I have posted quite a few times on here and usually have a good response.
Like many others I suffer from awful diffuse hair loss ( going on 18 months).
I’m due to see my GP again about this in 2 weeks as long as these bloods show my Tsh and T4 are still in range and everything else is in range ( female hormones etc) he has agreed to refer me to a dermatologist. So far I have had allot of blood tests and the only thing that seems to be causing the hair loss being hypo.
So I wondered for any of those who managed to stop or halt the loss- could you advise if it was a general slowing down of hair loss or more sudden? Which type of medication you were taking ( T4, Ndt etc). And how long it took for you to notice the hair loss slowing down/ stopping.
Thank you in advance!!!! Again!
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Niklew
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Hi Niklew - although I’m on a T4/ T3 combo, the only thing that keeps my hair loss (slow shedding) at bay seems to be keeping my ferritin levels up. I’ve read that they need to be at least 70 and are better near 100ng/ml. I take Solgar’s Gentle Iron with a vitamin C tablet (1000mcg) once a day, four hours away from thyroid meds, 2 hours away from other supplements & 1 hour away from dairy/caffeine. I tried BetterYou iron spray but didn’t feel it was as effective- could be my imagination!
HI kipsy - that's interesting about thyroid hormones and hair loss. Have recently found a product which has multivitamins and is specially formulated for healthy skin hair and nails. This came from a health company which I Found on online Superdrug.com.
Have read articles on evening primrose oil supplements which can again be found in certain German Supermarkets in the UK as well as in health food shops and pharmacies..
This can help both hair loss and too much hair. Also there is a product called Regaine which w as used to treat BP. It is said to encourage new hair growth when applied to the scalp. Suppose you will have to go back to the Endo to see if your thyroid hormones are at optimal levels. You get a free print out of your test results at the surgery and can see if they are on the low side rather than average. (test done within 3 weeks).
Hi! I used Regaine for a while but once you stop applying it, the hair that had grown back falls out. Iron supplements definitely work better for me. 😀
That's not what you expect is it? My hair came out in handfuls after the birth of my first baby - I was awful but luckily it did grow back. Plums are meant to be very good for hair - that's the problem when you have a mixed diet you don't know what is helping you - but minerals are important selenium zinc and others as you know.
Had undiagnosed hyperthyroid postnatal - which re occurred and was picked up some 12 years later. Guess thyroid hormones are very important for hair, skin and nails.
Hi kipsy have found some info on Clutter's post. You can find her name as a member which has the full list of her posts. The one you might find interesting is New Study finds topical calcipotriol a derivative of activated vitamin D helps manage hair loss. Alopecia Areata (AA ) is a type of hair loss which starts when the immune system attacks the hair follicle from where the hair growth begins.
Vitamindcouncil.org/new-stu is the link for the article. She has great posts and links with articles on thyroid problems
Hi hawii60– you’re very kind to post that info. Thank you. I shall have a look. Clutter’s great, as are all the admins, aren’t they! I wouldn’t feel as well as I do without this amazing site.
I suffered with diffuse hairloss a few years ago, told it was just my age (early 50s). I'd had half thyroid removed and was on 75mg thyroxine. Then an enlightened Endo at the hospital tested my Serum Ferritin levels which were only 11. It has taken about five years to get my levels to about 35 - 40 taking one iron tab daily. The hair loss gradually improved - discovered you need a ferritin level of 70 for optimum hair health. Something my GP was completely ignorant of. Also swollen feet and pain in heels disappeared completely.
It has taken about five years to get my levels to about 35 - 40 taking one iron tab daily
That's the trouble with iron tablets, it takes a very long time to raise ferritin levels. Are you taking each tablet with 1000mg Vit C to aid absorption?
I couldn't tolerate iron tablets, but I managed to raise my ferritin from 39 to 109 in a short time by eating liver - approx 120-140g per week. You don't need to eat it as a meal if you don't like liver, but you can "hide" it by mincing or cutting small and adding to casseroles, curries, cottage pie, bolognese, etc. Also liver pate, black pudding and other iron rich foods will help apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...
Now I have a decent level, if I don't feel like cooking liver every 2 or 3 weeks, then I take 1 x Megafoods Blood Builder tablet a week which seems to be keeping my level stable.
Hi, I’m on armour (NDT) and that helped slow down/ stop hair loss when I found the right dose, which takes a while, also I take extra iron, and when I start a phase of shedding I take a little more iron, and so far that has kept it at bay, x
I feel your pain! It’s a truly horrible thing to go through. Just on Levo for secondary hypothyroidism. However I discovered quite by accident that I’ve had really low ferritin for many years. As I have gradually improved my ferritin level (long slow process....) my hair has stopped shredding. Hair apparently has an approximate 12 week cycle so a consultant told me...? So it generally slows down its shredding before stopping fully. I have also found that taking biotin really helps, but you have to take it for a good while to see any difference. I stopped taking the biotin because I didn’t believe it was helping. However I quickly noticed a deterioration in my hair and so commenced the biotin again, and saw an improvement overall again, after a few weeks. Definitely look into your ferritin levels. And don’t believe the Drs when they tell you that your ferritin is fine and within range. Many Drs seem to think that in range is at the extreme low end of the scale! With any thyroid issues I truly believe that ferritin has an important impact on our health when it’s not at a good level. Good luck! I really hope that you find a solution soon😊
In addition to all this good advice (I’m on t3 only, cytomel. It really helped thicken my hair but I seem to have loss related to other hormones as I’m peri menopausal - I’m 44) . I found that Viviscal has helped but the true godsend has been pura d’oro hair loss shampoo on amazon.
I have read about that shampoo. I have severe hair loss. 48, premenopausal, hashimatos (hypo), so the perfect storm. My hair was fine and thin and I didn’t have much to lose to begin with. Anyway, I’m a hairstylist. Shampoo is obviously topical, and I do believe that topical can work as well. Do you know why or how this shampoo works? How long have you used? How long before results were seen? Thanks
Hi Angela2121- it took about a month before I saw tiny hairs all around face frame and the temple hair growing in - in that weird way that sticks out like temple ears when our hair is pulled back in a pony tail! Now after three months, my hair feels very thick at the roots (obviously will take a year or two for those little hairs to grow long). I think it works by blocking DHT. For me that was clearly the issue.
Ok thanks. I have been using vinegar w the the “Mother “ in it. There are some studies that shows it helps w the DHT as well. I will try all lol. Thanks
Are you using ACV topically or drinking it? I add 1tbp to my water daily, but for other reasons, not realizing it helped hair loss. Must say have been doing that for a few years, so I think the shampoo is what fixed me. 🤨 I’m sure it all helps!
Topical. 2-4 tablespoon to 16 ounce of tepid water. You shampoo your hair. Rinse. Then towel dry some. Then poor the vinegar rinse (with the Mother-not sure what Mother is-lol) onto scalp and massage in. Leave on 5-10 minutes. Then rinse with cool water. Not ice cold. It does add shine and helps with frizz as well, some say, helps with regrowth of Hair. Especially when we have lost hair due to getting older. I usually use a light conditioner after that on the ends. Redken makes a vinegar rinse. Home made us much cheaper. And you are 100% sure you are getting the correct ingredients. I think the one sold by Redken is for shine and frizz.
The 'mother' is the slimy looking alien mold that can form in your vinegar. It's what starts the 'vinegar' process, and can reform in shop bought vinegars, and it hasn't gone off.
I have also been using the cider vinegar along with saw palmetto. Have only been using both for about 5-6 weeks so no improvement yet.. oh and flaxseed oil x
Hi Niklew. I went thru bad hair loss about 6 years ago and my doctor and hair dresser told me it was my high blood pressure and some high blood pressure meds cause hair loss. I had a thick head of hair and lost the bulk of it. Very depressing for a woman to lose her hair. Working with my doctor and getting hair treatments my hair looks good now but not like it was.
My hair has just started to improve after 4 years of falling out. It hadbeen thinning since my thyroid became under active17 years ago, but never actually dropped out in clumps until May 2014. However, since that time i have gone from a Coco the clown, nothing o top to a Bobby Charlton comb-over to wispy white candy floss. I'm on 100mcg thyroxine now and have been on 150mcg. I take B12 daily that I buy from boots. I have recently lost 2.5 stone and upped my fittness regime..i dont know if that is related to better hair or not. I will be 60 at Christmas and am now proficient with hair pieces, wigs and lots of 'smoke and mirrors'. A good hairdresser is a Godsend. I go once a week for a wash and blow dry. I rarely wash it myself. Mane shampoo and conditioner ( originally formulated for horses) is good. Use it with Mane leave in strenthener. I use root concealer powder and volumizing dust between visits to the hairdresser. I was able to start colouring the new hair growth after about 6 months. Hats are now a vital element in my wardrobe - i have about 20 to match all outfits and occasions.
Good luck to you Niklew.
Hi Niklew
When I was taking Synthyroid I lost quit a bit of my hair near my temple areas mostly and my blood test were always good per Endos and I was told in a few months it would stop....not for me it didn't and im currently on Armour Thyroid and still lose hair just a lot less or so it seems. Once it was determined I had nothing else wrong with me I started using Nioxin #2 shampoo and conditioner and a detoxifying clarifying shampoo (build up) remover and pantene expert age defy advance hair thickening serum (Amazon) all of these help me a lot.
I am hypo and on NDT however it wasn't til my ferritin levels had gone from 26 to 54, that the hair stopped dropping out. Please research Wholefood Vit C as if you are deficient in this it can cause hair loss. I have been taking Wholefood Vit C for 2 months now and have prickly new growth in my scalp all over. My old hair is thin and straggly and I can see a lot of scalp but I am hopeful that when the new hair grows out, I may be more like my old self where it was my pride and joy.
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to reply.
There definitely is a trend of finding the right medication to treat your thyroid along with ferritin I think.
My ferritin was tested at 55 ( 12-150) so I took solgar gentle iron x 3 a day with vitamin c etc and within a month it went to 100. I then stopped taking them thinking it hadn’t made a difference but seems I should have given it longer. I will start with 1 a day as last time it did double my ferritin in 4 weeks taking 3 a day.
I’m going to look into the ideas for shampoos and conditioners but seems it’s going to be a long journey to get it stop( if it ever does)
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