It’s a common problem – you just have to be patient

HAIR loss is a surprisingly common reason for women to attend my GP surgery, and clearly it is a very distressing condition, as Nadine describes.

There are a number of medical factors that cause hair loss, such as thyroid disease, iron deficiency and skin diseases.

However, it is also a normal physiological change that occurs with hormonal balance after the menopause and following childbirth, due to the changes in oestrogen levels.

When hair loss is caused by severe stress, it results in a general thinning as opposed to hair loss in patches, which can be caused by fungal infections on the scalp, such as ringworm, or hairstyles in which the hair is pulled too tight – known as traction alopecia.

A relatively common form of patchy hair loss is called alopecia areata, and it can involve anything from a few bare areas to total baldness.

Alopecia areata in fact resolves spontaneously after three to six months, so many doctors would advocate simply watching and waiting. Obviously this can be difficult, especially as the hair loss can sometimes be quite extensive and dramatic, and it is understandable that women desperately seek a solution.

The period over which Nadine’s hair improved would be the natural timeframe for alopecia to recover – and this, rather than the treatment she sought, would account for the recovery.

Certainly people with iron-related hair loss will notice an improvement when they either take iron supplements or increase the quantity of iron in their diet, as Nadine did.

Ferritin is not the level of iron in the blood but actually our iron stores, and these can occasionally be low, even when you are not anaemic. This will cause a loss of hair that will respond well to

Seeking help will also reduce your stress levels

increasing dietary iron, and it explains why Nadine’s hair improved with the change in her diet. I also believe she would have experienced a placebo effect – the fact that she was receiving treatment would have reduced her stress levels.

Many women may see hair loss as a beauty problem rather than a health issue and decide not to go to their GP.

However, GPs can help. A blood test can identify hair loss associated with iron deficiency or thyroid disease, and these are easy to reverse.

A GP might also prescribe a topical medication called minoxidil. It works by opening up blood vessels, stimulating the hair follicles by ensuring that vital nutrients reach them.

Unfortunately there is no treatment for alopecia areata, and it’s just a question of patience. I would not recommend scalp injections – not only are they expensive, but there’s absolutely no medical evidence to support this approach.