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ChloeDharma
March 18th, 2008, 08:29 AM
I know quite a few members have experienced this or are experiencing this so i figured i'd start a thread for us. I thought maybe we could share causes/woes any methods we have tried or are trying or maybe are thinking of trying to rectify it and especially things we have found that help.

I got hairloss from badly controlled diabetes and then it turned much more dramatic when i had to be hospitalised with ketoacidosis (basically its where blood turns acidic). That brought on Telogen Effluvium.

I lost a huge amount of thickness going from mid-range ii to being in the i range. It also seems to have shortened my terminal length of many hairs. My hairline has thinned and looks scalpy and also it has gone from quite a defined line with the exception of a cowlick, to being a bit jaggedy. And where it used to grow easily to my collarbone now i'm lucky if it reaches my eyes. lots of other hairs seem like this too. I used to be able to have a reasonably thick (as in not dramatically tapered) hem at the bottom of my ribs but now it visibly thins about or before bra-strap length.

Action wise.....scalp brushing and massage seems to have dramatically reduced shedding so i'm hopeful that will help bring back my hairs former thickness. I'm also oiling my scalp alot. The main one i'm using for that is the hesh bhringraj oil which is in a base of coconut oil and has lots of other herbs in it too.

I've recently been noticing a remedy on sites about indian hairloss remedies recommending massaging with coconut oil at night then washing off with methi seed (fenugreek) in the morning. The articles claim hair loss will stop if you do this for a month. I use that sometimes but am not sure it would remove oil that well so i'm thinking of trying this but adding a little bit of shikakai to help remove oil, and i'm also thinking of including cayenne pepper in the mix to stimulate circulation to the scalp.
I've never actually been a daily hair washer that i can remember, i usually leave it a week or more between washes so i might end up doing it every other day instead.

I'm also trying to include methi seed in my diet where i can. Partially because it's reported to improve hair growth and reverse hair loss, but more really because it has been shown to improve control of diabetes. A man in the Indian grocers that i last brought some from said to take a teaspoon of it a day in hot water (he spontaneously brought up it's use for diabetes funnily enough) i can't bring myself to do that but am adding it to food where i can.
There are other plottings i have in mind but i don't want to ramble on too much.

Anyway i'd love to hear from anybody else dealing with this sort of thing and hopefully share ideas and success stories.

Ms Monnie
March 21st, 2008, 03:20 PM
I'm stunned no-one else has replied to this yet.

I'm still not quite sure how I got to this place. I'm fairly certain that it was partly because of taking the anti-depressant Sertraline (Zoloft in the US, I believe) which has various hair related side effects and well, the stress and depression that led me to take them. I didn't really notice what was happening at the time, I was a little more involved with the whole mental health situation ;). However, once I began to come off the drug and I was feeling better I was looking at old pictures and realised that my hair hadn't grown at all in a year. Then I noticed that my fairy tale ends, which I was quite fond of, had transformed into a bare, see through length which I had been ignoring and wrapping in a bun each day.

I'm not losing nearly as much hair, probably about a pinchful whenever it's manipulated, but I think it looks the worst it ever has now that it's finally recovering due to the stark difference from top to bottom. I have a nice handful of new hair coming in at my nape, at my shoulders and around boob length. I like to think of it as a natural mullet :p. Although I'm not shedding scary amounts, the hairs I am shedding are the longer ones where my new hair haven't reached yet. So I look wonky. But I'm just waiting and slowly trimming very small amounts to make up the difference.

I've been taking an approximate version of Bargello's vitamin regimen, which I think it really helping. I've also been making smoothies a lot, I've been trying to do it daily but... yunno :shrug: doesn't always happen. I'm experimenting with miconazole and I occasionally use an essential oil preparation (I don't think the thread with the recipes and studies of them has been revived since the down time) with sulphur. I actually sometimes do that nail rubbing thing that there was a thread about aaages ago. The basic idea was that the nail beds were acupressure points for the scalp and by encouraging the circulation there by rubbing them together you'd also be stimulating your scalp. It's so easy to do when you're watching TV. There's so many more things that I'd like to try that I couldn't possibly list them all!

So roll up people, share your stories and your hair care methods and let's all have a group hug! :grouphug: :D

ChloeDharma
March 21st, 2008, 06:44 PM
Thanks for replying hun....

I remember that nail rubbing thing and wondered if anybody was still doing it....i lasted maybe 2 days lol.

The essential oil blend you are talking about i presume is the cedarwood atlas, lavender, rosemary and thyme in a base of grapeseed and jojoba tested by the dermatology dept at the university of aberdeen? I posted a link to that one in the essential oils thread but it's not seemed to attract much attention yet so maybe a new thread for it is an idea?
How do you find that stuff?

I haven't seen your hair now of course, but if its any consolation your hair at the meet last year looked stunning!

Javadandy
March 21st, 2008, 08:21 PM
I believe that there are a lot of impacts from the effect of undiagnosed thyroid problems and I hope that you kind folks won't get tired of hearing me mention it.
In hindsight, I am lucky to have found out the problem so I could start the healing process.

After my son Daniel was born in 1999, my hair fell out in great hand fulls as it usually will do for most postpartum moms. I was so tired, very bloated and I ached. I couldn't lost weight and joined a gym. I would exercise and exercise and then go home and take a monster 2 hour nap. The hair continued to leave little "stringers" all over the place, and it was so fine, dry and thin. I was reading about post-partum issues and came across the forum...thyroid.about.com (http://thyroid.about.com), I took the online quiz and I fit the description of a person severely hypo-thyroid. I took the quiz to my doctor and was promptly told that I was stressed and depressed and that I should wean my son and go on anti-depressants. I didn't feel depressed...just really, really REALLY tired! I went for a second opinion and was diagnosed by symptoms. Turned out I had auto-immune thyroid (Hashimotos) and my tests were not as accurate in diagnosis alone because I was chock full of anti-thyroid antibodies. Whoo hoo. :shake:

I was on the right track, but those stinking antibodies would continue to taint my test results for years. But my hair! My hair tells me that my meds are adjusted properly. If I have the right amout of medicine, I will hardly shed at all. My shower used to be plugged with hair, not anymore. I could always get the doctors attention by starting off with, "My hair is falling out". It worked until one day it didn't fall out anymore, and that's where I am now. My hair got thicker in texture and volume. It is thicker than is has been at any time in my life.

Now my hair is growing nicely, and it has been to about my hips one time. Until this diagnosis, it had never been past BSL. Now I believe if I take careful care I might make it to classic length, or beyond... as long as I stay away from careless beauticians :blueeek:

ChloeDharma
March 22nd, 2008, 09:01 AM
I believe that there are a lot of impacts from the effect of undiagnosed thyroid problems and I hope that you kind folks won't get tired of hearing me mention it.

Not at all.....thanks for telling that story. I'm really glad you got it sorted out and are back on track now :)

Strongnlong
March 22nd, 2008, 10:15 AM
My hair loss happened slowly over a period of about 10 yrs during those yrs when I noticed first thinning and then bald spots I continued to use relaxers. I was so ignorant about hair care and proper hair practices!

Shortly after I began my hair journey last April I discovered what I call "The Hay" formulae. :agree: A combination of carrier and essential oils that gave me these results:
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb36/Discodumpling/collage3.jpg

after 9 months of regular use & scalp massage.

Redheaded Raven
March 22nd, 2008, 10:39 AM
I am glad that this thread is starting. My hair loss was due to stress and undiagnosed celiac disease. I am trying to find what works best for me and trying to protect what I have left. I do have lots of new growth. I have to remember that amount of halo that I have. I know that for me gluten created antibodies that caused hair loss. I know that if I get around any gluten I still get more of a shed. What I have to watch for is wheat or oat proteins in hair products and such, so I am going natural all the way.

My mom keeps telling me to focus on the positive and not the loss. That does help.
She also experienced the loss of hair but as hers was thicker to start it is not as noticeable to me... But she is as affected by it emotionally. You get really attached to hair. lol Well I am going to go do something positive for me and my hair, I am going to go and start some henna.:blossom:

Good thoughts to all!:cheese:

Robbi Dehlinger
March 22nd, 2008, 10:44 AM
Hi!

I have been losing hair since I was 30, but recently started using DHT Blocker. It is a vitamin supplement which blocks the body's production of DHT, a hormone which is testosterone-based. I am already noticing some postive results after 3 weeks. Maybe this would help you???

Robbi:shrug:

ChloeDharma
March 22nd, 2008, 10:57 AM
It's great to read some positivity here :)

Strongnlong....those pics are really impressive, that's great regrowth you have there....what base/EO blend have you been using?

Redheaded Raven it's good that you discovered what was causing your hairloss, i can recommend the henna, i find it definately helps thicken whats there a bit. But your hair does look gorgious.

Robbi, what DHT blocker are you taking? Is it Saw Palmetto or something? 3 weeks is so fast for seeing results :)

Robbi Dehlinger
March 22nd, 2008, 11:37 AM
Hi!

I think it may have saw palmetto in it? The company that markets it is called NuHair, I buy the stuff at Walgreen's Drugs. Maybe I am lucky to get such quick results? But I can see some whispy new hairs in area where it is thin and some new "fuzz" in the "barren areas.

I also use Garnier "Length 'n Strength" formula shampoo;)

Robbi

Louise Clark
March 22nd, 2008, 12:29 PM
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/features/treating-hair-loss-naturally
I found this article. I don't have hair loss, but have a lot of breakage I am trying to re-grow. I had heard about Omega 3's and hair growth, as well a lot of other benefits. I just started taking Krill Oil in caplet form. So we will see...
Just thought maybe this would help

Phalaenopsis
March 22nd, 2008, 12:57 PM
I have candiasis (fungus in my intestants... doesn't sound nice I know) and my hair has been falling out since september/november. Finally they found the problem: zinc shortage. My intestants cannot absorb all the nutritients like it should. Now I have to take a lot of zinc and probiotics. I went from 10,5 to 9 centimeters... My hair is still falling out, because it takes a while before the pills will work :shrug:
My hair was finally recovering at 10,5 centimeters from an awful haircut, it was getting thicker and now, all my hair falls out :wail:

Tigerdawn
March 22nd, 2008, 02:26 PM
I went through a huge shed this winter coupled with a stall in growth. I was hoping that my thickness would recover but my DH's barber told me this week that once you lose hair, it usually doesn't grow back. I sure hope this isn't true!

bubchoo
March 22nd, 2008, 04:14 PM
I have alopecia areata - most of my hair is thick and lovely, apart from occasional patchy baldness. There's one particular patch on the back of my head that has stayed completely bald for nearly 5 years now.
I consider myself lucky though - my sister also has alopecia but a much severer case, and been mostly bald since she was a small child. She's completely bald with tiny patches remaining, and her eyebrows are half gone as well. She has a selection of beautiful wigs though.
(BTW - don't suggest all the things that worked for your brother and his dog - chances are, we've already tried it and it hasn't worked! I know people are only trying to be kind when they suggest things, but we have tried everything :) )
It doesn't bother me too much - for years I used it as an excuse to do the craziest things with my hair (bleached white, chemically straightened, shaved half of it off, dyed black, red, light brown, blonde, pink, blue etc) but now I'm just letting it grow. I hope it won't bother me too much if I grow it long and bits of it remain absolutely bald :( It does limit my hairstyles, as I can't wear a high ponytail or pigtails because the big baldy bit will show.

girlcat36
March 22nd, 2008, 04:39 PM
Somehow I missed this thread!
I have had fairly thin hair since the birth of my first child 21 years ago. Then a cancer diagnosis and subsequential treatment last year made me go bald on the bottom half of my head, and thinned the remainder by half. My hair looked goofy! Now I am going to have my thyroid removed and I am really concerned what effects it will have on my hair. Right now my thyroid works fine, but there is a suspicious growth on it, so it's gotta come out!
Things that have helped me---
Brushing my scalp with a BBB
Scalp massage with EO's
I am using monistat(I think it helps)

Melisande
March 22nd, 2008, 04:50 PM
I'm a fan of the essential oil recipe and posted the recipe on the thread here (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=158), take a look:


Jessie's essential oil treatment for stronger hair, reduced shedding and a happy scalp;

jojoba oil or another carrier oil
essential oils:
lavender, rosemary, geranium, bay, laurel, cedarwood, sage, clary sage, thyme, juniper
optional: sandalwood and patchouly

mix, put in bottle with a dropper.

Put some drops on target spots on your scalp and massage well. Jessie used to put her head upside down if I remember well, I don't. I use it every night before a wash and oftentimes in between. My scalp has become much more relaxed and healthy, my new growth is fabulous, thinning spots have begun to fill in.

I use this for half a year now and I'll never stop using it!

(There are similiar recipes, Moonchaser's Sweet success and Chrome dome, I never tried those and so can't compare. I'm perfectly happy with Jessie's recipe and hope she corrects me if I wrote something wrong!)

and i continue to use and LOVE the stuff. I'm addicted to the smell, the feel and the great results. I never had better hair, I feel it's full and somehow has energy from within. The shedding has stopped, thin spots have bounced back.

If there is ONE thing I can recommend it's this mix.

girlcat36
March 22nd, 2008, 04:53 PM
My scalp massage oil is very similar to that.

Javadandy
March 22nd, 2008, 08:23 PM
Somehow I missed this thread!
I have had fairly thin hair since the birth of my first child 21 years ago. Then a cancer diagnosis and subsequential treatment last year made me go bald on the bottom half of my head, and thinned the remainder by half. My hair looked goofy! Now I am going to have my thyroid removed and I am really concerned what effects it will have on my hair. Right now my thyroid works fine, but there is a suspicious growth on it, so it's gotta come out!
Things that have helped me---
Brushing my scalp with a BBB
Scalp massage with EO's
I am using monistat(I think it helps)

Girlcat I am sorry to hear of your thyroid misfortunes. I hope that post surgery you will be able to find your thyroid sweet-spot on your medicine. Keep track of your symptoms in a log book, so if you go hyper or hypo, you have a list. It's easier than trying to remember when you are at the doctor's office. The thyroid.about.com site was a lifesaver. Good luck and good health to a quick recovery!

Marian

P.S.
How has your monistat been working for you? I am thinking of shelling out the $$ for it. Are you using 2% or 4%?

girlcat36
March 22nd, 2008, 08:30 PM
Thank you, javadandy, that is actually a great idea to keep a journal. I am not afraid of the surgery itself, but getting the proper adjustment on the meds makes me nervous. Since my thyroid function has always been normal, I am not familiar with hypo and hyper symptoms. And thanks for the link!

girlcat36
March 22nd, 2008, 09:11 PM
Oh yeah--the monistat seems to be working good. I only use it on the bald area. Well it's no longer bald, I have some decent regrowth. I will post progress pics in April.

spiraleeee
March 23rd, 2008, 02:23 AM
I just came back to this forum after realizing that i have had no growth in two years, roughly shoulder length, and lots of shedding. Looking for a thread like this. I think I might have hair loss issues- need to start examining factors that might be contributing. I think of myself as having very thick hair, but I don't anymore, and I shed a lot. I think I'd like to look into the thyroid issue- thanks for bringing that up java. I have had my thyroid checked out along with lots of other things about a year ago, but I still think it may be part of the issue. Never really sure what to ask the doctor for.

Strongnlong
March 23rd, 2008, 07:07 AM
It's great to read some positivity here :)

Strongnlong....those pics are really impressive, that's great regrowth you have there....what base/EO blend have you been using?

Redheaded Raven it's good that you discovered what was causing your hairloss, i can recommend the henna, i find it definately helps thicken whats there a bit. But your hair does look gorgious.

Robbi, what DHT blocker are you taking? Is it Saw Palmetto or something? 3 weeks is so fast for seeing results :)

Aww Thank You kindly Chloe (always loved that name!) The oil blend I use contains Grapeseed as the primary carrier mixed with jojoba. The added e/o's are: lavendar, rosemary, cedarwood, & thyme.
I'm a henna head too! I can't imagine how much thinner my hair would be without regular applications!

I've also used MN & saw impressive results but MN seemed to make my migrains worse so I discontinued use.

Javadandy
March 23rd, 2008, 09:03 AM
I just came back to this forum after realizing that i have had no growth in two years, roughly shoulder length, and lots of shedding. Looking for a thread like this. I think I might have hair loss issues- need to start examining factors that might be contributing. I think of myself as having very thick hair, but I don't anymore, and I shed a lot. I think I'd like to look into the thyroid issue- thanks for bringing that up java. I have had my thyroid checked out along with lots of other things about a year ago, but I still think it may be part of the issue. Never really sure what to ask the doctor for.

Spiraleeee - I had actually been ill from low thyroid my entire life, but thyroid gets a bad rap! When I was finally sick enough to take it seriously, I still had a doctor think it was something else. I was raised (as was my husband) to think of thyroid problems as the "cheesecake eating disease" - the very large woman chomping on a big piece of cheesecake with a diet coke. Then she complains she is not losing weight because of her thyroid. It's like Leno or Letterman are telling this BIG joke. When I told my husband, he looked at me with his big blue eyes and straight as a pin he said, "but you don't eat enough to have thyroid problems". I know that sounds like a joke, but it isn't.

So I researched and found the thyroid.about.com (http://thyroid.about.com) site. That's why you need to keep a log or diary and keep you test result numbers! not just whether they are "normal" or not. In my case with the autoimmune antibodies, my normal is a lot lower than other peoples. When I was diagnosed, my pulse was 55, and I had a nurse quip that I must be a good "runner". I could barely walk...but they thought I was "tolerant to exercise". I track TSH, Free T3 and Free T4. You can't be hyper if your free #'s are in the normal range and often doctors can't see past the TSH, which can be a red herring. I wish you luck getting tested, and let me know if I can offer any more help.

Marian

ChloeDharma
March 23rd, 2008, 09:35 AM
Aww Thank You kindly Chloe (always loved that name!) The oil blend I use contains Grapeseed as the primary carrier mixed with jojoba. The added e/o's are: lavendar, rosemary, cedarwood, & thyme.
I'm a henna head too! I can't imagine how much thinner my hair would be without regular applications!

I've also used MN & saw impressive results but MN seemed to make my migrains worse so I discontinued use.

You are very welcome hun xxxx.....the henna explains alot.....i was looking at the more recent pic and thinking it just looks so glossy and rich! That EO blend is a good choice, i'm sure you know it was used in a study on alopecia. Carry on like you are and that hair is going to make jaws drop!!

Ellswyth
March 23rd, 2008, 10:21 AM
I'm joining.

After the post partum shedding (and treated following thyroid problem) my hair was thick, and grew fast.

after my second son, I lost 1/3 of my volume, and even nearly two years later it has not come back, although I did have some regrowth.

somedays it's very hard. I used to love taking pictures of my hair and seeing the length, now I just notice the difference.

Ms Monnie
March 23rd, 2008, 01:32 PM
Thanks CD, for what you said about my hair. It is a little different now but I still appreciate the sentiment. At least it's still red and it's still long, I've got to keep remembering that and be thankful :).

Java, I had a look at the thyroid website. A lot of the answers to the quiz leaned to being "thyroidy" but I already have M.E. and I believe lots of the symptoms can be similar. In fact I remember one studying implying M.E. had an association with thyroid problems or that is was caused by it, but there have been lots of studies and lots of glands and organs are associated with M.E.. I had a lot of blood tests when I was first being diagnosed and nothing came up (M.E. tends to be diagnosed after a process of eliminating other possibilities) however I'm seeing a new specialist when I turn 18 and she took some blood when I met with her. She said that although she knows I have be drained to within an inch of my life(!) already, that most blood tests check for only one thing in particular and this would be very detailed and extensive and so I'm sure will check my thyroid.

I've heard that the most common deficiency that causes hair loss is iron deficiany. Iron in supplement form can be hard to absorb though, in particular it needs vitamin C alongside with it. This is the iron formula that I take (http://www.salusuk.com/products/floradix.html), and apparently it's the best. The only problem I have is remembering to take it every day because I have to keep it in the fridge and not beside all the pills I have to take every day.

Tigerdawn, he's probably more experienced with male pattern balding which doesn't tend to grow back. I think that it's entirely possible, in fact the whole of my head is covered with a halo of varying lengths of beautiful new growth so I know it's possible.

ETA: My current order of vitamins is still in the post, either due to an Easter rush or (god-forbid) lost. So I have been without one of my "key ingredients" for a couple of weeks. I'm trying to be very zen and not worry about the effect it might have.

Javadandy
March 23rd, 2008, 01:54 PM
Ms Monnie, I believe you are quite correct about iron. You can't use the stress or thyroid hormones properly in your blood without the iron. Actually what you want to monitor is the level of ferritin. I was still feeling pretty hypo but the tests were "good" and my doctor did not put 2 + 2 together. I asked for a ferritin test at my routine throid boards and viola! I had a level of 30. You should have 100 to 130 for best cellular function. It took me about 6 months on easy-iron (ferrous bis-glycinate - easy on the digestion) and I would felt less fatigued every day. There is no talk in the plains states about M.E. - I had to read up on it, but it sounds auto-immunesque. I hope they can keep a handle on it for you. I keep a journal of all my tests, because (IMO) doctors are fashionistas - what is the rage today (vitamin D deficiency) will be out of style tomorrow (iron deficiency). Doctors are people too, but the way they treat thyroid is like the way they treat hair on "What Not to Wear" :rolleyes: Hang in there! The more you know, the better outcome and results you will get! :cool:

KateMcC
March 23rd, 2008, 02:15 PM
Thank you for setting up this thread. In the past two years, I have suffered/survived strokes, heart procedures, auto-immune disease, a clotting and a bleeding disorder (yes, one body can have both simultaneously!), and now my doctors are looking at Hashimoto's/hypothyroidism and perhaps metabolic syndrome. ARGH!! I just got out of the hospital three days ago, and I have more questions than answers. Good news --I have to keep finding the silver lining-- is that my doctors are all really amazing specialists/researchers and are determined to work together and figure this out. I have hope.

Bad news is the hair. I've been trying to ignore the thinning and drying, telling myself it is just vanity, but when you don't feel good AND don't look good, it's like a double punishment. I lost some hair to a CT/MRI oops, to general body stress, to medication, to radiation, etc. etc. I don't think there is any one cause for my hair thinning, but the end result is that I have lost over 1/3 of my volume (as per my original hair journal when I joined LHC). My DH trims my hair for me, and we are just trying to keep in somewhere between BL and Waist with a neat hemline and some sort of illusion to health. I wear it in a variety of buns, but now my top is also getting thin, so I'm afraid to put anymore stress there.

Thank you for sharing your stories. I love this site, but stayed away for awhile as it seemed to remind me of what I'm losing, rather than what I'm gaining.

ChloeDharma
March 23rd, 2008, 02:57 PM
I love this site, but stayed away for awhile as it seemed to remind me of what I'm losing, rather than what I'm gaining.

I can completely relate to that and at times have done exactly the same thing for the same reason. So many times i've nearly given up growing to long lengths thinking i'm flogging a dead horse.

girlcat36
March 23rd, 2008, 03:18 PM
Grrrrr....I am having a huge shed for last 2 weeks, and I had been doing so well!!
It's weird, there is a lot of shorter hairs coming out that have never been cut. They just can't be terminal at 5-6 inches!!

bruteforcegrl
March 23rd, 2008, 04:11 PM
I had some hair loss about three years ago which turned out to be from mild hypothyroidism, previously undiagnosed. I did everything I could think of but I think what actually helped most was the medication.

I did start using Meg's essential oil blend which is Chrome Dome plus Clary Sage and Thyme, I believe. I use it in Jojoba a as a carrier oil. My way of using it now is to massage it in and scritch with a horn comb before washing which I currently do about every third day. My ponytail circumference has increased over the last couple of years from 2.5 to 3."
BFG

Unnamed
March 23rd, 2008, 04:47 PM
girlcat36 -- If you have wispies (or that's what I call 'em--the hairs around my hairline that just don't grow very long!) they *can* shed out at shorter lengths. Mine shed out when they're anywhere from about 2" to 8-10", and I've had them since before any thyroid/other issues really popped up. So while some could just be linked to the shedding, if you have wispies, a bunch (maybe all, maybe not) of those shed hairs might just be those.

KateMcC -- Your thinning on top and mention of the bleeding issues reminds me of my mom -- she has iron deficient anemia and has the thinning on top (and just very thin hair in general), and her iron wasn't helping--switched, and she seems to at least feel better, but it's too soon to tell on hair (and she's also hypothyroid, too, so...). Have you had iron panels, or at the very least your ferritin checked to make sure you're still okay? Even if checked, if you don't know what it is, find out! Mom's had her iron checked repeatedly for a long time and she's out of range and her doctor even said it was 'fine'. :eek:


As for me, I'm not sure I've had the super severe hair loss--mine's been thin most of my life, but I've probably had hypothyroidism (probably Hashimoto's) since I was about 10 or so, and is probably responsible for all my random shedding. I'm still trying to get a doctor for this (I also have anxiety issues--selective mutism, so I can't screen to get a doctor!), so the hypo is still untreated (but I've had lab work done, and...wow...hypo all right!). Ferritin (storage iron) also wasn't great, although that's being helped, I hope.

I did have one big shed in 2005 that took me from 2.75-almost3.00" pony down to around 2.25"...and then to 2.00" even, where I sorta stopped measuring so much. So, I lost 1/2 of my hair, or even a bit more, and my already thin ends really suffered. I've only gotten back to 2.375" (after 2 years), and it's stayed there for about a year now, I think? I keep shedding, though, and I recently realized it's whenever my thyroid gets inflamed. :rolleyes: I had initially thought the shedding was stress or seasonal, but it's not, especially when I started doing a log for thyroid/adrenal symptoms. :oops:

On thyroid things: Even 'in range' on Free T3 and Free T4 doesn't necessarily mean 'good', or that you feel good (I believe that's usually mid-range for Free T4, and upper third or so for Free T3, with no 'hyper' or 'hypo' symptoms), and TSH doesn't really tell you what's going on: TSH is made by the pituitary, and all it does it tell the thyroid what to 'do'. So for anyone that just gets 'oh, you're fine, you're in range, take this anti-depressant', ask for the actual results/numbers with ranges, start doing some research, and get a better opinion.

And if you're doctor is only having TSH and Free T4 done (and not getting Free T3), you do need that Free T3 as well. Some people do not convert to T4 well, and other things can--even with truly good labs--impede treatment from getting where it needs to go: In addition to lack of iron (which low iron in itself can cause thinning hair/shedding), low B12, sometimes low vit D, and low cortisol can all create roadblocks to thyroid treatment working.

So sorry for blabbing, but I thought it might be useful. Maybe, anyway. I've been reading up on this for years, waiting to hopefully get thyroid treated sometime, somehow. :rolleyes:

Javadandy
March 23rd, 2008, 05:14 PM
Actually - that summary sounds really good and it's not blabbing at all! - Information is power. When it comes to thyroid, you need to know as much as you can to get the best possible treatment! Also the anxiety thing may be related as there is a cortisol - thyroid connection. Your adrenals cover for the low thyroid. You get fat in the middle. I was 5'6 and 115 pounds after a bout with hypER thyroid as a teen, and I was a size 9 because of my gut. Anyway, your adrenals get exhausted after years of this and you can get really flighty, suffer from anxiety and breathing trouble. My doctors thought I had asthma, when in fact it was adrenal related. After about 2 years of enough meds, the anxiety has decreased, the asthma is GONE! but I still have hives in the evenings.

Ah thyroid - what other forgettably precious pranks do you still hold for me? :rolleyes:

Unnamed
March 23rd, 2008, 09:09 PM
Actually - that summary sounds really good and it's not blabbing at all! - Information is power. When it comes to thyroid, you need to know as much as you can to get the best possible treatment! Also the anxiety thing may be related as there is a cortisol - thyroid connection. Your adrenals cover for the low thyroid. You get fat in the middle. I was 5'6 and 115 pounds after a bout with hypER thyroid as a teen, and I was a size 9 because of my gut. Anyway, your adrenals get exhausted after years of this and you can get really flighty, suffer from anxiety and breathing trouble. My doctors thought I had asthma, when in fact it was adrenal related. After about 2 years of enough meds, the anxiety has decreased, the asthma is GONE! but I still have hives in the evenings.

Ah thyroid - what other forgettably precious pranks do you still hold for me? :rolleyes:

I feel like it's blabbing, as I've looked into this a lot and I have a tendency to ramble on/write long posts. I also like reading, comparing, researching, etc., so I know more about a lot of this than I even need to. :oops:

And, yep, I know all about the adrenals, too. Mine are rather...er, shot. I'm not really counting on them being able to heal. I think I might have been too late, even with going for a 'self-treat option'...because things were going downhill too fast and I can't afford an ER visit (which is where I was heading).

So right now I feel 'better', and I 'function' a bit more...but only if I don't do anything but sit, pretty much. So, yeah, they're not in good shape. I'm one of the 'lucky' ones that probably needs both medrol and florinef...on top of iron, thyroid, vit D, B12, salt, and other stuff. It's a mess. All I wanted to do was treat my thyroid, and I find even more things to fix than I thought. My adrenals seem tied to SO MUCH STUFF it's not funny. I blab a lot about this in my blob. :lol: (ETA: Er, that was supposed to be blog...)

But, yeah: The bulk of the anxiety is 100% shotty adrenals as far as I can tell. It's really freaky for it to just....vanish. :eek: That was an instant thing -- but it only lasts as long as things are still in my system, and so varies throughout the day. :rolleyes:

The selective mutism is actually separate, though, unfortunately...it has its own mechanisms, that haven't seemed to change one bit. And because of it I can't really talk to anyone without panicking...especially phones. :( I've been trying since December to screen docs, but I have a panic attack just *thinking* about trying to get to the phone. That, and because the SM freezes my brain/thoughts (as well as me), I can't even come up with a good list of questions to ask to do the screening, even though I more or less know what I want to ask. :lol:

To get this on topic, when I first started to treat the low cortisol, I used up some of the excess thyroid floating around (that wasn't able to be used before, with the low cortisol), and went 'less hypo' for about a month....so after having my hair shed moderately for 6 months, I stopped shedding for a month (almost completely)...and amazingly my hair grew an inch (never done that before!). I've since gone back to being hypo, though, and...yep, shedding more than I'd like to again!

Javadandy
March 24th, 2008, 02:52 PM
I feel like it's blabbing, as I've looked into this a lot and I have a tendency to ramble on/write long posts. I also like reading, comparing, researching, etc., so I know more about a lot of this than I even need to. :oops:

And, yep, I know all about the adrenals, too. Mine are rather...er, shot. I'm not really counting on them being able to heal. I think I might have been too late, even with going for a 'self-treat option'...because things were going downhill too fast and I can't afford an ER visit (which is where I was heading).

So right now I feel 'better', and I 'function' a bit more...but only if I don't do anything but sit, pretty much. So, yeah, they're not in good shape. I'm one of the 'lucky' ones that probably needs both medrol and florinef...on top of iron, thyroid, vit D, B12, salt, and other stuff. It's a mess. All I wanted to do was treat my thyroid, and I find even more things to fix than I thought. My adrenals seem tied to SO MUCH STUFF it's not funny. I blab a lot about this in my blob. :lol: (ETA: Er, that was supposed to be blog...)

But, yeah: The bulk of the anxiety is 100% shotty adrenals as far as I can tell. It's really freaky for it to just....vanish. :eek: That was an instant thing -- but it only lasts as long as things are still in my system, and so varies throughout the day. :rolleyes:

The selective mutism is actually separate, though, unfortunately...it has its own mechanisms, that haven't seemed to change one bit. And because of it I can't really talk to anyone without panicking...especially phones. :( I've been trying since December to screen docs, but I have a panic attack just *thinking* about trying to get to the phone. That, and because the SM freezes my brain/thoughts (as well as me), I can't even come up with a good list of questions to ask to do the screening, even though I more or less know what I want to ask. :lol:

To get this on topic, when I first started to treat the low cortisol, I used up some of the excess thyroid floating around (that wasn't able to be used before, with the low cortisol), and went 'less hypo' for about a month....so after having my hair shed moderately for 6 months, I stopped shedding for a month (almost completely)...and amazingly my hair grew an inch (never done that before!). I've since gone back to being hypo, though, and...yep, shedding more than I'd like to again!

Please just hang in there! I read on the thyroid forum that healing from the hypo-adrenal thing can take years! Well I didn't want to believe it, I wanted to be fixed--NOW! And so 7 years later I am just making it to points where my skin isn't so dermographic (when you scratch it, gently with a fingernail, it raises a welt). I don't have panic attacks so much, maybe 2 a year...not bad. I am aware of the adrenal thing much more so than before. Finally I am able to build some muscle at the gym. I hadn't been able to raise my weight despite being on meds. Turned out I had to double my meds to get here - without going hyper. It's 1 year and I did it!:cheese: The hair growing thing - it's a really cool bonus!

Brillia
May 24th, 2008, 07:51 AM
Firstly, can I say hi to all of you, as I am a newbie.

I have always had the thickest hair, it is jet black and coarse, and was my pride and joy :) But, in the last 10 years my scalp has started to show when there is sunlight or bright lights shine on it, (also my pubes thinned out) Other people thought I was mad, they couldn't see it, even my dh. But I went to see a hair specialist and he said I had a mild case of hair thinning and put me on minoxidil, it worked for quite a while and then I got lazy and used it when I felt like it. Needless to say the scalp has rearing it's ugly (scuse the pun) head again. Also had been diagnosed with breast cancer and my father died all within a year. I was very lucky I didn't have chemo.

The rest of my hair is still thick - pony tail is at least 4.5" in circ but the top is worrying me, I don't want to be like one of those bald men with a pony tail in the back and bald on top :o

It's been great to talk with you all about this. Sorry if I bored you, this forum is great.

Morticia

Robbi Dehlinger
May 24th, 2008, 08:35 AM
Hi!

DHT can effect ladiea as well as men?

Go check out DHT blocker. It is giving me good results and my growth has speeded up too!

Brillia
May 25th, 2008, 06:22 AM
[quote=Robbi Dehlinger;122311]Hi!

DHT can effect ladiea as well as men?

Hi Robbi, thanks for that, I haven't heard of these tablets, which ones would you recommend? Did you also have a slight see through
scalp?

Morticia

ChloeDharma
May 25th, 2008, 09:27 AM
[quote=Robbi Dehlinger;122311]Hi!

DHT can effect ladiea as well as men?

Morticia

Yes i'm affraid it can......but there are lots of options to tackle it....some conventional like the one Robbi suggested and others natural.

Robbi Dehlinger
May 25th, 2008, 12:07 PM
Hi!

The product I have is made by a company called Nu Hair. It has Fo-ti, zinc, saw palmetto and alot of other things in it, in addition to the DHT Blocker.

I by it at my local Walgreen's Drug Store. A 3 week supply is about 26.00 (USD)

swan
May 25th, 2008, 02:41 PM
hi all,
i think i'd be very cautious with DHT blockers for women of child bearing age. i've been having shedding on and off since Jan. 2006....have done every possible lab test etc. etc. bottom line: i have no idea what it is except for stress causing it. i've lost more on top, specifically crown than elsewhere, though it's perhaps less full on other part as well. if there is one thing that consistently curbs the shedding is more gentle products to wash. poo bars are better than poos, and mild poo bars better than more cleansing ones. yet better are Indian herbs. and finally no. 1 is clay. i wish i had tried my clay long time ago....whether rhassoul or else, for me it's the best method of washing so far as shedding is concerned. and for a 3B hair type, the plus is well-conditioned hair after clay wash. i've tried EO mixes, and thought i've had good results at times with them, at some point in the process it starts giving me sheddding for some reason. cayenne made my shedding wild (i think my scalp reacted to it in an obvious way, as it did against garlic rubbed on the scalp). i'm only praying that the crown thinning is not genetic (i don't know of anyone having that in my immediate and extended family, unless genes have sprung up to me from some distant ancestors?) but very recently, i've come to terms with my hair....even if it's genetic and doesn't come back (which i hope is not the case), hair transplant is always an option and in the next five years will be more common and affordable. so it's not worth wasting energy on it anymore in a negative way.... love, care and positive outlook plus information :)

Robbi Dehlinger
May 27th, 2008, 11:58 AM
Hi!

Actually, it says not to use it if you are? But of course, post partum hairloss is a different issue from DHT production??? (I think?)

rosebud
June 15th, 2008, 03:54 AM
Need HELP with Essential Oils!

This is all new to me. I purchased The Chrome Dome Blend and applied it to my scalp. . and this norming I learned I was not to apply it directly to the scalp, and must mix it with a carrier oil first!!!

This darn menopause has not only left me with brain farts but massive hair loss! Can anyone help me get this straight? Please

I'm trying to come up with the best essential oil blend to apply to my hair for hairloss due to menopause. I have lost over 50% of my hair. My son's wedding is coming up, and I will feel so foolish with this hair (or lack thereof) -- It's all so confusing, and I don't know where to being or what to do with the oils.

You can also write me at my personal email address: rosesquared@wi.rr.com

God Bless

Rose

girlcat36
June 15th, 2008, 08:11 AM
Rosebud, I have had good luck with scalp massage and brushing my scalp only with a BBB.

rosebud
June 15th, 2008, 08:52 AM
Not to sound like an ignoramous, but what is BBB?

Still looking for help with a good essential oil mix. . .

Thanks,

Rose

girlcat36
June 15th, 2008, 09:21 AM
It is a Boar Bristle Brush. I don't brush down the length of my hair; I put it in a ponytail and just brush the scalp. It is supposed to stimulate the scalp.
I made my own blend of EO's
The carrier oil was castor, emu, olive and grapeseed. (heavier on the grapeseed). My EO's were cedarwood, lavender, tea tree, rosemary, sage.
I ran out 2 months ago and have been lazy and haven't made up anymore, but while I was using it, it really cut down on shedding.
I have the exact porportions of my oil on the old LHC, I have to try and find it.

girlcat36
June 15th, 2008, 09:32 AM
Oops, I forgot--I also added thyme and peppermint oils to my mix!

Just_Isabel
June 15th, 2008, 11:18 AM
Hi!
I'm glad I found this thread. :cloud9:

I shed a lot last year http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q248/haraldette/smilies/a80952bb.gif, I think I first started getting worried last summer or fall. I lost about 1/4 of my hair. http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q248/haraldette/smilies/boohoo.gif I blamed it on stress - I had lots of it last summer -, and hoped my hair would grow back to the thickness I had before now that things are better.
I ended up cutting a lot of my length last December because I just wasn't happy with my hair, I hated seeing how thin it had gotten, only wore it up in buns because I felt it looked too thin down or in braids, and washing was such a pain because of all the shedding.

I now think that it was more than just stress, and that I may have something more going on - maybe just low iron, maybe more.


I asked for a ferritin test at my routine throid boards and viola! I had a level of 30. You should have 100 to 130 for best cellular function. It took me about 6 months on easy-iron (ferrous bis-glycinate - easy on the digestion) and I would felt less fatigued every day.

Are you sure about these numbers (100 - 130)? Where did you read that?
I have low ferritin, I know that, so when I read your post I got out my most recent blood test results, and it says that 10 - 120 ng/ml are the normal range. When I got tested this March, I had 46.
In late 2006 I had 16 ng/ml, and the normal range I was given was 8 - 150 ng/ml (different labs).
10 and 100 is a huge difference, I'd love to see a link if you have one about this.

I am taking an iron supplement now (it's effervescent and has vit C in it), but I don't really feel any difference in my energy levels. (I was vegetarian before, started eating meat again after I got my blood tested in late 06. My levels did get better, but my ferritin isn't high enough yet. I hope the supplements will do it.)

It's still too early for me to notice any difference in my ponytail circumference, unfortunately. Shedding did get better, though. I think. It's hard to tell with the big difference in length (can't compare shed hair balls :lol:).

Hmm... a friend of mine suspects I may have food insensitivities. Does anyone know if those can cause hair problems?

One more piece of information: when I was on the pill (3 - 4 years ago), my hair shed a lot less, and my skin (face) looked better. I don't want to get back on the pill, I'm just wondering how to fit that in the "puzzle".


Ok, I think I babbled enough already. :o
I hope we all manage to figure out and solve our hair (health) issues so we can enjoy healthy, long, thicker hair. :flowers:

Ms Monnie
June 15th, 2008, 12:54 PM
I'm going through a shed again, just as I was beginning to get my old hair back. I'm not sure what to do really. I feel like I was doing everything I possibly could beforehand. I'm pretty sure it's from stress, although I'm trying to reduce it as best I can and I'm mostly stressed because I'm losing my damn hair.

Is there anything I might not have already tried? I'm on Bargello's regimen (although I was ill today, just with menstrual cramps so no underlying illness causing it, and threw up so perhaps I should take it again in case it didn't have time to absorb?), I'm also taking iron (should I up the iron when I'm menstruating?), zinc and homeopathic remedies. I drink lots of water and eat lots of fruit and veg and protein. I use essential oil mixtures, miconazole. I try to handle it really carefully in case combing is pulling any strands out necessarily but all that happens is my hair is stringy and the shed hairs just sit in the hair. I'm trying to not think about it and stay calm and happy, but that's difficult. :p

I'm not sure I want to see a doctor, because they'll just take my blood which will make me feel ill, which will probably make me lose hair. And they'll just tell me "Don't be stressed".

It was getting so pretty again, finally thinking about wearing it down for the first time in months. I was trimming to get all the old thinning bits off but now it's just shorter still thin.

ChloeDharma
June 15th, 2008, 05:07 PM
Not to sound like an ignoramous, but what is BBB?

Still looking for help with a good essential oil mix. . .

Thanks,

Rose

A BBB means boar bristle brush.

Try checking out the natural section of the forum, there are a few threads there on essential oils. One you might find interesting is a blend of lavender, rosemary, cedarwood atlas and i think thyme which was tested by the dermatology department at the university of aberdeen.

susiemw
June 15th, 2008, 08:11 PM
I'm happy to have found this thread. I started noticing hair loss 10 years ago... the dermatologist I went to pretty much said "you're 40, it's normal" grrrrrr

well ten years later, I have severe hair loss at the temples forming two triangles of hair that have thinned significantly.
My hair has always been very thick but is now
much thinner than it was but not bad except for at the temples.

In the past I tried rogaine which didn't work at all until
I started using it with emu oil, at that point it started to work, but I didn't keep up the regime. Now that the thinning has gotten so much worse, it's freaking me out a little...I've recently started using monistat with emu oil. and when I wash my hair I am using nizoral shampoo.

I plan on
adding spironalactone (but not sure if I'll use it on the scalp or
take it orally).

I've been reading up on the essential oils, methi seeds etc but haven't started using any of them.

I look forward to reading everyone's experiences and learning
what's worked and what hasn't worked for everyone

Susan

ChloeDharma
June 16th, 2008, 04:31 AM
I'm happy to have found this thread. I started noticing hair loss 10 years ago... the dermatologist I went to pretty much said "you're 40, it's normal" grrrrrr

well ten years later, I have severe hair loss at the temples forming two triangles of hair that have thinned significantly.
My hair has always been very thick but is now
much thinner than it was but not bad except for at the temples.

In the past I tried rogaine which didn't work at all until
I started using it with emu oil, at that point it started to work, but I didn't keep up the regime. Now that the thinning has gotten so much worse, it's freaking me out a little...I've recently started using monistat with emu oil. and when I wash my hair I am using nizoral shampoo.

I plan on
adding spironalactone (but not sure if I'll use it on the scalp or
take it orally).

I've been reading up on the essential oils, methi seeds etc but haven't started using any of them.

I look forward to reading everyone's experiences and learning
what's worked and what hasn't worked for everyone

Susan

Hi there

I know a couple of transexuals who have used Spiro and i'd advise being really carefull and thinking hard before you do. One thing i do remember is that they had to be very carefull about their potassium levels in their diet.
If Emu oil had that effect then maybe it would be an idea to start that again? I'm vegetarian so don't use it and have avoided reading too much about it to avoid the temptation ;-) but i do remember reading something about it being proven to spur the follicles to produce new hairs. Moonchasers Sweet Success oil has that as a base with the added benefit of a huge list of added goodies so that might be a place to start.

Good luck whatever you decide :flower:

Robbi Dehlinger
June 17th, 2008, 09:33 PM
Spiro to counteract hair loss?

Hmmm, I thot it was only used by girls like me to kill excess testosterone?

Be careful, and have your blood monitored PLEASE!

MermaidGirl
June 18th, 2008, 02:02 AM
Spiro to counteract hair loss?

Hmmm, I thot it was only used by girls like me to kill excess testosterone? ...

Excess testosterone (and DHT) is a big factor in hair loss. Excess testosterone can cause problems like acne as well.

Robbi Dehlinger
June 18th, 2008, 11:28 AM
Ok, I learned something new:) Not about Hair loss vs testosterone and DHT, but that all kinds of people used spirolactone!

Darkhorse1
June 18th, 2008, 02:36 PM
((hugs)) to all of you.
I had this happen to me many years ago (over 10 now) due to high stress. I'd been kicked out of my house after nearly being killed in a car accident. I already suffered from Panic Disorder, so being homeless for a month was, needless to say, stressful. I found a place and moved in, and that was when I noticed my scalp was scaley with very hard, painful dandruff. (And I normally have an oily scalp, but it was dry, dry). To add to this, I noticed piles of hair everywhere!! I was cleaning my place one day and was shocked at how much hair had shed !! I freaked and saw my Dr and she said that is the normal reaction to high stress levels. She said not to worry, it would grow back (I was in my twenties).

I'm on Paxil and I don't think it's caused me to lose hair. I mean, I shed hair and I'm noticing it isn't as plentiful as when I was a kid, but I'm lucky. I'm 40 next year.

Those with auto-immune diseases, can you give me more information on what you used to help your hair grow? My mom has systemic lupus, and she's been using prescription rogaine(not sure if that's the name), but it's not really doing as much as she'd hoped. Part of lupus can be alopecia. She'd always noticed she had very thin eye brows and barely any eyelashes, that would fall out for no reason (we now know those were signs of lupus). My mom used to have long, dark hair, which she started keeping shorter as she aged. She has it fairly short now (which she loves), but I know she is very self conscious of the thinness of it. Her hair dresser is amazing and I can never tell. It's only thin at the front and top.

Thanks! :)

KateMcC
June 21st, 2008, 10:20 PM
Darkhorse1, I didn't know about the connection between lupus and hairloss. I have dealt with ankylosing spondolitis for over 20 years, and the ANA screen now shows positive for lupus although they haven't officially given me the diagnosis. That definitely might be another piece of my hair loss puzzle. I go back to my endocrinologist on Tuesday, and I'm hoping she will have some new information for me.

I guess I am no longer a "long hair." The thinning finally became too depressing. When I joined this site my ponytail circumference was just under 4". Now it's just under 1". Last month my husband cut off 17.5 inches of hair. Today I went and had it cut and styled at the salon. It's now just above my shoulders. My stylest spent almost an hour with me playing with my hair, sympathyzing with me, and showing me ways to style it in order to create an optical illusion of more hair. I left feeling pretty good about it. He said there is a lot of evidence of new growth, so not to give up hope. I pray he is right.

Darkhorse1
June 22nd, 2008, 01:42 PM
(((hugs)) to you Kate.
Yes, there is something about Lupus that causes hair loss. My mom also has sparce eyelashes and eyebrows. She was able to get a prescription Rogaine, and it's helped. She keeps her hair short short now (she's not a long hair person--she's very daring with her hair), and her hair dresser is amazing. She has new growth, but it's the top that is thin--the back and sides are thick. I can't tell, but she can. She went shorter in length as it's easier for her to manage if she's not feeling 100%.

Lupus is an attack on your body, so everyone with systemic lupus will have different symptoms in regards to what their body has. It sucks! But, I'm lucky my mom was diagnosed in the early stages, and so far, is fairly managed.

willowcandra
June 25th, 2008, 04:44 AM
I went through a massive post partum shedd and lost about 70% of my hair. Just as I had achieved chin length babies everywhere my hair started shedding again in handfuls. Even the baby hairs were shedding and mostly around my temples so my beautiful white streak looks pathetic. My doctor came to the conclusion with me that it was my bc pill (mini coincidentally I was on the same pill after ds was born which could explain the unusual loss there) that was causing it and a few other things.
My hair also stopped growing.

I came off my bc pill and had a copper iud fitted and four weeks later....four days now I have only lost a little when I brush in the morning. I was filling the whole paddle brush up every morning! I am also sure it's starting to gain length.

New baby hairs will be so fun to watch because the shortest babies I have are chin length ones (yes they are still chin length due to non growth) I can't wait to see hundreds of babies. Though I will probably look like I have a mullet lol.

Other things I have done since coming off the pill is diet(cut out the junk) starting drinking 1-2 cups of green tea a day and started to do more cardio exercise.

I am still scared about washing my hair as that's when most falls out. So my washing and conditioning is a bit minimalistic.

This whole thing has been so upsetting..I finally reached classic but then lost so much that I can't wear it loose.

Keep fingers crossed for me that it's all over. Hope you guys stop shedding too. It's so frightening noone seems to understand unless it happens to them. I have to try not to look at old pictures and I even shy away from the main board and photo threads as it upsets me.

One day my classic hair will be 100 % virgin and healthy and back to it's normal thickness.:D And then I will annoy everyone here with a 1001 pictures of my hair in every state and will grow to my knees and wander round town like I am the most beautiful creature alive!


(I also have an auto-immune disease so I have to watch my shedding as my dr says that I could be at increased risk of things like alopecia-luckily my disease just gives me funky white streaks right now lol.-I have vitiligo)

Ms Monnie
June 25th, 2008, 05:14 AM
Willowcandra - whenever I read anything about your hairloss story I see so many similarities between us. The difference is that my shed started due to stress/SSRI antidepressants and that the autoimmune disease I have that increases chances of hairloss is psoriasis. I always say I have a natural mullet due to baby hairs growing in at different stages :p.

I didn't know how thick my hair was before I started losing hair because I joined LHC during the start of my hairloss. My sleep disorders were a complete mess so I spent a lot of time lurking on the internet at 4am, so that's how I found myself here. I reckon it was about ii/iii.

My hair was totally infamous. That's what people associated with Monnie - long red hair. Before I started wearing it up all the time, I rarely ever met anyone who didn't comment on it. Friends were inspired to grow theirs because of mine. Now I feel like I have the kind of hair that makes people feel better about the state of theirs.

Hairloss is always a horrible, horrible thing for anyone to go through. But I feel like it's so different for people who already have it long (LHC long), because their hair is already a defining feature and we have to wait longer for things to start seeming normal again.

Mine was getting there but I had another short, sharp shed, I think/hope it will stop soon. :pray: I just need to remind myself that it's been worse and it will get better.

Once it grows back I will never, ever take my hair for granted again. I will always adore it and pamper it and dress it in wonderful, substantial braids and buns and twists. I will wear it down with pride, savouring the feeling of it brushing over my skin (and still being attached to my head!) and post millions of pictures on LHC and believe people when they tell me how beautiful it is (frankly, I should be doing that now but it's so hard).

girlcat36
June 25th, 2008, 01:12 PM
Willowcandra, I feel your pain! I hope you get some thickness back soon so you can annoy us with pictures!
On the bright side---you have awesome length! :D
I had a very big shed last week, which I am certain was caused by the stress of undergoing surgery. As if the chemo shed, and then the radiation shed weren't enough! Sheesh!! My hair just can't catch a break!
Anyway, of course my shed hairs were my very longest hairs, leaving my pathetic hemline even more pathetic. This forced a cut. I took an inch off, which looks like 3" because it's curly.
This certainly has been a test of patience

Millielie
August 4th, 2008, 03:50 AM
Hi there. I'm joining cause I have hair loss for about a half year and it makes me sad :(
It started when I discontinued taking hormones and although I do swallow them again it hadn't stopped yet.

I'm not quiet sure if I had hair loss before I stopped taking pills so I'm going to check my thyroid (I have other issues that may be caused by the thyroid) this week.

Hatsumomo
August 4th, 2008, 05:18 AM
I experienced pretty bad hairloss a year or so back due to hormones but I got on one of the most powerful testosterone blockers, androcur and they've pretty much solved my problems and caused my hairline and other loss to come back almost completely. I'm still at a 4-5 inch thickness compared to my old 6-7 inches but it's coming back slowly.

willowcandra
August 4th, 2008, 07:03 AM
I just wanted to say that I am now shedding a normal amount and have a massive amount of 1 inch babies all along my hair line. In one place it looks like I cut a section short:D Don't want to count all my chickens just yet but I seem to be coming through this after 3 loooong years.

Millielie
August 4th, 2008, 09:30 AM
I experienced pretty bad hairloss a year or so back due to hormones but I got on one of the most powerful testosterone blockers, androcur and they've pretty much solved my problems and caused my hairline and other loss to come back almost completely. I'm still at a 4-5 inch thickness compared to my old 6-7 inches but it's coming back slowly.


How long did you take hormones until you noticed less shedding?


It's great that you both get thicker hair now :)

jivete
August 4th, 2008, 09:57 AM
I started to notice some thinning around my temples within the last several months. Thinning hair runs in my family, but it's a little distressing because I'm still in my early 30's. The sides of my hair have always been a little thin, but lately it's gotten thinner and my hair line reminds me of a man's receeding hair line. I'm sure my widow's peak accentuates that, but it's still a bit unneverving to see so much scalp. Overall my hair thickness seems about the same though, just the sides and temples. I've been using Monistat for overall improved growth, but once this tube runs out, I might try Monoxidil or Bhringaraj Oil.

hennared
August 4th, 2008, 10:33 AM
Count me in... glad to see this thread. As I posted in a thread I started recently, I've been undergonig the first major hair shed of my life at 41, and pretty freaked about it! Reading your stories helps put in in perspective and gives me some hope.

I think my loss is due to some recent major stress and possibly also my age (I have other pre-menopausal symptoms). I don't know how much hair I've lost, really, since I never had to worry about this, before! I aloways thought I shedded a lot, but I had such thick hair, I didn't worry about it. And I think I was more shedding by breakage, not with my hair coming out at the follicle so much as it is now. But I know my ponytail is a LOT thinner, and for me, it's very depressing. (My hair was finally getting long for the first time since I was a little girl). Friends have noticed the hair loss, too. :(

I am babying what hair I have left, and I finally got it through my thick head (which is still thick, hah!) to not wash my hair every day. I am only washing every third day, and using a lot of moisture, since I live in an arid climate, and the ends of my hair are quite dry. I have been taken a good multivitamin for years, but just added a serious biotin dose to my routine.
Hope to see my hair return.. at least some of it.

-Hennared

hennared
August 4th, 2008, 10:34 AM
I have a question maybe some of you might have input on. As my name says, I have been hennaing my hair. I've been doing so for about 15 years. I'm wodnering if I need to stop the henna, if it may aggravate the hair loss? (I use good quality stuff, but I always do lose some extra hair when I henna).

anyone?

-Hennared

Honey39
August 4th, 2008, 10:44 AM
I had a really big shed about 2 and a half years ago, which lasted about 3 months. It was horrible, especially as no one was that sympathetic. I have thick hair, and it thinned out a LOT. I remember the panic I felt that it would never stop.

The things that I did that helped were:

i). Stop tugging at it - I was forever dragging my hands through my hair to 'prove' that me shedding was not my imagination. So I banned doing this, and wore it up a lot to prevent me from testing my hair. That helped a lot, I just had the shower shed to deal with, and at other times I went into denial.

ii). I took supplements that I read helped hair loss: iron, kelp (that really worked I think), brewer's yeast, zinc. And I tried really hard to eat the foods that had these in as well

All my hair did grow back - I have a load of hair growing down, which is between 8 - 12 inches, almost like a thick layer. My hair is thicker now than it's ever been, and I think for women that's the thing to hang on to - that your hair WILL grow back, it's really unlikely to be a permanent loss. It's stressful and horrible, but your hair will grow back in.

It really helped me though to mainly leave it alone during the shed - just wash/condition (or whatever you do), and bun it and leave it. Otherwise I think I would have over-focused on my hair and get panicky and stressed - and ironically stressing about it just adds to the situation! And really focusing on your overall health as much as possible - eating well, drinking loads of water, getting enough sleep and exercise; because I guess when there are other things going on, your body decides that healthy shiny hair is NOT top of its priorities, it's going to look after other things first.

It is horrible though, but it WILL grow back!

Hatsumomo
August 5th, 2008, 03:36 AM
How long did you take hormones until you noticed less shedding?


It's great that you both get thicker hair now :)

The shedding decreased alot by about three weeks and the new hair started gradually coming in after four. It's now been over a year and I have all these jaw-length tufts from my hairline.

hennared
August 6th, 2008, 06:38 PM
Since I've been experiencing hair loss, I've become really, really fearful of washing and combing my hair. am I needlessly worrying? I wash every other day, and comb when dry with a wide tooth wood comb. I know the washing and combing make the loss more obvious, because it's through washing and combing you pull the fallen ones out of the rest... but am I potentially causing more fallout by washing or combing more than necessary??

What do you guys think?

girlcat36
August 7th, 2008, 08:02 AM
Since I've been experiencing hair loss, I've become really, really fearful of washing and combing my hair. am I needlessly worrying? I wash every other day, and comb when dry with a wide tooth wood comb. I know the washing and combing make the loss more obvious, because it's through washing and combing you pull the fallen ones out of the rest... but am I potentially causing more fallout by washing or combing more than necessary??

What do you guys think?

I never used to comb or brush my hair, and I experienced huge hair loss anyway. I now comb(with a seamless comb) as often as I feel like it. My theory is that combing 'toughens' up your scalp, as I believe scalp massage does.
What does worry me is manipulating my scalp when wet(with washing or combing), as I seem to lose so much hair when my scalp is wet.

Just_Isabel
August 7th, 2008, 03:15 PM
I think for women that's the thing to hang on to - that your hair WILL grow back, it's really unlikely to be a permanent loss. It's stressful and horrible, but your hair will grow back in.

This was so nice to read. I find it hard to believe and I'm even afraid to hope (because disappointment hurts), but it was nice to read. :o


I never used to comb or brush my hair, and I experienced huge hair loss anyway. I now comb(with a seamless comb) as often as I feel like it. My theory is that combing 'toughens' up your scalp, as I believe scalp massage does.
What does worry me is manipulating my scalp when wet(with washing or combing), as I seem to lose so much hair when my scalp is wet.

I seem to lose more when my hair is wet, too, but I don't think the water (or conditioner, for that matter, I also lose more when I apply conditioner) causes the shedding, I just think that it helps hairs that already shed to fall.
I don't know if the curls help the lose hairs stick with the rest, but I think it does. Or maybe it's a certain texture that causes this?

I used to dread having to wash my hair last year when I was losing the most, it was just so depressing to see.
But I really don't think that not washing would have helped at all, because I don't believe it to be the cause. My hair (and I'm guessing yours too, because our hair seems to be similar) is just much easier to comb and get through when wet (and with conditioner) - it gets smoother, which, I'm sure, helps "unattached" hairs to just fall from where they were stuck.

ChloeDharma
August 8th, 2008, 06:22 AM
I started a thread on this but i thought i'd post it here too.

I think i can now say my hairloss is officially over.....i just measured my ponytail circumference and it's gone from an inch when my hairloss was at it's worst up to 2.5 inches today.
It might just be from naturally growing back, or the bhringraj scalp oil i've been using since late last year or early this year might play a part, along with scalp massage....which i definately suspect helps because my shedding always goes down when i keep to doing it regularly.....daily to every other day.

Anyway, i hope this helps give hope to those of you suffering hairloss.

bgarrison
August 8th, 2008, 08:25 AM
YAY!!!! That is so fabulous chloedharma!! You must be thrilled.

I seem to be experiencing a new cycle of loss which is starting to scare me. I thought it was over, but I guess not. ( MIne is due to thyroid/ hormonal/adrenal imbalances, autoimmune issues, anemia and aging) So depressing. :(

My scalp is totally wonky too and I don't have a clue why, but am going to see a derm next week. Not that I think they'll help, but I figure I'll cover all the bases.

I'd like to start oiling my scalp more often, but have a question-- when you use a dropper to oil the scalp is the oil very noticeable in the morning? Right now I'll use my fingers, but have a hard time getting the oil just on the scalp, so there's no question I have to wash in the morning. I'd like to oil more, but don't want to wash so often.

I'm also curious if there's any consensus on the best way to wash? I've tried a few ways since joining here, and don't feel I've hit on the best way to manage both my hair loss, dry ends, and itchy scalp. Especially because I was really hoping to avoid harsh chemicals because of my health issues. I feel like I'm juggling cats who don't get along!

Anyone here with dermatitis herpetiformis? I'm worried it's that. Or allergies? Mold or .....? I don't know anything about allergies. ANyone know a good quick we reference I can start reading?

TY!

bg

ChloeDharma
August 8th, 2008, 11:53 AM
YAY!!!! That is so fabulous chloedharma!! You must be thrilled.

I seem to be experiencing a new cycle of loss which is starting to scare me. I thought it was over, but I guess not. ( MIne is due to thyroid/ hormonal/adrenal imbalances, autoimmune issues, anemia and aging) So depressing. :(

My scalp is totally wonky too and I don't have a clue why, but am going to see a derm next week. Not that I think they'll help, but I figure I'll cover all the bases.

I'd like to start oiling my scalp more often, but have a question-- when you use a dropper to oil the scalp is the oil very noticeable in the morning? Right now I'll use my fingers, but have a hard time getting the oil just on the scalp, so there's no question I have to wash in the morning. I'd like to oil more, but don't want to wash so often.

I'm also curious if there's any consensus on the best way to wash? I've tried a few ways since joining here, and don't feel I've hit on the best way to manage both my hair loss, dry ends, and itchy scalp. Especially because I was really hoping to avoid harsh chemicals because of my health issues. I feel like I'm juggling cats who don't get along!

Anyone here with dermatitis herpetiformis? I'm worried it's that. Or allergies? Mold or .....? I don't know anything about allergies. ANyone know a good quick we reference I can start reading?

TY!

bg

I can't describe how thrilled i am as i had fairly much given up hope really. I really wish i had some advice about the issues you described but i don't really...other than i hear coconut oil taken internally is good for the thyroid....that can mean using things like coconut milk and cream (full fat) eating fresh coconut etc as well as the oil.

As for oiling my scalp...well i'm quite a heavy oiler most of the time anyway and often keep it saturated in the stuff and kept in a bun for days before washing it. The oil i used is herbs (bhringraj being the main one) infused in coconut oil and i really do cover my scalp in it massaging it in (i think the massage is an important part of this) and adding more until my whole scalp is covered....then i also smother the length too.....you could look into some kind of tonic version? The herb could be infused in water then that used as a scalp tonic before bed so no oil to deal with, but it can darken that way which might not be something you want.
My favourite wash methods are herb washing (indian so far) and CO washing. I try to keep sulphates off my scalp completely and my hair in general actually. I did also find i shed less when i used herbs exclusively to wash, but often find i'm washing my hair in a hurry and end up using conditioner. Given what you described i'd say avoiding shampoo (or at least sulphate ones) might be a good idea.....rosemary is another herb that's great for scalp issues so it might be worth trying that? It is said to encourage growth by stimulating follicles to enter the anagen (growth) phase....and also is good for scalp flakyness.

HTH

bgarrison
August 11th, 2008, 08:06 AM
Thank you for the ideas and encouragement, Chloedharma. I don't know much about herb washing, so I'll do some research. It makes sense to me to keep sulfates off my scalp, but so far it hasn't helped.

I haven't used any rosemary yet, either, but been tempted, so maybe that will be an easy, good next step. I see a dermatologist this week and am dreading it. So often their response is less than helpful and I'm out the time, copay and emotional irritation, but unless I try I'll feel remiss.

At least it will be another person to look at areas of my head I can't see! But, darn-- why does she have to have such perfect skin?!?!?

bg

stinamoo
August 13th, 2008, 07:14 AM
**deleted**

Millielie
October 30th, 2008, 02:35 PM
I experienced pretty bad hairloss a year or so back due to hormones but I got on one of the most powerful testosterone blockers, androcur and they've pretty much solved my problems and caused my hairline and other loss to come back almost completely. I'm still at a 4-5 inch thickness compared to my old 6-7 inches but it's coming back slowly.

A few days ago my doctor told me that I have too much testosterone too and this post helps a lot!!
I'm losing hair so badly. :(

Do you have to take that pills forever to avoid losing hair again?

plainjanegirl
October 30th, 2008, 04:34 PM
I've never seen this thread before. I will be reading through everything on here.

maliha
October 30th, 2008, 05:18 PM
This thread is really good,,,

Thanx to you chloe for bringing up this topic,,

I had my son this year in Jan,,,and after that i dont know just what happed my life got completely changed and how stupidly i end up coloring my hair when my hair was already shedding in post partum,,,may be i was so tired i thought a change would make me feel better,,but it went worse to worse,,My hair was shedding and shedding,,,

After realizing what i have done and the stress factor in my new mother life,,I prepared myself to start taking care for my hair.

What helped me :

1. drinking lots of water
2. Not thiking more about hair shedding,,staying way from stress as much as possible
3. Oiling regularly
4. Henna application
5. Hair massage
6. Using Egg and methi for hair treatments
7. Taking multivitamins
8. Eating healthy

Hope this helps :)

plainjanegirl
October 30th, 2008, 05:39 PM
This thread is really good,,,

Thanx to you chloe for bringing up this topic,,

I had my son this year in Jan,,,and after that i dont know just what happed my life got completely changed and how stupidly i end up coloring my hair when my hair was already shedding in post partum,,,may be i was so tired i thought a change would make me feel better,,but it went worse to worse,,My hair was shedding and shedding,,,

After realizing what i have done and the stress factor in my new mother life,,I prepared myself to start taking care for my hair.

What helped me :

1. drinking lots of water
2. Not thiking more about hair shedding,,staying way from stress as much as possible
3. Oiling regularly
4. Henna application
5. Hair massage
6. Using Egg and methi for hair treatments
7. Taking multivitamins
8. Eating healthy

Hope this helps :)



You got me to thinking. My hair loss could be due to alot of factors (maybe there is no medical reason like thyroid, etc.). I had a baby in December. By May this year I had colored my hair twice ( once in salon and one at home). Have had alot of stress and still do. Stopped taking my vitamins after the baby's arrival.

maliha
October 30th, 2008, 06:02 PM
hi plainjanegirl,

I had the same situation ,, beleive me i didnt got any time to look myself in the mirror when my baby was small all i had to do is nurse him, clean him, dress him and life was looking like a never ending circle,,but slowly i started making changes ,,,

Sometimes only a very basic thing can cause hair loss and from the start we think for major issues like thyroid ,, etc

Start your vitamins and have peace time to plan your routine :)

ktani
November 4th, 2008, 10:10 AM
There are a number of possible reasons for hair loss, hormone changes from pregnancy being a common one.

I remembered reading about traction baldness years ago, now called traction alopecia, and I found this. I wonder how much hair loss it has caused, without awareness of it.

http://books.google.ca/books?id=DWiE7fP6RmQC&pg=PA240&lpg=PA240&dq=traction+alopecia&source=web&ots=WamQOoU-Yr&sig=5CS08RcWpRfBOuhTDWlrGuP7MyA&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=9&ct=result

Elenna
November 4th, 2008, 12:01 PM
I have been going through a big shed. I don't remember ever having this before. I've cut down on washing my hair because that's when the most hair comes out. I'm looking into an essential oil formula that is doable. There seem to be many formulas. I have a doctor appointment today.

Millielie
November 17th, 2008, 12:34 PM
Elenna, was your doctor able to help you? :blossom:


I am trying Rogaine at the moment, because my doctor don't want to give me some pills for fighting my testosterone problem. Hope it helps.
I'm 22 years old, I think I'm too young to use Rogaine my whole life :(

Alley
November 18th, 2008, 09:07 PM
This is my first post to LHC in a few years. I am a long hair lover, but with my very thin hair, just haven't been able to pull it off. I think I had kind of been in denial until recently when I went to the dermitologist for another reason and he told me I had female pattern baldness. Mostly my hair loss has been on top and over the course of the last 6- 10 years. I don't know if there is a "cause", but I'm a type 1 diabetic and was diagnosed about 6 years ago. My endocrinologist regularly checks my thyroid because of my thinned hair, but it's always normal. I wish there was a "cause" so I could fix it, but at this point I'm wondering if it just "is." I really miss the days when I could wear my hair down without feeling embarassed about it. I always wear my hair either up in a pony tail (with careful combing), or pulled half up.

I'm really not sure where to start. I still rarely blow dry, and use EVOO on my ends- so while my hair isn't long and there isn't a lot of it, it's relatively healthy. A lot of the habits I learned at LHC have stuck with me. My mom has had great success with omega fish oil for making her hair look better... but I'm really wanting thickness/ growth.

I just stumbled across the monostat stuff on the boards and wonder if I should try that. The dermatologist wasn't very helpful, just said I could get rogaine over the counter.. but at the time I was breastfeeding and just recently stopped. I'm still not sure if it's the best option. I'm wondering if I should try a light henna (or Casia? is that the name of it? Similar to henna except doesn't color?).

I'm open to suggestions if anyone wants to give them!

ChloeDharma
November 19th, 2008, 03:52 AM
This is my first post to LHC in a few years. I am a long hair lover, but with my very thin hair, just haven't been able to pull it off. I think I had kind of been in denial until recently when I went to the dermitologist for another reason and he told me I had female pattern baldness. Mostly my hair loss has been on top and over the course of the last 6- 10 years. I don't know if there is a "cause", but I'm a type 1 diabetic and was diagnosed about 6 years ago. My endocrinologist regularly checks my thyroid because of my thinned hair, but it's always normal. I wish there was a "cause" so I could fix it, but at this point I'm wondering if it just "is." I really miss the days when I could wear my hair down without feeling embarassed about it. I always wear my hair either up in a pony tail (with careful combing), or pulled half up.

I'm really not sure where to start. I still rarely blow dry, and use EVOO on my ends- so while my hair isn't long and there isn't a lot of it, it's relatively healthy. A lot of the habits I learned at LHC have stuck with me. My mom has had great success with omega fish oil for making her hair look better... but I'm really wanting thickness/ growth.

I just stumbled across the monostat stuff on the boards and wonder if I should try that. The dermatologist wasn't very helpful, just said I could get rogaine over the counter.. but at the time I was breastfeeding and just recently stopped. I'm still not sure if it's the best option. I'm wondering if I should try a light henna (or Casia? is that the name of it? Similar to henna except doesn't color?).

I'm open to suggestions if anyone wants to give them!

Welcome back Alley...good to see you posting again :flower:
Is your diabetes well controlled? Type 1 diabetes is my main cause of hairloss.....and i know how hard it is to keep blood sugars within range :(
I've had great success using a scalp oil called bhringraj oil by hesh, but the formula without mineral oil....or a good alternative is Pune Mahabhringaraj oil.
Switching to herb washing helped alot too. It does take ages to see results though, i never realised anything was happening other than a reduction of shedding then suddenly decided to measure and found my thickness had increased 150%....nice surprise to get :D
It might be worth considering supplements, a good multivitamin and mineral, MSM.....evening primrose oil is great for diabetics, but just check with your doctor that it's ok to take that one. I'm mainly taking it to try to help diabetic neuropathy but it's great for the skin and hair too.
Do you scalp massage? I find that does wonders for reducing shedding if i keep to doing it daily.
It might be worth you checking out the essential oils for hairloss thread too as those might be easier for you to find.

Melisande
November 19th, 2008, 04:49 AM
Dear Alley, your hair is beautiful. The last picture is from summer 06, what a pity you didn't post a newer picture. I hope it's not because of your hairloss.

Hairloss is depressing and it takes a long time to see an improvement. I had a dramatic loss of hair after medication, some four or five years ago. By now, it's fuller again and I have a normal level of hairloss. But I remember the feeling well.

You are under a doctor's supervision so I guess you checked the usual suspects like iron, hormons etc together with the thyroid?

I don't know what nutritional supplements you can or can't take but I have heard many people having good success with omega 3, MSM, B vitamins, magnesium, calcium or zinc. Igor wrote a very good article (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=74) about it. Maybe you want to try a supplement regimen and see whether it increases your growth rate.

I noticed a visible increase in hair growth and thickness when I began to massage my scalp at least twice a week with an essential oil mixture that I read about on the boards. There are many different recipes (Jessie's, Meg's, Moonchaser's...). People use different carrier oils (jojoba, grapeseed...), different essential oils (lavender, thyme, sage, bay, grapefruit...). You may wish to read the thread (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=2001).

Another interesting thread may be about the search for "super food" (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=10447&highlight=essentail+oil) for hair.

I hope you'll overcome the problem soon and continue to grow your beautiful hair.

Alley
November 19th, 2008, 07:36 PM
Welcome back Alley...good to see you posting again :flower:
Is your diabetes well controlled? Type 1 diabetes is my main cause of hairloss.....and i know how hard it is to keep blood sugars within range :(
I've had great success using a scalp oil called bhringraj oil by hesh, but the formula without mineral oil....or a good alternative is Pune Mahabhringaraj oil.
Switching to herb washing helped alot too. It does take ages to see results though, i never realised anything was happening other than a reduction of shedding then suddenly decided to measure and found my thickness had increased 150%....nice surprise to get :D
It might be worth considering supplements, a good multivitamin and mineral, MSM.....evening primrose oil is great for diabetics, but just check with your doctor that it's ok to take that one. I'm mainly taking it to try to help diabetic neuropathy but it's great for the skin and hair too.
Do you scalp massage? I find that does wonders for reducing shedding if i keep to doing it daily.
It might be worth you checking out the essential oils for hairloss thread too as those might be easier for you to find.

Thank you! Yes, I am well controlled. I'm thinking some type of oil massages will be one of the first places that I start... and supplements too. Thank you for the input! There is so much on these boards that it's hard to pick a starting point sometimes. :D 150% increase is a fantastic surprise! I'm so glad that happened for you! How does one do a herbal washing?

Alley
November 19th, 2008, 07:44 PM
Dear Alley, your hair is beautiful. The last picture is from summer 06, what a pity you didn't post a newer picture. I hope it's not because of your hairloss.

Hairloss is depressing and it takes a long time to see an improvement. I had a dramatic loss of hair after medication, some four or five years ago. By now, it's fuller again and I have a normal level of hairloss. But I remember the feeling well.

You are under a doctor's supervision so I guess you checked the usual suspects like iron, hormons etc together with the thyroid?

I don't know what nutritional supplements you can or can't take but I have heard many people having good success with omega 3, MSM, B vitamins, magnesium, calcium or zinc. Igor wrote a very good article (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=74) about it. Maybe you want to try a supplement regimen and see whether it increases your growth rate.

I noticed a visible increase in hair growth and thickness when I began to massage my scalp at least twice a week with an essential oil mixture that I read about on the boards. There are many different recipes (Jessie's, Meg's, Moonchaser's...). People use different carrier oils (jojoba, grapeseed...), different essential oils (lavender, thyme, sage, bay, grapefruit...). You may wish to read the thread (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=2001).

Another interesting thread may be about the search for "super food" (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=10447&highlight=essentail+oil) for hair.

I hope you'll overcome the problem soon and continue to grow your beautiful hair.

I'm sorry about the old picture- I hadn't taken any new hair pics in awhile, so had not updated my signature since the last time I was here. I took several pictures tonight.

My most common hair styles:
http://www.gracefelt.com/Hair/2008/Nov08_1.jpg
http://www.gracefelt.com/Hair/2008/Nov08_2.jpg

What my hair looks like down with thinning visible:
http://www.gracefelt.com/Hair/2008/ugh1.jpg
http://www.gracefelt.com/Hair/2008/ugh2.jpg

I have grown & cut my hair several times since the last pictures out of frustration... and I haven't really been happy either way. Now, looking at my pictures I'm thinking I need to look back in my hair journal to see what I was using that made my hair look so much happier then!

As far as the doctors go... there does not seem to be a medical cause other than "female pattern baldness."

I'm going to go check out the links you posted. Thank you so much for the advice!

I'm really hoping I will find something here that would help.

I'm wondering about Cassia too... anyone here tried it? Did it help with the fine/ thinness issues?

ljkforu
November 19th, 2008, 09:35 PM
I'm sorry about the old picture- I hadn't taken any new hair pics in awhile, so had not updated my signature since the last time I was here. I took several pictures tonight.

My most common hair styles:
http://www.gracefelt.com/Hair/2008/Nov08_1.jpg
http://www.gracefelt.com/Hair/2008/Nov08_2.jpg

What my hair looks like down with thinning visible:
http://www.gracefelt.com/Hair/2008/ugh1.jpg
http://www.gracefelt.com/Hair/2008/ugh2.jpg

I have grown & cut my hair several times since the last pictures out of frustration... and I haven't really been happy either way. Now, looking at my pictures I'm thinking I need to look back in my hair journal to see what I was using that made my hair look so much happier then!

As far as the doctors go... there does not seem to be a medical cause other than "female pattern baldness."

I'm going to go check out the links you posted. Thank you so much for the advice!

I'm really hoping I will find something here that would help.

I'm wondering about Cassia too... anyone here tried it? Did it help with the fine/ thinness issues?
I have female pattern baldness also. I use alternating monistate (or miconazole nitrate) and rogaine. These medications that are applied topically are DHT blockers -- they block the dihydrotestosterone from making our hair fall out. I find that the rogaine keeps the hair in and the monistat grows new hairs. (They both itch like heck).

ChloeDharma
November 20th, 2008, 05:33 AM
Thank you! Yes, I am well controlled. I'm thinking some type of oil massages will be one of the first places that I start... and supplements too. Thank you for the input! There is so much on these boards that it's hard to pick a starting point sometimes. :D 150% increase is a fantastic surprise! I'm so glad that happened for you! How does one do a herbal washing?

You are welcome :)
Well being well controlled is a great start. Herb washing is quite simple really, i use mostly indian herbs. There is an article on it which will give you a good idea of how to go about it. I use shikakai to clean with, some people use soapnut, also called aritha or reetha. Herbs like bhringraj/maka, brahmi, methi (fenugreek) seed, amla are conditioning and also used to stimulate growth.
The oil i use most on my scalp is hesh bhringraj oil, but other good ones are pune mahabhringaraj oil, trichup oil, and Aisha said she has seen good results with sesa oil....she kindly typed out the ingredients of that one in my visitors messages thingy on my profile so you can see them there.

ljkforu
November 20th, 2008, 10:53 PM
You are welcome :)
Well being well controlled is a great start. Herb washing is quite simple really, i use mostly Indian herbs. There is an article on it which will give you a good idea of how to go about it. I use shikakai to clean with, some people use soapnut, also called aritha or reetha. Herbs like bhringraj/maka, brahmi, methi (fenugreek) seed, amla are conditioning and also used to stimulate growth.
The oil i use most on my scalp is hesh bhringraj oil, but other good ones are pune mahabhringaraj oil, trichup oil, and Aisha said she has seen good results with sesa oil....she kindly typed out the ingredients of that one in my visitors messages thingy on my profile so you can see them there.
I'm going to do more research but it looks like bhringraj is a dht blocker

ChloeDharma, I live in a community with lots of Indian and Pakistani stores. Which regional group would have the best or most stuff? I am already a customer of most of them for food products but never looked for soap nuts or hair oil before. Wow, did I get some beautiful Iranian Saffron threads for $5 a gram.

ChloeDharma
November 20th, 2008, 11:34 PM
I'm going to do more research but it looks like bhringraj is a dht blocker

ChloeDharma, I live in a community with lots of Indian and Pakistani stores. Which regional group would have the best or most stuff? I am already a customer of most of them for food products but never looked for soap nuts or hair oil before. Wow, did I get some beautiful Iranian Saffron threads for $5 a gram.

I'd say Indian, if you check out the recipes board there are a few threads you might find interesting....funnily enough i just brought some saffron when i was indulging in another Indian grocers shopping spree yesterday :)

ljkforu
November 21st, 2008, 12:09 AM
I'd say Indian, if you check out the recipes board there are a few threads you might find interesting....funnily enough i just brought some saffron when i was indulging in another Indian grocers shopping spree yesterday :)
I've been in an Indian food mood this week. I made channa with spinach and tamarind -- yummy. The saffron I got is so strong that the smell leaks through the plastic box.

ljkforu
November 21st, 2008, 12:15 AM
Elenna, was your doctor able to help you? :blossom:


I am trying Rogaine at the moment, because my doctor don't want to give me some pills for fighting my testosterone problem. Hope it helps.
I'm 22 years old, I think I'm too young to use Rogaine my whole life :(
Oh, if only I had used Rogaine at 22 I wouldn't be in the situation I'm in now. I didn't know that I had pattern baldness. It is a lot easier to keep it in than to regrow it. My doctor says to use Rogaine regularly because it is good for my blood pressure. I have Multiple Sclerosis and I'm not having any medical side effects from using Rogaine or Monistat. I have so many health problems that I have blood taken every 3 months and I see doctors regularly. They are please with what the combo is doing to regrow my hair.

Payal80
November 21st, 2008, 12:42 AM
does exercise have any effect on hairloss, I heard some yoga exercises are good enough to stop hairloss ? truth or myth ?

ljkforu
November 21st, 2008, 12:47 AM
does exercise have any effect on hairloss, I heard some yoga exercises are good enough to stop hairloss ? truth or myth ?
I doubt it because it is all related to DHT, in fact if you excerise and up your testosterone it is possible to make it worse. The answer is not lack of exercise it is blocking DHT.

swan
November 21st, 2008, 07:21 AM
I have two questions for those who mention female pattern baldness here. would you mind describing the patter , ie, on what parts of the scalp is the thinning more visible, crown, sides, front, or diffused all over?

Also, do you have anyone in the family (maternal or paternal) with the history of it?

I'm asking because I'm trying to figure out what the chances are that mine is FPB or MPB as well? So far doctors keep telling me it's due to stress, but though I have no family history (maternal or paternal, in either men or women of the family), the fact that most thinning is concentrated on the crown concerns me.

TIA for any information you're willing to share:)

ljkforu
November 21st, 2008, 05:26 PM
Crown and monks cap just like both my grandfathers M/P.

Millielie
November 23rd, 2008, 12:03 PM
It's so sad. It seems that I'm allergic to Rogaine. I want to stop that hairloss! What should I try? Nizoral shampoo? I heard that it might block the DHT too. I made an appointment at the gynecologist but I've to wait a long time. I think I phone her tomorrow, perhaps I can get another appointment.

hennared
November 23rd, 2008, 01:22 PM
Hi Swan - Have you seen a good dermatologist at all? They can at least give you an idea if it is FPHL or TE - Telogen effluvium (ie, 'stress' - any hair loss that is NOT pattern baldness/genetic and not alopecia areata - patch loss/autoimmune issues)

For what it's worth - genetic hair loss does not run in my family, and my hair loss began this year ( I am 41). FPHL typically starts earlier (usually early 30's for women) from what I've read. My loss looks to me to be worst at the crown and also at the sides of my bangs/temples, but it feels thinner everywhere. I saw a pretty good dermatologist, and she declared 'Telogen effluvium'. She looked very carefully at my scalp everywhere and definitely spent time with me.

My two cents...

swan
November 23rd, 2008, 01:34 PM
Thanks much Hennared!

Yes, I've seen a bunch of them since my shedding started in 2006 (and it's been on and off since then). They all keep saying that there is no evidence that this is FPB or MPB but it's most likely Telogen effluvium. As you may know it's very difficult to say with certainty that it's not one and instead is the other. Lab work may show normal amount of DHT or DHEAs or (free) testosterone, but still one may be more sensitive to the noraml levels than other people and thus affected more. When I'm stressed I see thinning on the sides as well, but it seems all the areas fill in (before another bout of stress!) but the crown which has visibly thinned more in the past season or so. Since I'm alergic to Rogaine and do not want to commit to it for life time, to fight any possible testosterone effects, I thought Nizoral might e a good option. Hairloss doesn't run in my family either (no woman and very few men have it), so I don't really think I'm genetically prone to this, but who knows? :)

Shae
November 23rd, 2008, 05:57 PM
I am hypothyroid, had embarrassingly high testosterone(before meds), AND low ferritin.....so it's no surprise that I have had hair loss for the past 7 years!

Here's what I'm doing and this routine works the best for *me*.........

*Thyroid meds, Yaz bcp, and 100 mg spiro daily. I have been on the spiro for 3 years now w/NO problems....it's cut my oiliness in HALF, but I still need to wash daily or close to it.
*Rogaine 4 nights a week
*Nizoral shampoo twice a week
*Dermarest (2% salicylic acid) shampoo 1-2 times a week
*biotin
*Iron supplement taken with Vit.C and lysine to increase absorbtion
*An omega 3-6-9 combo capusle
*lots of fats in my diet and low carbs

There's probably more things, but these are the main things. I still have some loss, but not as bad as it was. My ferritin is up to 71 finally, but I've heard the 100-130 range is optimal, so that's what I'm shooting for. Also, I've heard that it has to be above 70 for 3-6 months to stop shedding and start regrowing. It's only been at 71 for 2 months.

:)

galemarie
November 28th, 2008, 05:35 PM
I am hypothyroid, had embarrassingly high testosterone(before meds), AND low ferritin.....so it's no surprise that I have had hair loss for the past 7 years!

Here's what I'm doing and this routine works the best for *me*.........

*Thyroid meds, Yaz bcp, and 100 mg spiro daily. I have been on the spiro for 3 years now w/NO problems....it's cut my oiliness in HALF, but I still need to wash daily or close to it.
*Rogaine 4 nights a week
*Nizoral shampoo twice a week
*Dermarest (2% salicylic acid) shampoo 1-2 times a week
*biotin
*Iron supplement taken with Vit.C and lysine to increase absorbtion
*An omega 3-6-9 combo capusle
*lots of fats in my diet and low carbs

There's probably more things, but these are the main things. I still have some loss, but not as bad as it was. My ferritin is up to 71 finally, but I've heard the 100-130 range is optimal, so that's what I'm shooting for. Also, I've heard that it has to be above 70 for 3-6 months to stop shedding and start regrowing. It's only been at 71 for 2 months.

:)

:poot:I had very, very thick hair and suddenlyI started getting combfuls when I got out of the shower. I saw a teaching Dermatologist at a University hospital. She did numerous test and ruled out any disease that would cause it. On my last appointment she suggested I get a shower filter that removes all of the chlorine, dirt, etc. She also suggested I use a sulfate free shampoo. That was less than 6 months ago and my hair is all growing back. Chlorine is so damaging to the hair as well as the skin. Imagine going swimming everyday or even 3 times a week.
My skin is so soft now. I bought my Sprite filter at Home Depot.
They are putting more chlorine in the water than ever before. Every year they add more. I phoned my water district and was told they have to due to all of the "bugs" that are in our water now. For 30 years I have had a water purifier in my home for drinking and cooking. The doctor said to me, "If you don't drink it why would you put it on your skin?" She is right because 70% of what we put on our skin is absorbed by the body so I try to stay with the most natural ingredients I can.:)

ljkforu
November 29th, 2008, 12:32 AM
It's so sad. It seems that I'm allergic to Rogaine. I want to stop that hairloss! What should I try? Nizoral shampoo? I heard that it might block the DHT too. I made an appointment at the gynecologist but I've to wait a long time. I think I phone her tomorrow, perhaps I can get another appointment.
Try Miconazole nitrate a cream for yeast infections. It is also a DHT blocker (Check the Monistat thread). You will have to find a generic in Germany but it doesn't make a difference. And, when you say you are allergic to Rogaine what do you mean. If you have a red rash and hives on your neck then yes, if you just itch like crazy it is the hair growing and we all suffer with it. Oiling your scalp is the cure to the itch.

Millielie
December 1st, 2008, 01:16 PM
No, it didn't itch at all. I just got hives on my face. I have a very sensitive skin and I get hives very quickly. :( I can't even use cleansing lotions and cream and that stuff.


I've tried that monistat thing last year before the hair loss started and I've got no results from it. Perhaps I should try it again but it makes my hair terrible greasy.

My hair gets so thin- it's aweful :( I could cry everytime I look into the mirror.
I think I will ask the gynaecologist one more time for some antiandrogens.
I hope the hairloss won't continue if my testosterone level is normal again. It started when I stopped taking the pill (but I'm on it for six months now).


I apologize for the weird grammar- my English teacher would be disappointed :o

plainjanegirl
December 1st, 2008, 02:13 PM
I need to go back to the dr. next week for my one month follow up. Last month when she looked at my area at the back ( kinda the nape of neck area) where I am losing hair, she told me to use head and shoulders cause she thought I had dandruff and she said it would cause hair loss. I have been using the Head and Shoulders but have noticed no difference. If she doesn't have any other ideas then I am gonna see if she will refer me to a dermatologist.

swan
December 3rd, 2008, 10:10 AM
I just got all my lab results back and luckily everything is normal. I mean my testosterone level is completely in the middle range, and everything else is also utterly balanced. The iron storage capacity could be higher but it's good enough as it is.
If this is the case, I'm at a loss why I should be losing hair especially on the crown. Even in the unlikely event of a genetic predisposition (no evidence in the family at all) there should be evidence of androgenic imbalance (hight testosterone or other androgen related hormones) and there is none of that.
I no longer know if this is good or bad news. Of course I wasn't hoping to find some imbalance in the results (my last labwork was a year ago) but now my doctor whom I'll see in a week or two will once again repeat himself that "there's no evidence of a hormonal reason and so it's all stress related).
My question for you fellow hairlovers is that if stress could cause loss of hair in a concentrated way (like only on the crown in my case if only on the sides etc.?) I always thought stress would lead to hairloss all over and not just on one part.
I'm using Nizoral now hoping that the external anti-androgenic effect of it helps a bit but now that I know that's not the problem maybe I should stop using it (it increases my shedding for sure as any convention and strong natural shampoo often does).
Thanks for reading my little rant and any any advice :-)

plainjanegirl
December 3rd, 2008, 01:06 PM
I just got all my lab results back and luckily everything is normal. I mean my testosterone level is completely in the middle range, and everything else is also utterly balanced. The iron storage capacity could be higher but it's good enough as it is.
If this is the case, I'm at a loss why I should be losing hair especially on the crown. Even in the unlikely event of a genetic predisposition (no evidence in the family at all) there should be evidence of androgenic imbalance (hight testosterone or other androgen related hormones) and there is none of that.
I no longer know if this is good or bad news. Of course I wasn't hoping to find some imbalance in the results (my last labwork was a year ago) but now my doctor whom I'll see in a week or two will once again repeat himself that "there's no evidence of a hormonal reason and so it's all stress related).
My question for you fellow hairlovers is that if stress could cause loss of hair in a concentrated way (like only on the crown in my case if only on the sides etc.?) I always thought stress would lead to hairloss all over and not just on one part.
I'm using Nizoral now hoping that the external anti-androgenic effect of it helps a bit but now that I know that's not the problem maybe I should stop using it (it increases my shedding for sure as any convention and strong natural shampoo often does).
Thanks for reading my little rant and any any advice :-)


I'm glad everything is normal for you. But trust me when I say I know how frustrating it is not knowing what is or has caused hair loss. Hang in there. Maybe it is stress related. Do you take any vitamins?

Lady Lilya
December 3rd, 2008, 07:07 PM
Hi everybody.

I don't know what my original thickness was, since I never measured before I found LHC (just a few weeks ago). I had a baby 15 months ago, and then had a lot of shedding. I have some regrowth that is about 6 inches now. But it doesn't seem like the amount of hairs is anywhere near as much as I lost. And I can tell by how it looks at the scalp that there is much less hair there. I'm guessing about a quarter of the hair is gone.

I know I put ii in my statistics, but that is really wishful thinking. I measured very roughly and generously.

I'm hoping that more hair will regrow when I stop nursing the baby. (My hormones are definitely not back to normal.) But then I will have another baby. I'm planning to try to conceive in July or Aug of 2010 (when he is 3). Then eventually we will have a third kid. Probably be all finished by 2014ish. So it will be a while before I will be able to see how much of this will be permanent.

My goal is 35" and thick, within 10 years. I figure I will hit 35 in about 2 years. Then I will trim to maintain that length, and let the other hair catch up. If my growth continues at the same rate as the current regrowth since the birth, roughly 4 inches per year, then after my last child it will take 9 years to get ALL the hairs to 35". So that would be maybe 2023, 15 years from now. But I prefer to hope for sooner.

Lady Lilya
December 3rd, 2008, 07:10 PM
I have candiasis (fungus in my intestants... doesn't sound nice I know) and my hair has been falling out since september/november. Finally they found the problem: zinc shortage. My intestants cannot absorb all the nutritients like it should. Now I have to take a lot of zinc and probiotics. I went from 10,5 to 9 centimeters... My hair is still falling out, because it takes a while before the pills will work :shrug:
My hair was finally recovering at 10,5 centimeters from an awful haircut, it was getting thicker and now, all my hair falls out :wail:

Did you ever conquer the Candida? It is a very common problem. Most people have that problem to some degree without realizing it. A lot of things can cause the Candida to suddenly grow more numerous.

I've heard miraculous things about Oil of Oregano to kill the Candida and give the probiotics a better foothold. The only side effect I have heard of is just feeling irritable for a few days.

SimplyLonghair
December 3rd, 2008, 08:40 PM
I love oil of oregano, I use it for any infections we get, works great.:D

swan
December 4th, 2008, 06:55 AM
Phalaenopsis,
Only if you don't mind sharing, can I ask what the symptoms were. I'm trying to acquire as much information as possible about possible causes of my shedding, when all blood tests show normal. Were you shedding all over the scalp, or was it more concentrated on one area?
Glad you found the cause and can respond to it properly!
PS: I've heard pompkin seeds are very good for zink defficiency.

Lady Lilya
December 4th, 2008, 08:13 AM
Swan, the symptoms of that are very varied. It interferes with your ability to absorb nutrients properly. Depending on which nutrients you are having issues with, your symptoms will be different.

Have you had any tests for mineral deficiencies? If you are deficient in zinc, those test results will be inaccurate.

Medical science doesn't usually acknowledge Candida overgrowth until it gets to be very extreme. Many people are walking around with a mild case and miscellaneous minor symptoms that are impossible to credit to the Candida.

Considering how common it is and how much trouble it causes, most people I know who try alternative therapies for things will start with trying to cleanse the Candida out of their system.

If I were you, since it is easy to treat with no dangerous side effects, and also not very expensive, I would start with Oil of Oregano to kill the Candida, and at the same time take probiotics to restock your intestines with the good bacteria that can help keep Candida away. You could also add a digestive enzyme supplement to help your body process what you are eating, while you are waiting for the effects of the Candida to fade. And glutamine is known to speed up the healing of the intestines. (You could take a supplement of glutamine, or make your own bone broth. Just boil some bones from read meat in water with a glug of apple cider vinegar for 10-12 hours. Then drink it throughout the day. If you make a lot you can put some in the fridge and some in the freezer for later, since chilling it doesn't interfere with the benefits.)

swan
December 4th, 2008, 08:22 AM
thanks; this is very helpful.
No, I've not had any tests for mineral defficiency in particular, but I have no other symptoms (thankfully), mild or moderate, whatsoever other than the hair shedding.
Unfortunately my life is just too busy to allow for homemade treatments so I've got no choice but to seek medical assistance.

Lady Lilya
December 4th, 2008, 08:32 AM
There could be symptoms you don't even realize. Some people report thinking more clearly afterwards, or seeing better, etc. That means the Candida was harming their thinking or seeing, but they didn't notice.

I wish I had heard about Oil of Oregano years ago. Instead, I took the long way of killing the Candida-- a very restrictive diet that slowly starves it over a period of 6months-2years.

swan
December 4th, 2008, 08:42 AM
I can certainly look into Oil of Oregano. Is it something I could easily find in stores? And, is it to be taken like medication in small amounts?

girlcat36
December 4th, 2008, 11:20 AM
Okay---I am starting a Candida thread! I've wanted to for a while, and just never did. Would like to hear sbout other's experiences with this so-called 'non-disease'. It's all in our head right?
Very few doctors will validate this affliction.

swan
December 4th, 2008, 11:25 AM
it would be great to know if its possible effects on the hair would be only shedding or it has other symptoms felt on the scalp. Anyone?

girlcat36
December 4th, 2008, 11:34 AM
I am convinced candida is behind my hairloss. I never had dandruff, but I did have sore, itchy scalp for many years, along with crazy thinning hair. All bloodwork was always normal. Since using antifungals on my scalp this has been nearly eliminated.

chrissy-b
December 4th, 2008, 01:20 PM
I am convinced candida is behind my hairloss. I never had dandruff, but I did have sore, itchy scalp for many years, along with crazy thinning hair. All bloodwork was always normal. Since using antifungals on my scalp this has been nearly eliminated.

I think you may be onto something. I'm obviously not a scientist, but I think one of the reasons monistat works on some people and not others, is because certain individuals have a yeast overgrowth and some do not. I wouldn't be surprised if the percentage of those that monistat worked well for was equal to the percentage that had some yeast issues.

swan
December 4th, 2008, 02:32 PM
Girlcat, --Now you got me really interested!
I also have no dandruff but sore scalp (for a long time mostly on the crown) and an itchy one (since October or so). You speak of anti-fungal shampoos. Can I ask which ones exactly have worked for you? I've used Neutrogena's anti-itch and then Nizoral (the latter for possible anti-androgen effect). My itching has been a bit less with these two, but the shedding has not changed and may even have increased slightly.
Not sure ....maybe monistat is something I need to give a try for shed control and possible regrowth? I must admit though I'm quite scared to put that stuff on my head ...

girlcat36
December 4th, 2008, 03:13 PM
Hi Swan!
I used monistat, and I think it helped.

About 10 years ago, a family member turned me on to the fact that the whitish discolorations on my upper arm skin(which a doctor told me not to worry about) was a fungus that could be cured with daily application of the shampoo Selsun Blue to the skin. This worked, clearing up this life long condition.
At this time I was losing alot of hair as well, and did internet searches where I came upon a hairloss thread tying scalp soreness to scalp fungus. So I started using the Selsun Blue on my scalp--but my hair didn't like it. So that didn't work out well. Also, I didn't shampoo often so maybe I wasn't getting enough of the active ingredient on my scalp(I had used it daily on my skin). So theoritically, it could work, but did not do much for me.
Scalp massage with antifungal essential oils is what seems to help me the most. When I use scalp massage oil on a regular basis, my shedding decreases dramatically.
My hair is thicker and in much better condition.
I still get occasional scalp soreness, but I can usually trace this to not using my antifungal EO's often enough.
I have a long history of yeast/fungal/thrush type stuff going on. An allergist confirmed last summer that I am indeed allergic to candida.

swan
December 4th, 2008, 03:22 PM
Thanks so much, Girlcat!
Interesting ...I've had different reactins to EOs and massage. Sometimes they reduce my shedding and sometimes they increase it. So I've left it out of my list for now.
If I had shedding overall my scalp, I guess I'd leave with it more easily than just on the crown. Al my research says crown thinning is due to androgens, but then my androgen levels are in the middle of the middle of the normal range.
I may actually try monistate if I feel brave enough :)

susiemw
December 4th, 2008, 04:41 PM
I think you may be onto something. I'm obviously not a scientist, but I think one of the reasons monistat works on some people and not others, is because certain individuals have a yeast overgrowth and some do not. I wouldn't be surprised if the percentage of those that monistat worked well for was equal to the percentage that had some yeast issues.

that ignores the other function, a very powerful function of monistat which is to bind the DHT receptors which would
in turn, prevent hair loss.

Susan
PS same thing for nizoral

Ms Monnie
December 4th, 2008, 07:33 PM
I think my hair loss has become the worst it's ever been. I feel sick when I look at myself in the mirror, I feel like I've lost such a big part of me. It's going to take me years to grow it back (if it ever stops) and I just don't feel happy or attractive with my hair up any more and yet I couldn't dream of wearing it down. Even my family hasn't seen it down in years (this is the second time for me, the first time was due to medication, I know that). I feel stuck.

The doctor hasn't found anything that's contributing to it, so it must just be stress but I'm stressed mainly because I'm losing my hair. I suppose I'm going to go see different doctor for some more advice. It's been going on fairly consistently at a high rate for about 7 months. That's not normal, is it? And I know there's loads of things I could try to do to help it but I'm so tired all the tricks and trying so hard and I'm scared to experiment in case it just goes horribly wrong (like the time I oiled and massaged my scalp and lost about half my hair).

I feel bad complaining about it because I know there are people worse off than I am. But I don't let on how much it upsets me, I keep it all bottled up inside and it's making me insane. I need to talk about it.

plainjanegirl
December 4th, 2008, 07:54 PM
I think my hair loss has become the worst it's ever been. I feel sick when I look at myself in the mirror, I feel like I've lost such a big part of me. It's going to take me years to grow it back (if it ever stops) and I just don't feel happy or attractive with my hair up any more and yet I couldn't dream of wearing it down. Even my family hasn't seen it down in years (this is the second time for me, the first time was due to medication, I know that). I feel stuck.

The doctor hasn't found anything that's contributing to it, so it must just be stress but I'm stressed mainly because I'm losing my hair. I suppose I'm going to go see different doctor for some more advice. It's been going on fairly consistently at a high rate for about 7 months. That's not normal, is it? And I know there's loads of things I could try to do to help it but I'm so tired all the tricks and trying so hard and I'm scared to experiment in case it just goes horribly wrong (like the time I oiled and massaged my scalp and lost about half my hair).

I feel bad complaining about it because I know there are people worse off than I am. But I don't let on how much it upsets me, I keep it all bottled up inside and it's making me insane. I need to talk about it.


Trust me when I say I know how you feel. It's like the hair loss consumes you. I didn't realize until having my hair issues how much my hair is a big part of me. I really do hope that someday I know what is causing it and also that my hair will grow back and be nice and full all over like other people's. It's bad when I am always noticing the back area of other people's hair to see if theirs is anything like mine.

ChloeDharma
December 5th, 2008, 06:58 AM
I think my hair loss has become the worst it's ever been. I feel sick when I look at myself in the mirror, I feel like I've lost such a big part of me. It's going to take me years to grow it back (if it ever stops) and I just don't feel happy or attractive with my hair up any more and yet I couldn't dream of wearing it down. Even my family hasn't seen it down in years (this is the second time for me, the first time was due to medication, I know that). I feel stuck.

The doctor hasn't found anything that's contributing to it, so it must just be stress but I'm stressed mainly because I'm losing my hair. I suppose I'm going to go see different doctor for some more advice. It's been going on fairly consistently at a high rate for about 7 months. That's not normal, is it? And I know there's loads of things I could try to do to help it but I'm so tired all the tricks and trying so hard and I'm scared to experiment in case it just goes horribly wrong (like the time I oiled and massaged my scalp and lost about half my hair).

I feel bad complaining about it because I know there are people worse off than I am. But I don't let on how much it upsets me, I keep it all bottled up inside and it's making me insane. I need to talk about it.

Hun, if you need to vent you do just that! That is the point of this thread as well as people giving advice. And you know where i am if you ever need to vent xxx
Mine has gone a bit bad again, i've lost a load of hair yet again.....my bhringraj oil experiment really didn't work this time and i was just pulling out chunks of the stuff as i massaged.....i daren't even measure now but i rekon i must be back in the (i) range again :(
I'm not going to stress though, my hair IS in fabulous condition, feels like silk, and shines.....this is what i'll focus on.

chrissy-b
December 5th, 2008, 12:33 PM
that ignores the other function, a very powerful function of monistat which is to bind the DHT receptors which would
in turn, prevent hair loss.

Susan
PS same thing for nizoral

Um...I'm certain I said one of the reasons it works, thus, not ignoring any other functions at all. :)

ljkforu
December 5th, 2008, 11:28 PM
I think my hair loss has become the worst it's ever been. I feel sick when I look at myself in the mirror, I feel like I've lost such a big part of me. It's going to take me years to grow it back (if it ever stops) and I just don't feel happy or attractive with my hair up any more and yet I couldn't dream of wearing it down. Even my family hasn't seen it down in years (this is the second time for me, the first time was due to medication, I know that). I feel stuck.

The doctor hasn't found anything that's contributing to it, so it must just be stress but I'm stressed mainly because I'm losing my hair. I suppose I'm going to go see different doctor for some more advice. It's been going on fairly consistently at a high rate for about 7 months. That's not normal, is it? And I know there's loads of things I could try to do to help it but I'm so tired all the tricks and trying so hard and I'm scared to experiment in case it just goes horribly wrong (like the time I oiled and massaged my scalp and lost about half my hair).

I feel bad complaining about it because I know there are people worse off than I am. But I don't let on how much it upsets me, I keep it all bottled up inside and it's making me insane. I need to talk about it.
Venting is fine -- take a gander at the top of my head in my album. I am getting some grow back by using rogaine and monistat on alternating days. I have pattern baldness, Yes I'm sure. The DHT blockers are working well and I play with the herbs for fun too.

Lady Lilya
December 6th, 2008, 09:40 AM
I can certainly look into Oil of Oregano. Is it something I could easily find in stores? And, is it to be taken like medication in small amounts?

You could get it an any health food store. I expect there would be instructions on the bottle. If not, I would ask the people in the store.


Hi Swan!
I used monistat, and I think it helped.

About 10 years ago, a family member turned me on to the fact that the whitish discolorations on my upper arm skin(which a doctor told me not to worry about) was a fungus that could be cured with daily application of the shampoo Selsun Blue to the skin. This worked, clearing up this life long condition.
At this time I was losing alot of hair as well, and did internet searches where I came upon a hairloss thread tying scalp soreness to scalp fungus. So I started using the Selsun Blue on my scalp--but my hair didn't like it. So that didn't work out well. Also, I didn't shampoo often so maybe I wasn't getting enough of the active ingredient on my scalp(I had used it daily on my skin). So theoritically, it could work, but did not do much for me.
Scalp massage with antifungal essential oils is what seems to help me the most. When I use scalp massage oil on a regular basis, my shedding decreases dramatically.
My hair is thicker and in much better condition.
I still get occasional scalp soreness, but I can usually trace this to not using my antifungal EO's often enough.
I have a long history of yeast/fungal/thrush type stuff going on. An allergist confirmed last summer that I am indeed allergic to candida.

I'm wondering if Oil of Oregano would work applied directly to the scalp.

I had a skin condition during pregnancy that was due to a yeast. Not Candida, though. The dermatologist prescribed an anti-fungal that was not safe for pregnancy or breastfeeding. I plan to be doing one or the other for the next decade, so I had to find another solution. After the baby was born, I ended up using Selsun Blue on my spots (which by that point were all over my chest and neck and shoulders and upper back). It took a few months of washing with it once or twice per week. I couldn't just apply it and leave it, for fear of exposing the baby to it. I used it like a body wash, and then rinsed it super well.

I tried it on my scalp too, but it was not good for my hair. Now I'm trying "Nature's Gate Organic Shampoo, Tea Tree & Blue Cypress." I've only used it a few times so far, so I can't say yet if it is helping with my scalp.

Ms Monnie
December 11th, 2008, 09:58 AM
I'm not going to stress though, my hair IS in fabulous condition, feels like silk, and shines.....this is what i'll focus on.
Your hair is beyond shiny and feels amazing. This is what bugs me is that not only is is falling out but mine is almost constantly stringy, frizzy, limp and either weighed down or dried out and flyaway whatever I do. I haven't been oiling my length recently but decided to because I was thinking about how silky and smooth your hair lies. I pulled out two massive chunks whilst applying it and now I just have immensely snarly and greasy length. I've booked an appointment with my favourite doctor and I'm going to do some venting to a professional. Seven months is too long, god most of my year has been marred by hairloss! The thing I hate most is clearing up shed hairs, what was once so precious when it was attached to me is now so revolting and disgusting and I feel so plagued by them - they get everywhere even though I only wear my hair down for a minute to comb it and put it back up again.

Beloved
December 11th, 2008, 12:20 PM
Ladies, be sure when you get your thyroid checked the doctor orders TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 (my doctor replaced the Free T4 test with Total T4 and imo that's ok too. But Free T3 is CRITICAL.) Ask for a copy of the lab report and look at the actual numbers. thryoid.about.com is a great source for info and they can help you interpret your numbers.

My thyroid levels ended up being really good. But a lot of doctors only test for TSH and that is not good enough. A lot of people who are losing hair because of thyroid will be missed that way.

If you are symptomatic, my doc will treat you if you are in the low-normal range. He is an MD but he works in a natural-based private practice. Look for a holistic MD if you want someone who will treat your thyroid levels when you are low-normal but symptomatic.

swan
December 11th, 2008, 01:19 PM
Sorry for my ignorance, but what do you mean by "if you are symptomatic"? Symptoms other than hair loss, you mean?

Thanks :)

Beloved
December 11th, 2008, 01:27 PM
Yes, if you have hairloss or any of the other symptoms of hypothyroidism.

If I had hairloss and my thyroid levels were on the low end of normal, I would look for someone to treat me.

ljkforu
December 11th, 2008, 01:31 PM
Yes, if you have hairloss or any of the other symptoms of hypothyroidism.

If I had hairloss and my thyroid levels were on the low end of normal, I would look for someone to treat me.
No disagreements here at all! I had all the thyroid stuff ruled out and was diagnosed with PCOS. Just so that everyone knows I definately know the cause of my hairloss.

Beloved
December 11th, 2008, 01:50 PM
Lisa, that's great that you know the cause. At least then you can develop a plan of action and you know there are some things not to waste your money on.

Your hair looks so thick and healthy in your avatar. Did you manage to stop your hair loss?

You might find this article interesting too. It's about PCOS and mineral imbalances.
http://www.womenshairlossproject.com/hair-loss/mineral-deficiency-pcos-and-hair-loss/#more-215

Beloved
December 11th, 2008, 02:03 PM
I touch my hair too much. I think I might have that hair pulling syndrome. I don't have any bald patches and there are definitely other things causing my hair loss, so I didn't think of this right away.

My scalp is pink and itchy sometimes, although it has been better lately. Last night it was feeling itchy so I pulled on the the hair at the base of my skull (not to pull out hair, just to feel the tension at my scalp) and it felt so good. There are some other things too. Like, I don't go trying to pull out hair,but I run my fingers through my hair to see if hair comes out. I do it a lot throughout the day. When nothing comes out, I feel like it's neat and I can stop. It is compulsive.

So today my hair is in pigtail braids. I need to learn some other braids that I can do for work and do myself. My hands have hardly been in my hair at all today because it's braided.

ljkforu
December 11th, 2008, 05:21 PM
Lisa, that's great that you know the cause. At least then you can develop a plan of action and you know there are some things not to waste your money on.

Your hair looks so thick and healthy in your avatar. Did you manage to stop your hair loss?

You might find this article interesting too. It's about PCOS and mineral imbalances.
http://www.womenshairlossproject.com/hair-loss/mineral-deficiency-pcos-and-hair-loss/#more-215
I think the fall out has stopped and I'm gaining good ground. I have to block the DHT so I alternate between Rogaine and Monistat during the week. I'm losing very little shed, and I'm growing lots of baby hair (my lord does it itch).

Beloved
December 11th, 2008, 10:15 PM
I'm happy for you, Lisa. I looked at your album and it looks like you're getting a lot of new thickness from Rogaine. You haven't even been using it that long. I hear they tell people to not expect any change for four month.

I have been putting off trying Rogaine because my hair loss is defuse, telogen effluvium.

ljkforu
December 12th, 2008, 01:56 AM
I'm happy for you, Lisa. I looked at your album and it looks like you're getting a lot of new thickness from Rogaine. You haven't even been using it that long. I hear they tell people to not expect any change for four month.

I have been putting off trying Rogaine because my hair loss is defuse, telogen effluvium.
Beloved, I've been using rogaine for years but this new growth didn't happen until I added the Monistat, which I'm made to understand is also a DHT blocker.

Johanna
December 12th, 2008, 04:57 AM
I was loosing handfuls of hair at a time at the start of the year, I also had a very dramatic weight loss as well, 20kg worth in a matter of about 2-3 months. It was due to a very high stress emotional period (break up with a long term boyfriend)
I lost about an inch worth of thinckness overall, it was so horrible jusst running my hands thorugh my hair and coming away with clumps of hair :(

Thankfully now I've gotten to a much better place and my hair is growing back!! I have about 2.5 inches of growth coming through its like having crazy bad flyaways constantly, but it doesnt bother me so much, it makes me happy to see because it means my hair is actually growing back! yay! Plus it also means that I'll be able to grow them back the healthiest I can from all the wonderful treatments I've learnt here :)

plainjanegirl
December 12th, 2008, 07:51 AM
So how do you really determine that stress is the cause of hair loss?

My thyroid was just tested last week and they discovered my potassium is low ( so I was put on something for that). They said my TSH was low but within the normal range ..... so I am on nothing for that. So even though it is still normal could it be the cause of hair loss? Is there any type of vitamins, etc. that you can use to help thyroid levels if your dr. isn't gonna help?

Beloved
December 12th, 2008, 09:17 AM
Johanna, I'm so glad things have come around and your hair is growing back! It's great to hear about people who have gone through this and recovered. I would be thrilled over those flyaways, too. :)


They said my TSH was low but within the normal range ..... so I am on nothing for that. So even though it is still normal could it be the cause of hair loss?

Yes, if TSH was all you got, your actual thyroid levels were never tested. (see my posts on TSH) What was your TSH level?

augustspy
December 12th, 2008, 10:42 AM
Want to share that rogaine can stop te type hair loss. I put off using rogaine thinking it wouldn't work for my te. At 2 years, 1 month of nonstop shedding I gave in as some savvy hair loss women clued me that is DOES work for te. They were right! After 4 months my shedding had slowed to normal and the regrowth was phenomenal. It stayed great and wonderful until I rocked the boat fooling with thyroid dosing. Shedding started up, but regrowth continues to astound.

AG

plainjanegirl
December 12th, 2008, 02:56 PM
Johanna, I'm so glad things have come around and your hair is growing back! It's great to hear about people who have gone through this and recovered. I would be thrilled over those flyaways, too. :)



Yes, if TSH was all you got, your actual thyroid levels were never tested. (see my posts on TSH) What was your TSH level?


They tested more than just the TSH, but that is the only thing they mentioned as being low but still normal. I don't know what the levels were. Maybe I will try to call the dr. office and find out.

Beloved
December 12th, 2008, 04:23 PM
Want to share that rogaine can stop te type hair loss. I put off using rogaine thinking it wouldn't work for my te. At 2 years, 1 month of nonstop shedding I gave in as some savvy hair loss women clued me that is DOES work for te. They were right! After 4 months my shedding had slowed to normal and the regrowth was phenomenal. It stayed great and wonderful until I rocked the boat fooling with thyroid dosing. Shedding started up, but regrowth continues to astound.

AG

That is really good to know! I am going to give my current regimen a couple more months and if my hair isn't growing back I will try Rogaine.

My shedding has slowed way down (25-35 hairs per day at shampoo. It used to be ridiculous. Sometimes I would get too sad at 100 to keep counting). I am hoping for regrowth now. Do you think Rogaine would help with regrowth or is it more just for stopping shedding?

augustspy
December 12th, 2008, 05:28 PM
That is really good to know! I am going to give my current regimen a couple more months and if my hair isn't growing back I will try Rogaine.

My shedding has slowed way down (25-35 hairs per day at shampoo. It used to be ridiculous. Sometimes I would get too sad at 100 to keep counting). I am hoping for regrowth now. Do you think Rogaine would help with regrowth or is it more just for stopping shedding?

This is wonderful Beloved!! So happy for you. To me hair loss is a two part deal. First it has to stop and then the regrowth. So you are half way there. !! Rogaine is fabulous for growth and for reversing miniaturization that may occur with shedding. The thing is, once you start rogaine you are into it forever. Those that go off usually shed it out again. This might not always be a sure thing though. I had a hair loss derm tell me to use it to stop a TE and then go off after 6 months. I would be fine. But I think it really depends on what type of hair loss you have to take this risk or not.

AG

PhillyGirl1978@
December 13th, 2008, 08:38 AM
I'm not sure if I posted this before so if I did excuse me. I have been CG for a few years now and my curls are in MUCH better shape than they used to be. I haven't straightened in years. But I used to get relaxers and one in particular cause lots of breakage on the top front. Since wearing it curly I have more tangles and haven't always been the most patient with them. I have lots of baby hair and I can feel little bristles when I put my fingers under my hair. Since I started seriously trying to grow and vowed to not trim for a while I have been moisturizing more and being much more patient with tangles. As a result I have noticed much less shedding.

My circumference is down to like 3" now....it never used to be that thin for me so hopefully with my new routines will help thicken me up. Also I am doing regular scalp massage and trying to lessen my stress.

galemarie
December 17th, 2008, 03:02 PM
:poot:I had very, very thick hair and suddenlyI started getting combfuls when I got out of the shower. I saw a teaching Dermatologist at a University hospital. She did numerous test and ruled out any disease that would cause it. On my last appointment she suggested I get a shower filter that removes all of the chlorine, dirt, etc. She also suggested I use a sulfate free shampoo. That was less than 6 months ago and my hair is all growing back. Chlorine is so damaging to the hair as well as the skin. Imagine going swimming everyday or even 3 times a week.
My skin is so soft now. I bought my Sprite filter at Home Depot.
They are putting more chlorine in the water than ever before. Every year they add more. I phoned my water district and was told they have to due to all of the "bugs" that are in our water now. For 30 years I have had a water purifier in my home for drinking and cooking. The doctor said to me, "If you don't drink it why would you put it on your skin?" She is right because 70% of what we put on our skin is absorbed by the body so I try to stay with the most natural ingredients I can.:)
Read Reviews.
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100372128

Lady Lilya
December 17th, 2008, 05:48 PM
Yeah, the water smells like a swimming pool to me.

I have a shower filter. Not just for what absorbs through the skin, though. The chlorine evaporates out of the water especially fast from the heat and the pressure of the drops hitting things, so you inhale huge amounts of chlorine in the shower.

I don't even use chlorine bleach for my laundry. I use hydrogen peroxide bleach (like oxyclean) and only use a little chlorine on very rare occasion (like twice a year). Then I air things outdoors for a long time before using them.

Millielie
January 30th, 2009, 04:25 AM
I am still losing my hair. It's getting thinner and thinner. The Miconazole shampoo (Terzolin) doesn't seem to help. My doctor said that my bloodwork (including my hormones) is ok.
What should I try to stop it since I'm allergic to Rogaine?


edit: Oh, in Terzolin is not miconazole but ketoconazole. :o

Beloved
January 30th, 2009, 10:33 AM
Millielie, I would recommend setting up a profile at the Women's Hair Loss Project website and asking for feedback there. The women there are really on point with their research, and there are lots of articles there about different causes of hair loss you might not consider on your own. For example, if my hair loss comes back, I am going to ask for a scalp biopsy. Reading the stories also helped me realize how aggressive and informed you may have to be as a patient if you want to find the cause of your hair loss.

leilamarie79
January 30th, 2009, 11:15 AM
I started losing my hair about a year ago when my doctor put me on a mood stabilizer called Geodon. When I asked about side effects, he mentioned dizziness, nausea, and drowsiness. Little did I know that it also causes major hair loss. If I had known that, I never would have gotten on the medication. Long story short, I was in denial for a while, and my hair was coming out in clumps. My husband noticed, but like I said, I was in denial. Finally, when I could see my scalp no matter what I did with my hair, I went to my doctor and asked about the hair loss. He confirmed it was from the Geodon, and told me to take selenium and biotin to help it stop falling out and grow back. I started taking Shen Min Hair, Skin, and Nails from The Vitamin Shoppe (vitaminshoppe.com). After about a month, my hair stopped falling out, after three months, it started growing back. My hairdresser noticed immediately. Now, my hair is almost completely back to the thickness it was before I started the medication. The Shen Min was the only vitamin I could find that had both selenium and biotin in it. Everything else had either one or the other, mostly biotin.

Millielie
January 30th, 2009, 11:35 AM
Thank you Beloved!

I have problems to write in english because I'm out of practice at the moment. I'm afraid that it's not always that easy to understand me :o :D The grammar... Past simple, present continues... Confusing :D But I think I can sign up at the Women's Hair Loss Project website and read a little bit (reading is much easier for me than writing).

I still hope that the hairloss was just initiated by the high testosterone level I had and that it's going to stop during the next weeks since it is in a normal range again.

Lady Lilya
January 30th, 2009, 02:45 PM
Millielie, we Americans generally learn very little about grammar. 90% of us probably have no idea what any of those verb tenses are, or even that those are names of verb tenses. Judging by your posts, your English is better than many Americans with whom I corresponded while I was working. Don't be so hard on yourself.

Beloved
January 30th, 2009, 03:10 PM
Millielie, I find you very easy to understand and I'm sure people could understand your story. If this is how you write when you're rusty, you must have been practically fluent before! I think you will get a lot out of just reading. Hopefully what you're experiencing now will go away on its own, that would be wonderful.


Millielie, we Americans generally learn very little about grammar. 90% of us probably have no idea what any of those verb tenses are, or even that those are names of verb tenses.

Lady Lilya, that's so sad you were not taught grammar in school and don't know verb tenses! You must be in a state with a bad school system. I am grateful to say this was not my experience.

Beloved
January 30th, 2009, 03:20 PM
Phillygirl, your hair looks really thick to me in your avatar. Must be all those pretty curls. We're circumference twins! I'm actually grateful for my 3 inches. I can tell by touch that my ponytail is fatter at the base than it was before, but I didn't measure during my period of heavy loss.

ljkforu
January 31st, 2009, 01:33 AM
I am still losing my hair. It's getting thinner and thinner. The Miconazole shampoo (Terzolin) doesn't seem to help. My doctor said that my bloodwork (including my hormones) is ok.
What should I try to stop it since I'm allergic to Rogaine?


edit: Oh, in Terzolin is not miconazole but ketoconazole. :o
Go on the miconazole thread and check it out.

ljkforu
January 31st, 2009, 01:34 AM
Phillygirl, your hair looks really thick to me in your avatar. Must be all those pretty curls. We're circumference twins! I'm actually grateful for my 3 inches. I can tell by touch that my ponytail is fatter at the base than it was before, but I didn't measure during my period of heavy loss.
I measured last night and expected the same out 1 1/2 inches and found 2 3/4 inches. WoW! :disco:

Hairtada
January 31st, 2009, 02:15 AM
Wow ljkforu! Is that from the miconazole?
That is what I am hoping for. My hair used to be over 5" circumference. Now it is at about 2 3/4". I do have lots of new little hairs from the MN/megatek but too soon for them to be long enough to measure.I would be so happy just to get over 3" .

I would love to see pictures of your new growth.How long have you been using the MN?

ljkforu
January 31st, 2009, 03:01 AM
Monistat and Rogaine for 5 months and have 5 inches of new hair. I have some pic in album with the new hair fuzzed up to show.

Hairtada
January 31st, 2009, 03:22 AM
Where is your album? I do not see pictures. 5" is amazing!

ljkforu
January 31st, 2009, 04:14 AM
Where is your album? I do not see pictures. 5" is amazing!
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/album.php?albumid=1908

Hairtada
January 31st, 2009, 07:54 PM
ljkforu,Thank you! That is really amazing progress! I am so happy for you that your regimen is working.

Millielie
February 1st, 2009, 05:11 AM
Thank you Lady Lilya and Beloved :blossom:

Kimberly
February 1st, 2009, 04:31 PM
Thank you to everyone who's posted your story here. I don't like to talk about, or even think about, my hair loss. But it's easier when others have shared their stories, so I will too.

My hair probably started thinning when I had cancer a few years ago. But what I noticed was mostly how dry and awful it looked. That's what brought me to LHC -- I was trying to figure out how to make it look better. Then I had the diagnosis and the surgery. My hair was in a braid for a week while I was in the hospital -- the same braid the whole time -- and I took it down and combed out the horrible snarls while I was still on morphine and really did a lot of damage. I did a lot more mechanical damage for a while after the surgery, too -- I'd braid it and leave it for days or even as long as two weeks, because I was in pain and not really able to deal with it, and also because I was all medicated up and really didn't pay attention.

After I was clearheaded enough to look in the mirror, at first all I could see was my huge scar keloiding away there, and my hair was the least of my worries. But eventually I realized my hair was looking pretty crummy. I tried things I read on LHC to try to improve it.

Over the next year, a bunch of stuff happened. I got fat, my skin and especially my face became so dry that it itched and I suddenly had lines in it, I was weak, and I was still in pain all the time. And I realized that sometime after the surgery my hair had started to fall out. The amounts of hair I was leaving around were almost cartoonish. My doctor, who'd told me that the surgery might cause hair loss, now seemed to agree that this thinning was because of my hormone levels, but she wouldn't give me a higher dose of HRT. (We did check thyroid, though.) Also, every time I told her I was concerned about my quickly increasing weight, also about my hair and skin, she LAUGHED and told me that's just what happens when you get older.

Before the surgery I was in my late 30s and very slim and strong and people would always ask me what my major was (they thought I was a college student in my early 20s!), some people guessed I was my best friend's daughter (we were the same age), and around my hometown some people referred to me as "the girl with the hair." But a year after surgery, I looked in the mirror and could hardly recognize what looked to me like a frazzle-haired, fat, dried-out old woman. I threw away my bare-midriff clothing because of this huge hideous scar, not to mention my new "rolls", and I stopped looking in mirrors. I didn't want anyone who I used to know to see me. I wanted them to remember how I used to look. Also, I didn't post much on LHC. I kept coming back for hair info, and because I liked the community, but I couldn't bring myself to post much, let alone put up pictures.

My new receding hairline looked really familiar, and I didn't realize why until I went to visit my brother -- we had become hairline twins. And my part was getting wider and wider. All the little short wispy curls around my hairline in the front, as well as at the back, were gone. And I was getting thinning at the temples and up on top to the point where my scalp was starting to show. I was very afraid that I would soon end up with big bald places like my mother has. When I'd make a braid, and catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I would think, "Where's the other one?" because I used to have two of them that thick.

Eventually I stopped taking the hormones at all, since I couldn't see what good they were doing me. After an adjustment period, I felt fine without them. I kept waiting for more hair to fall out, though. But, surprisingly, about a year later I began to get new growth.

I'm not sure why, but I think it's because I'm finally recovering from the surgery. It's been about 3.5 years, and a lot of the other problems from the surgery are finally improving. Also, while I was sick I started a new business, and after the surgery it took off, and I now have more money than I ever had in my life since my divorce -- I'm finally in the middle class again! Which means I can afford to eat all organic, aggressively healthy food all the time. And I sold my car and walk everywhere, which is getting me in better shape overall. I think it's just being healthier that's making the difference for me.

So now I have little curls at my hairline where it was receding before, and this really dense halo of curly frizz. I don't know how much of my hair's going to come back, but I'm feeling hopeful about it again.

I was really hesitant to post here, because I know I tend to get over-emotional about the whole thing -- aside from posting long sappy posts, I get angry at my old doctor because she made all this happen with the surgery, even though it wasn't her fault and it saved my life. I just get angry about it and there's no one else to get angry at. I figure she deserves it anyway for laughing at me when I was asking for help with my weight.

I'm sorry this is such a long post, but I guess it's all the stuff I would have talked about in posts over the last couple of years if I'd been able to bring myself to talk about it . . . sort of clearing out the backlog or something. Thanks for your patience if you read all this. It made me feel better to write it. :)

I hope everyone here experiences regrowth like I am, or even more of it!

ljkforu
February 1st, 2009, 04:45 PM
That is what we are here for Kimberly :flower:

Kimberly
February 1st, 2009, 05:06 PM
Thank you, Lisa. Writing it felt like coughing up a hairball, but I feel better now.

ljkforu
February 1st, 2009, 05:33 PM
Thank you, Lisa. Writing it felt like coughing up a hairball, but I feel better now.
Always feel free to chat :)

Hairtada
February 1st, 2009, 06:48 PM
Kimberly, hair loss is an emotional thing. Hair in general seems to be for most women.Coupled with a major surgery I can't imagine.
So glad to read your hair is growing in at last .What a joy that must be for you.
Congratulations!

Mely
February 1st, 2009, 07:21 PM
Is Rogaine for Women over-the-counter, or do you need a prescription? Is there anyone on the forum, and in Canada that uses it?

Kimberly
February 1st, 2009, 08:25 PM
Thanks, Hairtada! I never thought I was wrapped up in appearances, but everything changing on me so suddenly was a shock.

ljkforu
February 1st, 2009, 11:55 PM
Is Rogaine for Women over-the-counter, or do you need a prescription? Is there anyone on the forum, and in Canada that uses it?
Rogaine is the chemical Minoxidil women are supposed to use 2% and in the US it is over the counter. Since I have facial hair issues my doctor has allowed me to use the men's 5% version because I already have the side effect.

http://www.drugs.com/cons/rogaine-for-women-topical.html

In the U.S., this medicine is available without a prescription. In Canada, this medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. It is available in the following dosage form:

I guess go to the doctor and get a script for it. The generic is just as good as the brand name.

Beloved
February 8th, 2009, 02:07 AM
Kimberley, thank you for trusting us with your story.

jel
February 14th, 2009, 01:53 PM
I have recently realised that my shedding was actually as bad as it looked - for months I kept thinking 'Oh, it just looks bad because the shed hairs are so long now'. However, when even my SO expressed concern, I measured my ponytail and it had gone down by almost an inch (3.9" to 3.1"). :(

I thought it had something to do with my PCOS (which is under control thanks to medication) or the BCP which I'd just started taking one month before I noticed the increased shedding. So I contacted my GP to change the pill, and she also had me tested for ferritin (iron), thyroid and testosterone levels.

The results were all normal, however at the appointment, the doctor told me something quite surprising. My iron levels were within the normal range (28 u/L, and the range is 12-208 ) - but NOT high enough for healthy hair growth! Apparently, it should be over 60. Lower than 60 but above 12 seems to be only good enough to sustain life, but without hair... :confused:

I was stunned, as I never imagined I could have low iron levels - especially as I'm a regular blood donor and my haemoglobin is checked prior to every donation. But haemoglobin and ferritin are not the same... Also, I take a multivit/mineral supplement and eat red meat and green veg, but, it seems, not enough!

I have started taking iron supplements a couple of days ago, as well as a different BCP. It's too early to notice any changes in my shedding, but I'm posting this as a warning to anyone experiencing hairloss who hasn't checked their iron levels. Even if you *think* you're alright - I did - get tested!

HTH someone and good luck to everyone who contributed to this thread! :flowers:

Just_Isabel
February 14th, 2009, 02:01 PM
I lost hair for the same reason, I think. I'm not sure that this was the only important factor, but my ferritin levels were also about as low as yours.

I just wanted to add that your ferritin levels aren't the same as iron levels. My iron levels were fine, only the ferritin was low. Ferritin is a protein that carries iron and blood ferritin levels are an indicative of your body's iron store. Here's a link to wikipedia's article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferritin).

augustspy
February 14th, 2009, 02:24 PM
Low ferritin can make for beastly shedding!! Like you I recently got a shocker-roo with ferritin. I am aware of the low ferritin/shedding connection and had built my levels up to 81 three 1/2 months ago.

I take armour thyroid, so stay on top of testing. Possibly from weight training or some other reason, I just discovered my ferritin dropped to 51! I read a sports medicine website that recommends athletic women have levels of 100 as they can deplete quickly. Also I noticed that my shedding picked up as my ferritin dropped 'unknowingly'. I eat red meat and even take HCL when I eat, but it's not enough to maintain levels with me. Did you check B12? Vit D3?

Last year when I had low ferritin, 17, I took a variety of OTC iron supplements. 150 mg total of elemental iron to build levels with. In 4 months I got from 17 to 23. *eye roll*. Shot to the doctors for a script iron. Chromagen Forte. This took my level of 23 to 65 in 6 weeks. 3 months ago I found I had slipped to 62 and used Repliva. 7 doses in 7 days got me to 81. Repliva is fast and relatively easy on digestion.

All iron makes me shed more which is unnerving. So the quicker to build levels the better. The longer it takes to build ferritin the more we shed in the mean time.

Good luck to you. You're fortunate to have a doc who spotted this. Most docs don't even look at ferritin levels. It seems the hair websites tout 70-90 as being ideal. Dr. Rushman has a lot of info about this on the web. Seems he urges 90 to "keep" hair. This time I am building to 100 to have some drop room. I don't think my dropping levels are typical of most women who build it up. It ought to stay put longer.

Eileen


I have recently realised that my shedding was actually as bad as it looked - for months I kept thinking 'Oh, it just looks bad because the shed hairs are so long now'. However, when even my SO expressed concern, I measured my ponytail and it had gone down by almost an inch (3.9" to 3.1"). :(

I thought it had something to do with my PCOS (which is under control thanks to medication) or the BCP which I'd just started taking one month before I noticed the increased shedding. So I contacted my GP to change the pill, and she also had me tested for ferritin (iron), thyroid and testosterone levels.

The results were all normal, however at the appointment, the doctor told me something quite surprising. My iron levels were within the normal range (28 u/L, and the range is 12-208 ) - but NOT high enough for healthy hair growth! Apparently, it should be over 60. Lower than 60 but above 12 seems to be only good enough to sustain life, but without hair... :confused:

I was stunned, as I never imagined I could have low iron levels - especially as I'm a regular blood donor and my haemoglobin is checked prior to every donation. But haemoglobin and ferritin are not the same... Also, I take a multivit/mineral supplement and eat red meat and green veg, but, it seems, not enough!

I have started taking iron supplements a couple of days ago, as well as a different BCP. It's too early to notice any changes in my shedding, but I'm posting this as a warning to anyone experiencing hairloss who hasn't checked their iron levels. Even if you *think* you're alright - I did - get tested!

HTH someone and good luck to everyone who contributed to this thread! :flowers:

swan
February 14th, 2009, 02:37 PM
I took FerogradC 500 for 3 months and it took me from 20 to 80-something and because of castor oil in it, it's quite digestion friendly. that was about a year ago and i've not checked since to se where i'm standing today but i'm sure it goes down without supplements.

on a different note, and sorry to change topic here....i've posted a thread on Nioxin and Revivogen asking for comments on either or both. in case you've not come across that thread and have any experience with these two brands, i would appreciate to hear it --either here or on that thread. i'm thinking of using one of them but don't want to purchase any before i hear about past experiences here. TIA!

jel
February 14th, 2009, 02:53 PM
Just_Isabel, thanks for clarifying the difference between iron and ferritin! You talk about your hair loss in the past tense, and have mentioned that your shedding has reduced - do you feel that your thickness has increased?

Eileen, thanks for sharing your experience too. At the moment I'm taking 130mg ferrous iron (400mg ferrous sulphate) daily and will check the results in 3 months. And I'm rather the opposite of athletic! ;)

Additional shedding from taking iron supplements is quite scary, I have to admit! I really need to read up on the issue and examine my nutrition... The annoying thing is that I have improved my eating in the last year or so, by reducing/eliminating sugar and processed foods and adding more fresh, organic veg, meat, fish, eggs and fruit and nuts. Ah, well. :rolleyes:

ETA: Swan, my GP told me I could get OTC topical medication (which I believe Nioxin is, I've never heard of the other one) and that they *could* work - but if I ever stopped using them all the new growth would be lost. At present I'm not ready to undertake such a lifelong commitment, especially as I'd rather try the essential oils topical treatment first.

Just_Isabel
February 14th, 2009, 03:02 PM
Just_Isabel, thanks for clarifying the difference between iron and ferritin! You talk about your hair loss in the past tense, and have mentioned that your shedding has reduced - do you feel that your thickness has increased?

Yes, my thickness is slowly increasing. I'm very happy about that. I'm still not where I was before I started shedding, but I'm feeling positive.

My hair didn't stop shedding as soon as my ferritin levels went up, it still took a bit - about 2 months? I'm not sure. It's a gradual process, so it's hard to tell when things start improving. I was still shedding quite a bit, but my ponytail circumference still increased - slowly. Now I think that I am again at my "normal" shedding level (still more than average, I think, but I'll take this over the excessive hair loss any day :lol:) and I can't wait for the new baby hairs to grow longer. :D

swan
February 14th, 2009, 03:13 PM
Jel, --yes, Nioxin and Revivogen are both OTC topicals, but from what I've read they don't seem to be like Rogaine with a life-time commitment attached to them. Perhaps your doc was refering to Rogaine?
The main function of both N and R is to combat androgens and this is the reason I'm particularly interested to try them.

girlcat36
February 14th, 2009, 04:14 PM
The results were all normal, however at the appointment, the doctor told me something quite surprising. My iron levels were within the normal range (28 u/L, and the range is 12-208 ) - but NOT high enough for healthy hair growth! Apparently, it should be over 60. Lower than 60 but above 12 seems to be only good enough to sustain life, but without hair... :confused:

I was stunned, as I never imagined I could have low iron levels - especially as I'm a regular blood donor and my haemoglobin is checked prior to every donation. But haemoglobin and ferritin are not the same... Also, I take a multivit/mineral supplement and eat red meat and green veg, but, it seems, not enough!



This is very interesting! I have been been lowish on my red blood cell count all my life, but no one ever said anything. I had cancer two years ago, and have been clinically anemic since my chemo ended. I obtained all my past records from before cancer, and was surprised to find that my red blood cell counts have been chronically low. Kind of explains the shedding and thinning I've experienced for twenty years. It doesn't explain why it was never brought to my attention.
Once I had cancer, my doctors paid a lot of attention to my blood counts, and I am under the care of a hematologist.
The hematologist said my ferritin and iron stores were normal, but now I am going to check to see what the actual numbers are! I will bet anything they aren't high enough for healthy hair!

girlcat36
February 14th, 2009, 10:50 PM
Just checked my ferritin level from my last hematology report. The ferritin level was 24. In the normal range, but clearly on the low side of normal. With a low RBC, and borderline hematocrit, this must be contributing to my hairloss.
I am confused as to why I was never told to take iron, when labwork dating back to 1988(20 years!) shows low counts. This is also when the hairloss started.

bgarrison
February 15th, 2009, 11:40 AM
Just checked my ferritin level from my last hematology report. The ferritin level was 24. In the normal range, but clearly on the low side of normal. With a low RBC, and borderline hematocrit, this must be contributing to my hairloss.
I am confused as to why I was never told to take iron, when labwork dating back to 1988(20 years!) shows low counts. This is also when the hairloss started.

Girlcat, I've struggled with anemia for decades, and have spent more time with hematologists than I care to think about.

I've also been told 24 is normal ferritin, but I know the feeling of a ferritin level in the 70s and one in the 20's. I've also been told that I won't be able to feel it, but that's not been my experience, even when my hct/hgb are low normal.

I'm sorry you didn't get the good advice you needed.

Just_Isabel
February 15th, 2009, 04:21 PM
Girlcat, I've struggled with anemia for decades, and have spent more time with hematologists than I care to think about.

I've also been told 24 is normal ferritin, but I know the feeling of a ferritin level in the 70s and one in the 20's. I've also been told that I won't be able to feel it, but that's not been my experience, even when my hct/hgb are low normal.

I'm sorry you didn't get the good advice you needed.

Oh yes, my doctor also didn't think much about my ferritin levels at around 20 because everything else was normal. He only gave me a prescription to iron supplements when I went in for other stuff - fatigue was my main issue.

girlcat36
February 15th, 2009, 05:49 PM
I am really tired of being anemic/borderline anemic! I did undergo endometrial ablation in January to stop my periods in the hopes that it will raise my blood counts. It is too soon to tell if it has worked.
I see my hematologist in a month, but I have a feeling she's not going to be helpful in the hairloss area!

ljkforu
February 15th, 2009, 07:28 PM
This is very interesting! I have been been lowish on my red blood cell count all my life, but no one ever said anything. I had cancer two years ago, and have been clinically anemic since my chemo ended. I obtained all my past records from before cancer, and was surprised to find that my red blood cell counts have been chronically low. Kind of explains the shedding and thinning I've experienced for twenty years. It doesn't explain why it was never brought to my attention.
Once I had cancer, my doctors paid a lot of attention to my blood counts, and I am under the care of a hematologist.
The hematologist said my ferritin and iron stores were normal, but now I am going to check to see what the actual numbers are! I will bet anything they aren't high enough for healthy hair!
Hey Girlcat, my red cell count is always high like a guys and my iron is always mid-range normal. I am however losing my hair to pattern baldness. I'm 43 though and don't have much white hair. Uhm? I have MS and Diabetes too.

Mely
February 15th, 2009, 10:54 PM
I asked my doctor for a prescription for Rogaine for Women, and she told me I should get a blood test for iron and thyroid first. I haven't got the test results back yet.

ljkforu
February 17th, 2009, 02:06 AM
I asked my doctor for a prescription for Rogaine for Women, and she told me I should get a blood test for iron and thyroid first. I haven't got the test results back yet.
No problem the results to those tests were already in my charts and ruled out.

Beloved
February 17th, 2009, 03:20 AM
On another hair loss forum some people are using OTC hydrocortisone cream on their scalps and having success with it. You're supposed to NOT get into a regular schedule with it, to keep your body from getting used to it.

FYI. :)

s_tresses
February 17th, 2009, 10:14 PM
Do you think keeping your hair in a hairstyle that created too much tension for the roots and using hair gel accelerate or could even be the main reason for hair loss and could hair lost due to that grow back?
I also take iron supplements because I am anemic but I just have a feeling that its not the reason for my hair loss. I haven't noticed any new hair growth but its only been about 6 weeks. Does it take longer to see results? Do you ladies with a iron deficiency notice spots on your head, much like Alopecia?
Hair loss sucks. I worry about more hair falling out and worrying probably does make it fall out faster!

SimplyLonghair
February 17th, 2009, 10:58 PM
All of the stuff that I read on hair loss forums say that in cases of low iron it can take several months of it being normal before hair starts to grow back. So give it a chance. Anemia doesn't resolve overnight and the body takes some time before it will go from resting phase to growing phase.

SimplyLonghair
February 17th, 2009, 11:01 PM
Obsessing on what you have lost won't bring it back, being positive will help more than anything. Fear causes even more stress which causes more loss. So try meditation or something that you can be positive about and focus on it. HTH:D

bgarrison
February 27th, 2009, 11:10 AM
Ugh. Just got my labs back and my ferritin is _17_. So frustrated. All those iron pills and all the side effects, and still low ferritin. Why the doc didn't check hct/hgb I'll never know, but next time I'll know to ask for them.

*just venting.

ljkforu
February 28th, 2009, 02:56 AM
Ugh. Just got my labs back and my ferritin is _17_. So frustrated. All those iron pills and all the side effects, and still low ferritin. Why the doc didn't check hct/hgb I'll never know, but next time I'll know to ask for them.

*just venting.
When I was studying to be an RD I did a research paper on iron uptake from info at the Mayo Clinic. They had found that tomato and meat sauce created the highest uptake -- just my 2 cents. I think it was the heme Iron liberated by the acids and Vit C that did it.

bgarrison
March 3rd, 2009, 05:12 PM
Thank you, Lisa. :) I've been eating my weight in chili for that very reason, with chasers of vitamin c, which is partly why I feel so discouraged. I was hoping for more from my efforts.

O well. I'll just keep trying.

leilamarie79
March 6th, 2009, 11:11 AM
I lost a bunch of hair a while back due to a medication. I got on selenium and biotin, and it all grew back, and I had almost no shedding. Now I'm noticing some shedding again, not a lot, but more than before. Does anyone think I should be worried yet, or just keep an eye on it? Nothing else has changed in my life or diet or anything.

Sally2009
March 8th, 2009, 06:21 AM
I would suggest trying the most natural way first. Just wash the hair in rhassoul clay - the Moroccans will attest that rhassoul users have plenty of health hair and users of chemical products suffer hair loss and thinning. I have just started doing on oil treatment once a week to see if I can notice any benefits. The oil was a special recipe made up by a Moroccan friend to thicken my hair. I am still testing it and don't sell the oil. But there are probably lots of good herbal hair oils on the market. Finally, I now massage my scalp several times a day with a horn comb. Since my husband has been using rhassoul clay for washing-conditioning his hair loss has become normal (no more fine broken hairs all over the bathroom and pillow) and in fact, his hair is fuller, curlier and shinier. People can loose their hair when the folicle becomes blocked with sebum and dies. The clay absorbs excess sebum and keeps the folicles working optimally. anyway I would always start with these natural methods, before resorting the chemicals. [moderation: edited to remove commercial self-promotion]

ljkforu
March 16th, 2009, 05:32 AM
My hair is so much thicker since using Rogaine and Monistat. I did some damage to my ends and had to have 5 inches cut off (no problem). The Monistat has my hair growing an inch per month. My hair started a heavy shed 2 days ago and I stopped it immediately with a couple of good squirts of Rogaine. I can't believe how much bigger around my pony tail is. I wish I would have measured but I didn't have very high hopes.

swan
March 16th, 2009, 06:19 AM
I'm looking into getting anti-DHT solutions either Revivogen or Dr. Murad's system. I've already posted a question on Revivogen and apparently no-one had use the system but any experiences with Dr. Murad's thinning hair system? Thank you!
Also, is Rogaine, as it's often said a life-time commitment, ie, if you stopped you'd lose what you've gained? i showed allergy to it whne i used it a few years ago so that's not on my try-list for now, but i'm just curious.
Also, i posted this on another thread and mention here in case those interested in hair loss questions may not have seen that thread. I booked an appointment with a Hair Club center in my area
www.hairclub.com (http://www.hairclub.com)
since they're offering a free microscopic scalp analysis. I expect there will be marketing for their own services afterwards, but I'll go in well-informed so as not to fall for anything that may not suit my needs at this point. Anyone with any comments/experiences on their services?

ljkforu
March 16th, 2009, 07:19 PM
It is my understanding that you have to continue any DHT blocker or the hair will fall out when the DHT comes back.

Monistat is showing good growth results but doesn't give me good retention without the Rogaine. They are both DHT blockers.

TessieAnn
March 16th, 2009, 10:35 PM
Monistat is showing good growth results but doesn't give me good retention without the Rogaine. They are both DHT blockers.

Do you have a reference for Monistat as DHT blocker? Do you know where this info comes from?

Someone back in February mentioned some hair-growers using hydrocortisone cream sporadically. The problem with steady use of cortisone cream is that it thins and damages the skin, at least in prescription strength. I don't know, for sure, whether this happens with OTC strength but wouldn't take a chance on it.

ljkforu
March 16th, 2009, 11:27 PM
Do you have a reference for Monistat as DHT blocker? Do you know where this info comes from?

Someone back in February mentioned some hair-growers using hydrocortisone cream sporadically. The problem with steady use of cortisone cream is that it thins and damages the skin, at least in prescription strength. I don't know, for sure, whether this happens with OTC strength but wouldn't take a chance on it.
Do a search in the Monistat thread. And, my personal doctor confirmed it, and that it was ok for me to use it on my head even though I have MS.

Edit -- did some searching and their is no scientific proof that Miconazole nitrate does anything. However, after using 2% twice a week for 5 months I had grown 5 inches of hair and had 5 inch hair in all my bald spots. Like Rogaine which was a blood pressure medicine, proof may be coming or not.

I would definately not use hydrocortisone for an extented time.

ljkforu
March 17th, 2009, 12:41 AM
I just had son take pics of my new Henna gloss in my album under Gloss and I compared it against the hair loss photos I had taken before. Omg! look at the difference that has happened since August. I truly had no idea until I saw it myself.

swan
March 17th, 2009, 05:20 AM
It is truly great that Monistat has proved to work for some so effectively. So if it's worked perhaps one could safely continue to use it. But I personally have reservations against something without knowing more about its long-term effects . This is a bit conservative, I assume, and I'm by no means warning against anything. I just feel comfortable exhausting all recognized options on the market first. heralopecia.com lists a good deal of those options, but there is a lot more that one can't find there.

HotRag
April 5th, 2009, 06:52 AM
I believe that there are a lot of impacts from the effect of undiagnosed thyroid problems and I hope that you kind folks won't get tired of hearing me mention it.
In hindsight, I am lucky to have found out the problem so I could start the healing process.

After my son Daniel was born in 1999, my hair fell out in great hand fulls as it usually will do for most postpartum moms. I was so tired, very bloated and I ached. I couldn't lost weight and joined a gym. I would exercise and exercise and then go home and take a monster 2 hour nap. The hair continued to leave little "stringers" all over the place, and it was so fine, dry and thin. I was reading about post-partum issues and came across the forum...thyroid.about.com (http://thyroid.about.com), I took the online quiz and I fit the description of a person severely hypo-thyroid. I took the quiz to my doctor and was promptly told that I was stressed and depressed and that I should wean my son and go on anti-depressants. I didn't feel depressed...just really, really REALLY tired! I went for a second opinion and was diagnosed by symptoms. Turned out I had auto-immune thyroid (Hashimotos) and my tests were not as accurate in diagnosis alone because I was chock full of anti-thyroid antibodies. Whoo hoo. :shake:

I was on the right track, but those stinking antibodies would continue to taint my test results for years. But my hair! My hair tells me that my meds are adjusted properly. If I have the right amout of medicine, I will hardly shed at all. My shower used to be plugged with hair, not anymore. I could always get the doctors attention by starting off with, "My hair is falling out". It worked until one day it didn't fall out anymore, and that's where I am now. My hair got thicker in texture and volume. It is thicker than is has been at any time in my life.

Now my hair is growing nicely, and it has been to about my hips one time. Until this diagnosis, it had never been past BSL. Now I believe if I take careful care I might make it to classic length, or beyond... as long as I stay away from careless beauticians :blueeek:
I have all of the hypothyroid symptoms, but hairloss.
It is very difficult to get tests, they only test TSH and go by that.
Rarely they test T4 too, but only in blood, and if it is good, you are per definition healthy and should eat SSRI :rolleyes:

There are several thyroid illnesses. Some doctors (not they who practice on regular hospital) says that system could get "locked" in wrong mode, causing subclinical hypothyroid with problems also in cortisol/DHEA system.
These wrong modes can start off by starving (anorexia, up and down dieting and so on) and after giving birth to baby.

Off course I am not an expert, so the above is what I have found when searching for info.

Did your antibodies make tests on TSH/T4 come out wrong?
And how are antibodies tested? Blood sample? I have no clue if they have tested that on me, they just say TSH is fine, therefore, eat SSRI.

faeriedust
June 11th, 2009, 11:51 AM
Has anyone had success with DHT blockers like saw palmetto? My hairloss is becoming worse and my hairline is receding even though Im only in my 20s. Previously I took vit b complex, msm and biotin and it improved slightly. Im not taking b complex and biotin now because my supplies have run out. Im thinking of trying saw palmetto because my hairloss is becoming worse than before. I use castor and coconut oil to oil my scalp but it does not seem to be improving. Please if anyone has any suggestions, I'll like to know. Im very worried.

swan
June 11th, 2009, 12:09 PM
Would you be open to using some DHT blocker lines like Revivogen or Folligen. I'm using both right now and though
it's too early to evaluate, I have no reason to complain as of yet.

ljkforu
June 12th, 2009, 02:29 AM
Would you be open to using some DHT blocker lines like Revivogen or Folligen. I'm using both right now and though
it's too early to evaluate, I have no reason to complain as of yet.
I'm open to any DHT blockers I can afford :D

Kimberly
June 12th, 2009, 06:28 PM
Does anyone have pointers on coping with hair regrowth?

My hair's growing back and, while I am *very* pleased and surprised at how much is coming in, it looks pretty dopey right now. The short new hairs stick up through the rest. It's always curlier when it's shorter, and these new hairs seem even curlier than any I've had before. Especially when my hair is very clean, the new hairs do something something between a halo and an afro just on top of my head, sticking up several inches. It's a very distinctive Mad Scientist or slept-on-a-park-bench look. Except when it makes horns. That looks even more special, and that's what happens if I try to oil it or if I wait too long before I wash it.

I have never had luck with hairspray or gels -- unless I absolutely cement my hair into place so that it's like a helmet, it won't hold. But there has to be something else to try. Anyone have suggestions? :) So far I seem to have a choice between halo-fro, horns, or totally flattening out all of my hair through potentially damaging methods.

hennaphile
June 12th, 2009, 11:17 PM
Does anyone have pointers on coping with hair regrowth?

My hair's growing back and, while I am *very* pleased and surprised at how much is coming in, it looks pretty dopey right now. The short new hairs stick up through the rest. It's always curlier when it's shorter, and these new hairs seem even curlier than any I've had before. Especially when my hair is very clean, the new hairs do something something between a halo and an afro just on top of my head, sticking up several inches. It's a very distinctive Mad Scientist or slept-on-a-park-bench look. Except when it makes horns. That looks even more special, and that's what happens if I try to oil it or if I wait too long before I wash it.

I have never had luck with hairspray or gels -- unless I absolutely cement my hair into place so that it's like a helmet, it won't hold. But there has to be something else to try. Anyone have suggestions? :) So far I seem to have a choice between halo-fro, horns, or totally flattening out all of my hair through potentially damaging methods.


Awww, they're just popping up to say hello :) . You might try softly using a boar bristle brush as they can help smooth out hair without using gel. Have you tried more natural "gels" like aloe?

Also, I'm confused about DHT blockers. If you that as a cause for hairloss, it makes sense that once you stop using the blocker, hairloss comes back. But does the product create additional dependancy? :confused:

ljkforu
June 13th, 2009, 06:19 PM
Also, I'm confused about DHT blockers. If you that as a cause for hairloss, it makes sense that once you stop using the blocker, hairloss comes back. But does the product create additional dependancy? :confused:


Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) can make your hair fall out so things that block it keep it from falling out. They still don't 100% know how all of the chemistry works with Rogaine but for many of us it does. (I really recommend reading the information in the link -- it seemed pretty current and accurate.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dihydrotestosterone

ljkforu
June 13th, 2009, 06:27 PM
Does anyone have pointers on coping with hair regrowth?

My hair's growing back and, while I am *very* pleased and surprised at how much is coming in, it looks pretty dopey right now. The short new hairs stick up through the rest. It's always curlier when it's shorter, and these new hairs seem even curlier than any I've had before. Especially when my hair is very clean, the new hairs do something something between a halo and an afro just on top of my head, sticking up several inches. It's a very distinctive Mad Scientist or slept-on-a-park-bench look. Except when it makes horns. That looks even more special, and that's what happens if I try to oil it or if I wait too long before I wash it.

I have never had luck with hairspray or gels -- unless I absolutely cement my hair into place so that it's like a helmet, it won't hold. But there has to be something else to try. Anyone have suggestions? :) So far I seem to have a choice between halo-fro, horns, or totally flattening out all of my hair through potentially damaging methods.
Is coconut oil a good suggestion?

Would lightly oiling your hair tame it? I can't find any pictures of your hair to judge by :D

hennaphile
June 13th, 2009, 09:10 PM
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) can make your hair fall out so things that block it keep it from falling out. They still don't 100% know how all of the chemistry works with Rogaine but for many of us it does. (I really recommend reading the information in the link -- it seemed pretty current and accurate.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dihydrotestosterone

Thanks! I'll be sure to check it out! I also want to help my bf, poor dude suffered hair loss from accutane.

Kimberly
June 14th, 2009, 03:12 AM
Awww, they're just popping up to say hello :) . You might try softly using a boar bristle brush as they can help smooth out hair without using gel. Have you tried more natural "gels" like aloe?

Thank you for the suggestions, hennaphile.

I have tried a boar bristle brush. I'm a curly, though, so if my hair's clean it means mega-frizz. If my hair is not clean, the brush will smooth it out temporarily, but I break a lot of hair (it's very fine) and then in an hour or two a pair of 3" horns lift up from either side of my head! I am starting to look like Bozo The Clown, though I have been trying to retrain myself to think of these as "cute fairy horns."

Aloe has never given me good results, unfortunately.


Is coconut oil a good suggestion?

Would lightly oiling your hair tame it? I can't find any pictures of your hair to judge by :D

I've tried coconut oil, and if I use a lot it flattens my hair out for a little bit, but then the horns form.

There are only one or two pics of my hair around here, and they're a couple of years old. Back then my hair was in the process of falling out, so the pics show neither halo-fro nor fairy horns. My camera died and I haven't replaced it, so I can't get a new shot right away. Maybe I can get a friend to take a picture with their phone or something.

Thanks for your suggestions, ljkforu. :)

BTW, I have also tried pinning the unruly hairs, but that doesn't work so well because they're growing out all over my head (rather than in the front like bangs/fringe).

Phalaenopsis
June 14th, 2009, 05:17 AM
I know what you're talking about, Kimberly. I have straight hair and I had a lot of hairloss which is now growing back. I didn't even know what frizz was...:p Now my head is full of flyaways and frizz. I'm just trying to accept it. I'm happy that the worst part is over, I had a big chunk of hair on my forhead that really stuck out, it's finally gotten long enough to hang downwards.

Maybe a useful tip for some of you:
Everytime I stress out or don't eat right my hair starts to fall out again. I have homeopathic drops that stop that. You could google "Thallium Metallicum" My doctor combined that with zinc and silicium.

MsBubbles
June 14th, 2009, 04:04 PM
I didn't want to start YET ANOTHER "I'm shedding" thread, so I came here instead!

I'm not sure if I 'belong' here or not but this past week I have been afraid that I have been shedding more than my usual amount of hair each wash. Yesterday I got into a panic after washing my hair because I felt like my circumference was remarkably thinner than before. I'm not home right now so I can't do my usual checks. But I am able to check LHC. I found this thread and want to say that the person was right, who said you don't really understand hairloss unless you go through it. I've lost half my thickness before - all over not in patches - due to illness four years ago, and got better so it grew back. However, I have learned so much from this thread about all the iron and thyroid, and digestive issues (all of which I deal with on a daily basis).

However, as far as I can tell I'm currently pretty darned healthy and have zero clue as to why I'd be losing hair right now. Here are some of my thoughts:

Maybe it's that whole seven-year cycle thing? I just turned 42!

Maybe you can lose hair through mammogram xrays? I had my last mammo this past tuesday.

Maybe it's menopause...but my Mother didn't really go through it until she was 50, and her hair is all still in tact.

Maybe it's simply a 'summer shed', but I don't remember any such thing happening to me last summer.

Maybe since I got sick going through my divorce in 2002 that all those baby hairs that sprouted after I got better are now all at the end of life? It's all long hairs I'm losing, not shorter ones. That's my best explanation yet!

There are SO many factors here.

But after soaking up all the great info on this thread...thank you thank you...I am going to readdress all my supplements and keep a thyroid function log of symptoms.

Sure makes you rethink hair and life in general, eh?

Autumnberry
June 15th, 2009, 11:33 PM
Does anyone have pointers on coping with hair regrowth?

My hair's growing back and, while I am *very* pleased and surprised at how much is coming in, it looks pretty dopey right now. The short new hairs stick up through the rest. It's always curlier when it's shorter, and these new hairs seem even curlier than any I've had before. Especially when my hair is very clean, the new hairs do something something between a halo and an afro just on top of my head, sticking up several inches. It's a very distinctive Mad Scientist or slept-on-a-park-bench look. Except when it makes horns. That looks even more special, and that's what happens if I try to oil it or if I wait too long before I wash it.

I have never had luck with hairspray or gels -- unless I absolutely cement my hair into place so that it's like a helmet, it won't hold. But there has to be something else to try. Anyone have suggestions? :) So far I seem to have a choice between halo-fro, horns, or totally flattening out all of my hair through potentially damaging methods.

Using henna helped tame my extra fine hair which is prone to fly away frizz over the crown. I used to need to either blow dry or use leave in products along certain parts of the crown, but now (after henna) I don't need either one. There are new hairs which are very short, about a half inch, which stick straight up, but overall, the frizz horns are now smoothed out. :cheese:

Brisen
June 18th, 2009, 06:05 PM
I started reading through this thread, and I'm glad I found it -- lots of great info.

I had never really had much of a postpartum shed until my fourth was born, two years ago this fall. I was keeping my hair short then (pixie) and cut it just before he was born. I didn't notice much of a shed right away -- maybe because my hair was so short -- but a few months down the road, I was losing handfuls at each shower, and the thinning was visible to me.

The shedding slowed down, but it still seems to be much heavier than normal for me. This could be simply because my hair is longer than it has been in years; I do remember shedding when I brushed back when I had long hair, but it was also thicker when I put it up in a pony then. I have noticed a halo or whatever of new hairs, first where my bangs would be (it seemed like I had bangs suddenly, without cutting them), then at the nape of my neck when I put my hair up, and then sticking up all over the place when my hair was frizzy. I don't think I'm shedding these shorter hairs, but I haven't really checked. It just seems like all of the hair I shed is long.

So, I'm pretty sure it's from low progesterone (I was low before my pregnancy with my youngest & took supplements for it), but I don't really want to do much to mess around with my hormones. I'm pregnant again now, so this winter I'll have another big dip in my progesterone. Ack. I'm interested in the essential oils that were mentioned, for massaging into your scalp. I'm hoping if I really baby my hair now and try to get these hairs as "sticky" as possible, it will make the post partum shed less drastic.

Are the essential oils the things they sell in little bottles in, say, the natural section of the health food store? I can just pick up the ones I want to use in my mix, put it in an oil like grapeseed or jojoba, and that's the mix, right? Does anyone/anywhere sell a premade mix (I'm thinking just the essential oils) so I don't have to buy a half dozen little bottles of stuff? I don't really want to buy them all if I'm going to use a few drops of each and then find out my scalp doesn't like it.

I'm also interested in the scalp massage with a boar bristle brush. I bought one a little while ago, but I'm not sure if it's good or not. It does the job of spreading out the natural oils in my hair so they're not all right by my scalp, but I'm not sure if it could be damaging my hair or not. It is a Goody brand brush I picked up at the grocery store for about $10.

Thanks!

hennaphile
June 18th, 2009, 06:50 PM
I started reading through this thread, and I'm glad I found it -- lots of great info.

I had never really had much of a postpartum shed until my fourth was born, two years ago this fall. I was keeping my hair short then (pixie) and cut it just before he was born. I didn't notice much of a shed right away -- maybe because my hair was so short -- but a few months down the road, I was losing handfuls at each shower, and the thinning was visible to me.

The shedding slowed down, but it still seems to be much heavier than normal for me. This could be simply because my hair is longer than it has been in years; I do remember shedding when I brushed back when I had long hair, but it was also thicker when I put it up in a pony then. I have noticed a halo or whatever of new hairs, first where my bangs would be (it seemed like I had bangs suddenly, without cutting them), then at the nape of my neck when I put my hair up, and then sticking up all over the place when my hair was frizzy. I don't think I'm shedding these shorter hairs, but I haven't really checked. It just seems like all of the hair I shed is long.

So, I'm pretty sure it's from low progesterone (I was low before my pregnancy with my youngest & took supplements for it), but I don't really want to do much to mess around with my hormones. I'm pregnant again now, so this winter I'll have another big dip in my progesterone. Ack. I'm interested in the essential oils that were mentioned, for massaging into your scalp. I'm hoping if I really baby my hair now and try to get these hairs as "sticky" as possible, it will make the post partum shed less drastic.

Are the essential oils the things they sell in little bottles in, say, the natural section of the health food store? I can just pick up the ones I want to use in my mix, put it in an oil like grapeseed or jojoba, and that's the mix, right? Does anyone/anywhere sell a premade mix (I'm thinking just the essential oils) so I don't have to buy a half dozen little bottles of stuff? I don't really want to buy them all if I'm going to use a few drops of each and then find out my scalp doesn't like it.

I'm also interested in the scalp massage with a boar bristle brush. I bought one a little while ago, but I'm not sure if it's good or not. It does the job of spreading out the natural oils in my hair so they're not all right by my scalp, but I'm not sure if it could be damaging my hair or not. It is a Goody brand brush I picked up at the grocery store for about $10.

Thanks!


Sending hairy thoughts your way:D

pineapple pea
June 19th, 2009, 03:40 PM
Hi,

I haven't posted in this thread yet (don't think). I just got test results back from the doctor. Apparently my iron and ferritin are 'fine', but from what I've read on here, a 10 on ferritin is NOT fine! My iron was a 96. Also, apparently I'm borderline HYPERthyroid. Usually you hear about HYPOthyroid, so that was a surprise.

I don't really trust this doctor, since she claims a 10 on ferritin would have nothing to do with hair loss. I think I will find another doctor to interpret the thyroid for me, as well. A preliminary search of google tells me hyperthyroid can cause hairloss, so maybe it's iron and thyroid.

I am SO HAPPY that there seems to be a cause of my hairloss! I have always had thin hair, but it's to the point where I am visibly bald if I wear my hair down (not in patches, diffuse thinning). I have to wear it up with careful combing. It's so frustrating! So, I will be re-reading this entire thread and looking for iron and hyperthryroid advice here and elsewhere. Hopefully I can start growing again!!!

swan
June 19th, 2009, 03:46 PM
Hi,

I haven't posted in this thread yet (don't think). I just got test results back from the doctor. Apparently my iron and ferritin are 'fine', but from what I've read on here, a 10 on ferritin is NOT fine! My iron was a 96. Also, apparently I'm borderline HYPERthyroid. Usually you hear about HYPOthyroid, so that was a surprise.

I don't really trust this doctor, since she claims a 10 on ferritin would have nothing to do with hair loss. I think I will find another doctor to interpret the thyroid for me, as well. A preliminary search of google tells me hyperthyroid can cause hairloss, so maybe it's iron and thyroid.

I am SO HAPPY that there seems to be a cause of my hairloss! I have always had thin hair, but it's to the point where I am visibly bald if I wear my hair down (not in patches, diffuse thinning). I have to wear it up with careful combing. It's so frustrating! So, I will be re-reading this entire thread and looking for iron and hyperthryroid advice here and elsewhere. Hopefully I can start growing again!!!

Iron storage defficiency is under-rated by conventional doctors. i've read that to regrow you'd need to be around 70 or higher. i was aroung 17 last I tested and the doc thought I was fine...but clearly I'm not so I'm taking iron supplements.
Good luck :)

Superfine
June 19th, 2009, 04:27 PM
So interesting about the wheat gluten, Redheaded Raven. I haven't noticed it because of food on my tiny hairline hairloss , but you mentioned products. About 2 years ago when I decided to grow out a pixie, I used Jason Thin to Thick products (even the scalp elixer) which had wheat proteins. Sometime later I noticed this hairloss. Really bugs me because my hair is fine anyway & now it looks like I'm stuck wearing bangs my whole life. My hair is now collarbone length & in great shape - thanks to all the help here. I am next working on curing the hairloss with homeopathic remedies (orally). We'll see.

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I suppose it could be a coincidence as a result of older age (63). However, I'm quite healthy & take vitamins, eat well, exercise etc. Perhaps it is hormonal but I haven't lost any more since I quit the Jasons 1.5 yrs. ago. Of couyrse, it hasn't grown back either.

Unnamed
June 19th, 2009, 06:10 PM
elisashay -- A ferritin of 10 is very low and could definitely cause hair loss/thinning (and possibly quite substantial). Mine was 33 (not the greatest, but not at the bottom bottom of the range), and with taking a bit more iron than I normally did that first month my hair grew a whole inch. And I felt a TON better. Hair got thicker then for a while, too, even while still being hypothyroid (well, before it shed out from that :lol: ). And want to say that what swan said about 70 being more the low end of where one wants to be with ferritin matches with what I've found.

And hyperthyroid can also cause hair loss...although if you've only had TSH done and that's the 'borderline hyperT' signal, definitely get a diff doc and/or more tests done (specifically free T3 and free T4). I was normal TSH with super low frees (aka TSH isn't always right/doesn't always match up to the actual thyroid hormone levels...). And one can have a 'hyper' looking TSH and still be hypothyroid (either due to hypopituitary--aka the pituitary isn't making enough TSH, so the thyroid doesn't know it's supposed to work more (TSH is usually below about 0.8 I think), and the other is Hashimoto's--which is why mine don't match up) I know low iron and hypoT are pretty common together; not as sure about HyperT and low iron.



And just random/update I guess (as it looks like I've posted somewhere in this thread at some point :lol: ): still shedding, although nape circ has come back up to just under what it was last June (then in May shed out a bit of that...then came back lol). Been in a stall since October, though, due to still increased shedding (combined with past brushing damage). Regrowth from early 2005 shed is moving down pretty good, though. And ready for uber tangle stage of regrowth from shed last year...that should be happening fairly soon/by the end of the year I think. :rolleyes: Not really don't anything but trying to ignore it, as I doubt I'm done shedding (still increasing thyroid meds); although I am testing gluten-free as of a few weeks ago.

Kimberly
June 19th, 2009, 10:41 PM
I know what you're talking about, Kimberly. I have straight hair and I had a lot of hairloss which is now growing back. I didn't even know what frizz was...:p Now my head is full of flyaways and frizz. I'm just trying to accept it. I'm happy that the worst part is over, I had a big chunk of hair on my forhead that really stuck out, it's finally gotten long enough to hang downwards.

Maybe a useful tip for some of you:
Everytime I stress out or don't eat right my hair starts to fall out again. I have homeopathic drops that stop that. You could google "Thallium Metallicum" My doctor combined that with zinc and silicium.

It makes me feel better to hear from someone else who's going through regrowth frizz, too. Thanks for the homeopathic suggestion. My hair fell out due to the shock of major surgery, though . . . body was using all its energy to heal instead of grow hair. It didn't just fall out all at once (though some did, that wasn't most of it). It's more like normal regrowth of shed hairs stopped for a long time.


I didn't want to start YET ANOTHER "I'm shedding" thread, so I came here instead!

I'm not sure if I 'belong' here or not but this past week I have been afraid that I have been shedding more than my usual amount of hair each wash. Yesterday I got into a panic after washing my hair because I felt like my circumference was remarkably thinner than before. I'm not home right now so I can't do my usual checks. But I am able to check LHC. I found this thread and want to say that the person was right, who said you don't really understand hairloss unless you go through it. I've lost half my thickness before - all over not in patches - due to illness four years ago, and got better so it grew back. However, I have learned so much from this thread about all the iron and thyroid, and digestive issues (all of which I deal with on a daily basis).

However, as far as I can tell I'm currently pretty darned healthy and have zero clue as to why I'd be losing hair right now. Here are some of my thoughts:

Maybe it's that whole seven-year cycle thing? I just turned 42!

Maybe you can lose hair through mammogram xrays? I had my last mammo this past tuesday.

Maybe it's menopause...but my Mother didn't really go through it until she was 50, and her hair is all still in tact.

Maybe it's simply a 'summer shed', but I don't remember any such thing happening to me last summer.

Maybe since I got sick going through my divorce in 2002 that all those baby hairs that sprouted after I got better are now all at the end of life? It's all long hairs I'm losing, not shorter ones. That's my best explanation yet!

There are SO many factors here.

But after soaking up all the great info on this thread...thank you thank you...I am going to readdress all my supplements and keep a thyroid function log of symptoms.

Sure makes you rethink hair and life in general, eh?

You mentioned you're not at home. If you're away from home washing your hair with different water, or in a place where the humidity levels are very different, that can make your hair seem thinner, or it can contribute to increased shed. Also, I find if I keep my hair up for a long time or wait a long time before a wash, when I finally get around to it all the shed hairs that have been waiting around can finally get loose, so it seems as if I'm shedding like mad. So maybe you're going through something as simple as that? Don't worry until you have to worry! :)


Using henna helped tame my extra fine hair which is prone to fly away frizz over the crown. I used to need to either blow dry or use leave in products along certain parts of the crown, but now (after henna) I don't need either one. There are new hairs which are very short, about a half inch, which stick straight up, but overall, the frizz horns are now smoothed out. :cheese:

You know, henna probably *would* tame my frizz. When I tried henna years ago, it took all of the curl out of my hair . . . it'd probably flatten the frizz, too. Not sure if that's a tradeoff I'm ready to make, though! My hair looks much thinner without the curl. Thank you for the suggestion, though! Maybe I'll try it if the situation gets worse.

Maybe we should just get some fashion magazine to declare hair horns in for next season? ;)

Phalaenopsis
June 20th, 2009, 12:04 PM
It makes me feel better to hear from someone else who's going through regrowth frizz, too. Thanks for the homeopathic suggestion. My hair fell out due to the shock of major surgery, though . . . body was using all its energy to heal instead of grow hair. It didn't just fall out all at once (though some did, that wasn't most of it). It's more like normal regrowth of shed hairs stopped for a long time.


Thallium Metallicum is especially helpful after an operation. ;)

hennaphile
June 20th, 2009, 04:59 PM
You know, henna probably *would* tame my frizz. When I tried henna years ago, it took all of the curl out of my hair . . . it'd probably flatten the frizz, too. Not sure if that's a tradeoff I'm ready to make, though! My hair looks much thinner without the curl. Thank you for the suggestion, though! Maybe I'll try it if the situation gets worse.

Maybe we should just get some fashion magazine to declare hair horns in for next season? ;)

You could try adding amla to your henna if you are concerned about losing your curl, I'm sure there's stuff about it on the henna threads :flower:

Kimberly
June 23rd, 2009, 03:18 PM
Thallium Metallicum is especially helpful after an operation. ;)

Wow, Google turns up a lot of info about that. I have a lot of reading ahead. Thanks!


You could try adding amla to your henna if you are concerned about losing your curl, I'm sure there's stuff about it on the henna threads :flower:

Thank you . . . I'll check into amla. Not so sure I want to change my hair color, though, and I understand that while there's so-called "neutral" henna it isn't really henna. I bet I can learn all about that in the henna threads, too! :)

hennaphile
June 23rd, 2009, 04:13 PM
Wow, Google turns up a lot of info about that. I have a lot of reading ahead. Thanks!



Thank you . . . I'll check into amla. Not so sure I want to change my hair color, though, and I understand that while there's so-called "neutral" henna it isn't really henna. I bet I can learn all about that in the henna threads, too! :)

Oh you mean cassia! It is amazing! I don't know how it affects curls, but you could certainly add amla. Show us how it turns out :D

30isthenewblack
June 24th, 2009, 01:04 AM
Oh you mean cassia! It is amazing! I don't know how it affects curls, but you could certainly add amla. Show us how it turns out :D

I have curly hair and I use amla with my cassia. Works a treat :D I did a strand test with cassia alone and cassia plus amla and the curl with the added amla was almost twice as thick. My ratio is about 1:4 with one being amla.

Natalia
June 24th, 2009, 09:33 PM
First off i will have to keep this in mind for when i get around to trying cassia :).


I have curly hair and I use amla with my cassia. Works a treat :D I did a strand test with cassia alone and cassia plus amla and the curl with the added amla was almost twice as thick. My ratio is about 1:4 with one being amla.

Anyways the reason ic ame to posy is that i think i may have finally slowed my fallout! It hasnt stopped by an means sadly :(but at least im down to 3 golf balls worth per combing than 4 or 5. Ive waited about 3 days since i noticed it so i could be sure it wasnt a fluke (still not entierly sure but im feeling happier). I started doing real scalp massages with lavender/rosemary/ylang ylang since thats all i have on hand that people use on hair in a base of emu oil and grapeseed.

I did it three times then my scalp got to greasy so i waited a day then COed. Only 25 hairs or so came out in the shower that i noticed but i was rinsing my head upside down over the edge of the tub so that might not be entierly accurate. Combing it out after (waitined till it was 95% dry) i only lost one golf ball worth so thats exciting! I lost two more golf balls worth today though but thats still a small improvment. As soon as i get some cash and the site gets one of the oils i want in stock i am going to order a few more for hair that are also multi-taskers as well as some for my skin.

Just thought id share :). I hope everyone else is seeing the positive results they are hopeing for!

Celogrl
October 2nd, 2009, 09:32 PM
Thank you all who posted to this thread. I have just been diagnosed with Alopecia Areata and this has been a help to me, if nothing else to know I am certainly not alone.

swan
October 3rd, 2009, 05:34 AM
Celogrl-- If it's any help, you could take a look at heralopecia.com which is specifically a sit efor women with hairloss. You'll find lots of good information +support there. HTH!

aada
November 19th, 2009, 09:09 PM
Hi all. So I am gonna reply here rather than start a new thread. ;) So, I just got diagnosed (um...last week?) with hyperthyroidism. I've known something was wrong for a few months now, but not sure what until recently. I have quite a few health issues, so I am not shocked to find another...


Onto the relevant part: in the past month or so, I have lost 3/4" in thickness. :( I have never ever had thinning hair before, even when my kidneys were failing. The thinnest my hair ever was was when my mother decided to comb out my dreads, and even then it was thicker than it is now.

I suppose I can't complain, because my hair is still 3.75", but I have never had to deal with this before. I have always shed quite a bit, and the last time I measured before this, it was 4.5".

My mom's hair used to be nearly as thick as mine, but her own thyroid problems (hypo) have made her hair frightening thin. I am not generally a vain person, but I love my hair. I am so afraid of this happening. :pray:

Hopefully, I get treatment soon and my hair either doesn't get thinner or maybe gets a bit thicker!

Lia_Vaumont
November 29th, 2009, 02:54 AM
Greetings everyone! I'm new here! ^_^

Well, I came by this thread while I was looking for herbs to benefit hair growth, because I've been having a lot of hair-fall lately, and it's really scaring me to death. I can't bear to imagine what I'd be like bald. Baldness runs in the family you see, and even my grandmother (father's side) had it. :( That's why I'm really scared that I might have gotten the gene too. I only recently turned 18, just stopped working at an internet cafe as a cashier, and just begun to study again. The stress while working and the lack of good nutrition probably caused a lot of the hair fall I've been experiencing lately. My hair used to be thick, but now it's thin and I notice problems with my hairline, and the area where I part my hair tends to show more of my scalp now than it used to. I'm not one to count how many strands of hair fall from my noggin a day, but it's a lot. Not in clumps, but strand by strand... Still, it's never happend before, so I'm worried. I've been reading a lot about what can be done to allay hair loss, and I've so far, tried to go natural, as much as my budget will permit. I've tried the ACV and Baking soda washing method, and I also oil my hair with coconut-oil twice a week, and do a 'hot-oil' treatment with coconut milk every Sundays. I've been thinking about taking saw palmetto and gingko biloba, but I'm somewhat skeptical as to their efficacy. Could anyone please give me any other tips to counter hairfall and to promote new hair growth?

ChloeDharma
November 29th, 2009, 08:15 AM
Greetings everyone! I'm new here! ^_^

Well, I came by this thread while I was looking for herbs to benefit hair growth, because I've been having a lot of hair-fall lately, and it's really scaring me to death. I can't bear to imagine what I'd be like bald. Baldness runs in the family you see, and even my grandmother (father's side) had it. :( That's why I'm really scared that I might have gotten the gene too. I only recently turned 18, just stopped working at an internet cafe as a cashier, and just begun to study again. The stress while working and the lack of good nutrition probably caused a lot of the hair fall I've been experiencing lately. My hair used to be thick, but now it's thin and I notice problems with my hairline, and the area where I part my hair tends to show more of my scalp now than it used to. I'm not one to count how many strands of hair fall from my noggin a day, but it's a lot. Not in clumps, but strand by strand... Still, it's never happend before, so I'm worried. I've been reading a lot about what can be done to allay hair loss, and I've so far, tried to go natural, as much as my budget will permit. I've tried the ACV and Baking soda washing method, and I also oil my hair with coconut-oil twice a week, and do a 'hot-oil' treatment with coconut milk every Sundays. I've been thinking about taking saw palmetto and gingko biloba, but I'm somewhat skeptical as to their efficacy. Could anyone please give me any other tips to counter hairfall and to promote new hair growth?


Before using a herb like saw palmetto you need to know the cause of the hairloss. At such a young age i'd definately go see your doctor first, i don't want to scare you ut hairloss can be an indicator of much more serious medical problems.
Saw Palmetto is used as an anti-androgen, it seems to be quite effective but is not something to be played with, if you are on the contraceptive pill or other medication you should check for contraindications before using it.
Ginko biloba is used to improve the circulation, this can help to bring nourishment to the bulb of the hair encouraging growth and there is a school of thought that believes that in cases of androgenic alopecia an increase in circulation to the scalp helps to remove DHT in the follicle.
You say you are stressed and eating poorly, you know that you need to address this and it's definately not going to help your hairloss. You can google stress management for lots of ideas, sometimes we can't remove the causes of stress but we can take steps to manage it....getting a massage, going for a walk or run, yoga.....any exercise helps.
Have the coconut oilings/milk soaks helped? That's a trusted remedy in India, you could add essential oils to the oil like lavender, ylang ylang etc these help with the stress also but are considered good for stimulating growth. There is a thread over on the recipes and henna board about using essential oils for hair loss.
Good luck sorting your problem and welcome to LHC :)

Lady Lilya
November 29th, 2009, 01:13 PM
When I lost a lot of hair, it was due to stress. Specifically, a condition called Adrenal Fatigue. Unfortunately, most doctors don't recognize it. Many of the cases they diagnose as under-active thyroid are really adrenal problems. The tired adrenal glands cause the body to lean on the thyroid to pick up the slack.

If you think stress might be the cause of your hair loss, you should google and read about Adrenal Fatigue and see if that sounds like a good fit to you. There is a test you can take for about $100 that will tell you which stage you are in, and then there are books that tell you which supplements to use to treat it.

Lia_Vaumont
November 30th, 2009, 06:18 PM
Before using a herb like saw palmetto you need to know the cause of the hairloss. At such a young age i'd definately go see your doctor first, i don't want to scare you ut hairloss can be an indicator of much more serious medical problems.
Saw Palmetto is used as an anti-androgen, it seems to be quite effective but is not something to be played with, if you are on the contraceptive pill or other medication you should check for contraindications before using it.
Ginko biloba is used to improve the circulation, this can help to bring nourishment to the bulb of the hair encouraging growth and there is a school of thought that believes that in cases of androgenic alopecia an increase in circulation to the scalp helps to remove DHT in the follicle.
You say you are stressed and eating poorly, you know that you need to address this and it's definately not going to help your hairloss. You can google stress management for lots of ideas, sometimes we can't remove the causes of stress but we can take steps to manage it....getting a massage, going for a walk or run, yoga.....any exercise helps.
Have the coconut oilings/milk soaks helped? That's a trusted remedy in India, you could add essential oils to the oil like lavender, ylang ylang etc these help with the stress also but are considered good for stimulating growth. There is a thread over on the recipes and henna board about using essential oils for hair loss.
Good luck sorting your problem and welcome to LHC :)
First of all, thank you so much for the advise!

Alas, going to doctors here is beyond the capacities of my budget. I'm quite familiar with the effects you have stated, since I have come by them in the various sites I've gone to while researching about the effects of saw palmetto. I would like to ask though, why there seems to be so many inconsistencies in regards to this herb? Some sites say it has little to no side effects, while others state it has the same side effects as finasteride. (did I spell it correctly?) Which is true, and which a fallacy?

Yeah. I was quite stressed with the demands of work, (they make one work like an automaton in these parts); and now with studies. I'm trying to catch up on all the things I've missed while I was out of school. As for food, I eat mostly veggies, fish, and rice. That's my staple diet now. I also drink green tea, which I've found helped decreased the hair fall somewhat since I started consuming it. I also mix some rosemary (the ones on the McCormick spice bottle. Are these reliable, because McCormick's spices are my only source for these herbs? ), sage, thyme, basil, with the green tea, and rinse my hair with it. You see, I also have this trouble with what seems to be dandruff, but what could actually be eczema. So far, none of the herbal treatments have effectively gotten rid of my dandruff problems. Could it be possible that this too might be a reason for my hair loss? The coconut treatments have made my hair soft, and it allays the dandruff... for a while; never really getting rid of it entirely. I've read about tea tree oil and its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, but I haven't really gotten to using it yet. In regards to henna, would it help to stop hair loss/dandruff etc.? I have black hair, so, will henna turn my hair dark-brown, or will it only give me high-lights?


When I lost a lot of hair, it was due to stress. Specifically, a condition called Adrenal Fatigue. Unfortunately, most doctors don't recognize it. Many of the cases they diagnose as under-active thyroid are really adrenal problems. The tired adrenal glands cause the body to lean on the thyroid to pick up the slack.

If you think stress might be the cause of your hair loss, you should google and read about Adrenal Fatigue and see if that sounds like a good fit to you. There is a test you can take for about $100 that will tell you which stage you are in, and then there are books that tell you which supplements to use to treat it.
Thank you! ^_^ I'll go google it. ^_^

Gothic Lolita
December 26th, 2009, 03:03 AM
Hello ladies and gents!

I've been experiencing extreme shedding fo quite a while now, maybe 4 month in total. At first I didn't think much about it and though it was just seasonal. Then I sarted my first job and got very unhappy there. I believed that I was so miserabl that my hair started falling out from that. I quit that job about 2 month ago and applied at university, where I'm really happy now. I thought that the hair loss would stop soon as I'm not as stressed and depressed as before. I als eat better again.

When I first saw how much I was shedding, I got a few supplemens. The exact amount of each can be seen in my last blog entry.
So far, the shedding hasn't stopped one tiny bit. It's especially bad while and after washing. I began to rule out other culprits I knew that had caused shedding for others. I bought a perfume and sulphate free shampoo and tohught at frist that t got better. I got soapnuts and for the first wash it was better. But it doesn't stay like that. In my last two washes I lost way more hair than usualy before the "big shed" began again.
I got my thyroid checked this year and the doctor did an ultrasound and bloodwork - everything was fine.
I had a gastroscopy done 1 month ago, because i have digestive problems. They didn't find anything, but I believe that I'm gluten-sensitive as I get these problem especially after eating high-gluten or after grains.

I'm really getting desperate here. I just turned 20 last month and already am losing my pretty hair I care so much about. Nobdoy in my family has hairloss, even my grandpartens and aunts, uncles all have iii hair, no matter which age. I measured my circumfeence again, and for years I had 12 cm... so pretty thick iii hair. Now it's about 11cm. That's still thicker than anverage, but it bothers me a lot.

Can you please help me? Maybe show me a direction I haven't looked into yet? I'm planning to make an appointment with my dermatologists as soon as they open next year (somewhere around the 4th I think). I'm also thinking of adding more biotin to my supplements, but I'm afraid that this isn't about some vitamin I'm lacking. I'm aso not lacking iron, I got that checked too. Sorry for sounding a bit whiney.... :( but as being members of our wondeful LHC I think you of all can understand how I feel about the possibility of losing so much hair.

swan
December 26th, 2009, 03:43 AM
I'm sorry you're going through this. heralopecia.com is a wonderful site with very helpful ladies who can help you more on hairloss issues. you can bring your question to that site.

kittymomma
February 3rd, 2010, 06:57 PM
Hi everyone, another shedder here...:undecided

It took years, but my culprit turned out to be Crohn's disease...I started taking Rx iron, and it helped for a while, but recently I've started shedding again...

I'm normally below 2" circumference, but now am down to below 1.5!! :mad: I just started taking diatomaceous earth and using MN 2-3 times a week, so we'll see where that takes me. I have no idea whether I'm gluten-sensitive, but I am lactose-intolerant...

I know it makes no difference, they're gonna fall out anyway, but I'm scared to brush or wash my hair because I don't want to see it fall out. It doesn't sound like Rogaine will work for issues like this, am I correct?

christine1989
February 3rd, 2010, 07:04 PM
Hmmm.... I think I will have to try that cayanne pepper thing :) I haven't experianced huge hair loss but after taking biotin I have found that LOTS of new hair is growing that I never had before plus I have noticed a huge decrease in hair shed (and I mean HUGE!)

girlcat36
February 3rd, 2010, 07:08 PM
Hi everyone, another shedder here...:undecided

It took years, but my culprit turned out to be Crohn's disease...I started taking Rx iron, and it helped for a while, but recently I've started shedding again...

I'm normally below 2" circumference, but now am down to below 1.5!! :mad: I just started taking diatomaceous earth and using MN 2-3 times a week, so we'll see where that takes me. I have no idea whether I'm gluten-sensitive, but I am lactose-intolerant...

I know it makes no difference, they're gonna fall out anyway, but I'm scared to brush or wash my hair because I don't want to see it fall out. It doesn't sound like Rogaine will work for issues like this, am I correct?

I'll be interested to see how you do on the DE. I'm on the fence about taking due to a lot of health problems. But---I figure the doctors aren't doing much to make me feel better, so maybe I'll try some things on my own--like DE.
I have candida, leaky gut, and food allergies, among other things.
Have you been tested for food allergies?

kittymomma
February 4th, 2010, 06:39 AM
Oo, no I haven't...would that reveal gluten sensitivity? I'm lucky enough to have good insurance, so if that would help I'm all for it.

Like most "crohnies," I haven't figured out what sets me off and what isn't being absorbed. Sigh. I DO know that if I run out of iron it doesn't take long for me to lose the hair at my hairline.

The DE hasn't given me any side effects like some folks, so that's good, but I've been taking it for less than a week. Tracking carefully. :)

girlcat36
February 4th, 2010, 07:22 AM
I would highly recommend getting food allergy testing, thought not sure if it reveals gluten sensitivity(best way to know is to remove it completey).
Even if you think you are not allergic to something, it may be causing hidden inflammation. We don't want inflammation.
As far as Crohn's--I do not have it---but I have been told I have IBS; have you heard of slippery elm bark? Might be worth googling. I take it to ease my sore stomach/intestines or whatever it is that hurts in there(I had endoscopy/colonoscopy, everything looked fine to the doc).

My stomach/intestines used to hurt everyday until I removed the offending foods, which for me are:
Milk(and ALL it's derivitives), corn, peanuts, lentils, beans, pork, oranges(all citrus, actually), bananas, tomatoes, peaches, and cane sugar. I am not celiac or allergic to wheat, but do much better when gluten is removed from my diet.

Last night while cooking eggs and bacon for dinner, I cheated and had a 1/2" long piece of hubby's bacon. Bad move---huge gut bomb. I really did not think it would do anything to me.
I was doing so good and now I have the bad stomach again!

Funny thing is---I never thought I was allergic to pork(or anything else!), but my stomach always hurt so I didn't know anything was bothering me. I Thought everyone's stomach hurt when they ate.

I had to really push for food allergy testing, but once I got it, it changed my life. Hoping my hair will start to recover, we'll see.

Centaur
August 19th, 2010, 03:00 PM
I wanted to resurrect this thread, as I have noticed a lot of us are posting about hairloss problems lately, including me. I have thyroid disease (Hashimotos) and androgenic alopecia. I am insulin resistance. My hormones were all messed up for a long time, and my hair suffered. I am on medications and trying to improve my health and get some hair regrowth.

I am glad we can share our successes and heart breaks here.

susiemw
August 19th, 2010, 09:41 PM
Hi all,

I haven't been on the board much lately but thought I'd touch base and say that I found a compounding pharmacy in Pennsylvania that compounds 2% spironalactone and 2% ketaconazole in a liposomal base. They should be shipping my
script out soon. I'll be interested to see how this works for me. the price was $35.-- for 30mls.

If anyone else wants to do this the pharmacy is anewrx.com
I called many compounding pharmacies before finding this one who was experienced in making this. It does need a script but all your provider would have to do is call the pharmacy and tell them they want to use the same mixtuer as Dr. John Crisler and they can look it up.

This is the same pharmacy that dr. john crisler from Michigan uses to compound this for his patients. if you want to read a little about it his web site is allthingsmale.com.
I heard a few of his medical continuing education lectures. he is not a specialist in hair loss or a dermatologist but does specialize in hormone therapies.

I'm not associated with the doc or the pharmacy but have had problems with hair loss for 12 years + so I'm hoping to have a positive experience with this.

susan