Female hair loss, anyone? :(

Little_Ole_Me

Februarycat wrote: »

What were the tablets you got from Holland & Barrett please? Im looking to try some vitamins

They are skin hair and nails ones from Holland and Barrett. I looked at all of the others B12 vits etc, and these seemed the best value with most in. I am also taking L-Lynsine which was recommended to me by a lovely lady on here.

To be honest nothing is making a visible difference at the minute, but it is very early days and I will keep going as I got mine when they were 'buy 1, get 1 for a penny' so I have got loads to keep trying. I really must get more discliplined with taking them as well, as I have missed the odd one or two recently.

I have come to the realisation that the best thing I can do for myself with all this is to not focus too much

singlestep

My hair started falling out when I was 13. You can imagine how thrilling that was. It became very severe (about 75%) very quickly and, because I was going through a very tough time at home, everyone was quick to label the causes as being stress and anxiety. I used everything on the market at the time with no result. I brazened it out then, at 16, I'd had enough of being stared at like I was some kind of freak (and this is no exaggeration) and having people shout that me in the street. I started to wear wigs and have been doing so ever since.

I'm now in my mid-30s. Nothing has changed except the diagnosis (male pattern baldness, although I also have PCOS and anaemia) and that the quality of wigs is getting better all the time. I had a fantastic boyfriend who was very supportive but, when we eventually split up years later it was difficult to get to know/trust anyone to that level. I really find it difficult interacting with anybody on a social level (extended family included). It's not that I think people are that shallow, although some are, but my confidence has taken a real beating.

littlerat

I've got hair thinning/loss at 19 - another PCOS casualty!

1 thing I'd advise is if you've got long hair, lose a few inches - I was upset at first when I realised it was becoming my only option, but mid length (not far past shoulder length) hair that looks fairly thick beats thin, straggly long hair. Layers also add the appearance of volume.

Also certain styling products can really help - I LOVE tresemme 24 hour body mousse. I also as my hair dries brush it from underneath and use my hands to gently separate, even that on its own adds a bit of volume.

Mine is pretty even loss so I'm lucky on that side though. If you already have short hair, try and find a good hair stylist - after my Mum had chemo her hair came back very thin with a few small bald patches, she found a hairdresser who cut her hair in such a way that with a bit of one of the bedhead products (was about £15 for a pot but lasted aaaages), it looked lovely and thick - was quite short (not even bob length, about 3-4 inches of hair on her head), but was a feminine cut. Made a world of difference to my Mum's confidence.


I hope you find an answer - mine is improving again now I'm back on the pill, I'm also taking a general vitamin in case I'm missing a bit of something (nothing has shown up but... well for a few pence a week and no harm done, I'm willing to risk having slightly expensive pee!). Is horrid to be losing!

Little_Ole_Me

singlestep wrote: »

My hair started falling out when I was 13. You can imagine how thrilling that was. It became very severe (about 75%) very quickly and, because I was going through a very tough time at home, everyone was quick to label the causes as being stress and anxiety. I used everything on the market at the time with no result. I brazened it out then, at 16, I'd had enough of being stared at like I was some kind of freak (and this is no exaggeration) and having people shout that me in the street. I started to wear wigs and have been doing so ever since.

I'm now in my mid-30s. Nothing has changed except the diagnosis (male pattern baldness, although I also have PCOS and anaemia) and that the quality of wigs is getting better all the time. I had a fantastic boyfriend who was very supportive but, when we eventually split up years later it was difficult to get to know/trust anyone to that level. I really find it difficult interacting with anybody on a social level (extended family included). It's not that I think people are that shallow, although some are, but my confidence has taken a real beating.

You poor thing. The whole hair loss thing is a real confidence killer isn't it

I just wish there was some genuine help for it, and GP's see it for what it is. At the minute they see it as 'not an illness' so don't realy take females seriously when going in with it. But what they don't think of is the depression and anxiety it causes and what a total life ruiner it can become.

I always try and stay positive and not focus too much on my hair, but it is very difficult. Its on your head! Everyone can see it, and yourself included when you look in the mirror. It really is awful

Little_Ole_Me

If anyones interested, theres an offer on groupon, i have brought some

http://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/national-deal/chemist-4-u/1086714

Tiddlywinks

Someone mentioned eating protein - this is a must as it's one of the "building blocks" for hair growth... as recommended by my dermatologist and then the trichologist.

I am a veggie and so they told me to eat lots of cottage cheese and quorn - you can hide cottage cheese in loads of stuff (my favourite is curry) and it doesn't add too many calories to a meal.

Don't lose heart just because you don't see instant results - it took well over 6 months for my hairloss to slow down once I'd started taking the extra vitamins and proteins (and using minoxidil) that were recommended.

As to frequency of hair washing - the trichologist said that it made no real difference to hairloss - it would fall out when it was due and washing didn't make it worse. She also said that the hormone that can cause some male pattern baldness could sit on the scalp (that's what Minoxidil is supposed to counteract) and it *may* be beneficial to wash more rather than less to prevent build up - but trials had been inconclusive.