Is seeing a Trichologist for hair loss worth it? - Thyroid UK

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Is seeing a Trichologist for hair loss worth it?

Rhsana profile image
19 Replies

Hello again!

Hair loss is just getting worse and worse, and I wondered if it wasn't worth seeing a professional about it. Has anyone here had any success with trichologists? My hair loss is mainly around the hairline and through the centre parting.

I am looking at this place;

sussextrichology.co.uk/

I just feel its very expensive for something that may be pointless!

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Rhsana profile image
Rhsana
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19 Replies

Hi, are all you levels OK at the moment? I had a lot of hair loss at the top of my hairline around the temples and forehead area but it stopped after I got my thyroid levels OK. I have a fringe now to hide the massive forehead lol x

Rhsana profile image
Rhsana in reply to

Hey Hidden - well am on T3 only at the moment so T4 is low T3 has been fluctuating between too high or too low, I do another test this week so fingers crossed! R xx

VulpusVulpus profile image
VulpusVulpus

I think I would give it a go. She doesn't appear to be a charlatan and I like the turn of phrase she uses - just about sums up losing your hair. I know that isn't much to go on... :0)

Rhsana profile image
Rhsana in reply to VulpusVulpus

Thanks VulpusVulpus ! :) Yes I liked her the most from the list of Trichologists, this was the other option; hairlossconsultant.co.uk/?d...

VulpusVulpus profile image
VulpusVulpus in reply to Rhsana

What do they mean by thinning hair? Thinning as in finer texture or thinning as in losing it? I have a small bald patch but really thick hair otherwise.

Rhsana profile image
Rhsana in reply to VulpusVulpus

I'm not sure! both of those apply to my hair at the moment :( xx

VulpusVulpus profile image
VulpusVulpus in reply to Rhsana

:0(

Jazzw profile image
Jazzw

Before you do...

What are your ferritin levels? I think you said the other day that pretty much everything had been low or low normal for 15 years? Low ferritin is definitely a cause of hair loss.

Are you optimally medicated for your hypothyroidism?

Rhsana profile image
Rhsana in reply to Jazzw

Hi Jazzw yes indeed they have been. Last Ferritin level was good I think though at 80? I thought I was optimally medicated, but was told it was too high, so then I brough it back down but it went too low - new Blood tests this week so we'll see! :) R xx

bluebug profile image
bluebug in reply to Rhsana

What is your:

Vitamin B12

Vitamin D

Folate

Haemoglobin

Levels?

Have these levels been optimal for over 6 months?

Are you on the pill?

Have you given birth in the last 2 years?

What other medication are you on?

Do you have any other medical conditions?

Does any first degree relative especially female ones suffer or suffered from hair loss?

Rhsana profile image
Rhsana in reply to bluebug

Hi bluebug, answers below. Thanks for your reply! :) R xx

What is your:

Vitamin B12

525 ng/L (200 - 900)

(I am getting monthly injections now)

Vitamin D

44 nmol/L (75 - 200)

Folate:

4.5 pg/L (2 - 17)

Haemoglobin

129 g/L (115-165)

Levels?

Have these levels been optimal for over 6 months?

-No they have been optimal but keep dropping

Are you on the pill?

-No

Have you given birth in the last 2 years?

- No

What other medication are you on?

- Only T3 and supplements

Do you have any other medical conditions?

- Not that I know of (High cortisol?)

Does any first degree relative especially female ones suffer or suffered from hair loss?

- No, but my Grandmother's hair on my father's side has thinned out with age.

bluebug profile image
bluebug in reply to Rhsana

Your vitamin D is way to low. Are you taking at least 5,000IU daily? You want your vitamin D at around 100nmol/L to be optimal but at least over 75nmol/L.

Your folate is too low. It should be half way in range. You need to supplement this.

Your B12 is too low.

If your ferritin level isn't halfway in range then supplement iron - ferrous fumerate, ferrous sulphate or ferrous gluconate - one per day with vitamin C. 4 hours away from levo and anyother mineral. You have to buy the iron from an online pharmacy or behind a pharmacy counter. You need something that contains around 65-70mg of elemental iron in it. You need to test your ferritin level after finishing the course. You need to do this regularly when finishing every course of iron tablets as iron can be poisonous.

The NHS won't pay for your folate, vitamin D or iron supplements unless you are considered malnourished/severely deficient so you need to buy them yourself. You will also have to pay to retest yourself unless the NHS decided you were severely deficient and even then when you are about or near the range they tend not to spend money testing you again. They wait until you feel cr*p again then test you.

Apart from any thyroid issues if you don't have optimal levels of vitamins and minerals then the body will decide not to give parts of it that aren't essential for staying alive sufficient nutrients to grow. So your hair, then nails, then skin will have issues.

So get and keep your vitamin levels optimal for over 6 months and if your thyroid hormones are also optimal then your hair should hopefully stop falling out.

The fact that your grandmother has hair loss isn't good unless you have an idea what could have caused it e.g. does she have an autoimmune disease, does she have a vitamin/mineral deficient or is on lots of medication.

Oh and yes you will need to take the vitamins and minerals daily for most for the rest of your life unless something drastic changes. For example if you suddenly move to a very sunny climate and get a job outdoors then you won't need the vitamin D supplements.

Yes it is annoying to take supplements all the time especially if you work in an office. As unless you work alongside people who have chronic or have had serious illnesses they don't understand why you need to take something like vitamin D and B vitamins with your lunch. I don't get into discussions with people unless I know they have been or have problems as well.

Rhsana profile image
Rhsana in reply to bluebug

Hey bluebug thank you so much for such a detailed response!

I will implement all those suggestions - I am taking at least 5,000IU daily of Vit D, I will also add folate. My ferritin is 80 (15 - 250), I was told that was adequate for hair growth, is that not the case?

"The fact that your grandmother has hair loss isn't good unless you have an idea what could have caused it e.g. does she have an autoimmune disease, does she have a vitamin/mineral deficient or is on lots of medication."

Yes, I believe it was linked to her breast cancer in her 30's, but I can't be sure as she isn't the best source for accurate recall.

Ok, so I have a 6 month plan thanks to you! :) R xxx

bluebug profile image
bluebug in reply to Rhsana

If all this, taking selenium and ensuring your thyroid hormones are optimal doesn't work that's when it's worth going to see a professional.

Make sure you have update blood tests before you do.

Rhsana profile image
Rhsana in reply to bluebug

Yes I think I will implement this and readdress in 6 months. My only concern is if I can't fix the problem by getting my hair back so to speak, maybe a professional could at least stop it from getting worse. But I see, that I have a few things to address first!

R xx

I think it can vary greatly what vitamins or medication effects people's hair loss. I found for me it was my t4 levels but a friend of mine it was iron for her. I would agree in getting vitamin D up. Do you take selenium? That can sometimes help with skin and nails, hair and also absorption of thyroid meds x

Rhsana profile image
Rhsana in reply to

Yes Selenium (but I took a break from supplementing) that's the last time I do that! How is your hair now? Are you feeling better as well? R xx

in reply to Rhsana

My hair and skin is good now but because I am pregnant I can't take as many strong vitamins individually, just have to take pregnecare multi vit syrup . But I also eat a lot better as had to almost completely cut out carbs. It's not completely back to pre hypo but it's a lot better. Do you have a very sensitive scalp also? Do you react to lots of shampoos? I am a lot better thyroid wise but pregnancy wise fed up and ready to pop with a long 8 weeks ahead lol x

Tiera profile image
Tiera

Hi I know this thread is 6 months old but I was wondering if you did go to the trichologist and if you did, was it helpful?

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