DD17 hair is really thinning and getting her down.

[ClockwatchingClara]

DD has recently turned 17.

A few years ago her hair was healthy looking and much thicker than it is now. It's now much thinner and wispy looking and really getting her down. All her friends have long thick hair and she can't help but compare.

She has tried so many things to get back to the previous thicker locks but nothing is helping. Nioxin, all the rosemary oil products, thickening shampoos and treatments and even rice water! She spends all her spare money on hair treatments.

She takes supplements for her hair, eats lots of protein and doesn't have an awful diet.

One thing which I think may be contributing as this was a problem for me for decades is low iron. She takes iron every day and has just had another blood test this morning as she has been feeling very dizzy recently and suffers from heavy periods (tried the mini pill but it made her feel awful so gets by with tranexamic acid).

She is worried she'll end up like me, I have to wear a hair topper now as my hair is so very fine. She refuses to have it cut shorter as her friends all have long hair.

The pics are from 2 years ago when her hair was much thicker and now.

Oops, photos didn't upload. Try again.

This is definitely hormonal and she is wasting her money on potions from Boots.
She needs to see an endocrinologist. And her Go and a first port of call. Especially if it runs in the family.

I would wait for the blood test results. Low iron, thyroid issues etc can all cause it. Low iron/low ferritin really affected my hair. I also had very heavy periods due to endometriosis. Could this be some sort of underlying cause. shame the mini pill did not work as it reduced my periods. Would the coil be an option? I am probably jumping ahead. Hope you get to the bottom.

My daughter had wonderful hair until about that age, when it got very thin. It was PCOS.

Despite suffering with gynae issues for decades I was only diagnosed with endometriosis 18 months ago at the ago of 18. I have asked the GP if DD can be referred to a gynae to check (my sister was also diagnosed late aged 45) but the GP refused saying she was too young. Sadly, I can't afford to go privately for her ATM.

DD can't take the combined pill due to aura migraines. GP says the insertion of the Mirena would be too traumatic for DD due to her age.

The blood tests should come back in a few days so I suppose we'll have to wait to see what comes back.

I do wonder if it's down to a gynae/hormonal issues especially due to her heavy periods.

She is absolutely not too young for endo and there is a strong genetic link. If you and your sister had it, it is very likely that your DD has it too. Can you see a different GP? There is also the implant and injections but as far as I understand, they work similar to the mini pill and if she did not get on with it, it may be the same issue.

I would definitely push for a gynae appointment esp as it seems to affect her a lot. Most private consultants do consultations from £200. I got onto the books of my amazing endo surgeon on the NHS in that route as my GP was useless.

I tried explaining this to the GP but she was so rude, she told me that I was just projecting my own health concerns onto my daughter. This was despite me explaining that endo is known to run in families and I would rather dd get checked out at a young age than to have to struggle for decades. She said that there was nothing a gynae could do for my daughter at this age that she as, a GP could not deal with!

After I made a bit of a fuss she contacted my daughter a few days later and ordered an ultrasound scan which came back as fine but is useless as a tool for diagnosing endo (I know that as I have had dozens over the decades which never picked up my issues).

I am trying to get her into a different GP but it's so difficult in our area. Sadly, I am not working atm due to my health issues so can not afford private consultations.