So So Worried

[rosco1]

Hi folks, I'm so worried I don't know what to think. My hair is falling out in chunks, I just need to touch my head and I've got a clump of hours, even the same when I wash my hair. I'm so scared I end up bald.🙁

[Wallace-s]

Hi Rosco1,

Undoubtedly a very stressful occurrence for a female (and of course some men!)

My wife suffered and to a lesser extent suffers still from stress induced alopecia- I can’t offer and guidance, but it led here to be prescribed small dose antidepressants.

To be clear, she was very stressed at the time and suffering from depression! - but her hair loss wasn’t extreme that she became bald.

If any of the above sounds familiar then you must go to the GP for help & advice.

Good luck and best wishes x

[rosco1 in reply to Wallace-s]

Hi Wallace-s, thank you for your reply. Like your wife I suffer from a deep depression and under active Thyroid ( which I take an antipressant and esomeprazole ) I was think of visiting my Gp but felt stupid going with such a problem + I was scared to hear what she might say is wrong with me. I have fine hair and to makes things worse I'm going grey and it looks terrible, it wasn't to bad when my hair was brown. I know I need to go to my Gp.

[SingC]

Hello! I had patchy scalp loss through stress-induced dermatitis when I had sleep disturbance in peri menopause. It seems that stress, from whatever cause, can cause flare ups in dermatitis, IBS, bp, etc. Definitely worth speaking to your GP. I was given Nizoral shampoo and a steroid spray for the scalp dermatitis, and first HRT (which didn’t suit me) and then amitriptyline to deal with the sleep disturbance which was leading to anxiety. I am worlds better now.

Hope you find an answer which works for you soon!

[rosco1 in reply to SingC]

Hi SingC, thank you for your reply. I'm sorry to hear about your problem with your hair. As you say, I think it's stress or my under Thyroid that's causing my problem ( well I hope it's one of them ). Ive also been through the menopause so i dont think its got anything to do with that. I'm a little apprehensive to go to my Gp as to what she will say is wrong, but I need to find out what's wrong.

[Sparrow58]

Hi rosco1

Are you a lady of a certain age as this can cause hair loss there is now shampoo for this. I did try it and it did ease it a bit. Also I agree stress can cause hair loss, and hair loss itself can cause stress and IBS is also stressful. You could ask at the pharmacy if you cannot see the doctor they may recommend something. Also have you had a perm or colour to your hair as this can cause breakage.

[rosco1 in reply to Sparrow58]

Hi Sparrow58, thank you for your reply. I'm a woman age 59, been through the menopause and thankful I don't have any symptoms anymore. I do suffer from IBS and Depression, my Depression is bothering me very badly as my mother pass away and I miss her so much. I used to get my hair coloured when I was younger, but I'm going grey now so I dont get my hair coloured now

[Sparrow58 in reply to rosco1]

It could be the shock of your mother's passing causing your hair loss. Grief can affect the body in so many ways. I am sad to hear about your mum x

[rosco1 in reply to Sparrow58]

Hi Sparrow58, thank you for replying to me. I never thought for a minute it could be grief maybe causing my hair to fallout. It's been 2 years since my mother passed away but it just seems like yesterday.

[angelwings52]

Hi, I've gone through this twice - ask your GP for a thyroid function test as that was the first cause for me - my hairdresser insisted on cutting my hair short and getting it cut every 6 weeks, with no dye/perm etc and no hair straighteners etc, and a gentle shampoo, and my hair improved quickly. The second time was due to a surgical menopause 3 years ago, so I followed the same routine and my hair was back to normal in a few months. The best shampoo I've found is called M-Folia (check Amazon), they also do a scalp oil, the shampoo is expensive (£14.50) but you use very little of it, my first bottle lasted over 3 months.

[rosco1 in reply to angelwings52]

Hi angelwings52, thank you for your reply. I do suffer from an Underactive Thyroid and was thinking that it could be my Thyroid that's causing my hair to be falling out. Maybe it would help to have my hair shorter than it is, i must ask my hairdresser if it would help. I don't use straighteners as my hair is as straightnas a poker and i dont have my hair permed but used to get it coloured but have not had it coloured for a while. If it's not being too forward, can I ask what's the name of a gentle shampoo you used + I, must try the M-Folia shampoo, I don't mind paying for something that's expensive if it helps.

[Luisa22]

Could this be because of any vitamin or mineral deficiency do you think? It's easy for those of us with IBS and on any restricted diets to miss out on enough nutrients.

Another thing is protein. Are you getting enough?

[rosco1 in reply to Luisa22]

Hi Luisa22,thank you for your reply. I have no idea what's causing my hair to fallout, it could be the lack of vitamins. Some people have told me it could Grief that's causing my hair to fallout. I think I need to see my Gp and see what she says.