What could be making by hair thin out? Really terrified I'm actually going bald.

[CranberryVodka]

So this is the first time I post here because I'm absolutely terrified. I am shedding hair like crazy, I don't only mean when I wash or brush it, if I run my hands through my hair any time during the day I get a HANDFUL of hair. This has been going on for a while, but I rationalised that everyone sheds hair and it is nothing to worry about, I'm starting to realise that I have lost a lot of quantity.

The thing is, since I started actively trying to grow my hair I've been taking fantastic care of it, protective braiding, minimal shampooing, I quit dying and bleaching... I don't know what options I have, and to be honest it is giving me a lot of anxiety, so anyone with advice, or people who share my anguish... Please help!

[Firefox7275]

(((hugs))) Sounds like you should consult your family doctor or a dermatologist.

[RapunzelKat]

:grouphug: CranberryVodka! It's always alarming to lose an unusual amount of hair :( I also suggest a visit to the doctor, to see if you can pinpoint the underlying cause.

In the meantime, are there any unusual stresses in your life at the moment, or any major changes in diet? That sort of thing can really affect shedding in some people.

[lapushka]

Thirding the advice to go see a doctor. Keep track of how much hair you have, by measuring the thickness of your ponytail. Just make a ponytail and measure the circumference! Then re-measure in about a month or so (don't get panicky).

[spidermom]

Make sure that your other health habits are good. Eat a balanced diet with plenty of protein, get enough rest, and drink water.

[eadwine]

Doctor's visit first, asap. Get stuff tested. If nothing is wrong then good.. but this is your health, so please :)

[diddiedaisy]

This happened to me last year. I was going through an extremely emotional stressful time, I also lost a lot of weight too. I did go to the doctors and have various tests, all of which came back normal. I had some very see through scalp patches to give you an idea of the size of my shedding.

The good news is that this year I have an incredible amount of new growth, so you can recover from this. For me msm and biotin stopped the shedding, but I would highly recommend going to your doctors first.

I wish you good luck and hope it is not a medical problem.

[Kaelee]

I agree, see a doctor and get things checked out! The usual suspects can be checked with a simple blood draw, the testing shouldn't be a big deal.

Stress can do a number on you. As can hormones. When I was 12 or 13 my hair was falling out as you describe, I would run my fingers through and clumps of about 5 hairs would come out. EVERY time. I remember sitting in the living room crying, pulling out my shedding hairs and telling my mom I was going bald. I think it was stress (I didn't have the easiest life growing up) and my hair has long since recovered, though it was extremely traumatic to ME at the time.

[aztecangel]

We all shed a lot of hair each day. Have you noticed the thinning when it comes to the amount of hair you have left? If your hair is visually thinner, something is probably going on. If your hair looks the same and you're simply noticing more of it coming out, you're probably just going through a time of heightened shedding.

I'm in recovery from an eating disorder and one of the things I've learned is that hair reflects the state of your body and health a few months ago. Many women go into recovery from EDs and end up losing a lot of hair months later even though they are eating again. This is because their hair is responding to the state they were in before (and probably a sickly one if it led them to seek recovery) and will take a few more months to catch up and recover. I don't have any scientific data to back this up, but I've spoke with a lot of people who had this experience.

Were you going through anything major a few months ago? Not saying there's anything wrong with your diet, but I imagine a major illness or other stressful episode might lead to this. Either way, as others have said you can get checked out if you think it might be something medical. Good luck!

[spidermom]

I've been shedding more than normal lately, too. Looks like my end-summer/early fall shed started early.

[LittlePrincess]

I really feel for you :(. I've recently had this problem of HUGE amounts of shedding and thinning for a few months. I went to the doctors (and a trichologist because the doctor was so booked up and slow - I really recommend them), and it turned out that it was a really simple and easy to treat cause of dangerously low iron levels and seborrheic dermatitis.
It's proably not that you're going completely bald, that type of alopecia is very rare, but now that you've noticed the shedding and are worried about it you're hypersensitive to it and it's understandable to worry.
I agree it's definitely best to go to the docs and investigate the cause which may be very simple. But keep in mind that it will most probably balance itself out in the end :)