Mara7
May 6th, 2024, 07:55 AM
Good Morning,
I introduced myself in the Newbie's section a few weeks ago, but just now getting some time to post my rather long first post on my issues. I am a nurse, so I'll be speaking of my issues from a medical/scientific/holistic perspective as well.
I am 58, menopausal and have hypothyroidism which is now well controlled. I experienced menopause three years ago. I am on Bi-est estrogen with 2.5 mg DHEA and Prometrium progesterone at night, 200 mg. I take a tiny dose of Levothyroxine at 12.5 mg. per day. Also, Lisinopril 20 mg. at night for blood pressure control.
My issues started at age 40 with Hypothyroidism. It was found and I was placed on medication. I lost a good 1/4 of my fine, but thick hair during that time. The hair loss stabilized for many years until I was 50 at went to peri-menopause. I also went through a period of extreme stress-we lost a daughter, family and work stress with financial issues, etc. I started to lose a bit more over time until I went into menopause at 55. I didn't have a cycle for one year, then had the one from hell, and they stopped for good. I lost another 1/4th of my hair during these last 8 years.
In December of 2023, more stress with an emergency surgery for my husband, and my MIL's death. My hair really started to fall then-about 6 weeks later. It became prone to breakage. In March, my scalp became very oily and breakouts started to occur. Some red areas of inflammation popped up. I was seen by a Dermatologist who told me that it was Seborrheic Dermatitis with Folliculitis. I was given Ketoconazole shampoo 2% to use twice a week.
That was not enough-while it helped a bit, my hair was still oily and I couldn't stop the breakouts with it. I found this forum, and did much research here over a month. I incorporated a system and a plan to try for one month, which I am now beyond and I feel has helped-I have very minimal fall now, hair growth is much faster, but I'm not seeing any new growth patches in thin areas yet.
Here is what I am doing:
Monday-Head and Shoulders Tea Tree shampoo/Zinc
Tuesday-Ketoconazole shampoo/Antifungal/DHT
Wednesday-Selsun Blue Naturals/Salycyclic Acid 3%.
Thursday-Redkin 3% protein shampoo
Friday-Ketoconazole
Saturday-Selsun Blue
Sunday-Head and Shoulders
Conditioner only on the ends.
Supplements:
NOW L-Lysine 500 mg-2 a day
Solgar Vitamin E softgels 100 IU-1 a day
Swanson Horsetail 500 mg-1 a day
Now Ginkgo Biloba 60 mg-1 a day
Liposomal Hyarluronic acid-1200 mg-1 a day
Life Extension Creatine-500 mg-2 a day
Life Extension Palmetto Guard/Beta-sitosterol-320 mg, 1 a day
Vitamin C softgels, 1000 mg, 2 a day divided
Jarrow Borage oil 1200 mg, 1 a day
Life Extension MSM, 1,000 mg, 1 a day
All medical labs-iron panel, CBC, metabolic panel, ferritin, TSH, T3, T4, thyroid antibodies, B12 are perfect.
With this plan, over the past 5 weeks, no shedding and hair/nails are growing like they haven't since I was in my twenties. Just no new hair growth in those very thin areas and on top of my head.
I realize I may never get back what I've lost because of age, female pattern hair loss, the medical issues with my scalp. But I have some hope. I'm down now to 1/4th of the hair I used to have on my head. I'd love to wear a ponytail again on warm days when I'm working outside, or get my hair back up into a beautiful bun again. Right now, I just don't know. It's a little longer than nape length-I had to cut because of the thin nature of my hair all over.
Is there anything I could be missing? I've thought of Minoxidil and too scared at the moment to try that. I was wondering about Rosemary water as a rinse?
Thank you for any and all advice. It's much appreciated.
I introduced myself in the Newbie's section a few weeks ago, but just now getting some time to post my rather long first post on my issues. I am a nurse, so I'll be speaking of my issues from a medical/scientific/holistic perspective as well.
I am 58, menopausal and have hypothyroidism which is now well controlled. I experienced menopause three years ago. I am on Bi-est estrogen with 2.5 mg DHEA and Prometrium progesterone at night, 200 mg. I take a tiny dose of Levothyroxine at 12.5 mg. per day. Also, Lisinopril 20 mg. at night for blood pressure control.
My issues started at age 40 with Hypothyroidism. It was found and I was placed on medication. I lost a good 1/4 of my fine, but thick hair during that time. The hair loss stabilized for many years until I was 50 at went to peri-menopause. I also went through a period of extreme stress-we lost a daughter, family and work stress with financial issues, etc. I started to lose a bit more over time until I went into menopause at 55. I didn't have a cycle for one year, then had the one from hell, and they stopped for good. I lost another 1/4th of my hair during these last 8 years.
In December of 2023, more stress with an emergency surgery for my husband, and my MIL's death. My hair really started to fall then-about 6 weeks later. It became prone to breakage. In March, my scalp became very oily and breakouts started to occur. Some red areas of inflammation popped up. I was seen by a Dermatologist who told me that it was Seborrheic Dermatitis with Folliculitis. I was given Ketoconazole shampoo 2% to use twice a week.
That was not enough-while it helped a bit, my hair was still oily and I couldn't stop the breakouts with it. I found this forum, and did much research here over a month. I incorporated a system and a plan to try for one month, which I am now beyond and I feel has helped-I have very minimal fall now, hair growth is much faster, but I'm not seeing any new growth patches in thin areas yet.
Here is what I am doing:
Monday-Head and Shoulders Tea Tree shampoo/Zinc
Tuesday-Ketoconazole shampoo/Antifungal/DHT
Wednesday-Selsun Blue Naturals/Salycyclic Acid 3%.
Thursday-Redkin 3% protein shampoo
Friday-Ketoconazole
Saturday-Selsun Blue
Sunday-Head and Shoulders
Conditioner only on the ends.
Supplements:
NOW L-Lysine 500 mg-2 a day
Solgar Vitamin E softgels 100 IU-1 a day
Swanson Horsetail 500 mg-1 a day
Now Ginkgo Biloba 60 mg-1 a day
Liposomal Hyarluronic acid-1200 mg-1 a day
Life Extension Creatine-500 mg-2 a day
Life Extension Palmetto Guard/Beta-sitosterol-320 mg, 1 a day
Vitamin C softgels, 1000 mg, 2 a day divided
Jarrow Borage oil 1200 mg, 1 a day
Life Extension MSM, 1,000 mg, 1 a day
All medical labs-iron panel, CBC, metabolic panel, ferritin, TSH, T3, T4, thyroid antibodies, B12 are perfect.
With this plan, over the past 5 weeks, no shedding and hair/nails are growing like they haven't since I was in my twenties. Just no new hair growth in those very thin areas and on top of my head.
I realize I may never get back what I've lost because of age, female pattern hair loss, the medical issues with my scalp. But I have some hope. I'm down now to 1/4th of the hair I used to have on my head. I'd love to wear a ponytail again on warm days when I'm working outside, or get my hair back up into a beautiful bun again. Right now, I just don't know. It's a little longer than nape length-I had to cut because of the thin nature of my hair all over.
Is there anything I could be missing? I've thought of Minoxidil and too scared at the moment to try that. I was wondering about Rosemary water as a rinse?
Thank you for any and all advice. It's much appreciated.