Hair thinning in women

[Catbrations]

I have issues with my hair. I was trying to grow my hair long but i can't. My hair can get to approx bra strap but it is so thin at the ends. I look after my hair a lot and I am careful with my hair. I don't know if it's breakage. Maybe there could be some breakage more than likely not.

I have halo of short hairs. I thought it was new growth but I am coming to realise that it's likely hair that's not growing longer.

My hair is wispy and looks frizzy. This is despite hair care.

I was watching some videos online and I am coming to realise that this is likely something called hair miniaturization. It's where the follicle reduces the hair.

I became depressed about 2 years ago for different reasons. So this is likely depression, age and sickness and stress related.

Anyways rogaine or minidoxol was recommended.

But reading about this and it's for long term use. Once you stop it, the hair stops growing again. I really don't want this option.

Is there anything else that can help stop the thinning and reverse this?

My GP says I am too young for hrt. I am early 40s.

I still do have hair but I need to prevent any more of this continuing.

Any help or advice. I am just after starting on a peptide. I don't know if it will help.

While browsing online I found something called laser diodes and I am considering spending a small fortune on a hat device. It would be regular LEDs but medical grade. I am looking at something that is about 1300 which is a lot of money.

Have you had recent bloodtests for iron and b12 levels? My hair was thinning terribly until I got these back up, and above the bare minimum levels suggested by the NHS.

I had bloods done before. I was low on iron for a long time. Back around about 2016 time. I wasn't consistent with taking an iron supplement back then.

I am consistent with taking an iron supplement now. I think I am still not very great with the iron levels according to my last blood test. Which is very disappointing. My gp never suggested anything else like iron infusions. Unless if I try a liquid iron supplement at some stage.

Agree with iron and also get your thyroid tested

I became depressed in 2023 due to other stuff and my diet went to crap and I used to some supplements but I gave a lot up. I am back now taking iron supplements. I but a brand called floradix and it's a b complex tablet. I take that because it's the most convenient. I have it on my bedside locker and I take one every morning with water before brushing my teeth. I like these because they come in blister packs and I can pack them in my bag for overnight stays in work. Otherwise I really don't think I would stay on top of taking iron.

Got the thyroid tested in 2021 and nothing showed there.

This, plus check your thyroid with a blood test at GP. Your thyroid could have been affected by low B12 levels since 2021.

Low vitamin D can also cause hair thinning or loss, worth checking.

I would suggest floradix isn't strong enough if you struggle with iron I take 305mg daily , when I get down to what the NHS calls borderline my hair falls out in handfuls. I also did one b12 injection (private but at a pharmacy and not expensive)a and then regular supplementation of high dose b12 for 6 months now I take a daily b complex to maintain

Thanks for this. I gave up with supplements with a depression episode from 2023. This could likely be it or part of it. I am back taking vitamin D regularly now since about November time.

Thank you. I am likely chronically low Iron. I will look for a different iron supplement.

Me too - I'm on HRT but what gas helped is diet and Vit D and Iron supplements.

@Catbrationssorry this is happening. I have had the same and it is very distressing. Just joining to say you also need to ignore “normal” iron levels because if you have hair issues your iron levels need to be relatively higher. I’m afraid I can’t quite remember the level needed so you will have to look it up. Also it is ferritin you are interested in for hair loss. GPs are rubbish at this stuff btw (even mine who is lovely and interested and tries hard)!!! They really don’t have the expertise so you will have to do your own research to get this sorted. Sorry I don’t have more detailed info. I’m sorry that you have been depressed and have low iron but it does at least mean there is an explanation for your hair loss so it could be reversible (mine sadly is just female pattern baldness)!!! Best of luck x

I’d ask for your detailed blood test result and ensure your ferritin is above 70.

Not much to add except that if you are experiencing menopausal symptoms then this indicates it's the right time to start HRT. Early 40s is definitely not too young for many women. Many women may not be suitable for HRT at your age but you are an individual and need to be assessed as such. If you have symptoms and want HRT I suggest you push back or see a different GP.

I’ve read that ferritin (stored iron) levels need to be over 90 for good hair growth, so a better iron supplement needed.

Can anyone recommend me an iron supplement.

I really like the floradix supplement because it's iron, vitamin c, folic acid and other b vitamins all in one.

Should I go for a vitamin c and iron tablet and a separate vitamin b and folic acid supplement?

Blood results in 2021 that was emailed to me from my GP shows:
Iron *4 and indicates iron deficiency anemia
Blood ferritin of 79.

I got bloods done since then but the results weren't emailed to me.

I know these numbers can change all the time but that was the 2021 result in relation to iron and ferritin.

I am just after googling something about iron and ferritin and sometimes ferritin levels can be artificial.

I do have a gut issue of diverticulitis sometimes with about 2/3 flares a year. Maybe that is contributing to the crap hair too.

I was recommended by a dermatologist to take a Biotin supplement as my hair really thinned due to menopause. It’s really made a difference & it’s now thicker & much less shedding.

I’ve had problems in the past with low iron levels which caused fatigue even though my diet was rich in iron and I took a supplement. My problem was absorption so this is also something to consider.
from NHS website:

I have alopecia on my legs and other body areas but not so much onmmy scalp. I am bald on my legs except for a patch of very fine hair. I got blood results done in 2016 which showed iron was at 15 and ferritin was at 32.

I thought I had other blood work done since then but I can only find a blood report from 2021 and 2016 in my email.

My life isn't going to allow me a supplement regime like this. To get up very early for a supplement and hour before eating breakfast when I will be lucky if my job and demented mother will allow me to go to bed at all. I love my sleep and I would sleep from 9 or 10 pm if I was allowed to buy many nights it might be midnight or much later due to being pulled in every direction.

This was in response to trotula

Do you have MYCARE in your area? It’s an NHS website where you can access all your hospital appointments, letters and test results, including those taken by the GP. It’s quite simple to register (if available) and you can look at all the blood test results. The format is easy to use and can be seen in graph or table format and also shows norms so easy to see where your results are relative to expectations.

I have this issue. I have been taking iron supplements for a few weeks now and I think - think- the amount shedding is reducing . I have no idea if I am low on iron and I know that my nhs says that why are deemed acceptable levels are still too low swearing wise to maintain hair health . Plus I don’t think my go would authorise a test because of my hair. I might order a private test.