Hi Spikey Pebbles, sorry to hear about this. Hair loss can often be caused by stress, although often the person involved doesn't even realise they are stressed. Sorry to seem nosey, but just wondering if you're on any medication or treatment?

All over loss, like yours is not very normal - a lot of middle aged women get permanent hair thinning in particular places, but not hair loss.

Good news - if it's caused by stress, most of the time, it grows back. Each of your hairs has a growing phase, then a resting phase and then a falling out phase. Luckily for us, the "falling out" phase is not  (trying to think of a fancy word that means not at the same time, but can't) not at the same time for each hair. A big bout of stress can trigger a lot/all of your hairs to go straight to the falling out phase, after which time it will grow back.

For many people, a trauma/bereavement can result in hair loss all over the head and an overall much finer look.

You should also look at your diet - iron stores are essential for hair growth and if yours get low, the first place the body will divert them away from is your hair. Low iron is common (25%) of all women are anaemic. Symptoms include fatigue/breathlessness and palpitations. You can buy iron tablets for this, but I'd get it diagnosed, first.

Another good hair vitamin is biotin - good quality ones like centrum have it in. You might also be able to get girly ones with more biotin than centrum.

Make sure you eat a healthy diet and sleep.

I would go to the GP - get a lady if you can, she will take you seriously. Then that way, if the problem has not resolved itself after a few months (which it should), you get can referred to a trichologist (dunno if the NHS has them, if not you'll get a dermatolgist)

In the meantime, you can use thickening shampoo and conditioner. Washing and dying your hair will NOT make it worse AT ALL, so feel free to wash as much as you like.

My sister's hair went a bit thinner when she was really stressed earlier on this year, but it is nice and thick again now.

Thanks bunty.  I take the spatone liquid for low iron so will continue with that - maybe try upping it to 2 a day.

I have been very stressed, so it may be that.  I'm 29 so I know it's not the middle-aged hair loss thingy.  Could just do without it at the moment, feel bad enough without people commenting on it when they see me.

I'll mention it to the GP when I go for my vertigo check-up.  Unfortunately no women GPs left at my practice, but the male one I see for my vertigo is fairly nice.

Yep, spatone is more expensive, but I get constipated with iron tablets.

I just need someone to put me out of my misery!

if you have chronic iron deficiency, this could be the major cause. Get GP tp do blood test. Also don't forget biotin.