SEVERE HAIR LOSS

[cockapoodaisy]

Can a lack of B12 cause severe hair loss?

[deniseinmilden]

Yes, if severe. Mine grew back OK when I had enough B12 and supporting supplements.

Be aware that low iron also causes this so get a blood test done to check.

[Leils]

Yes

Iron and vitamin D and biotin also involved

[Jengastar]

Yes. Mine is still quite bad a year on from getting injections too.

[Nackapan]

Yes I had hairloss.

It grew back with plenty of b12 .

Also raised ferritin levels. low ferritin leveks csn be another causes for hairless as deniseinmildrn suggested.

I've hair loss agsin from a very dry scalp.

More maintenence.

Hope yours improves soon.

Have a multivit as well as getting your bloods done you may have to ask specifically for ferritin along with your iron levels.

I do as never automatically done . Same with folate and vitamin D

All done at the very most 3 monthly otherwise refused by labs. Now I'm on maintenence I ho 6-12 months

Just a hint.

[lifegems in reply to Nackapan]

Hi nackapan. When you say get your bloods done which tests exactly do you mean ?

[Nackapan in reply to lifegems]

The ones i stated above. And any the Gp wanted doing which was thyroid as well as full blood count.

Edit made above to make clearer

[Nackapan]

Gps never seem to think if could be causes by b12 deficiency so usually order a barage of bloods. Useful but obviously annoying the lack of knowledge about b12

[Cherylclaire Forum Support]

Yes, B12 deficiency can cause this and many more symptoms not always recognised by GPs or consultants- but very familiar here and listed in symptoms lists on the Pernicious Anaemia Society (PAS)website. Incidentally, there is a woman (and her hairdresser) discussing this subject in a video on the PAS website: BBC's Inside Out October 13th. My GP thought my hair loss more likely related to folate/ferritin levels, both of which were low too, though only B12 was below range. Because all three were treated, it is difficult to say which now was the cause, but it can return from time to time for no reason found in blood test results.

Like Nackapan says, folate, ferritin and vitamin D can also be below- or low-range when B12 deficient, and thyroid can also struggle and might need regular checks to ensure all properly controlled at good levels. Mine are now checked about once a year, but it took a few years for these to stabilise.