Hair loss - where now?

Likeafurchin · 2023-09-05T20:21:19+00:00

My (already fine) hair is so thin. I've lost about half of it and nothing has helped. 😪I don't really know where to go from here. I know it's shallow, but everytime I look in the mirror I want to cry. I'm in my fifties and I'm not ageing well - I've never been beautiful but without hair I actually look scary. What's next? Wigs? Turbans? I'm a teacher and the thought of standing up in front of a new class next week makes me feel queasy....help!!

DustyLee123 · 05/09/2023 21:22

I’d like to know the answer. I asked my GP 10 years ago when I first lost some, I was just told to take iron .

wanttokickoffbutcant · 05/09/2023 21:25

Oh gosh poor you! Have you hit the menopause? I am peri at 50 and have noticed my hair thinning and also my eyebrows. Are you on HRT?

it is not shallow at all.

BadgerFace · 05/09/2023 21:27

I started taking these gummies after a friend recommended them after my hair started thinning. Two months in and I think it is helping. I’ve also had my hair cut from quite long to above my shoulders which has made it look better. I was keeping it long because the thinning was depressing me and I thought it would look worse short but I was very wrong!

Snowdropsarelovely · 05/09/2023 21:27

This sounds really stressful for you, have you been to the doctors to ask for blood tests? I'm certainly not an expert in this, but I wonder if you are deficient in something? I hope they can help

Lindos1 · 05/09/2023 21:28

My mum goes to Lucinda Ellery. It's been life changing. Not cheap, & difficult if you're not close to a salon, but what they can do is amazing. My mum has the hair extensions & they look so natural, you really can't tell it's not your own hair. Good luck x

Original poster

Likeafurchin · 05/09/2023 21:32

I'm not on HRT and I've been on iron supplements for years to no avail. I used to wear clip in extensions but you need enough hair to cover the clips and I don't have enough!

@Lindos1 I looked into something like that but you couldn't swim with them but I might reconsider.

I can't see what @BadgerFace wrote but now I'm intrigued...

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Original poster

Likeafurchin · 05/09/2023 21:34

Oh I can see it now @BadgerFace - I'll look into it. Thanks! My hair is very short now as I just couldn't stand the " comb over" effect when it was longer!

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BadgerFace · 05/09/2023 21:44

I’m not sure why mumsnet blocked my message to start with - first time I’ve had that in 11 years of posting!!

DustyLee123 · 05/09/2023 21:45

BadgerFace · 05/09/2023 21:44

I’m not sure why mumsnet blocked my message to start with - first time I’ve had that in 11 years of posting!!

I think it was just checking that it’s not an advert.

MairzyDoats · 05/09/2023 21:45

What about other supplements like biotin / spirulina?

BadgerFace · 05/09/2023 21:45

Also I agree with @Snowdropsarelovely that asking your GP for blood tests is a good idea to double check no vitamin or other deficiencies.

Maddy70 · 05/09/2023 21:49

If its hormone related get on hrt.

If you can afford it you could consider a hair transplant. My friend has had it done in London and it looks amazing cost around 3k 2 years ago

Gummybear75 · 05/09/2023 21:51

I'm late 20s and in this situation. I don't like looking in the mirror and no hairstyle looks any better 😕 Biotin does help new hair to grow though but you need a hair supplement for over 6 months to really see any effect!
Sadly the new hair I grow isn't where I'm thinning so didn't help me. I'm considering a wig next

Original poster

Likeafurchin · 05/09/2023 21:52

Thanks. I've had blood tests done and I'm deficient in ferritin but it doesn't seem to respond to iron supplements. Dr thinks it's more genetic than just deficiency- related. I didn't know about spirulin - will look into it. Transplant well out of budget unfortunately!

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DustyLee123 · 05/09/2023 21:52

are you on ferrous Fumarate ?

Original poster

Likeafurchin · 05/09/2023 21:53

Sorry to hear you're suffering too @Gummybear75 😔

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Original poster

Likeafurchin · 05/09/2023 21:54

DustyLee123 · 05/09/2023 21:52

are you on ferrous Fumarate ?

I think I've tried every type of iron available tbh!

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headcheffer · 05/09/2023 21:55

I know this sounds obvious but have you seen a trichologist?

BananaHammock23 · 05/09/2023 21:56

Sorry to hear you're expediting this. My wife is in her early 30s but has always had thin hair but it got progressively worse over the last year. She ended up having a hair transplant and it's been life changing. I know that's severe, but it was bothering her so much that she couldn't bear it any more. She went to Turkey to have it done and it was relatively reasonable.

Original poster

Likeafurchin · 05/09/2023 21:57

headcheffer · 05/09/2023 21:55

I know this sounds obvious but have you seen a trichologist?

Yes, they told me my ferritin was too low but in any case it was probably largely due to genetics. And rubbish hair to start with!

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Original poster

Likeafurchin · 05/09/2023 21:59

BananaHammock23 · 05/09/2023 21:56

Sorry to hear you're expediting this. My wife is in her early 30s but has always had thin hair but it got progressively worse over the last year. She ended up having a hair transplant and it's been life changing. I know that's severe, but it was bothering her so much that she couldn't bear it any more. She went to Turkey to have it done and it was relatively reasonable.

I don't think I could go down this route but I'm curious: is hair transplanted from somewhere else on your own head? I don't think I would have enough hair!

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smooththecat · 05/09/2023 22:00

Online, on the forums, the word is that oral minoxidil is the best thing out there. Minoxidil is the only proven treatment with proper clinical trials behind it for women(Finasteride is also proven, but only tends to work well for men). It’s usually applied to the scalp, which is messy and horrid, and extremely dangerous to cats if you have them. Lots of women are doing really well on the tablet form.

Original poster

Likeafurchin · 05/09/2023 22:04

Thanks. I used the lotion for a year but it made my hair look awful and I didn't notice any difference.

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tinpotcleopatra · 06/09/2023 07:25

Sorry to jump on your thread @Likeafurchin but wanted to ask @smooththecat about minoxidil tablets. Like @Likeafurchin I have tried minoxidil lotion but it made my hair horrible (I think it’s crap for curly hair; it went all stiff & the curls were sticking out in weird directions) so I massively sympathise with this issue! I had never heard of the tablets. I just googled and they are off license so are people ordering them from online pharmacies or going to trichologists for them? And could you recommend someone who could prescribe it as the dosage seems a bit of a minefield? Thank you.

botemp · 06/09/2023 08:02

tinpotcleopatra · 06/09/2023 07:25

Sorry to jump on your thread @Likeafurchin but wanted to ask @smooththecat about minoxidil tablets. Like @Likeafurchin I have tried minoxidil lotion but it made my hair horrible (I think it’s crap for curly hair; it went all stiff & the curls were sticking out in weird directions) so I massively sympathise with this issue! I had never heard of the tablets. I just googled and they are off license so are people ordering them from online pharmacies or going to trichologists for them? And could you recommend someone who could prescribe it as the dosage seems a bit of a minefield? Thank you.

The downside with oral Minoxidil is that it'll jump start hair growth everywhere so if there's an underlying hormonal cause (pcos, peri, etc) you'll be dealing with a lot of excess facial hair and elsewhere on the body. Might still be worth it to you, I don't know. There's also low blood pressure side effects so definitely see a doctor to know if you're suitable.

I have curly hair and have found the foam version of Minoxidil to work well for me, I'd probably be able to stretch out the time between shampooing without it but that's the worst I can say about its effect on my hair.