and biotin.
I should start to notice a difference in 6 months.
the medicine I take twice a day.

Spatone is brilliant. It's liquid iron available on Amazon, supermarkets and pharmacies. Have it with orange or Berroca spaced a couple of hours before and after dairy and caffeine. Sometimes I would have a non dairy lunch or dinner (meat or fish and veg) and drink it alongside to spare my poor teeth the acidity. It never caused me any digestive issues.

Oh and if iron is the source of your hairloss it should restart growing again. I saw a huge improvement in my hair at 6 to 9 months but I was also massaging my scalp several times a day, hanging upside down at least once a day for blood circulation, eating paleo, reduced stress, taking other supplements (fish oil and Multi Vit, skin hair and nail), bi-weekly hair masks and oils (mostly coconut oil). My iron level was 9.

That level of dedication deserves amazing hair no matter what the problem 😮

@MrLahey and amazing it was! 😀I need to restart though as been stressed with work and not eating that great coupled with post Covid hair loss.... sigh

Thank you @Valkirie . I am going to look into collagen. A taking perfectil hair but can see it has very little collagen. I had ferritin 6 and very low haemoglobin too so I took an infusion through a private appt so my levels have been normal for the last 4 months. I can see the hair fall is reducing, although very slowing, it has not stopped though. Is this normal ladies ? Will it ever stop ? I wake up with nightmares of going bald.

Is it just me or does anyone else feel depressed? Mentally how do you cope with the fear of going bald ?

Are you also addressing the root cause of your low iron? You said you have heavy periods, so if they are really bad have you discussed ways you can improve this? A friend of mine has a similar challenge and every time she stopped taking iron she would slip right back due to her periods. Maybe something to help your recovery and keep your levels higher long term?

@JeezLouiseErrrr did you notice any improvement until 6 months ? Or did it start after then ? I am really worried how long mine will go for. How did u manage stress of hair falling out until then ? I am pretty depressed and everyone keeps saying that it will make it worse.

If you’re still having heavy periods you need to be investigated (easier said and done at the moment, I’m afraid), and at the very least start taking the pill or have a Mirena fitted to halt the blood loss. Otherwise you’ll be anaemic again very soon.

I did get very distressed and depressed about my hair loss. There’s something so confidence sapping about looking in the mirror and absolutely hating how you look, and being fearful how much worse it’s going to get. In particular I have to wear my hair in a pronounced side parting to cover the thinning crown a little bit, and it’s really unflattering to my face shape.

However, I’m now open about my shitty hair, and have quite the collection of hats and scarves. If it worsens I’ll get a pixie cut and wear a wig. I’m still alive, which is a privilege denied to many, and I’m determined to enjoy life no matter how I look.

This thread is so interesting! I’ve also been experiencing hair loss on and off for the past year or so, I think it may be anaemia.

I phoned the GP in November but couldn’t get an appointment until December and now can’t get a blood test until January 🤦‍♀️ She was very nice though and seemed to take it seriously.

I’m 35 and not otherwise showing any symptoms of peri menopause so I don’t think it is that. I have been eating a mostly vegetarian diet for a few years now though. I’ve just had a steak with leafy greens and an orange juice and will be looking into the supplements suggested above.