Hi .. I mentioned in my thread in New Members that I am struggling to cope with Androgenetic Alopecia. For those who aren't familiar with the term/condition, it's a very specific diagnosis (from a Dermatologist) which means that hair thins progressively due to a genetic predisposition and the follicles shrink and the hair gets finer and then some of them don't produce hair any more
When I was diagnosed over a year ago (age 50, but the thinning started to show in my mid-40s) I was feeling pretty desperate about it, but not desperate enough to start using the 5% 'Regaine'/Minoxidil foam the Dermatologist suggested. This is usually prescribed for men. I felt I could 'get by' with my hair as it was and I hated the idea of a) the faff of applying this product every day for the rest of my life (if you do get any improvement, it's lost if you stop using the product), b) my scalp is already a bit sensitive so the Derm prescribed a steriody foam to use as well and c) side effects such as scalp sensitivity/headaches. Somehow I was in denial about it being progressive ..
Fast forward to the meno-meltdown and a significant (and ongoing) deterioration in my mental health approx 4 months ago, and my hair has now thinned much more (not just in my perception of it due to my low mood). It is causing me significant distress through most of my waking hours and feeds into the anxiety problems I have to the extent that it's now become a dominating obssession. It's hideous!
I have explained the issue to a psychiatrist, and he has suggested 'Talking Therapies' (that will take ages to access, no doubt) and also that I see the Derm again (I am considering paying to go privately because the referral via NHS will take months and my mental health is so iffy).
I think I am clutching at straws in seeing the Derm again; she suggested a product I didn't use, but I suppose I would like to talk more to her about it. A lot of reviews I've read about it suggest it can be ineffective.
I went grey in my 30s, which I dealt with Ok. This is so so much worse. No matter how much I tell myself it's vanity/people are worse off .. I cannot stop myself thinking the very darkest thoughts about my situation. I know the rumination is all part of the mental health thing, but even this awareness doesn't get me out of this vicious circle.
I am nearly 2 weeks into Evorel Conti and I gather the Progesterone in that is androgenic so may not do my hair any favours (the downturn in my hair started before the HRT though). So this is worrying me. I will ask the Dr/Derm re: that as well, but I'd also like to hear from any forum members and their experiences of Androgenetic Alopecia ('AGA'); how you cope, does it keep progressing after the Meno (that's probably a daft question if it's progressive, and every individual is different, but I cling onto tiny hopes that it might ease off)?
Have any of you tried Minoxidil/Regaine 5%?
Does any particular HRT seem to have improved your hair/AGA?
My hair is still at the stage when I can fiddle with it and make it look 'passable', but it is so very different, like having someone else's hair. The lack of volume and density and facing looking in the mirror in the morning is really devastating. daft as it sounds, I would far rather OTHER people notice it thinning (which they will soon) and me be blithely ok with it. I would also opt for shaving the damn stuff off but I haven't got the right face (or head!) for that. I've tentatively starting to look at wig retailers, but that is something that I would find really difficult indeed. It's like being between the devil and the deep blue sea
I also meant to say, that lots of other things can cause hair thinning and that some of this can be reversible, for some people. I don't want to worry anyone about having AGA if they haven't got it! I did all the usual things like got my thyroid checked (all ok) and then I found out my Ferritin levels were low and took iron supplements and now have Ferritin levels well above the range needed for hair re-growth (I was in denial about the Derm's diagnosis and went on a quest to fix myself. My way of coping I suppose, but I so hoped my low Ferritin had cause the thinning, which is another reason I didn't start the Minoxidil). My Vit D was low as well, and so I took supplements, and, again, no hair improvement.
I've also used Nizoral shampoo and nowadays take Evening Primrose Oil and a Multi-Vit ) for hair
I take Cipralex/Escitalopram 10 mg a day and have no choice but to take A/Ds but the Derm also said these can affect hair. GREAT!!!! NOT!!! ...
Mostly, I know I need to accept this situation, but am finding it very hard to battle with myself (on so many levels) day after day.
Please do share your thoughts and experiences, and ask me any questions you have. Really sorry this is a long post - I try to explain fully so that folks don't suggest things I might have already tried
Thank you. X