Age and Hair Loss

[Della]

I started losing my hair in my early forties and it is now at its thinnest and I am 66. I have no social life and I stay in as I am so ashamed. My hair used to be so long and thick.

My Doctor says I have a very high level of testosterone and the only treatment would give me side effects of heart trouble. I don't have heart trouble by the way.

I use Minoxidol and take Vit B complex, Biotin and Inositol

Is there a safe treatment for high levels of testosterone in the body and is it too late to get an improvement in my hair. Some days I cannot see any point in going on.

[ForeverBlue]

Della,

I was wondering what the treatment is that your doctor said would cause heart trouble. Maybe you should get a second opinion. I do know that hair loss needs to be treated as quickly as possible. The longer it goes on, the harder it is to treat.

I can relate to having no social life, and hiding in the house. I feel like giving up every day, and i've only been dealing with my hair loss for 2 years. I have no self esteem, and have become severely depressed. I have an illness that has caused my hair loss, and the hair loss is suppose to be temporary, but i've had no growth in 2 years, so i'm losing hope that it will happen. I really don't know that much about hair loss from Testosterone, sorry.

Have you thought about getting a wig so you would feel more comfortable going out ??? That's what i will doing very soon. I get so depressed sitting in the house day after day, and watching everybody else live their lives. A good wig is expensive, but you really can't put a price on happiness.

Hopefully somebody with more knowledge about your situation will answer your question. Just know you're not alone. I know exactly how you feel, and it's an awful way to live. I think a wig would be very helpful at this point.

Take care <<<Hug>>>

[Dara]

Della,

I am 63 now. About a year ago, my thin hair got to the point where I could not conceal it anymore. So I got a topper and it really made a difference. It looks so much like my bio hair that no one at work even said anything to me when I started wearing it. So now I feel better about going to work and I don't want to call in sick all the time.

I would go to another doctor and get a 2nd opinion. What kind of treatment causes heart trouble? estrogen??

Dara L

[Della]

Thank you so much for your kind replies, it is nice to know you are not alone. I have tried a wig and hated the feel of it and was so embarrassed when people kept asking me if I had been receiving chemo! And I heard them talking about my wig, although it was a good one, behind my back.

I seem to have seen so many medics, even tried hypnotherapy, in case it was stressed based but it wasn't, the only thing I get stressed about is my thin hair. I am at present taking an estrogen based herbal medicine from a Medical Herbalist which is managing to grow fine hair but I will keep you posted.

Its nice to know other people know how I feel.

Blessings and may beautiful hair come to us all
Della

[Della]

Thank you so much for that information, I will start today. It is really appreciated. Della:)

[LittleOldMe]

I had thick curls all my life ... lost some during pregnancy, but it all came back afterward. Then the early menopause killed it all!!! Thinning hair, losing hair ... boy, I've experienced it all.

So, my doc suggests I go on HRT. I did ... made all the difference. Then, lose job, lose medical, lose prescription benefits - no HRT for several years. Back to square one, with vengeance ... thinner hair than ever before ...

New insurance (as a student, through university, doing my doctorate) and back on HRT - this time it's CombiPatch. Works like charm for a while and hari loss and thinning slows down considerably ... then hair does its old thinning thing!!! Ouch!!!

No way, I say and I get on Minoxidil, which I can barely afford. That was six weeks ago. Within a week, no hair loss, none, nada, zip, nothing ... no itchy scalp, no other side effects, nothing .. six weeks later - tons of little hairs appearing!!!

Can it be true??? Has anyone experienced such swift results??? True - one side effect - had a few ugly breakouts where the solution dripped around my face, but those are gone too. Is this going to last, is my hair coming back to what it was once??? Sure looks like it, but .... ya know all the scary "buts" .... Anyone experienced similar results???

If this is a REAL result, that means there is HOPE for everyone!!!

[Della]

I am totally confused. My first 2 full hormone profile blood tests and ANC showed a very, very high level of testosterone in my blood. 3 weeks ago I had another similar test and my testosterone levels were absolutely normal. I have not had any treatment for this so how has this happened, has anyone else experienced this.

My hair has not got any thicker but has shed more.

[Della]

I was called by my new Doctor today who is young and more aware of the new techniques. She advised me of a new keyhole procedure which has had a lot of success for ladies with hair loss caused by too high male testosterone causing their hair to thin and to also suffer hursuitism. The testosterone is released into the body from tiny nodules on the ovaries and a laser is used to seal these nodules. This procedure is used quite a lot in the USA but is only available privately in the UK. My doctor has asked me to try Spironolactone tablets first as these can be successful and if not then to look at the keyhole laser option.

Anybody had this laser treatment and if so did it work?