What kind of doctor would be helpful for hairloss?

[Tap]

What kind of doctor would you see for hair loss issues? Ds15 is in very good health. He just had a slew of tests ran on him by his pcp to diagnose his tendency towards yellow in the whites of his eyes. He was diagnosed with Gilbert's Syndrome. Pretty common, no big deal. He ran a thyroid panel too for me just to make sure there weren't any problems there. It was all clear.

 

Ds has what looks like 1/2 of the hair a normal person has. His hair is platinum blond and you can barely feel one of the hairs if you run it through your fingers. It literally feels like a strand of silk. No bald or thinning spots but he has a high hair line. It is just soooo very fine that it looks like he has hardly any hair. His hair consistantly falls out at about 5-6 inches of growth. His hair is a bit long right now, but it was the same way when he had short hair too. He hardly had any, but it wasn't as obvious as right now with longer hair.

 

I am considering taking him to the dermatologist, but I don't really know if that is the right type of doctor.

 

I want to make sure there isn't something I am missing.

[helena]

Do you have a good acupuncturist in your area? I would also keep looking for a western Dr, so that you don't miss a (possibly easily) diagnosis. But the acupuncturist is exactly where I would go while figuring it all out. Actually I have had it for hair loss, but it was related to having Lupus.

 

Good luck, I hope you get some good ideas here. I know how hard it is to deal with.

[StephanieZ]

endocrinologist?

 

I'd ask your family doctor for a recommendation.

[kalanamak]

Around here, we have one dermatology office that does "medical derm" as opposed to spending most of their time on zits (and scars from zits) and lines. You can find that out by seeing if the derm has admitting privileges to the local hospital. The ones that don't want calls in the night, etc. don't, and the ones who are more interested in the medical end of things do.

 

But that is a generalization in my area. You could look in the yellow pages, and the derms who have full page ads with beautiful people in them vs. the ones with simply a name and an number might be a tip off.

 

Also, google alopecia. This concerns a lot of people because it gives them unwanted social impacts, so there is a lot of info put on various .org sites.

HTH

[Dobela]

Look up Alopecia - sometimes it can be stopped. One of our local dermatologists also specializes in hair loss. If there is a children's hospital near you, I might call a specialist there. A neighbor's child lost all of his hair at 7 and she has received the most informative care from the Children's Hospital specialists.

[Negin]

I agree with first seeing an acupuncturist. They can work wonders. An acupuncturist can help develop an herbal formula that is tailored specifically to you, in addition to using the traditional needles to help restore hair growth. Herbs have a greater synergy with acupuncture, so you may see a greater benefit if you use both.

Sorry all of this info is long and overwhelming.

 

When carrying out any of these methods, remember to be patient. Normal hair growth should resume within 6 months after starting any supplement or making any dietary or other change.

 

SUPPLEMENTS - for me, Biotin and Iodoral have made the most difference.

NATROL BIOSIL from amazon or VitaminShoppe.com – Natrol Biosil is well-absorbed by the body and proven to deliver key proteins like keratin and collagen directly to the hair roots to increase growth and thickness. Great for skin, hair, and nails

OR

HORSETAIL is a good source of silica (which aids in hair growth and makes the hair stronger). Silica is necessary for strong, shiny hair.

OR YOU CAN TRY TAKING BOTH

Silica makes hair strong and shiny, but the amount your body holds tend to decline with age. Good food sources include: beets, soybeans, leafy green vegetables, and whole grains. Or you can take 60 mg silica daily.

 

B COMPLEX – 50 mg twice a day or 100 mg once a day with meals. B vitamins are essential for the health and growth of the hair. B vitamins run low during high-stress times and are essential for healthy hair growth.

Try to get a good B Complex that includes: Biotin, Inositol, Choline, and PABA.

BIOTIN plays a key role in forming keratin, a protein that comprises healthy hair. Taking a 2400 mcg supplement can thicken hair shafts and encourage new growth. [Not everyone needs to take that much unless if they're concerned about hair loss. Most B-complex supplements have sufficient biotin otherwise]

Biotin plays a key role in forming keratin, a protein that comprises healthy hair

It helps in preventive treatment for baldness

There are no known cases of biotin toxicity, particularly since it is water-soluble

It is interesting that biotin levels fall progressively throughout pregnancy (and that is when many women lose hair).

 

CARLSON’S LIQUID FISH OIL - or any other good fish oil - you need enough EFAs (essential fatty acids)

ZINC – 15 mg daily – protects your hair

 

IODORAL - I am noticing a difference with this and Biotin, more than any other supplement.

Available from amazon – the reviews are well worth reading

More than 90% of us are low in iodine.

Today's environment makes it almost impossible to get the amount of iodine you need.

1. There's very little iodine in the soil. So unless you're eating a ton of iodine-rich foods like kelp, seaweed and shellfish, you're not going to get much iodine from your diet.

2. Many salt companies have stopped adding iodine to table salt. While commercial table salt usually contains iodine, this is not the best way to boost iodine intake. In fact, “salt iodination, which is performed routinely in many countries, may increase the incidence of overt hypothyroidism,” a new Greek study concludes. Kelp and other sea vegetables are excellent sources of natural iodine.

3. Food manufacturers have stopped using iodine in baked goods and are using bromine instead. Bromine (a halogen) competes with iodine to get into your cells. So the more bromine you consume, the less iodine you get. Unfortunately, many foods today (primarily baked goods) are loaded with bromine.

4. Our water supply contains chlorine and fluoride, both of which are halogens. Again, halogens compete with iodine to get into your cells.

And you can't avoid chlorine and fluoride simply by drinking filtered water. That's because you get a hefty dose any time you bathe, shower, soak in a hot tub, or swim in a swimming pool.

5. Most conventional doctors never test for iodine deficiency. They figure there's no need to test iodine levels when they can just test your thyroid function instead. The problem with this is that the most widely used thyroid test, the TSH, is wildly inaccurate. Reason: While the TSH measures thyroid hormone, it can't tell the difference between active thyroid hormone with iodine and de-activated thyroid hormone with bromine or chlorine or fluorine. So the test shows you have plenty of thyroid hormone. But most of the thyroid hormone isn't doing its job!

I think it was Dr. Nan Fuchs who wrote: “I've had women come into my office who look like the poster child for underactive thyroid. They're overweight, they're losing their hair and eyebrows, their skin is dry, and they tell me they feel cold all the time. Yet when their doctor gave them a thyroid test, it came back normal!

When I put these women on iodine supplementation, their conditions improve dramatically. Their skin improves, they stop losing their hair, and they finally lose that excess weight — and keep it off.”

The RDA for iodine is 150 mcg. This amount was set based on the amount needed to prevent goiter. This amount will prevent goiter but it will not prevent other problems related to iodine deficiency.

The average consumption of iodine from seaweed by the mainland Japanese is nearly 14 mg. They have some of the lowest incidence of iodine-deficiency diseases like goiter, hypothyroidism, and cancers of the reproductive system (breast, ovaries, and uterus).

Some forms of iodine are harmful. Iodoral is not. All of us need a combination of iodine and iodide, the two forms of iodine used throughout our bodies. Iodoral and Lugol are the only supplements containing these two nutrients. Lugol, however, tastes foul.

You may need 1 to 4 tablets of Iodoral, a combination of 5 mg of iodine and 7.5 mg of potassium iodide. Additional research finds that vitamin C improves the transport of iodine in the body, so it may be best to take Iodoral with Vitamin C.

Studies show that those who weigh about 110 pounds need at least 5 mg of iodine a day for normal breast function. If you’re heavier, you may need more.

Start off slowly over a 4 week period.

Take 1 pill for 30 days

Then 2 pills for 30 days

Then maybe 3 for 30 days (this is how much I'm currently taking)

Then 1 in morning and 1 in evening for 30 days

Can then go back to taking 1 or 2 a day to maintain

Your body will know....listen to it...

One Iodoral tablet provides 12.5 milligrams of iodine/iodide which is about the amount the average Japanese consumed in 1964 in their everyday diet.

Iodoral is the best way to get the recommended amount of iodine.

 

EAT MORE

Use Seaweed Gomasio to season your food, rather than iodized salt. As Peela mentioned here a while back, "Sea salt- particularly himalayan and celtic sea salt, are full of extra minerals. 84 minerals in sea salt- 2 in refined table salt. If there is one thing lacking in modern diets, it is minerals- more so than vitamins. Himalayan and Celtic Sea Salts as well as this one are rich in minerals, much richer than regular table salt."

 

Increase your iodine intake with mineral-rich sea vegetables (agar, hijiki, kombu, nori, and wakame) at least twice a week. You can eat as much seaweed as you want. Brown seaweeds are highest in iodine. They include all forms of kelp. Fucus, also known as Bladderwrack, is considered to be the best for underactive thyroids. Hijiki and Sargassum are two other forms of brown seaweeds. Red seaweeds include dulse, nori, Irish moss, and Gracillaria.

Since toasting doesn’t affect seaweed’s iodine content, you can eat it dried or dried and toasted. Toast some in the oven or in a dry frying pan to see if you prefer that taste. You can also powdered seaweed to your food or add larger pieces of seaweed to soups, grains, or vegetables. Seaweed should be an enjoyable addition to your diet, not an unpleasant experience. If you simply don’t like its taste, you can get it in capsules.

Use 5-10 grams of mixed brown and red seaweed for thyroid problems. This is about 1 ½ teaspoons per day.

Not all seaweeds are safe to eat. Some come from polluted waters.

Be more cautious and talk to a naturopath if you’re on thyroid meds and want to try seaweed.

 

Protein – plain yogurt, lean meat, fish, poultry, and eggs

 

Eat more of the following foods rich in B Vitamins and other needed minerals and vitamins essential for hair.

Nuts

Beef liver - organic, grass-fed

Brown rice

Bulgur

Lentils

Oats

Sunflower seeds

Walnuts

Unprocessed Whole Grains

Wheat Germ

Rice Bran

Citrus Fruits

Eggs

Cabbage

Salmon

Leafy Greens including spinach

 

Make sure that your diet contains ample essential fatty acids.

Eat fish 2—3 times a week (not deep-fried) - salmon, sardines, herring, mackerel – 2-3 times a week

 

JUICING is very beneficial, for overall health also. Juicing is one of the best things you can do for your health and beauty. Try to juice as often as you can.

 

EAT LESS

The Standard American Diet is too rich in foods that actually starve the hair, such as fat, sugar, and refined foods.

Eastern medicine says that eating too much meat can cause hair loss. This might very well be true.

Cut down on sweets. Eastern medicine says that eating too much sugar can cause baldness on the sides of the forehead. Sugar is often a contributing factor in hair loss. After sugar is removed from some people’s diets, the hair-loss process is either halted or totally or partially reversed.

[Negin]

OTHER TIPS/THINGS TO CONSIDER

MASSAGE SCALP DAILY (SOME SAY 3 TIMES A DAY)

Press the bristles of your brush on your scalp and make several strokes from your hairline to the base of your neck.

Then make small circles over your entire scalp.

Alternate these methods for 90 seconds.

 

Frederic Fekkai More Nighttime Follicle Boosting Treatment from sephora.com or amazon

The niacin-derived compounds stimulate blood flow and activate cell receptors that influence hair growth. After applying these compounds for 6 months, 69 percent of women with hair loss saw significant increases in fullness.

 

Try to:

• Use a satin pillowcase helps because your hair is less likely to catch and pull on it as it would on a cotton pillowcase. A side benefit is that it helps save your hairstyle for another day, so you aren't pulling out more hair in the styling process. You can get them on amazon. I have noticed less hair loss for both my dh and I since we switched to these.

• Use the most natural hair products you can find.

• Look for ingredients such as biotin, silica, aloe vera gel, vitamins C and E, jojoba oils, chamomile, marigold, ginseng, or passionflower. Most health-food stores carry a variety of natural hair care products.

• Hair is fragile when it is wet. Gently pat your hair dry and squeeze out remaining moisture with a towel.

• Calm a hectic schedule. Stress signals the body to produce cortisol, which elevates levels of hair-loss-promoting hormones.

 

CAUSES

• Poor Diet and vitamin and mineral deficiencies

• Stress

• Thyroid problem – especially if you have dry skin, weight gain, and fatigue

• Taking large doses of Vitamin A (100,000 IU or more daily) for a long period of time

• Genetics/Heredity

• Harsh chemicals and hair dyes

• Poor Circulation (daily scalp massage, brushing, lying on a slant board, yoga)

• Acute Illness

• Surgery

• Radiation Exposure

• Skin Disease (biotin is essential here)

• Sudden Weight Loss

• High Fever

• Iron Deficiency (Up to 90 percent of women who experience hair loss also suffer from low iron levels).

• Diabetes

• Drugs – such as those used in chemotherapy

• Ringworm and other fungal infections

• Pregnancy

• High concentration of metals in the body

• Autoimmune diseases

• Scalp Infections

• If one is experiencing "male pattern baldness" type hair loss, where the hairline begins to recede and is thin only on top and not all over, it can be caused by metabolic syndrome. Fat distributed around the waist can actually cause a rise in androgens (male hormones) causing this problem. It can also revert back to normal if you can get the fat off your waist.

 

WHEN TO SEE A PHYSICIAN

If you are losing large amounts of hair, see a physician. It is normal to lose 50 to 150 hairs a day. If your hair appears to be dramatically thinning, it might be a sign of an underlying condition. While culprits can be as serious as thyroid disease and lupus, hair loss is most often caused by poor diet and stress.

GOOD BOOKS

The Hair Loss Cure: A Self-Help Guide by David H. Kingsley

How to Beat Hair Loss by Antonio Alvi Armani, MD

[rwjx2khsmj]

We see a pediatric dermatologist for my dd14. She's been diagnosed with alopecia.

[Quiver0f10]

I also recommend a dermatologist. I was having hair loss and found out I was low in Vit D and had low iron stores. I started supplementing those and fish oil and it eventually stopped. I have no idea if it was the supplements or not but it might be worth looking into.