How to stop and maybe reverse hair thinning?? Does anything actually work?

[GlomOfNit]

I'm 53 and haven't had lush thick hair since my 30's. I'm well into perimenopause (on HRT for over 3 years) and I know hair can really start thinning at this stage onwards. But I think I've unwittingly helped it on its way by trialing testosterone gel alongside my conventional HRT (prescribed by an NHS clinic for low libido, which it hasn't really helped...). I've stopped taking this because it wasn't having the desired effect AND I was convinced I was losing more hair than usual. The clinician who prescribed it pointed out that women are prone to extra hair loss in autumn (after the summer 'rest period', I gather) but all the same ... it freaked me out. It seems to be thinning all over, especially at the crown, rather than at the hairline (which is what I was looking out for).

Anyway, is there anything at all I can do to encourage regrowth? Are collagen supplements at all worth it? I keep getting ads for Elavate collagen on my socials as the algorithm clearly knows how old I am! I have creaky joints and some arthritis too so maybe it IS worth a go. I also bought some Plantur shampoo (it's like Alpecin) but it's very drying on the scalp and dries the entire hair shaft too. I'm sort of alternating days with that. (I do wash daily, I'm trying to force myself to go every other day but I loathe the feeling of an unwashed scalp.) I'm also trying to let my hair, which is below shoulders, dry naturally, though as colder weather sets in this is less attractive!

Are there any other hair tricks or supplements I could be trying?

I’ve wondered this! I was very taken with the Sali Hughes advertisement article, but the active ingredient is basically Regaine. Has anyone tried that?

@Rainallnightthe active ingredient is minoxidil, not Regaine. Regaine is one of the many brands of minoxidil available. Generic minoxidil is cheapest.

Is this a problem with the topical solution? 😮

I am 62 and post menopause. I had problems with hair thinning and hair breakage but lately my hair has been much healthier. My hairdresser noticed when I visited him in September and hadn't been since July. However, it took about 10 mths to notice a difference. I took the supplements really for other nutritional problems related to a medical syndrome but the side effect has been better skin and hair. This is what I take:

Vitamin D3
Vitamin B12
Biotin & Collagen
Magnesium

Sigh. I know. I was saying it’s all basically Regaine, as in it’s the same active ingredient in all of them (which I know is minoxidil)

Mmm. So basically, choose between risking poisoning my cats, and get even fatter than I already am! 😂

Not ungrateful for the information, mind. It's all giving me a lot to think about.

This thread is very helpful and it is the first time I have heard of pumpkin seed oil as a helpful supplement for hair. To those of you who have taken it, did you get any side effects from it? Im very tempted to try it myself now

Sorry, I quoted the wrong post @cheezncrackers. That was meant to be yours about the topical minoxidil rather than the tablets.

I’m posting again as I can’t see my post from yesterday? I did respond but it’s disappeared (at least to my view!). I’ve been on oral minoxidil well over a year now. It’s definitely improved my sudden hair thinning (hair loss on head and vanishing eyebrows!). Haven’t experienced weight gain but I slowly increased the dose over time. It can cause fluid retention apparently which may be part of the weight gain thing. It can also cause what seems to be an initial shedding phase, I’ve read this is meant to hair that would fall out anyway and it speeds up the process. I didn’t notice things getting worse when I started, and after 6-8 weeks things started improving.

Whether I’ll be on it forever, I’m not sure. I think it is true you can lose the hair you gain by stopping the drug. Depends on what caused the hair loss in the first place and if it is permanent I suppose. Mine was a trio of peri, weight loss and stress.

I also have a code if anyone would like it, DM me, you get a discount. I would of course also benefit when someone signs up. It’s been a good journey for me so far.

I use mens regaine foam as it's cheaper than women's.
They have exactly the same active ingredients except the men's instructions say use twice a day and women should only use it once.

Yes to the minoxydil shedding but if you commit & get through the pain, it is worth it. I've had another (scary) instance of shedding again about 18 months later but it's started coming back again with lots of new growth.

I also take iron supplements, collagen and derma roll the thin areas before applying minoxydil once a week. I'm currently also trying Nizoral anti-dandruff shampoo which is supposed too be more effective than Plantur, and cheaper, but it's early days with that.

And if all else fails, don't be scared to try a topper. If you can get the right one, they're awesome.

I just started using rosemary oil yesterday, has anyone tried this on thinning hair and did it work? I am on long term hormonal treatment for breast cancer prevention and this has caused my hair to get really thin.

Check with your gp about pumpkin oil as it can interfere with HRT as it is a phytoestrogen. I used it without realising and had a few months of short crampy cycles before I found out that it can interfere.

I use nature spell shampoo, plus the ludicrously priced Cornish seaweed shampoo (which doesn’t see to be working yet), take iron, biotin, HRT… still falls out a lot although I do have lots of new growth especially at the hairline so I think it is maybe working slowly.

Sorry @RainallnightI get what you mean now. I’m a pedantic hospital pharmacist and can’t help myself sometimes!

I'm on a serious quest too, my hair is awful. I started a couple of weeks ago supplementing with iron (plus vit c for absorbtion, and you need magnesium for conversion but most people aren't deficient in magnesium if they eat a balanced diet), folic acid, vit d3 and K2, omega 3 with good levels of epa and dha. I'm doing the iron only every other day as apparently it is better that way. I've also bought the ordinary hair serum and am applying that every evening.
But... I took photos of my hair today and it's upset me so much I've just signed up to hair + me. Hopefully I'll get the tablet. I have a dog and I think I could manage the risk but I think I'd rather pop a pill.
I didn't bother getting blood tests, but after these photos today I'm definitely making a GP appointment and will ask for blood tests.

For pp, rosemary oil doesn't work. Saw Palmetto and pumpkin oil supplements do work for female pattern hair loss but can be problematic if you are on hrt.

Please can I ask where you get your toppers from? I’ve had dreadful experiences getting them online so would love to know a good brand! Xx

GLOWWA really really works, after a few weeks I noticed my eyelashes it was dramatic.
Also iron but it takes months.

From a cosmetic perspective I would also recommend root lifting sprays. I typically use one every day now after years of fine, flat hair. I’ve tried Colour Wow and Philip Kingsley, Nioxin and Nanogen. I only actually tried Nanogen after finding an old bottle in the back of the bathroom cabinet which my DH had bought (he went through a Nanogen phase a few years ago to hide his own hair thinning - do you know - it did look good for a bit but when the hair got too sparse it didn’t look good so I had to encourage him to give it up). Apparently at some point he bought everything they sold bless him. Anyhoo of all the root lifting sprays I’ve tried my favourite is the Nanogen!

(an aside - it may also be worth trying the Nanogen sprays to help make hair look thicker etc)

I was going to reply with this too - my hair’s been falling out more than usual recently and recent blood tests (done for something else) showed low ferritin. I’m on iron supplements now and really hoping the hair loss slows.

I've just signed up for Hair +me and requested the tablets.
If you have a Blue light discount it's £9.99 for the first 2 months