Thread: Xpost: Extreme Hair Loss HELP!

I am loosing chunks of hair. It started in Dec but I was like "am I? Nah. Wait, am I?!"
Now I can see patches where my hair has thinned and a few small bald spots. Its full loss, the strands have the bulb at the ends. I loose 10-15 strands everytime I run my fingers through my hair. Stop doing that, I know!
I've already had my thyroid & other levels checked and am doing a few other diet, lifestyle, and grooming tweaks to compensate. I did have an abnormal thyroid reading in April and a w/in normal limits in June, so maybe check again?
I'm less concerned with the cause since hopefully its temporary. But here's what I want to know from others who have experienced this type of hair loss:
did your scalp ache and throb?
Right around the time I noticed the loss, my scalp started to ache. I figured it was because I was in a dance show that ran for 2 weeks and had multiple costume, hair, and headdress changes and I was just tender.
But then weeks later I'd find myself rubbing my head and it felt like my hairs were pulling too strongly. This was hair down, clean, smooth, combed hanging off my head with no clips, creams, nuthin'
This has pretty much been the pattern: scalp throbs for a few days to a week, massive hair loss, subsides for a month or so...
I am seeing new growth but not as much as I'd like
I just need someone to validate my experience and tell me their head hurt too.
None of the hairloss forums out in the world wide web really talk about it hurting.

Qamar gave you some good advice in the other thread, nothing to add to it but some sympathy. So sorry this is happening!

Wait, one other thing, is there a chance that you might have a hair follicle infection? i'm wondering because of the persistent nature of the issue, plus the pain you describe.

That's what I was wondering, some type of skin or follicle thing going on....

it could be a mineral deficiency. if your diet is too low in fat, or if your levels of stomach acid are too low for example, that can impact how your body absorbs nutrients. in hairdressing school, that is the first thing they told us to ask clients who encounter this issue. However, if you are healthy and your minerals absorption is ok, then it is possible that the problem is fungal in nature. Maybe try treating a small area with extra virgin coconut oil and see if there is any improvement? (coconut is a potent anti fungal, anti viral and anti microbial)

Jessani,
I´m so sorry to read that you are going through this!

Traditionally educated doctors can sometimes bagatellize(is that a real word?)hair loss in women,from my experiences.
100% recommend you to continue taking thyroid levels regularily,ask doctor to check FSH+LH(follicular stimulating+luteinizing hormones) and look for insulin resistance.


Warm hugs,
Emma

My own experience:
First time it appeared was when my mother had a tumor in lung discovered(doctors had to remove almost half the lung)9yrs old at the time I felt a "throbbing"sensation,and the scalp felt tender.Hair fell out when brushing or *just touching* and thinned out very much.

Next time was when taking care of my granny in my late teens(I grew up with my grandparents living in the same house and when my grandmother got liver cancer I quitted school to stay home with her)
Same feeling of tenderness,and massive hair loss.

Was later diagnosed with PCOS that can cause male pattern(androgen) hair loss,but stress contributes so much to losing hair just by causing inflammation in the system.
So I included what was going on in my life at the time above(sorry if TMI)

Have you seen a dermatologist? How are your iron levels? Severe anemia can cause hairloss, though I don't know about scalp pain.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by emma-bessa

My own experience:... I felt a "throbbing"sensation,and the scalp felt tender.Hair fell out when brushing or *just touching* and thinned out very much...
So I included what was going on in my life at the time above(sorry if TMI)

THIS. yes. exactly. Not TMI. Thank you for sharing. I do have hormone issues- endometriosis. I did two 6-month courses of lupron-depot injections and finished last spring (2011). (terrible, nobody ever ever try it. Its used to treat testicular cancer in men if that tells you anything about how toxic it is). My lady hormones have been re-adjusting and I hadn't even considered that as a possible cause.
I also started taking Wellbutrin last August and the hairloss started in Dec. I stopped the Wellbutrin in June to see if that was the cause but I'm not seeing a change in the hairloss or scalp pain.
Because my hair is sooo thick everybody keeps telling me I'm imagining this but I see the bald spots and thin areas, I know the difference between my typical hair shedding and the handfuls of hair I'm loosing every time I touch my hair. And it hurts.
I think I will see my doctor to get another thyroid panel & also ask about the possibility of a fungal or skin condition.

coconut oil--just rub it in to the scalp after shampooing? leave in for how long, rinse...? tell me more on how to try this :-)

Originally Posted by kemintiri

it could be a mineral deficiency. if your diet is too low in fat, or if your levels of stomach acid are too low for example, that can impact how your body absorbs nutrients. in hairdressing school, that is the first thing they told us to ask clients who encounter this issue. However, if you are healthy and your minerals absorption is ok, then it is possible that the problem is fungal in nature. Maybe try treating a small area with extra virgin coconut oil and see if there is any improvement? (coconut is a potent anti fungal, anti viral and anti microbial)

I didn't know this, I use it as a hair conditioning treatment on the length. I keep it away from the scalp, it makes me break out.

Telogen Effluvium - Why, When, and How

I suspect you have Telogen Effluvium. I have it as well. You are not alone. It was extremely painful and itchy. There is no cure but It will grow back.

Warm up a little oil in your hand and rub in onto affected areas. Leave for as long as you can. If you don't use too much, it will be absorbed by your skin and not leave to much residue. Regular shampoo should wash it off in one lather. You may need more lathers if you use too much. Which happens easily. A little goes a long way.

Oh, and hormones ? Definite impact on hair loss. I had pregnant women on m chair that were losing hair by the handful. The good news is, if hormonal, your hair will grow back once your system stabilizes.

Originally Posted by Jessani

I do have hormone issues- endometriosis.

I mentioned anemia earlier. My mother had endometrial fibroids which was the cause of her severe anemia (heavy periods) and hairloss. Family initially told her it was in her head, but it gradually became clear that her hair was thinning out. I think her doc said you really lose up to a third of your hair before hairloss become obvious. She went on iron pills and hair came back in.

Again, none of the scalp pain you mention. But if you do have endometriosis and you haven't had your iron levels checked, you might look into it.

Originally Posted by Jessani

My lady hormones have been re-adjusting and I hadn't even considered that as a possible cause.

Get thee a full hormone blood work!:-)
There´s a balance in a healthy womans body that can easily be "knocked"out of order,and I´m not surprised by reading that it started happening rapidly in the 2-week production and after your medications.

About the Wellbutrin:Even non prescription OTC´s can have serious side effects -as an example a male friend of mine who never had acne problems started to break out massively with almost cystic,deep acne in spring/summer season.

Although he got frustrated after a few years of this and consulted a derm,going through 2(expensive)treatment the derm didn´t bother to go through his complete health/other medications.
Then by a lucky coincidence being on a dinner he was seated next to a woman who said"hate the spring season,choosing between treating my hay fever OR have acne from the allergy pills".

Puzzled,he went home and checked the FASS(information about pharmaceutic products for both pro´s and GP)and saw that acne was a "less common side effect"
When he quitted cetirizine hydrochloride(Zyrtec)his acne went away and haven´t been back since.
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Originally Posted by Jessani

Because my hair is sooo thick everybody keeps telling me I'm imagining this but I see the bald spots and thin areas, I know the difference between my typical hair shedding and the handfuls of hair I'm loosing every time I touch my hair.

Other people do not know exactly how our bodies "behave"and react,and doesn´t always have understanding for the suffering "cosmetic"changes in appearance can make our whole life change.

My older sister always had very thick mediterrenian quality hair.
When she started complaining of hair loss,NO ONE took it seriously and as mentioned in my earlier post-even professional doctors waved her off as being overly self concious.
It wasn´t until she was in a Ludwig classification of stage 2 hair loss and desperatly got an appointment with a (female)specialist in PCOS that she was helped!

Thanks to our "Dr Angel"she and I was diagnosed and treated
And my sister not only have her full head of hair back,she also concieved a healthy daughter 3yrs ago after trying for many years <3

Engaged and passionate doctors like her that wants to throughly screen and go to the root of problems instead of just treating symtoms are sadly few and far between.

For those suffering from PCOS,PM me!I´ll very gladly send you an ebook with a dietary treatment program with recipes and menus,as well as "do´s and dont´s",recommended by my doc:-)