DR KAYE: The supplements that can stop female hair thinning

I’m a woman in my 50s and I’ve noticed within the last year my hair is getting thinner and thinner. There is so much advertising at the moment about collagen. Would that – or any other supplement – help with my hair problems?

Dr Philippa Kaye answers: A collagen supplement is unlikely to help combat thinning hair. However, there are other, more effective, steps that patient can take.

Hair loss is a normal part of ageing. It’s also a relatively common symptom of the menopause, as the fall in female sex hormones can impact hair growth.

The problem can also occur as a result of stress, illness, weight loss or certain medicines. Interestingly, some experts believe that some hairstyles, that involve scraping back the hair into a tight ponytail, may also trigger the issue.

However, for some, hair loss can be down to a hidden health problem.

It’s for this reason that I would advise any woman suffering with this issue to see their GP and request two blood tests. The first is to check thyroid function. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck that produces crucial hormones.

When it malfunctions, for example producing too little of these hormones, one of the first complications can be hair loss.

If a patient has an underactive thyroid then treatment is usually straightforward: A daily tablet called levothyroxine, which replaces the lost hormones. This should help combat hair-loss.

The second blood test that patients with thinning hair should ask for is a ferritin test. Ferritin is a marker of how much iron is stored in the body. Low ferritin levels suggest the body is not producing enough of the vital nutrient, and are linked to a number of health issues including fatigue and, crucially, hair loss.

A patient with low ferritin levels is likely to benefit from an iron supplement, which should help with the hair loss. However, the low iron levels could also be triggered by heavy periods. If this is the cause, then the contraceptive pill or hormone coil may be recommended to reduce the bleeding, and this could also reduce hair loss.

Unfortunately, unless the cause of the thinning hair is low iron levels, supplements are unlikely to help.

Collagen is the most common protein in the body, found in the skin, joints, bones and connective tissues. It’s often sold as a daily tablet to help with skin, hair and nail health. However, there is no high-quality evidence that the supplement helps with hair growth.

Likewise, many people buy a hair supplement called Biotin, which is vitamin B7. But again, unless patients have worryingly low levels of B7, there’s no evidence that it will help with hair loss. Moreover, a B7 deficiency is so rare that the NHS does not routinely test for it.

Women concerned about their hair loss might consider taking a drug called minoxidil. This is a prescription cream, applied to the scalp, that is proven to trigger hair regrowth in men and women.

Unfortunately, it’s quite hard to get on the NHS, but it can be purchased through online pharmacies and private clinics, usually for around £25 a month.

My GP has recently diagnosed me with spinal degenerative disc disease. I am only 36 so this came as a shock, particularly as I don’t have any symptoms. Is there anything I can do to stop it from getting worse?

Dr Philippa Kaye answers: Degenerative disc disease is not as scary as it sounds. But it’s important to take action now to stop it becoming an issue.

Spinal discs are the soft layer of tissue between the bones of the spine. They help cushion these crucial bones from damage.

However, over time these discs can thin, often due to wear and tear or a traumatic back injury. This result of this thinning is typically osteoarthritis in the spine – where, without the cushioning of the discs, the spinal bones begin to rub against each other, triggering painful inflammation.

However, it’s possible for people to have signs of disc degeneration but have no symptoms. In fact, many can have the condition and never go on to experience any issues or require treatment.

But in order to lower the risk of painful osteoarthritis, there are steps patients need to take.

The first, and arguably most crucial, is to maintain a healthy weight or, if overweight or obese, to lose some. This is because excess weight can put strain on the discs and joints. Smoking has also been linked to disc degeneration, so it’s important to kick the habit.

Regular exercise such as walking or swimming are important too as well as physical activity that focuses on flexibility such as yoga and pilates.

Make sure to eat a balanced and varied diet that is high in calcium – found in dairy products, sardines, kale and broccoli. Vitamin D, gained mainly through sunlight, is also important. So, in the winter months, it might be a good idea to take a daily vitamin D supplement.