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Menopause

Menopause - hair loss help

(56 Posts)
henley59uk Fri 30-Jun-17 14:53:08

Hello,

My GP says that hair loss in menopause is normal occurence. I'm a bit worried about the scale of my hair loss, I'm loosing more and more hair. Do you experience the same and are there any treatments to get more volume? If it's temporary how long does it take until hair growth becomes stable again?

Regards,
Henley

blondenana Wed 02-Oct-19 21:02:44

Just been looking through hair loss threads,saw this,i have just seen a dermatologist who diagnosed Telogen Effluvium, and caused by stress, he says it will grow back, so might be worth seeing dermatologist,anyone who is losing hair, luckily he is one of our Drs so didn,t need to go far to see him all the other Drs i saw were useless

Pandamumma Sun 04-Aug-19 11:47:10

WilmaKnickersfit your topper looks lovely, where did you get it from? Am toying with the idea of trying one but am a bit wary of purchasing as I’ll probably buy the wrong one! A recommendation would be most helpful smile

Pandamumma Sun 04-Aug-19 11:38:17

Hair loss/diffuse hair thinning is very distressing, I have female pattern hair loss which I think has worsened with the advent of the menopause. I’m not on HRT but am under a dermatologist who has a special interest in female hair loss. I’m trying finasteride and minoxidil now so will see if that halts the progression of thinning. However, just as an everyday solution to enable me to go out of the house/to work, I have been using hair fibres which help disguise the bare scalp between the thinning hairs. There are a few brands around but I use Nanogen. Not a solution to reverse the condition but a useful confidence booster. I can’t face the prospect of wearing a wig so while I can get away with it I’ll continue with my treatment and the fibres. Might be worth a try to alleviate the constant stress associated with hair loss!

sloanssalons Thu 04-Jul-19 06:04:12

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sloanssalons Thu 04-Jul-19 06:03:20

cscdscdece

Tegan2 Wed 05-Jul-17 13:21:00

.still looking for that Nourkrin...confused...

Tegan2 Wed 05-Jul-17 13:20:34

Same here; what I need is a wig that looks like thinning hair [but not as this as the hair I've got. Also, the problem in winter when I wear a hat most of the time [even in the house cause I feel the cold really badly] is that, if I do go somewhere hot I can't take it off because my 'hair' looks dreadful and I think that everyone will notice and feel sorry for me. I don't feel too bad when I'm wearing casual clothes but, on the very rare occasion that I wear a dress it looks odd not having feminine looking hair to go with it. In the grand scheme of things it isn't important, but it does upset me, especially as I've always had a problem [a hairdresser, when I was 19 said I'd got the thinnest hair he'd ever seen, and it's been downhill all the way since then sad].

silverlining48 Wed 05-Jul-17 10:12:41

I bought a wig a few years ago, but when i put it on it looks fake to me because its nice and thick and i have got used to my thinning hair.
Its lAlso hard to keep on for any period of time because it itches and my head gets too hot. Just want to take it off but by then my thin hair is stuck to my scalp , not a great look.

Tegan2 Tue 04-Jul-17 23:47:07

I've got two but still haven't worn them. I find them itchy and, when the weather is as hot as it has been, rather hot to wear. However, I am going to look for another one to try. I tend to wear hats most of the time [even in summer] so I might as well be wearing a wig. I can't wear a topper as my hair is thin all over. I was going to try minoxidil but, as I'm 65 it looks as if that's a no no now. I used to take Nourkrin, but gave up as it didn't seem to be doing any good. However, I did think I had a few boxes still but, blow me, can't find them anywhere; was planning to give it another go. I buy it when it's 3 for two and when the S.O. gets a double discount on Boots products. I've looked in every drawer and cupboard#it'sdrivingmenuts

WilmaKnickersfit Tue 04-Jul-17 23:35:04

Thank you Esspee. The photo isn't of me, just an example of the before and after of someone wearing one. I'm a brunette with highlights, so I might have to buy more than one topper - one with highlights and one without to make it look more natural.

Actually, I'm toying with the idea of buying a wig in my current hairstyle. I've been thinking about getting a cheap one for a while now as a starter wig. Apparently the modern caps are much more comfortable and cooler these days and synthetic hair looks real and feels good too. You don't need to style them either because they hold the style. Does anyone have any experience of wigs?

Esspee Tue 04-Jul-17 14:23:32

Wilma.....your hairpiece looks wonderfully natural and I love your name. grin

Esspee Tue 04-Jul-17 14:21:30

To everyone on here who has been told by their GP that they are too old for HRT please read up the NICE guidelines on the menopause then go armed with the facts and challenge your GP. These guidelines are meant to keep the medical profession up to date on best practise in treating menopause problems but so many doctors do not bother to keep up with the latest advice. I'm not saying HRT will help with hair loss (it hasn't with me ) but it will help prevent osteoporosis etc. My specialist is one of the top in the country and is happy for me to be on HRT at 68.

bonnieronni Mon 03-Jul-17 23:16:59

I agree with you pollyperkins about the loss of body hair, I have a granddaughter who always seems to notice the chin hairs though.My hair has gone straight after years of curls which is equally annoying.

W11girl Mon 03-Jul-17 07:49:33

There is no miracle cure. Plantur 39 did nothing for me. But Revlon Nutrasome hair thickener has. I have only been able to find this in Boots. My hair loss is considerably less than it used to be, but I think it might be that I started to use a wide toothed comb rather than a brush to comb my hair. The comb tends not to pull on your hair in the way that a brush does.

Helmsley444 Sun 02-Jul-17 22:47:41

Im 56 but have only experienced hair loss as a symtom of hypotbroidism.And would suggest that people dont just assume its a memopausal symtom.But that they get their thyroid checked out.

WilmaKnickersfit Sun 02-Jul-17 00:17:00

Caramac my Mum's hairdresser recommended Nioxin some years ago and it helps a lot. i don't think it's been discontinued though, or did you mean just one product?

I can see that I'm going to have the same problem, so I've been looking at hair pieces called toppers which clip on to the hair on the top of your head. They're the female equivalent of a toupee, except they blend into your natural hair. I'm hoping that if I start wearing one now, as my hair continues to thin, I am already disguising it. I hope it will also give me a bit extra volume where I want it. These pictures show a before and after. There's loads to choose from and lots of videos on YouTube about toppers.

mazza245 Sat 01-Jul-17 22:40:10

From reading all your posts, I now realise I have even more reasons to have thinning hair, after all my life having the thickest possible hair. I am 69 now, had a hysterectomy at 48 with loss of ovaries, did take HRT and felt wonderful on it but had to come off because of age plus I was diagnosed with this blood cancer needing oral chemotherapy. I am reluctant to stop colouring my hair although I admit it might not be helping. I have sparse eyebrows, underarms etc as well. I will look into Biotin as recommended by dianetheartist.

dianetheartist Sat 01-Jul-17 21:31:41

The best thing I found after long term steroids made my hair very thin, is Biotin 10,000 mg from Amazon.
It was recommended to me by someone else on steroids..My hair is now wonderful-- thick and quite strangely is now curly.. I used to have to get the curling tongs out if I was going anywhere special! Now it just dries natural..
Hubby has been taking them to and his hair has started to grow back on top-and the texture has changed as well-- feels and looks thicker!
They are only about £8 for 100 tablets

Shizam Sat 01-Jul-17 21:13:04

I have madly thick, wild Irish hair that has always been the bane of my life. There's still loads of it, but I have also noticed it getting at thinner at temples. Colouring it temporarily fixes problem but it is also making condition on hair even worse. Am seriously thinking of leaving it to go grey and see how it looks. If condition gets better, may look thicker at the front. Maybe!

charjoy Sat 01-Jul-17 20:58:15

Have you had your thyroid checked? This can cause hair loss.

Nanna58 Sat 01-Jul-17 19:32:58

Ps Inishowen , ask again for HRT I am 59'and I still have it.

Nanna58 Sat 01-Jul-17 19:30:14

Diddy1 don't ask her to stop thinning it, tell her, better still change hairdressers!

Nanna58 Sat 01-Jul-17 19:28:18

I sometimes use a good (Percy and Reed, or Bumble and Bumble ) dry shampoo even when hair is clean as it seems to give it a bit of 'oomph'. Has to be a good one though or it dulls it.

Beejo Sat 01-Jul-17 18:39:30

I had a hysterectomy about 12 years ago and noticed hair loss after about 18 months.
The hair growth cycle is really long so it will seem to have phases when the loss is worse.......just when you think it's slowed down, off it goes again. However although my hair is noticeably thinner (especially to me!!) I still have a reasonable covering.

I have asked doctors about it on a number of occasions and there's not a lot they can do. One said I could try Minoxidil 2%. Apparently they used to be able to prescribe it, but can't now due to cost. I bought some but haven't tried it - not keen on things that are systemic although I'm currently experimenting with extra biotin but, quite honestly, I haven't noticed any difference and my nails are still splitting and flaking.

Anyway, this is what works for me:
First of all a good multi-vitamin. I've taken Menopace for years and it does seem to contain all the things we are recommended for post-menopause complaints.
I have used Lee Stafford Hair Growth shampoo and conditioner plus the leave-in treatment for a long time and I think it's the best, though not the cheapest (often on 3-for-2 in Boots). There are a number of products in the range but these three are the only ones that are worth buying, in my personal opinion.
I also would not be without Vatika Egg Protein hair mask which I buy from Amazon. It's not expensive and I think it's brilliant. My hair is fine and dry these days and all the styling products I use to give it some body, don't help with the condition, so this is a big help and seems to add body as well. I also use L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil leave-in-cream - you only need a tiny bit - which gives it extra condition and shine.
For styling I have a cupboard full of products but what I'm currently finding works well is VO5 Plump It Up blow dry lotion plus almost any lifting mousse. I've recently found that if I have time to let my hair dry naturally, then apply the lotion and mousse, it's easier to get body into it.

I have my hair coloured and highlighted by my hairdresser and a layered short-ish cut seems to work the best for me.
None of this is cheap! But if my hair looks ok, I feel ok, so I do tend to prioritise it.

I hope this is of some help!

Diddy1 Sat 01-Jul-17 18:27:11

My hair is thinner these days, I have always had thick hair, even now my hairdresser thins it out for the style I have, but sometines I look like an old MAN it is so short and much thinner, I loved my Dad but i dont want to look like him. I am off to the hairdresser tomorrow, I will ask if she will leave it alone without thinning it more, I want to look like a female!