I'm a 13-year-old girl and I have always had hair and thyroid problems since I was little. My hair falls out in handfuls and I'm really depressed. Can anyone help?

First of all, don't panic - there are many things that can cause hair-loss at any age, and there are also treatments available.

What Should I Do?
The most important thing to do is to find out what's causing your hair to fall out, and for this, you'll probably need to see your doctor. It's best to do this as soon as possible so you can start getting your hair back and feeling more confident.

In the mean time, check this list of hair-loss causes:

• Stress
• Reactions to certain medications
• Hormone imbalances
• Malnutrition
• Anorexia
• Lupus
• Pregnancy (although hopefully this isn't the case if you're thirteen!)

I wish I could be more helpful, but all I can do is advise you to see a doctor - they should be able to determine the cause, as well as suggest medication to help your hair grow back.

Good luck, and don't let it bring you down. If you're feeling self-conscious, perhaps you could get yourself a cute hat - I have a friend who is never seen without a beret because her hair's quite thin, but she's really made it her 'look'. It's worth a try, if nothing else!