Age 55 hairloss

[PersephoneParlormaid]

I’m on HRT. My hair loss at the front is getting worse, I can really see my scalp at times, and my fringe area feels less bulky. Any suggestions that you’ve found actually work?

I’m taking oral minoxidil which I get from Hair & Me. You fill in a questionnaire and send photos and they prescribe what they think is best for you.

I had tried viviscal, biotin etc. Now I have lots of new growth. It’s been about five months I think.

My GP told me that one of the main reasons for female hair loss is low ferritin levels. Get them tested. My hair started going very thin on top and it turned out my ferritin levels had been below par for years. I've been on one prescription iron tablet per day since and all my hair has grown back.

I have just been to the GP for this. Low vit D and ferritin so being prescribed. Hoping it will make all the difference.

Yes mine too. I'm really embarrassed about how thin it looks at the front and how much of my scalp is visible especially under a bright light. I take high strength vit D all year around and have no problem with my ferritin levels. GP just said it's normal in menopause 😫

I'm now trying Weleda hair tonic and am hoping that will help as has positive reviews. Also started to see some improvement after taking high strength biotin. It's a very slow process and I still seem to lose so much hair after brushing 😔

I would also ask to have your HRT reviewed as your hair loss suggests the balance is not correct for you.

I use Nioxin shampoo and conditioner and rosemary oil and it has helped the thining hair along my hairline at the front.

I’m confused as I thought HRT balances out Estrogen & progesterone which help hair growth and thickness. I thought that was one of the main perks of it for women.

Hmm some things I've read suggest HRT improves hair loss and others that it contributes to it. Like a lot of menopause info out there it's quite confusing!

I've been on HRT for 18 months and in the last month have been experiencing increased hair loss. The amount of hair in the brush after a very quick brush through is much greater than previously and if I just run my fingers through my hair I end up with half a dozen strands caught between my fingers repeatedly.

I already take a vitamin D tablet daily and iron tablets twice a week. Maybe I need stronger vitamin D tablets and daily iron tablets instead.

Has anyone improved their hair through Vit D and iron ?

Sorry to hear of your hair loss OP, it’s horrible and I can sympathise.

I’m 49 and started HRT in January. I’ve had ongoing hair loss since my 30s. Weirdly my hair loss got better since starting HRT initially but 6 months in started again. I’ve just started oral minoxidil a few weeks ago with Hair & me to see if it helps, and glad to hear that it has helped you @Peridot1 - is that the 0.5mg dosage? I’m still in the shedding phase but hope it stops and I get some growth back.

The minoxidil foam, takes time but it works. @Peridot1do the tablets have any side effects?

Maybe not the answer people were expecting but I've had my hair cut short and layered whilst waiting for the minoxidil to take effect, and it is easier to hide the thinning, especially with a bit of thickening cream and a blast of the hair dryer. Thin long hair can look ever so straggly.

Oh yes the Small Talk thickening cream is awesome. Another Mumsnet tip.

Nioxin shampoo and conditioner help mine when my front hairline was thining.

My front hairline is breaking up and thinning so I’m investigating wigs

If the above suggestions do not work or seem like they would, then I’d go and see a dermatologist. What you describe could be scarring alopecia- FFA(Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia)
https://dermnetnz.org/topics/frontal-fibrosing-alopecia

Was just coming here to say exactly this. ⬆

I went to a tricologist recently- normal iron levels for the body (I.e. what the dr says is fine) is not high enough for your hair. See an expert- it is really worth the expense.

Pumpkin seed oil and saw palmetto capsules. I’m 55 - on HRT and have been shedding badly for a few months. Been on HRT for 4 years do I don’t think it’s that. Shedding was really bad after washing my hair - tons of it in the brush and I could see noticeable thinning - ponytail nowhere near as fat.

I’ve been taking the pumpkin seed oil nor 8 weeks and have seen a massive difference in sprouting of new baby hair at the sides and the front and nowhere near as much shedding.

@Summerhillsquare - no side effects for me. I do still have a lot of visible scalp but have regrowth as well. I think I might have some bloods etc done also to see where I am.

@PlutarchHeavensbee, I’ve been reading up on these and thinking about trying them so good to see someone report back positively! What brand are you using? There are so many and some of the Trust Pilot reviews are horrendous around delivery and orders not turning up at all. Thanks!

How did the hair tonic work for you?

Actually it's interesting you've just reminded me I posted this! I was at the hairdresser last week and she commented on all the baby hair growth and said it looks much better than last time I was there.

I'd noticed an improvement since I used the tonic but also starting on v high strength biotin. Whether it's a combination of factors, I don't know but the hair tonic must be helping!

What biotin are you on? I’m getting desperate

I take an iron supplement (Ferrograd-C as recommended by a nutritionist friend) as my ferritin levels were low (they need to be over 70 for hair growth) and oral minoxidil (started on 0.5mg but went up to 1.25mg after 6 months) from Hair & Me. Between the two, my hair has improved noticeably. It did take a good 6-9 months though before I saw an improvement. Patience is not one of my virtues but I got there in the end.

Biotin did nothing for me except cause acne. Viviscal didn’t seem to do much either.

Happy to share a Hair & Me referral code if anyone wants to try it. I asked for tablets rather than foam as there’s less faffing. I’ve had zero side effects other than to my bank account (!).

I switched to Kerastase Genesis shampoo and conditioner, and also used the Genesis serum while I was waiting for the minoxidil to kick in.