Hair loss

SummerSahar · 11-23-2007, 06:15 PM

I'm so sick of my hair falling out! I'm not stressed (this hair loss thing has been going on since I can remember.....waaaay back when), I get plenty of different foods (lots of fruits/veggies/protein) for vitamins, I just can't figure it out, and it's starting to worry me and gross me out. I always have fallen out hair on the backs of my shirts, I usually find a hair in what I've been cooking (need to remember to tie my hair back), my shower drain will get clogged after 4 hairwashes (clumps of it fall out, more than the 100-200 strands they say are "normal") if I don't trap it and throw it out, my bathroom floor needs to be swept often because there are hairs EVERYWHERE, when I vacuum my floor, my vacuum has even gotten clogged (the brush rotary) from my hair, ARGH! I just want my hair to stay in my head, and now it feels as if it's slowing thinning over time, which worries me. Is there anything I can do to stop this? Any vitamins I can take? I'm so sick of littering my hair everywhere!!!

SummerSahar · 11-23-2007, 06:18 PM

Help! I don't want to be bald soon!

ssipes · 11-23-2007, 06:28 PM

Summer, you may want to see a doctor; perhaps they can determine if your hair is truly thinning (some females do get thinning hair like men do) that could be treated with rogaine or similar product, or if you are suffering from an unusual amount of breakage, in which case you would have to address what might be causing the hairs to break.

jasani · 11-23-2007, 06:59 PM

I had the same problem when I had long hair too. I wouldn't worry about it. If you had short hair you wouldn't see it as much. I freaked out when I was seeing the same thing as you. IMO the longer the hair the more you see it around your house.

Miss_Fiona · 11-23-2007, 07:24 PM

I've had VERY similar hair loss problems for years due to low thyroid function. It would be good to get your thyroid tested to see if this might be the cause of the hair loss. Other symptoms of this condition (hypothyroidism) often include dry skin, fatigue, constipation. If a test shows your thyroid is functioning at low capacity, a doctor may be able to prescribe a small supplement of thyroid hormone. Not very expensive, but can be tricky because you have to really get the right amount. If you go, be sure to go to a reliable doc, messing around with the thyroid hormone balance can create more problems.

danidance · 11-23-2007, 09:40 PM

You sound like me a few months back.

My hair loss was related to, I think, hormone levels with menopause which probably doesn't apply to you as you look young in your picture. Could also have been related to all the hair coloring I have to do to keep the gray at bay.

But - good news - my hair looks lush and great now after 3 months of using Nioxin shampoo and conditioner. I don't even do the scalp treatment. Nioxin also makes capsules which I am going to start taking.

Apparently, not everyone responds to Nioxin, but it's been a miracle for me. You can buy it at most beauty supply stores. It's pricey but the big bottle (which I think is 1 liter) has lasted me 2 months & still isn't out. and, I wash my hair every day.

BTW, my hair is growing at an insane rate.

Azeeza · 11-24-2007, 10:20 AM

It could just be the way you are made up.

My dad, sister, and I all lose a lot of hair. Mom doesn't. My husband doesn't either.

I find globs of hair in the drain after I wash my hair too, but it isn't the same amount every time either. I seem to lose more hair in the summer than in the winter.

And I have hairs everywhere too. Especially in the bathroom.

Azeeza

LarryH · 11-24-2007, 10:44 AM

Excuse me for butting in here, but DITTO on the THYROID level problem mentioned by Miss Fiona. My April had the same problem, went to a doctor and the problem was resolved. A simple blood test determines the level, they specify a dose of CHEAP drug, monitor you with a couple of more blood tests over a few months, and you're done!

Larry

sabrinabellydancer · 11-24-2007, 12:28 PM

i agree with having your thyroid checked. also, you should check any/all drugs you take on a regular basis. many meds have hair loss listed in the possible side effects, hidden in small print. get the physician insert from the pharmacy, not just the sanitized crap they give to patients - it will have all the know side effects and you may find the culprit.

if you don't find any outside reasons, you might try good quality biotin.
hope you get to the bottom of this!

maria_s · 11-24-2007, 02:06 PM

Summer! you have lots of hair:) and they look beautiful...
but if you want even more - I would recommend prenatal vitamins. They are really good for hair.

kamilia · 11-25-2007, 08:23 AM

I'm so sorry, this must be so frustrating for you. But everybody is right: get thee to a doctor.

I had the biggest problem starting around 2002 or 2003, and it only got better this year. I think it was a combination of bad relationships and henna. Yes, henna killed my hair. I really just worked with hairdressers since it just seemed to be a problem of nerves and abusing my hair. It took so long to fix because I couldn't realistically identify the source of stress!

You might want to take a look at what you've been doing to your hair as far as products go, but the visit to the doctor still seems indicated. In the meantime, be very very gentle to your hair: ponytails only when you have to, only wide-tooth combs...doing those little things help immensely when your hair is fragile. Good luck!

SummerSahar · 11-25-2007, 02:30 PM

Thanks for all the advice everyone! I'm going to get my thyroid tested by my doc soon. It's gotta be an internal reason, because I take pretty good care of my hair. I only blowdry the roots and I use minimal products on it and I use salon only conditioner and shampoos (not sure if that makes a difference, but still). I did try prenatal vitamins for a while, but I heard that it's not good to take them if you're not prego.....your body doesn't need the extra stuff in those vitamins. I am interested in any supplements or single vitamins for my problem, though. I'd love to hear from a nutritionist on this....!

tamrahennatx · 11-25-2007, 03:55 PM

I lose a lot of hair, too - I have to clean my drain out after each shower, and there's hair all over the floor to the point that I need to go over the carpet before I vacuum so that it doesn't wrap around the roller head. I don't seem to have thinning hair, but I may mention it to my doc just in case it's a thyroid thing.

SummerSahar · 11-25-2007, 07:37 PM

Tamrahennatx....I JUST spent an hour cleaning out the hairs in the roller of my vacuum. It was super icky. Now I have to go over the carpet with a carpet brush (on my hands and knees!!) before I actually use the vacuum so as not to clog it again. Grrr.

Lisa Michelle · 11-25-2007, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SummerSahar

Thanks for all the advice everyone! I'm going to get my thyroid tested by my doc soon. It's gotta be an internal reason, because I take pretty good care of my hair. I only blowdry the roots and I use minimal products on it and I use salon only conditioner and shampoos (not sure if that makes a difference, but still). I did try prenatal vitamins for a while, but I heard that it's not good to take them if you're not prego.....your body doesn't need the extra stuff in those vitamins. I am interested in any supplements or single vitamins for my problem, though. I'd love to hear from a nutritionist on this....!

Summer,

I had just slightly low thyroid for a long time and no Dr. caught it till I went to an endocrinologist. Most Drs. did just a standard thyroid test. The endocrinologist also did the T3 & T4 uptake inhibitor...or something like that...in other words a FULL thyroid panel. With this test they finally found I was just a little low.

You might also consider getting a IgG/IgE food allergy test. You might have to find a naturopath for that. This is the best allergy test, much better than the rast test where they make a scratch on your arm.

A naturopath could also check other organs as well for you like adrenals, digestion and liver function..all which can affect hair and skin.

Best of luck to you Summer!

Lisa

Azeeza · 11-26-2007, 07:47 AM

I've had my thyroid checked and I'm fine. I think it's just the way I'm made up. I lose a lot of hair, but they are replaced. Still, it's better to be safe than sorry, so do get a good panel work up. You may find that something is causing the excessive hair loss, or you may find nothing at all.

Azeeza

PS If you have super long hair, it can look like you are losing a lot more hair than if it's short.