Hair seems to be thinning 😭 collagen? Biotin? Serums? Help

[MounjaroUser1233]

My hair is starting to fall out noticeably more in the last few weeks and I am getting really stressed about it.

I saw on another thread someone mentioned collagen - has anyone got any good brands they can recommend please? There are so many on amazon I don't know where to start

I was taking biotin but have stopped; I don't know whether this has caused it.

I had been using the loreal no-fall serum but it was getting a bit expensive so I don't know whether that's also why.

I am noticing it as I tie my hair up, or take it out of its ponytail, way more strands come loose.

As my username suggests, I am on MJ weightloss injections but have been since Oct. and the hair is only the last few weeks or so. So I don't think it's these that are causing it.

I'll go back to using the hair serum if I have to but to saturate my scalp I'm using a bottle a week which is adding up!

I've also been reading about rosemary oil but don't know if I should use that instead of the loreal stuff. Seems no point in using both as maybe they'll cancel each other out or something. Also I have read conflicting advice about whether to use it neat or diluted.

Thanks for your advice x

We do naturally lose hair in cycles. Could it be this? It's like trees losing leaves and certainly there's expected to be much less growth in our hair in winter. On top of that, have you been going through a stressful time otherwise? I lost huge clumps of hair when my Dad died 😔 Repeatedly and for weeks...

I've had a lot of growth tho recently and it has coincided with upping my good fats (extra Virgin olive oil, avocoaods, fish oils and flaxseeds) - worth a try?

Perfectil worked for me. (I'm not on any injections.)

Have you had your ferritin checked?

Have you lost weight fast? It could be telogen effluvium which I have
Usually starts about 3 months after the trigger
Mine was food poisoning which caused a high temp and weight loss, then my hair started falling out in January in handfuls

Folic acid, and as above, check iron levels

In all likelihood it will have been induced by the MJ/rapid weightloss as a result of it. You are probably suffering from Telogen Effluvium.

I started MJ last June and by the middle of August my hair started to fall out. With TE, the loss starts usually 2-3 months after the ‘trigger’ (starting MJ).
I didn’t lose weight rapidly, so for me it was definitely the medication that was the cause of my hair loss.
I stopped taking it in early October and I am still shedding hair now.

TE does tend to last between 3-6 months and then just stops on its own, but I have been taking many supplements since I very first started losing hair back in August. These include:
Biotin
Multivitamin
Pumpkinseed Oil
Vitamin D and K2
Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides in my coffee each morning.

I also oil my hair twice a week with Nature Spell Rosemary Oil, and use Nizoral shampoo as a pre-wash treatment for 15 mins twice a week (the ingredients are known to prevent hair loss, you don’t have to have dandruff to use it for this purpose).

I would say that at almost 7 months in, the shedding is slowing, but I’ve lost probably 30-40% hair density. I am however noticing loads of baby hair regrowing down my parting, which is promising.

The truth of the matter is you just have to wait it out. Once TE has started, you can’t do anything to stop it until it’s ready to come to a natural end. I have found the Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides really good - my skin seems to have seen the most benefit!

As hard as it is, try not to get overly stressed about the hair loss as this can exacerbate it even more. It WILL stop and it will grow back - it might just take a while. Good luck x

I saw a trichologist about my hair and she said that diet is the most important thing, so I think weight loss could be the reason - there is a time lag of three to four months or so between the trigger and the hair loss being noticeable. So that would fit with you going on weight loss jabs.
She said collagen doesn’t help with hair growth . Plenty of good quality protein, and eating at regular intervals with protein and vegetables. Eating a good breakfast with something like eggs and toast.
I’m not on weight loss jabs but I do struggle to keep my vitamin d and iron at a good level, these are really important for hair.

@KimFan that's really helpful - I'm not as far in as mine only started in January but am using
Collagen
Multi vitamin with omegas
Vitamin d
Iron

I would say I've lost about 1/3 of my hair, mostly density rather than length
It was very sudden, one day was fine, the next wash it was handfuls

Yeah, it was the same for me so I feel your pain.
Luckily I had a lot of hair to start with, so it’s really only been noticeable to me so far. I am really hoping I’m nearing the end now at almost 7 months.
But my god, if I could go back I’d have never touched MJ. The weight loss I achieved (1.5 stones in 4 months), just wasn’t worth the months of hair loss I’ve experienced. Still, we live and learn, and everyone’s experiences are different with it.

Do some research on Telogen Effluvium - it will make things a bit clearer for you.

Forgot to mention - don’t be under the illusion that washing your hair less will help. It won’t. Once the hairs are in the shedding phase, they will come out regardless. It’s really important to keep a clean scalp and to avoid unnecessary clogging of the follicles with sebum/oils when you have TE, so wash your hair as normal if not more frequently whilst you’re experiencing the shedding.

I had massive hair loss a couple of years ago ( I was quite ill and I noticed after this my hair came out in handfulls )
If I washed my hair it blocked the plug
If I ran my fingers through I had lumps of it coming out .
My hair formed a poky little cotton wool ponytail.
My temples and sides were bald
Menopausal too , I thought "Is this it ?"

I took supplements ( B Vits, )
Used Morrocon oil / Olaplex

Cut the length off so not pulling
Keep your scalp clean or the follicles get blocked up with dead skin.

Mine grew back weirdly corrugated , I now have wavy locks , not very thick but better than I had .

Yeah I'm washing more frequently - I have wavy hair so washing every 3 days to keep my scalp clean and it makes the hair loss less scary

Iron needs to be over 70

I started using nope shampoo bars a few months ago, the peppermint one, and I've noticed a lot of new hair growth at the front of my head. I've also heard great things about hair piling so I'm probably going to give that a go too.

It is the Mounjaro, OP, or more accurately the weight loss that comes with it. It’s called telogen effluvium and happens at a specific phase of the hair growth cycle, which is why you’re only seeing it now. It will grow back. I’m a bit further on than you; I’ve lost 100lb and now have lots of new growth coming through, very similarly to after I had both of my children. Supplementing with biotin (or a broader B vitamin complex), zinc and iron can help.

Mounjaro has caused hair loss for me too. I’ve started taking a collagen powder and an upping my good fats (smoked salmon, avocado, nuts and olive oil) but it’s too early to say if it’s having any effect yet.

I had similar after COVID. I take biotin now.

@KimFan I second the nature spell range, I use the shampoo and conditioner and I have definitely noticed a reduction in hair loss. Previously I was losing handfuls, now just the odd strand when I wash it.

I'm so sorry for your loss x
I am eating avocado like it is going out of fashion but not tried flaxseed or fish oils etc.

I think maybe you're right about the hair cycle plus am early-40s so was thinking maybe this is the start of menopause.

I don't think so? Not sure what ferritin is! I have been tested for anaemia and vitamin D deficiency and a few other things but the only thing they found was my calcium is a bit low

I have lost quite a bit of weight, yes it has been quite fast. I would say a stone or two over about 4½ months (I'm not weighing myself just looking at how my clothes have become baggier). And yes it's been about 3 months since I started to really start losing weight fast so that'd tie in.

I am sorry you had food poisoning; how horrible to have that and then start losing hair to boot ☹

Thanks so much for this. Not even heard of Telogen Effluvian till now! But it all ties in.

With the Nizoral do you just make up a lather then leave it for 15 min? Thanks x

What is hair piling?

I usually wash my hair twice a week; or sometimes less 😭😳

I was thinking if I wash it less then it will fall out less. But good to know this won't make a difference!! As it goes get a bit greasy.

Thanks @kimfan and yourself I have not heard of this range but will check it out 👍

Sorry, typo. I meant hair oiling.