Thinning hair

[Girlintheframe]

I'm 49 and over the last year seem to be loosing hair from the front of my head (can't think of the right word!).

I got a fringe cut in as have to wear my hair up for work and the tension won't have help things. Also saw the Gp who prescribed Betnovate with I believe some have limited success with.

Is there anything else I can do? It's really getting me down and you can see my scalp in the right light. Worse is that I use spray to cover the greys and now it's just sticking to my scalp

the most obvious thing that will help is HRT. Hair thinning is normal with menopause. If you are already on it, research brands that are good for hair loss and ask to switch if yours isn’t it. Or go on it if you aren’t.

If you are already on it and it’s not helping ask for a referral to a Dermatologist who specialises in this area, it will take ages so if you can pay privately it will help. There are a few treatments that can help.

You can also ask your GP to do blood tests to check for anything obvious. Your GP doesn’t sound v engaged so research what might have an impact yourself eg iron levels, so you can have an informed conversation about the results - or get it done via a dermatologist or private menopause clinic.

Also there are hair powders that help it look thicker, and would probably disguise the spray problem. Have a Google.

finally - if you mean it looks thin when you are under an overhead bathroom light, remember other people don’t see it like that.

I second low iron, even if its only low ferritin and you are not actually anaemic.

Good advice so far. I am post menopausal and have generalised loss of hair volume. It doesn’t seem to be male-pattern though, just thinner throughout and no bald patches (not yet anyway)

Male- pattern hair loss responds to HRT I believe. See your GP first. I haven’t bothered with HRT as I think I am following my mum’s pattern. She is in her 70’s with very fine hair but still looks reasonable.

Some other post menopausal stuff seems to be creeping up on me though, so it might be on the cards

I have this and went to see a dermatologist who recommended (among other things) Alpecin caffiene shampoo, which is surprisingly effective in making my hair look thicker.

It would also be worth getting blood tests and making sure that your iron/vit D/thyroid are all okay.

what were the other things ?

Thanks all, lots of information there.

I'm already on hrt but am waiting to be seen by the menopause clinic so will speak to them when I get an appointment (7 months and waiting).

I had a full set of bloods done recently so assume my iron is ok. I will speak to the Gp again about a referral to dermatology.
I'm sure I had a friend that used the spray mentioned and it was great, you would never have known.

Temples have receded and where my middle parting is you can see my scalp. Not an actual patch but because the hair is so generally thin there. Got an appointment with my hair dresser soon, so will see if she can suggest a style to hide it a bit more.

I am in my 60s, still on HRT as the hot flushes just never went away and were really detrimental.
However my hair is thinning, just like all the women in my maternal line. Mam and Nanna had perms and sets and looked lovely. I don’t really want to go down that road. ☺️It’s been far worse since I had Covid in 2020 as I have Long Covid.

I have been using Tigi Bed Head and it’s good.
I have just bought Hair Skin and Nails vitamins again as I think they have helped over the last couple of months.I am looking at How Not to Die book and cookbook as I eat too many carbs and too much sugar and I know a healthy diet will help.

DeborahVance did you just use the Alpecin shampoo or the Liquid as well? I am going to give it a try.

I am not desperately sad about getting old as it’s vastly preferable to the alternative! I am older than my wife so want to look as good as I can, though she would never think the worse of me.
(She is going through the menopause and it is dreadful, especially the brain fog. Her hair however is totally lush!)

Oh meant to add a link 😳

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125353582909?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=rdabpmess-w&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=Mr7DF4iSSkC&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

@Girlintheframe I've also had thinning hair for a while - maybe since 35 and now 45. I went to see a private specialist at about 39 who said I have female pattern baldness basically. I was utterly distressed at first but like most things, you get used to it!

Ferritin levels needs to be higher than the normal range to promote hair growth so often a GP doesn't pick it up. I used to take Ferrograd C which you could buy over the counter in some Chemists. It's important to take ferritin with vitamin C for absorption.

I've wondered about getting hair transplant but not done any research as yet

Does the ferritin cause nausea like normal iron can do and did you find them effective?

I've taken biotin for years and it's made no difference.

I will look into getting some of those tablets you mentioned.

Have you had a look at hair pieces/toppers. A family member wears them for fun and you would never know it's not her real hair. Think they are ££ though but cheaper than a hair transplant obviously.

The only thing that works for me is Microstem shampoo and conditioner. My hair has always been fine but menopause made it straggly and pathetic looking. This stuff makes my hair look like it used to, I love it! My hairdresser recommended Nioxin but it did very little for me.

Hi ,
I was prescribed spironolactone for femail pattern balness at the front (on my temples) and worked a treat. I had to see a trichologist but its well worth it!

I started to lose a lot more hair than usual about a year ago and started on HRT at about the same time. My scalp started to be more visible, my hair seemed to be all over everything at home and it was really quite distressing. I visited a Trichologist and was prescribed Philip Kingsley scalp drops but I don't think they made a difference. I started taking gentle iron supplements alongside hair/skin/nail supplements and the problem seems to have stopped as quickly as it started. Unfortunately I don't really know which of these things resolved the problem though.

@Girlintheframe I was fine with the ferrograd c on one a day but when I increased to 2 I got an upset stomach. I just went back to one.

I've not tried a hair piece but I did have a topper thing in a play once and looked soooo much better!

A dermatologist recommended Minoxidil. Most brands will have this active principle on shampoo (check the percentage) but go to a pharmacy and get the lotion you spray on hair. Kérastase and Vichy have ampoules too but again this is the active principle so save your money and just get the much cheaper lotion with a higher %.
I'd also add my issued ended up being down to low Ferritin/Iron so make sure you get that checked out before throwing money at anything else!

Did your GP check your thyroid?

The tning with hairloss is a thing called telogen effluvium....various things including stress can trigger it and often it self rights so people think that whatever they are using when it self rights has "cured" it when it would have happened anyway.