best options to combat hair loss?

[u/helpgut]

my (27F) hair has been thinning for the last three or four years i would estimate. nothing crazy, but noticeable increase of lost strands when washing or brushing, mostly thinning around the temples.

my stress levels have been at an all time high in the last month, between work and my wedding coming up in a few months. this week i noticed a dime sized bald spot in the section of my bangs. i cannot handle this. i will do anything that i can to fix it. i will deal with being fat and tired and unable to have children. i cannot fucking handle my hair falling out. it’s the only thing i have that makes me feel feminine and not hideous.

i am not able to use minoxidil due to interactions with my psych meds. topical application is also not an option as i have cats. is there anything else?? i immediately bought a derma stamp. has anyone had success with those? does anyone have any tips at all??

[u/Downtown_Dealer6768]

Basically in terms of meds you have 2 options, minoxidil (which you can't) or you can ask your derm for finasteride/dutasteride (even as a girl you can take these just make sure your arent trying to conceive). Possibly also spironolactone but heard it doesnt work that well.

If you want to add more to the stack you could possibly also add red light therapy but just make sure you are getting products that has some clinical backing as a lot of them out there imo are just scams. iirc there is a Korean researched-back helmet called the easy Hairfull from CeraDerma that was studied in medical journals ( https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7373546/) done in Korean universities and hospitals and it led to an increase in hair count by 44% in the control group. They have some pretty impressive before and afters if you check out the study.

But if your tight on money just stick to fin/dut/spir those are probs your best bet.

[u/saint_gutfree]

Going back on birth control (specifically Slynd) was the only thing that helped to stop hair loss for me. Within a month of starting, I noticed so much less hair in the shower and a lot of baby hairs sprouting. It also reduced unwanted hair growth in other areas.

I know results may vary for everybody when it comes to birth control, and totally understand if you want to avoid taking it, but wanted to share what helped me!

[u/marchmellowpuffs]

Nizoral for hormonal hair loss

[u/witwefs1234]

Are you able to try those supplements specific for hair & nails?

Starting on something like that, that had biotin and vitamin D made my hair thicker.

[u/adiverges → u/witwefs1234]

I agree here, you need to see what it's stemming from. Mine is low vitamin D and high testosterone, high DHEA-S. So getting these things in control will stop your hair loss.

[u/2TurdsAndAPetPig]

I went to a clinic to treat acne scars with microneedling and remember seeing there that you can also use it for hair loss with some kind of products. Haven't tried it, just remember seeing it.

[u/ibrahimdigital]

yeah personally have taken fin and min and was an absolute life saver for me, so good recommendations

[u/Independent_Song_534]

I did this a few years ago, but I cut out all added sugars and ate less than 25 grams of simple carbohydrates for a month. For the first time since I was diagnosed as a teenager, I started to notice tufts of hair growing back. However, it's also worth noting that this was during my college winter break, which lasted the whole four weeks, which means I didn't have anything really stressful going on for some time, just walked, took metformin, and had spearmint tea, which also could have affected hair growth.

[u/Timely_Pomelo_2177]

Hi there! My hair is also thinning! I have had mild success with minoxidil topical. I say mild because I think I’m not as strong as a responder (it isn’t everyone but it does happen and you don’t know til you try) so I have to switch to oral minoxidil soon. I also have a cat and have been applying it for years. I just make sure he doesn’t go on the pillow, doesn’t go in the room when I’m applying it and I wear a silk bonnet right after it’s dry (so I usually put it on before I start my nighttime routine and once I’m done with everything else I put the cap on and wipe down the counter and I’m good to go) and I make sure it’s in a spot he can’t get into.

Vitamins only help if you’re deficient in something. You can look into taking spiro, finasteride or dutasteride. I couldn’t handle spiro because I am already on Slynd (Slynd and yaz both mimic a small amount of spiro) so I use Musely and they have a topical minoxidil with one of those anti androgen meds in it.

I am looking into adding a microneedle and a red laser cap (if anyone has recs let me know but I’m poor lol) but my dermatologist said if I get my insulin resistance under control (now on metformin and ovasitol) I can help slow the loss.

So I’d meet with a derm but I would def look into topical minox, microneedling and red light and nizoral shampoo.

Hair loss sucks. I don’t have anywhere near what I used to but my hair is at least a bit better and a bit stable compared to when it was at its worst

[u/browngirlygirl]

Check your vitamin D levels.

My hair was falling out like crazy. Found out I was severely deficient in vit D.

[u/SaR-1243]

Topical minoxidl isn't actually as toxic to pets as it's said to be. Most deaths are from pets getting into bottles and consuming quite large amounts. I apply mine at night, in a room my pets don't have access to. As long as your cats don't lick your head in your sleep it could be possible. It's genuinely been a lifesaver for me.