Member-only story
Hair loss?
There’s still hope…
I was sitting in the doctor’s office when I heard sobs coming from the next room. A 23-year-old woman was crying uncontrollably as she described to the doctor how she had lost half her hair in just six months. At that moment, I realized that I had to share my story and help other women cope with this problem that affects more than 10% of women before the menopause.
“Kate, I’ve been through it too,” I told her later, when I met her in the waiting room. “And today I’m here to tell you that there is hope.”
As a personal trainer and wellness consultant for over 15 years, I’ve seen an increasing number of women silently struggling with hair loss. It’s a topic that leaves us vulnerable, but one that needs to be discussed openly. After all, why should we suffer in silence when there are solutions?
Dr. Leila Asfour, from the British Association of Dermatologists, confirms my concern: “Not enough is said about the fact that this is a condition that can be found in women. This is a vulnerable group of patients and they can feel really isolated.”
I remember vividly the day I noticed the first signs. I was getting ready for a yoga class when I saw an abnormal amount of hair on the brush. The panic was immediate. Was I ill? Was it stress? Or was I simply ageing prematurely?
