Hair loss

[sweetblubrry]

I'm 27 and have noticed more hair loss than usual lately. I have always done everything to my hair - brush, blow dry, straighten, color, you name it! Normally I have little to no hair falling out (it's long). Lately I've been noticing quite a a bit more. I found a cluster on my clothes when I took it out of the dryer, I feel it when I brush, dry, and straighten now when I never did before. I have not changed a thing except working the night shift. I have done it twice in the last week. I had a blood test (end of January) and everything was fine. Could it be that my shedule has been vcrazy lately? I do 730am to 2pm days and switched to 11pm to 7am twice so far. I felt horrible the day after. Could this cause hair loss? It is freaking me out!

[marc]

I know stress and thyroid issues can cause hair loss, but you could always call your physician and
discuss your symptoms and concerns.

[Slangevar]

Stress, lack of sleep and hormones can all cause hair loss.  I've gone through periods of it, too... it's scary, but I find if I step up the exercise, eat right and get a full night of sleep, it stops falling out.

[sweetblubrry]

Now I am having anxiety about a thyroid problem bc I googled. Wouldn't my test at the end of January had showed something? I can't afford Togo to the doc right now bc I am in debt from that visit (no insurance) would I be having physical symptoms? I have been more stressed out lately.... I balance three jobs and I do work the night 0103 on occasion and still the day shift. I also jut lost one of my clients last week which stressed me out too. How can you differentiate between stress/sleep and a thyroid problem?

[NeedToChillOut]

I've had this and I researched it and learned that it may be due to hormonal reasons (menstrual cycle.)  I don't know the exact cause, but I think I had this while having heavy bleeding; it may be iron-related or maybe simply estrogen-related or something.

The good news is that the hair loss (visible to yourself more so than to others who may not even notice it at all) stops and hair grows back.  Then it may happen all over again!  I think I have had this two or three times and it drove me insane -seeing lots of hair each time I washed it, and on combs, and on clothing, and the vacuum cleaner was picking up a crazy amount of hair.  But it's back to being thick now; it recovered each time.

[rr2005]

I've experienced considerable hair loss a couple of times in the last few years. Anxiety was the culprit. I saw my doctor about it, and she told me that low iron levels can also cause hair loss.

[smmaho]

In the last 4 years my hair has thinned out dramatically and no doubt caused by anxiety, I've wasted 4 years of constantly worrying about nothing and I still am worrying about things! When will I learn!

[SighNoMore]

In the last 4 years my hair has thinned out dramatically and no doubt caused by anxiety, I've wasted 4 years of constantly worrying about nothing and I still am worrying about things! When will I learn!

Same here! I have no doubt anxiety is at play.

[catalyst911]

Thyroid problems - when severe enough for majorly anxious to be warranted - are obvious.  These aren't subtle things and they develop quickly and constant.  Thyroid Cancer for one turns your skin yellow and people have very obvious symptoms that progress quickly. 

Lesser Thyroid Issues (and I only use lesser in comparison to Cancer or something acutely time sensitive) is a more gradual progression. Hypothyroidism, of which one symptom is hair loss, is easy to diagnose with blood tests and moderately easy to treat.  It is not a cause of major anxiety. 

I wouldn't worry to much about your thyroid (I have been there, done that), but ask your doctor about it if you are concerned.  Thyroid Cancer especially is exceedingly rare, and as I said above - obvious.  Tumours to the Thyroid do not hide.  They are obvious also.

I hope this helps.  I have been done this scary road and the internet really doesn't help because it is quite rare.  Talk to the Dr if you are concerned that you have an imbalance or low or high levels - but calm your mind on the big stuff!

Anxiety is a horrible thing.  I find that hearing from someone else about their experience (when positive) helps me.  I hope this helps. 

[Allochka]

I had major hair losses twice in my life, both after big stresses. Even my hairdresser noticed both times and remarked that I must be under huge stress.
So anxiety can easily cause this.

[tipperton]

A while ago, when I was very stressed, I started shedding my long hair like crazy.  Every time I ran my fingers through it, I would end up with a little handful of hair. I assumed it was stress related. 

Although my Hemoglobin was normal, I had low Ferritin levels (stored iron).  I started taking prenatal vitamins because I was trying to conceive.  Eventually, it occurred to me that my hair loss had stopped.  Then I read about low ferritin being connected to hair loss.  I can't prove it, but I think that's what it was in my case.

Often doctors check for anemia by testing your Hemoglobin.  But they may not have tested your ferritin levels, so you might want to ask.