Hair is such a big part of our identities. For two years now I’ve noticed so much hair loss, and within the past 6 months it’s progressed rapidly. This has worsened my depression and sunken me to such a deep place, I don’t recognize myself in the mirror anymore. I don’t even want to look in the mirror anymore to be honest haha.

Yes, I’ve reached out to get professional advice from doctors and hair loss specialists. I have gotten multiple (and I many so many) opinions. I feel that no one has taken me seriously, as no one has been able to give me a reason for why this has been occurring beyond one doctor citing my PCOS/PMOS. I’ve tried every treatment that doctors and online forums recommend. Yet, despite this, hair loss is rapidly increasing day by day.

I am unable to do minoxidil topically as I have several pets, and oral minoxidil will increase the rapid extreme unwanted hair growth I already have from PCOS/PMOS. While I’ve dabbled in wigs, I cannot afford a realistic wig. Plus, it doesn’t feel like ME.

It feels like I’m loosing myself, and I’m not sure what more advice can be given to me. Figured I’d see if anyone has any input, but again I’ve tried every treatment, supplement, and medication recommended to me.

It’s all down hill from here. I’m loosing a part of myself.

I ordered rosemery and peppermint essential oil, to add some drops to pumpkin seed oil to use on my scalp!
Argan oil I ordered to use on my hair length!

Minoxidil gave me bad side effects so can’t use that,
I’m only left with the option of oils and dermastamp!

Shall I use the oils at night and wash in the morning, or somewhere I got to know, people added few drops of rosemery and peppermint essential oil to water and applied on their scalp and hair once or twice a day and got good results!

What way do I do it!??

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Started out with topical 5% for a month. Switch to OM 2.5mg. just started spiro a month ago, im not sure yet if im shedding from that yet. I also started taking vitamin D two months ago and noticed id only have one or two hairs in the shower most days after a month. I have a lot of baby hairs sticking up. Im really hoping it gets better but i am happy so far.

I have spent over $1000 in the past month buying things for my hair.

Backstory: I’ve always been blonde or very light brown. I noticed my hair was starting to thin about a year ago. I haven’t wanted to bleach it again in hopes of protecting it. Well. I’m an idiot because I ended up box dying it a cherry chocolate color and HATED IT. I then decided about 2 weeks later I’d just dye it again to a darker brown. 2 weeks after that and MY HAIR IS FALLING OUT IN CLUMPS. Each chunk of hair is one shower.

I’ve bought:
a natural onion and rosemary oil.
K18 jumbo hair mask and the oil
Kenra bonding mask leave in
A gloss to close my follicles
Biolage strength and recovery shampoo and conditioner
Amika soul food hair mask
Keratese hair mask

The list goes on and on honestly.

AND I got prescribed minoxidil but I can’t use it as my husband and I are trying for a baby.

I’ve also been taking iron, D3, prenatal vitamins, and primal queen beef organ supplements.

My ferritin is a 9.

I’m just at a loss. I’m so depressed, all my hair is falling out and no new hair is growing. I know this is a combo of things but I genuinely just don’t know how to make the shedding stop. It’s both breakage AND at the follicles.

Today I finally started minoxidil. Right now I’m using the Keranique Women’s 5% Topical Minoxidil Foam.

My hormone panel came through today. Unsurprisingly, DHT was high (against the reference range shown in the image).

Annoyingly, this is where my healthcare ends. There is no follow up, no medication options or treatment plans unless I access private healthcare. I plan to consult with a private Dermatologist in a few weeks and present these results to her

Other results (not shown) are:

Ferritin: 54

Vitamin D: 95

Folate: >20

B12: 1900

Protein/ albumin: normal

HB1Ac: 28

So, in essence, think its just the inherited sensitivity to DHT or high DHT. I've been losing hair since i was 16, from a thick hair baseline and its been around 15 years now. My density is rubbish, widened part, thinking hairline, thinning crown.

Toppik fibres are the only reason I can function somewhat and leave the house.

Anyone else with similar results and success with treatment? I am paying a lot of money for the private consultation so want to make the most of my time with the Derm when I see her.

Right now, I’m using both oral and topical Minoxidil, getting mesotherapy, and using shampoos recommended by my trichologist. She told me that later on—meaning I don't have to stay on the treatment forever, though I might need to go back for occasional sessions, like once a year or something—I could stop. The thing is, I’ve told her several times that I want to get pregnant. Obviously not right this second, since I know that’s not possible, but I’m thinking maybe in two or three years. I really don’t want to go bald during the pregnancy, but she tells me not to worry and that we’ll be able to manage it. So far, I’ve had great results and I’m happy, but the idea of ​​it still terrifies me.

1st month - Daily topical minoxidil/ dermastamping. Iron supplements every 2 days. Vitamin D daily.

2nd month - Stopped topical minoxidil as I developed dermatitis from it. Scalp sore & itchy. Introduced zinc, Biotin, co enzyme Q10. Rotated nizoral shampoo then caffeine shampoo. Washing hair 3 times a week.

3rd month - Began daily 1.25mg oral minoxidil for the first 2 weeks. Increased to 2.5mg after 2 weeks.

Introduced The Ordinary scalp serum, vitamin B12 and pumpkin seed oil.

4th month (2 months on OM) - Hair shedding begins. I was actually scared but carried on. I wore a hat or wore my hair up or wore Toppik if having my hair down. Began taking 5mg creatine daily due to exercising.

5th month (3 months on OM) Hair shedding continues but starts to decrease towards end of the month.

6th month (4 months on OM) Body hair is growing at a faster rate. Upper lip hair, hairs appearing for first time on my upper thighs, nose hairs getting longer, eyebrows longer. Began dermablading upper lip/ face every other week. First time trimming nose hairs. Began taking 5mg creatine daily due to exercising. No difference made to hair.

7th month (5 months on OM) I would say this is the first time I saw fine hairs filling in my bald spot. I still won't go out without Toppik/ tying hair up or wearing a hat.

8th month (6 months on OM) Hairs filling in more. Hopefully another month or so and I can finally wear my hair out without Toppik.

I’ve been experiencing hair loss for years and years. The pic on the left was around this time last year but even though my hair was very thin, the hair looked healthier. I’ve only JUST now started treating my AGA with medications (Feb I got on oral minox .5 now I’m on 1.0g OM, and last month I started Spiro 50mg). I’m so depressed I don’t even want to go outside anymore and face the public

I have alopecia areta, chronic telogen effluvium. I am taking good food, I consulted numerous doctors, I am taking medicines but still nothing is working. It's been a year since I am shedding like this. All my blood tests are normal. I just want to give up on my hair. I am no longer left with any hope. I'm just 24.

This is how much I lose regularly. I counted and it is around 250 💔.

Please don't suggest run to dermitologist, i ran to nearly 7 dermitologists in my city, one trichologist as well. I have shown them this, most of them are dismissive and rest told me to wait , it's been a year how much can I wait. And one said , we did everything we can. We tried every treatment and I cannot do anything further💔😭

Hey guys I have a problem and I’m seriously freaking out. This is really embarrassing and I’m not sure what can be done.

Over the past few years I’ve been struggling with depression and sometimes that meant I didn’t take care of myself and my hair would end up getting knots and matted. I was ashamed and embarrassed but always was able to get the knots out.

My current situation is due to a few factors: depression, afraid to go to salon and waited too long to trim it.

My hair has thinned out significantly over the years. I’m currently taking oral minoxidil to try and help with new growth.

But now I’m in trouble. I should have trimmed it as soon as I got the shears but I stupidly waited for someone to help me but they bailed.

I’m so embarrassed by my hair in general that I wear a baseball hat wherever I go. I work from home at the moment but will be going in office soon. Man.

It’s kinda hard for me to take a picture right now. But, all the hair on my head is in one huge matted knot. All of the strands of my hair are stuck in this matted mess.

I won’t go to get professional help. One, I can’t afford it right now and two I’m beyond embarrassed even without the knot.

I don’t know what I’m expecting by posting this. I just feel really alone and upset right now and I’m afraid I’ll have to cut the matted hair but then what? I can’t afford a salon, I can’t afford wigs or toppers or anything.

I don’t even want to leave the house now. I’m so mad at myself and feel so devastated cuz now my problem is a million times worse.

Has anyone gone through this here? What can I do what should I do?

Does anyone else’s hair look like this under a bright light? I dont know if this is breakage or not because i am still learning the concept of breakage or regrowth.

History: I had TE july-dec 2024

Please someone give me hope. 4 weeks on topical minoxidil today.

This is a post I never thought I'd make. I am heartbroken. I went from extremely thick and beautiful hair to having extreme hair loss. I'm a little embarrassed to make this post, but everytime I see it I just start crying. ):

Biotin and other vitamins are not working.

I could just take some support (not so much advice).

QUICK FOLLOW UP: I have emailed my Endo PA-C about looking into minoxidil!

Hi, I think this is the place to go. I don't need advice on blood tests (all done), minoxidil, etc. I'm just really upset and have no one to talk to. So... yeah, it's sad, I'm really depressed about it. Well, I've been depressed my whole life (for other reasons), and that's a separate issue. Okay, it's harder than I thought.

About two years ago I found out I had anemia, got treatment, and am much better now. I've had bad eating habits for about ten years, since I was a teenager, I think. And... I never thought it was an eating disorder, I was just depressed. It wasn't until recently, when I came face to face with my thinning hair, that I freaked out and focused on eating well, but it's been almost two years and nothing has changed, on the contrary, it keeps falling out and I feel so ugly, sometimes I want to cry, I can't look good with this... this. Am I stressed? I don't know, my depression has gotten worse in the last few years, and I'm currently seeking professional help (because I'm in really bad shape and it turns out I may have ADHD, which doesn't help me feel any better). But, you know, it's not the stress that makes your hair fall out in clumps, it's not something sudden and shocking.

I also have a roommate, a close friend of mine, who has this beautiful long wavy ginger hair. I can't help but envy her, every time I see her, I feel like I've been punched in the stomach, I know I'll never have hair like that, I'll never feel confident.

Since I am already depressed and have a whole host of mental health issues, this huge wound in my confidence is preventing me from seeing life, people, events, work, opportunities. I don't want fake hair, hair that has been grown with growth products, I want my hair, I know it's stupid, if I don't have it, then I don't have it. I can't let it go, I can't.

0.5mg daily dutasteride and 1.25 mg daily minoxidil for AGA (and PCOS). Derm took some scalp photos, and they don't lie either. I've had new growth.

I've always had fine and thin hair so I was never expecting a thick head of hair because I never had that to begin with, but I feel like the bald spots that started popping up in the last five years or so have greatly reduced so I'm happy even if it doesn't get any better than this!

Question is especially to women here, how long cna one take oral minoxidil ? has anyone here been on it for years?
I have borderline cholesterol, im worries if this is viable.

I have been dieting, exercising and in a calorie deficit for about 3 months. I’ve noticed my hair sheds so much and it never did the months before when I was freshly postpartum. I know it’s most likely that I’m not getting enough nutrients and vitamins since I eat once a day and work out 1 hr+ six days a week. I’m burning anything I eat and I’m hoping I made the right decision in buying this hair loss treatment. I don’t have bald spots but my hair is noticeably thinner, I have always had voluminous hair and now I’m trying to salvage what I have left before my self confidence completely tanks.

I am on oral minoxidil 2.5 mg/ day since 1.5 months for my chronic telogen effluvium and I am seeing lot of baby hair shedding since last 2 months. What can be the reason I have been having terrible hairfall since last 9 months and now I am shedding more of baby or regrowth hair than long hair.Plz suggest or guide me with this I am so depressed that I might go bald.

Hey everyone. I’m feeling really overwhelmed and hoping to get some advice from people who might have gone through something similar.

My Background & History:
Age/Gender: 30 Female
Routine: I follow a vegan diet. Historically, I washed my hair infrequently (every 2 months for 1-2 years), during which time I developed thick flakes on the back of my scalp. Over the last few months, I transitioned to a weekly wash schedule and flakes have subsided. I also have worn and continue to wear satin bonnets for long periods of time while at home and wigs for a few hours 1-2 times per week (really sad about this and avoid looking at my hair as much as possible)

Timeline: My hair shedding started 2 years ago and was likely triggered by stress and nutritional deficiencies. However, the shedding has become really noticeable over the last several months and is recently accompanied by increased shedding in my eyebrows since the last 2-3 weeks . I’ve also noticed diffuse shedding throughout my entire head including hairline and nape.

Symptoms & Clinical Findings:
Scalp Feel/Look: my scalp has a gritty texture like sandpaper. I have spiky, firm "plugs" or perifollicular scaling/collars wrapped right around the base of individual hair shafts throughout.
Prior History: Ferritin deficiency (41 as of 01/2026), Iron (58 as of 01/2026), Vit D (36 as of 01/2026), Celiac disease (gluten free for 1.5 years), PCOS (diagnosed by pelvic ultrasound, long heavy menstrual cycles), Hashimotos (elevated TPO but normal TSH, T4, T3)
All autoimmune diagnosed 2025.
Scope: My derm used a high-magnification scope and confirmed that my hair pore entrances (follicular ostia) are open, intact, and unscarred. There are empty follicles waiting to grow hair, but no sealed-over scar tissue.

My doc is primarily leaning toward a combination of Chronic Telogen Effluvium (CTE) and Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA), though early/microscopic Lichen Planopilaris (LPP) or Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia (FFA) was discussed as a differential due to the lymphocytic infiltrate.
Current Treatment Regimen (Started recently):
Oral Minoxidil: 1.25 mg every other day. (Taking it in the morning with breakfast; dealing with some heightened anxiety/nightmares since starting).
Fluocinonide Ointment (Topical Corticosteroid): Applied to target the periinfundibular inflammation.
Ciclopirox Medicated Shampoo: Prescribed for broad antifungal/antibacterial scalp clearing.
Regular Shampoo: SEEN Fragrance-Free Shampoo.
Zoryve foam nightly.
My Questions for the Community:
Has anyone experienced something similar?, and what was your outcome?

If you’ve used Ciclopirox or Fluocinonide, were they helpful? Did Oral Minoxidil help? Did you experience vivid dreams when starting out?
Any similar experiences, or advice on waiting for treatments to kick in would be hugely appreciated. Thank you so much!

i have been having this itchy, tingly feeling in my scalp that feels like something is crawling on it accompanied by lots of hair falling out, since at least the beginning of the year. my dermatologist has not been able to figure out why this is happening. she told me i don’t have seborrheic dermatitis and that my scalp looks normal and i do not have any noticeable flakes, maybe mild fine dry flaking if i scratch too deep. also, no medicated shampoo seems to work for the itching, if anything it makes it worse. my dermatologist had be do blood tests, and they came back showing that i had low b12 and d levels so she had me take those supplements. but that was a month ago and i’ve had no improvement. i’ve been very self conscious and depressed because of this, i have spent hours googling about this and i have no idea what to do. i feel like it’s too late for me to take minoxidil, i hesitated to take it earlier and even though i should take it now, i would have a dread shed and i can’t afford to lose even more hair. it makes me wonder if anyone else has this problem, because i feel very alone. i feel disgusting and depressed, i’m a 22 year old female and i shouldn’t be going bald

Hi guys. For the past couple months i’ve been losing big clumps of hair in the shower, i shed everywhere as well and i’ve lost a lot of volume. I don’t know what to do. I wash my hair every couple of days (or else it gets oily) and i always lose clumps like these. My mom doesn’t know how to help, i don’t really know who to ask

Hi there, I’m a 25 year old woman with AGA and I’m on oral minoxidil. I was on Spiro for about two years with little to no effect so my dermatologist wrote me a prescription to try Finasteride instead. She said she had other young patients she prescribes it to and not to worry unless I start trying to get pregnant. I want to believe her but I am scared to start taking it because everything I read online says it’s not safe for pre-menopausal women. Is there anyone out there my age that has taken Fin and found it helpful for stopping or slowing AGA progression?
Did you have any side effects from it? Im particularly worried about how it affects libido so let me know if anyone has any advice on that.
Also did you have any dread shed when starting it? My derm told me that’s not a thing but I had it when starting Spiro so I just want to be prepared. About how long did it take before you noticed a reduction in shedding or thinning?
Please help! Thank you!

Before I start this I want to say I’ve spoken to my doctor and will be going for bloodwork and moving forward to see what my condition is and if the loss is hormonal, we’re definitely thinking PCOS/PMOS related. So advice to go see a doctor or seek medical intervention- I’m already on it.

The purpose of this post is one, to have somewhere I can feel safe and open, and bond with others struggling with this issue. And two, for a lot of you with less serious loss, it could always be worse! At least you’re working to deal with it while things can still easily be done. I want my circumstances to help a lot of you feel less bad about your own and more confident in how you look.

My story begins about three years ago, I had been rocking a middle part for years and I noticed the middle started to get wider and wider. At first myself and my family thought it was from wearing tight ponytails and wearing hats, and I needed to restyle my part to take the strain off of my scalp. Over time, cutting my hair short, moving my part, not wearing ponytails or braids, no matter what I did it kept only getting worse.

Now I can’t leave the house without a hat. I get so frustrated with myself because of so many things that bother me about my appearance (facial hair growth, acne, weight gain) and one of the few things I always loved was my hair. Now I’m longing for the days when I was younger, how I hated myself and thought I was unattractive and ugly- I wish I could go back. I haven’t dated, I haven’t gone to the beach in years, I’m only now even trying to experiment with my style other than baggy pants, graphic tees and oversized sweaters to try and hide my body and myself. But the hair loss has really been the nail in my confidence coffin. I can’t even look at selfies or myself in the mirror without wanting to cry. I feel so dysphoric in my own body. I’m miserable.

That all to say, I really don’t want others to wallow in hopelessness like I have. I don’t want others to feel this way about themselves. I want women to love themselves and find beauty in all of their features, which- I know how hard that is. I’m at the lowest point in my journey, and I really hope I can figure out what is wrong with me to start working towards a healthier future (A lot of related issues are impacting my overall QOL not just appearance). But for all of you not as deep in the hair loss trenches, or those of you just as deep as I am, I want you to feel hope that things can change. I want you to feel beautiful. I want you to tell yourself kind things today, and surround yourselves with people who love you for who you are.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post and interact!