ferritin & hair loss

[Jamast]

Has anyone tried upping their iron intake in order to increase their ferritin levels to help reverse hair loss. Just been reading some research to do with hair loss in those of us with an underactive thyroid and it suggests that we should increase iron levels.
It also recommends taking iron supplements with a glass of orange juice or Vitamin C tablets because iron absorption is helped by Ascorbic acid, plus avoid caffeine and alcohol as both inhibit iron absorption.
I was surprised that calcium interferes with iron absorption, so those calcium supplements we take must be spaced away from iron supplements, with a gap of at least 4 hours between them. I was also surprised that the 4 hour rule also applies to dairy products which should also be avoided for at least 4 hours before taking iron.

Off to see what iron/ferritin supplements I can get hold of. Has to be worth a try.

 

[Yvessa]

I have tried everything lol. Hair loss is unavoidable - things that can help are high protein, good calcium and vit d supplementation, not shampooing - I only use conditioner, I comb with a wide comb while hair is wet and don't brush it dry. I also take a hair skin and nails.

 

[Stacey83]

I'm losing so much hair at the moment it's ridiculous! I have started taking iron but that was for my energy levels and I'm feeling better but not noticed a difference in my hair loss. I have however been having 5 - 10 almonds a day as part of my food plan and have noticed my finger nails are growing out much stronger since I've been doing this, almonds are full of biotin so I guess that's why?

 

[Jamast]

Does anyone's scalp feel tender to the touch. It's not sore exactly, or noticeable until I touch it, but then it is definitely a bit tender. And I'm talking about only touching it very lightly. I've noticed that when it feels like this, I seem to lose more hair, but on days it's not tender, I lose hardly any hair.

 

[Yvessa]

Yes.

 

[Jamast]

Yes.

Oh that's good. I mean it's good that I'm not imagining it, not good that it happens to you too x x

 

[Yvessa]

lol I knew what you meant hon But yes, its something I do get when I'm shedding.

 

[Llora]

I did get sore/sensitive to a touch/tender scalp when experiencing more shedding even before the op!

 

[Jamast]

Hi all. Well the extra iron and vitamin c does seem to be working for me. I've had no excessive hair loss for around a month now. The highest number of hairs that I see in the shower during/after washing my hair has been three. Whereas before there were literally what looked like hundreds. No hair left on my pillows. And I have lots or regrowth in the very thin, almost bald patches that I was developing.
I have the double issue of a non working thyroid, which causes massive hair loss, in addition to having the bypass, but within a few weeks of starting to take the combined iron & vitamin c (boots own brand), my hair started growing back. It's like baby hair - fluffy and soft lol. I also no longer get the tenderness on my scalp which signalled a period of hair loss.
I'm not saying that it will work for everyone but my hair is actually looking much better, healthier and definitely thicker.

 

[Yvessa]

I will ask my team if I can add that in as I already take iron and multivitamins etc.

 

[Jamast]

Has to be worth a try lovey. Lol I wasn't expecting much, but I am more than happy with how it's working for me. Apparently the extra vitamin c is needed to help the body to process the iron. Just have to find a way to improve my nails now, although they are better than they were a couple of months ago. X X

 

[Bear]

I asked my surgeon last week about Feroglobin as Stacey had kindly recommended it.

After giving him the ingredients he said that as my multivitamin already has iron in, it was the zinc that would be helpful. So I was recommended additional zinc and kelp if I was concerned about hair loss. (Which I'm not experiencing at the moment, but when I previously did a VLCD I did) I also spoke to quite a knowledgeable lady in Holland & Barratt who also said Zinc and Kelp.

We'll see whether it works or not!

 

[Jamast]

I asked my surgeon last week about Feroglobin as Stacey had kindly recommended it.

After giving him the ingredients he said that as my multivitamin already has iron in, it was the zinc that would be helpful. So I was recommended additional zinc and kelp if I was concerned about hair loss. (Which I'm not experiencing at the moment, but when I previously did a VLCD I did) I also spoke to quite a knowledgeable lady in Holland & Barratt who also said Zinc and Kelp.

We'll see whether it works or not!

I would be very careful about Holland and Barrett, they recommend kelp for underactive thyroid and yet kelp should be avoided at all costs by anyone with thyroid problems as it prevents the body producing and absorbing thyroxine.

All the research I looked at did say that whilst zinc can help some people with hair loss, the wrong amount can actually cause hair loss. Plus taking zinc for more than three or four weeks can contribute to hair loss as well as prevent absorption of other vitamins and minerals the body needs.

 

[Bear]

Totally agree about not taking everything H&B say. Had that before when they just consult a book and it's not really what you need. (That wasn't connected to weight loss)

I'd read about the zinc as well when I was looking into it, but kind of put it to the back of my mind when the surgeon suggested it. Will go back to him and see what quantity he suggests. Thanks for flagging it up....... Wonder if they have anything for my poor memory. Lol

 

[Jamast]

....... Wonder if they have anything for my poor memory. Lol

If they do, let me know please - my memory is poop!! Lol x