I’m losing my hair because of menopause says Nadia of Loose Women
NADIA Sawalha has revealed she’s lost a third of her hair at the age of 52 due to the menopause.
In an emotional home video, the Loose Women panellist pulled back her hair to show bald patches and said they make her feel ‘sad’ and ‘old’.
The mother-of-two explained that her natural corkscrew curls, which have long been admired by TV viewers, are now enhanced by make-up artists.
She said her hair had turned ‘frizzy’ and started falling out when she became a mother.
But the ITV personality said her hair loss was more dramatic when she started going through perimenopause, the first phase of the menopause.
Fighting back tears, she said: ‘I used to have the most amazing hair. It was my crowning glory. It was my favourite thing about myself.
‘My hair is not like that any more, my hair really started to change after I had my kids.
‘I lost a lot like loads of mums do but also the texture started to change in it. Having gone from naturally curly hair, my hair would go a bit frizzy. But when I started going through perimenopause I think I lost a third of my hair.
‘People do say, “Your hair is so thick and amazing.” But it’s not. This is where it’s balding. I’m losing it all over.’
At several points in the video, which Miss Sawalha filmed after a shower and posted on Facebook, she broke down crying.
She explained that a hair specialist had discovered that she carries the ‘balding gene’ and has follicles that no longer produce hair. ‘I feel bad even saying it because people lose all of their hair to alopecia or cancer treatment but it doesn’t really make it any easier,’ she added.
‘Sometimes I think I shouldn’t be so ungrateful, why do I get so upset? My hair can still look really good with all the stuff on Loose Women. Make-up artists are brilliant, they do all this stuff to my hair. It does make me feel really sad. It makes me feel old, I can’t help it.’