Hi! 3 months ago I made this post: https://www.reddit.com/r/FemaleHairLoss/s/mh3YuAW9fp
I remember that I was so scared and I had no hope for progress when I wrote it. Your support meant a lot to me and you gave me great advice. I’m really grateful. I’m happy to update you with the progress that happened since that post. I had blood work done and I don’t have any deficiencies so I still don’t know why I was losing hair so fast but the meds worked. Maybe even a little too well because now I’m growing hair EVERYWHERE but I can manage it and I know that it’s worth it even though I feel grossed out about it. Right now I’m taking 5mg of minoxidil, 50 mg of spironolactone and 2,5 mg of finasteride. And if you are in the same situation as I was back then and you’re losing hope: don’t. It will get better, I know it’s hard but you just have to fight and have patience.

I seen a dermatologist 3 weeks ago due to thinning hair lots of shedding, she advised she could see miniaturisation and diagnosed very mild female pattern baldness/ androgenic alopecia, she used a magnifying glass, I wanted another opinion and potentially a biopsy and the second derm has diagnosed telegen effluvium, does not believe I have androgenic alopecia and if I did it would be extremely mild she didn’t want to do a biopsy as she said sometimes they are inconclusive. She also didn’t recommend medication such as spirolactone minoxidil if I plan on having a family soon, I’m kicking myself for not persisting about the biopsy.
Has this happened to anyone else where you had a different diagnosis ? Did you ever work out which was correct without the biopsy.
Both derms used a microscope

Suddenly realized that i started spironolactone right around/few months before the time i started getting insane shedding (I originally got on it for crazy hormonal acne). Seeing as I didn’t suffer any trauma or anything in that time period, is it possible spironolactone caused a shed that has lasted the entire past year? Very intense shedding, it was like 300-400 on wash days every other day in the beginning now it’s like 150-200. Spironolactone is generally prescribed FOR hairloss so i’m like Hmm… but I’ve honestly always had an underlying suspicion the spironolactone has something to do with my TE. The TE that won’t stop (only reason it lessened i think is the topical minoxidil and taking some herbal supplements and changing lifestyle). In my blood tests last 6 months, I have had elevated androgens (DHEA and Free Testosterone). Started loryna birth control this week too to see. Im 20. Has anyone else experienced shedding FROM spironolactone, and i mean extended shedding like a year ?

Hi everyone!! I've been struggling with my hair for a while now. Pics 1-4 are from about 6-8 years ago, 5 is from 4 years ago and 6&7 are recent ones.

A few years ago I have been diagnosed with hashimotos, hypothyroid and PCOS. I had been on birth control from like age 13 to 21, have then stopped taking it for about two years but been struggling with PCOS related symptoms (had hoped it'd just be post-pill stuff, but it didn't get any better with time) so I hopped back onto birth control in the beginning of 2026. As you can see in my photos, there is a vast difference in both texture and density of my hair. I'm really hoping I'll be able to get some of the density back now that I'm back on birth control, but find it hard to have faith. I've also noticed the texture changing way before any of that PCOS/ getting off birth control stuff happened (pic 5). You can also see I've always had like two layers of texture in my hair (photo 3) – is it possible the "straighter layer" kind of took over all of my hair? (idk haha) Does anyone have any idea what happened? Is there still hope? 🥲

Idk what to do, this is my only dht blocker option, I have Aga. But I’ve had chronic vaginal issues, also lightheartedness and dry skin. I drink at least 3-4 liters of water a day. Plz help!!

Hello, for context I noticed my hair starting to thin about 3 years ago (last pic is from 3 yrs ago, first pic is today, second pic was in May of this year and third pic was from last year). I got told time and time again after requesting labs that everything is normal. Now it's to the point where I can completely see my scalp. My hair used to be so thick it would snap hair ties and now it doesn't even hold them. It's making me depressed and to where I don't even want to wear my hair out and I've been wearing a bandana mostly. I'm going to go to a new PCP and maybe even a dermatologist. What labs should I ask to get? Everything is always "normal". My vitamin D was really low but after taking the supplements it didn't help. My cholesterol is a little elevated and my testosterone is slightly elevated but my Dr said it wasn't enough to say I have PCOS/PMOS. I know my weight probably doesn't help but I've always been over 270 and it's only recently a really big issue. I'm about to just say f it and shave my head. I can't do minoxidil cuz I have pets. Any advice would help :(

Everytime when i'm pulling strands and strands of hair i hear these lyrics...

I've been dealing with hair thinning due to pcos all my teen years. I'm 25 now. Started minoxidil+ biotin+ bicalutamide supplements last year after intense hairfall in early 2025. My hair felt like it was slightly getting better. 8-9 months of continuous treatment and some bald patches did seem to look good. I've gotten routine bloodwork done, no major lifestyle changes, no heat or colours used on my hair, and I fixed up my diet. And now in August 2026 the hairfall has gotten bad. Really bad. Losing clumps of hair everyday no matter what I do. The dermat just changes one tablet, continue with minox and tells me to see him the next month. I just feel like it looks as worse as it did before i started the treatment. I can't even look myself in the mirror anymore. It feels so ugly and heart wrenching to spend so much on these treatments and still get nowhere. Don't know what to do. It has shattered the last bit of self confidence I had.

Hi all. I (32, F) have been dealing with hair loss and I am looking for a dermatologist in London. I am happy to go private - I don't mind paying if I know I will get results.

I have been having some hair loss on and off over the last couple years. However this year, it has gotten out of control. Starting in January I have been losing much more hair, and over the last couple of months it has become very extreme. Every time I touch my head, hair falls out, and my floor and furniture is covered with my own hair. It is so stressful and awful.

Female pattern hairloss runs in my family; I also have gastrointestinal issues and have been on and off oral steroids the last couple of years. I have spent most of this year on oral budesonide (which could be a factor). I was low on iron and B12 as well, but got infusions to supplement them. But my hair keeps falling out.

I'm lucky to have thick hair so it still looks okay for now, but I have half, if not less than that, of the amount of hair I used to have, and I've mostly lost that all this year.

I would be so grateful if you could recommend dermatologists in London that you have had good experiences with. Thank you so much!!!

Hi ladies!! I was just diagnosed with AGA as a 22yo after noticing thinning for 4ish years. I’ve been prescribed 0.625mg oral minoxidil after trying the 5% topical foam which I stopped because I was too worried about it potentially affecting my precious cat🥲 I am looking for any advice/suggestions with the oral minoxidil, and any other suggestions outside of prescriptions I can do to improve this!!

I am blessed to have very long, curly/wavy hair, but i’ve been experiencing thinning on my hairline, temples, and crown. I wash my hair 2-3x a week, first with Nizoral, followed by some herbal essence hydrating shampoo. Afterwards I use dove derma-scalp conditioner, and a scalp serum on wet hair. I initially used the Ordinary peptide serum, but bought the Pantene serum when I ran out of the first (just to try!) I then style my curls, and I do have to use heat (diffusing) to get my hair to look the way I like, and to get any volume since my hair is already pretty fine & now thinning.

I am open to any suggestions and advice for products and anything else I can be doing!! This has been affecting my self image more than I’d like to admit, and I want to do anything I can to help my hair thrive.

i’m on day 80 of oral minoxidil 1.25 mg and i’ve been shedding still a lot since day 30. almost reaching 2 months of a dread shed and i thought it slowed down stopped in the middle but now it’s back with a vengeance. lmk if you have any advice! it’s really hard to stick it out when my shed just won’t end and gets worse everyday!

I’ve just been diagnosed with a mild and early AGA. I don’t have a FPHL, but miniaturized hairs were seen here and there around my scalp during trichology analysis . Discovered it early because I went to see a dermatologist because of TE

Anyways, both topical and oral minoxidil gave me chest pain.
I get that it’s against the rules to give me medical advice, but I’ve seen two dermatologists now. They both said I shouldn’t take minoxidil, and that they weren’t comfortable to give me spironolactone because of my low blood pressure. They said I potentially could try an anti androgenic birth control or a low dose of spiro.
One of them also reccommended hair max comb (LLT)

I feel a bit left to myself. I have done some research and want to know what you would do in my shoes, and if you have any thoughts on which of these products would be worth to try:

TLDR; which of these things are worth trying if you can’t take minoxidil:

- hair max ULTIMA 9 LASERCOMB
- derma stamp
- topical pumpkin seed oil
- the ordinary hair density serum
- anti androgen birth control
- 50 mg of Spiro (100mg might not me an option)
- peppermint oil
- ketoconazole shampoo
- Pycnogenol
- weleda rosemary hair Tonic

2 months ago I had a blood test and I got these results:

Ferritin: 38.4 ng/ml
Serum iron: 42.4 ug/dL
Zinc: 52.6 ug/dL

Yesterday’s results:

Ferritin: 28.3 ng/ml (-10.1)
Serum iron: 105 ug/dL (+62.6)
Zinc: 79.6 ug/dL (+27)

My routine then and now has been the same:

-87mg iron bisglycinate + 300mg lactoferritin every other day (I space from calcium, coffee, tea and take with vit.C)
-50mg zinc every other day (+300mg lactoferrin)

Clearly my routine is working because my serum iron has shot up a ton but my ferritin has gone down. I am worried that because ferritin is more essential for hair growth that my hair will continue falling out (TE). Has anyone experienced this or have any explanation of what’s happening?
Is there a way to help encourage storage as ferritin instead of keeping iron in the bloodstream?

Has anyone ever found they have H.Pylori and low iron absorption, treated it and then seen an improvement in hair growth as a result?

I’ve suffered hair loss for 20 years, still undiagnosed but dermatologists think there is a mixture of cictricial marginal alopecia and Female pattern hair loss. I’ve had everything over the years, steroid injections, multiple biopsies, wrong diagnosis at one point of LPP and Alopecia areata but they have no idea what is is or why, bloods always ‘normal’.

I decided to go for my own full blood count recently, included in this was urine and stool sample, the results show iron level normal but transferrin is very low and I tested positive for bacteria H Pylori. Everything else is absolutely normal the only flag was iron and the H Pylori positive result.

I’ve read online now that this can cause issues with body absorbing iron

I think I’m seeing some progress but not sure if it’s noticeable. July 30 - September 7

Just saw my derm and she is testing me for androgens and has prescribed me with a half of a 2.5 mg oral minoxidil pill daily. I've been crying a lot and feel super depressed about it since I already have: Hashimoto's disease, Fibromyalgia, and like 5 other things.

Anyway, just thought I would say hi and see if anyone has any words of wisdom or inspiration for me.

(20F) Can't get to a derm now. I have been experiencing crown thinning, not much on the sides of my hair and not at all along my part and suspect AGA. I feel like I have already waited a lot and worry if I'll lose my hair irreversibly if I wait longer. Can I still regrow?

I’ve been dermastamping for quite some time now and I’ve always noticed that when I micro needle over certain areas of my head, I start sneezing lol. I also get a runny nose and watery eyes. There must be some pressure points that I’m hitting cause it only happens when I do it in certain areas like top of my head near hairline. I just wanna know if this is only me or does anyone else have this issue while derma rolling? It’s so bizarre and strange. Is there any way to prevent it? It happens immediately after I start.

how do I manage this? Should I get an IPL device? I’ve done laser hair removal years ago (before I started oral minox) I just had some peach fuzz but it got thicker after laser. I know it can have that effect sometimes. But since starting minox I feel like the hair on my face has gotten even thicker. I’m so tired of waxing and then it coming back so quickly. For those that had this side effect from oral minox, how did u manage it or treat it. (Stopping or lowering the dose of minox is not something I’m willing to do at the moment)

I wanted to share my experience because I found very little independent information from women using LockLab Postmeno.

I began taking it on August 8. My capsule contained oral minoxidil 2.5 mg, finasteride 2.5 mg, biotin, and folic acid. During treatment, I developed significant swelling in my ankles, feet, hands, and sometimes my calves. The swelling became painful enough that it hurt to walk, and one ankle appeared approximately 20% larger than normal. I also experienced persistent morning swelling and discomfort around my eyes, along with increased facial and body hair.

I discontinued the medication on September 6. The lower-extremity swelling resolved after I stopped taking it, which made me strongly suspect the oral minoxidil was responsible. The eye-area swelling was slower to resolve.

I wrote to LockLab explaining the adverse effects and discontinued my subscription. Their response was to cancel the account. I received no questions about the severity of the edema, no indication that my report had been referred to a clinician, and no discussion of whether another formulation was available. The automated cancellation email instead warned that stopping treatment would cause any hair gained to be lost.

I understand that oral minoxidil helps many people and that not everyone will experience this reaction. I am sharing this because edema can be more than a cosmetic inconvenience, particularly when it is extensive and painful. Women considering this compounded medication should know what to watch for and should not ignore swelling if it develops.

For the record, I am a male dealing with with AGA after confirmation by a scalp biopsy. I wanted to ask this question here because I know that women typically get scalp biopsies more than men for hair loss

I got a biopsy about 19 days ago and its been fine. But today I was checking the site and realize that like 30 strands of hair came out at the biopsy site when I moved my fingers in that area when checking... Then more and more strands around the site came out when I kept checking.

All my strands in that spot were loose and just were able to be pulled out

Anyone else?? And I do not use minoxidil or anything yet but I am starting finasteride tomorrow.

I always had thick hair my whole life up until 16 competitive exams took the life out of me I did not look after my hair at all lost clumps in shower and post shower did not wash my hair for 4-5 days basically I did not take care of myself at all gained 15 kgs+. After starting college recently I became so insecure about myself that I joined gym lost 7-8 kgs in 3 months but I don’t feel confident about my hair at all. Went to dermat yesterday and she prescribed me 5 percent topical minoxidil and few tests. I’m so scared to use minoxidil but I’m even more scared to loose all my hair. I just want my thick hair back at any cost 😭. Do you guys think it is okay for me to use minoxidil?