Health question: My hair is literally falling out by the handful...

[Jackie in NE]

I joke with my dh that it appears he and I are in a "race to the finish" to see who will go completely bald first. :001_huh: Gross, huh. All kidding aside, I would really like to turn this around.

 

Has anyone (female) out there experienced severe hair loss, and been able to turn it around? My health seems OK otherwise. My diet is OK.

 

This has been going on for about 6 weeks now, and my hair is now so thin. Before this started, I had a healthy mane of long, wavy, dark brown hair..... :001_unsure:

 

Eager to hear any advice....:bigear:

 

Jackie

[Unicorn.]

Have you had your thyroid checked?

[Mama Geek]

Have you tried a different shampoo?

[texasmama]

Yes, in the past three years I have had two episodes of hair loss. Between the two of these episodes I lost almost half of my hair. I had a ton to begin with, but it bothered me a great deal. The first hair loss episode was accompanied by many other symptoms and was traced to pernicious anemia (low B12). I am now on self injected monthly B12. My grandmother had this, as well. After getting my B12 levels up, my hair stopped falling out.

 

The second episode (about a year later) was due to iron deficiency as a result of heavy periods (hello, middle age!:tongue_smilie:). At that point, I had other health issues caused by the iron deficiency. I got on Floradix Iron with Herbs (a natural and well absorbed iron supplement) and the hair stopped falling out.

 

My hair is now back to its thick self. I had to cut it short for about a year, and it is growing out now.

 

In addition to vitamin and mineral deficiencies, you may want to look at thyroid issues. Also, both my B12 numbers and my iron numbers were in the "low range of normal". Most doctors would have dismissed them as "not a problem". My doctor believed that the B12 supplementation was worth trying (and the difference in my health was miraculous), and I caught the iron deficiency myself by requesting my blood test records and studying them. For me, the numbers were too low. Once I got into a therapeutic range with both minerals/vitamins, my health was fine and my hair was, too. Good luck!

[Jackie in NE]

I had a weird kind of virus in my thyroid earlier this fall..... scared the bejeebers out of me because my thyroid got very large and sore. I went to the doctor; he prescribed some pain meds (I took a few), and told me to let it run its course..... which apparently it did, because now it's normal size and not sore anymore. How could my thyroid be doing this? Would there be other symptoms?

[Mandamom]

I was struggling with hair loss for a while but it has almost stopped since I've gone on a good multi-vitamin.

[Garga]

Get some bloodwork done.

 

A friend of mine is going through this. She's on Rogaine until they figure out what's wrong with her. It might be something to do with calcium levels for my friend. So, in your case, it could be just about anything. No one know until you get some tests done.

[mom2denj]

I second the "get some bloodwork done". That is the only way they can tell if you are having thyroid issues.

[elfgivas]

get thee to a doctor. tomorrow or tuesday would be good. say "my hair is literally falling out by the handful. i am concerned." if they don't mention bloodwork, as for it (i can't quite imagine they won't). be specific about having google searched hair loss as a symptom and make sure they are checking you for those things.

 

then, AFTER the blood work, if it were me i would put myself on a good multivitamin + calcium with vitamin D + allB while i waited for results. it could be an easy fix, and if so, then its good to do it soon. i would also ask for more details about the "virus" you had in the thyroid. and if it might have been something other than a virus.

 

let us know how it goes!

ann

[Perry]

I had a weird kind of virus in my thyroid earlier this fall..... scared the bejeebers out of me because my thyroid got very large and sore. I went to the doctor; he prescribed some pain meds (I took a few), and told me to let it run its course..... which apparently it did, because now it's normal size and not sore anymore. How could my thyroid be doing this? Would there be other symptoms?

Did you have blood work done? Have they followed up with thyroid testing?

 

Sounds like you had thyroiditis, and you really need to have your thyroid hormones checked. Some explanation here.

Thyroid problems are a common cause of hair loss.

[Denisemomof4]

thyroid, hormones, or prescription meds. Going to the doctor for a full work-up will get you your answers!

[Jackie in NE]

get thee to a doctor. tomorrow or tuesday would be good. say "my hair is literally falling out by the handful. i am concerned." if they don't mention bloodwork, as for it (i can't quite imagine they won't). be specific about having google searched hair loss as a symptom and make sure they are checking you for those things.

 

then, AFTER the blood work, if it were me i would put myself on a good multivitamin + calcium with vitamin D + allB while i waited for results. it could be an easy fix, and if so, then its good to do it soon. i would also ask for more details about the "virus" you had in the thyroid. and if it might have been something other than a virus.

 

let us know how it goes!

ann

 

OK. You ladies have convinced me. I will find the time to get to the doctor and get the bloodwork done. I really hope this works..... I've grown kind of, well, attached to my hair! :tongue_smilie:

[Alyce]

if you're losing hair by the fistful I would really look at your thyroid. It is a common symptom of hypothyroidism. I have it and my hair loss isn't as bad as it once was but we do have baldness in my family. I used to have very thick hair when I was young and now it's very fine and a lot of bald spots on the top of my head. My mother was almost bald by the time she was 60. She wore a wig for many years, even before she hit menopause. Mine has thinned out so much that I too am now wearing a wig but at least I've kept mine longer than my mom. I guess in my case it's mostly genetics but having hypothyroidism didn't help the matter.

[Negin]

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

2 supplements – have helped me the most – Iodoral and Biotin. The rest are helpful also, but those two have been the best for me.

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

 

GLA SUPPLEMENTS – a type of omega-6 fatty acid that’s essential for healthy hair. Found in black currant oil or evening primrose oil. Don’t use GLA if you take an antiseizure Rx.

Take it on a full stomach in 2 divided doses, equally spaced during the day.

Take up to 500 mg EPO 2-3 times daily or 2000 mg total daily

Expect to wait up to 8 weeks to see results.

 

VITAMIN E – improves hair health and enhances hair growth.

Take 400 IU of vitamin E a day. Take d-alpha, NOT dl-alpha

Vitamin E is most effective when taken with selenium.

 

IODORAL

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 women 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

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.

 

D3

If you're under 50, take at least 2,000 IU per day.

If you're 50 or over, take at least 5,000 IU per day of vitamin D3.

Always take your vitamin D with a fat-containing meal to ensure absorption.

Your need for vitamin D3 is affected by age, skin color, and the severity of any deficiency

[Negin]

EAT MORE

Use Seaweed Gomasio to season your food, rather than iodized salt.

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

 

Up to 90 percent of women who experience hair loss also suffer from low iron levels. Eat at least 3 daily servings of IRON-RICH FOODS like lean beef, green leafy veggies, legumes, dried fruit, and nuts. Try to always take iron-rich foods with vitamin C-rich foods, such as tomatoes, to increase absorption by up to 4 times.

Iron is a double-edged mineral for women. Menstruating women lose iron-rich blood every month, plus pregnancy, nursing, and strenuous physical exercise dramatically increases the need for this mineral. But later in life, excess iron, which accumulates in the body after menopause, may increase women’s risk for cancer and heart disease.

If you’re over 50 or have experienced early or surgically induced menopause, see your doctor for a hematocrit, hemoglobin, and/or ferritin test to determine if you need iron. The ferritin test, which assesses stored iron, is most important here.

If your levels approach anywhere from 150 to 200 ng/mL on the ferritin test, do avoid extra iron in supplements, iron-enriched grains, and cut down on red meat. You might want to consider an iron-free multivitamin

Studies indicate that iron can help improve short-term memory loss and concentration. If you aren't using iron cookware regularly, you may wish to take 10 to 15 milligrams of elemental iron a day.

Jarrow Formulas IronSorb Elemental Iron From Protein Succinylate -- 18 mg - 60 Vegetarian Capsules

Iron oxidizes. If you take too much iron, it can lead to cancer. This is why there are few multivitamin formulas for postmenopausal women that contain iron.

If you have had cancer, or if there is a high incidence of cancer in your family, you may want to take a formula without added iron unless a blood test determines that you are iron-deficient, in which case, natural sources may be far superior.

 

Too much free testosterone can lead to hair loss – consider eating more soy-rich foods (not soy supplements) to decrease levels of testosterone – soybeans, tempeh, and tofu (all non-GMO and organic) - no more than 1 serving of soy food daily

 

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

Nuts

Beef liver

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.

 

Massage your scalp with a mixture of essential oils daily for at least 7 months. Add 8 drops each of Rosemary, Thyme, and Lavender essential oils to 8 ounces of shampoo. Pour a small amount of the mixture into your hands and rub it into your hair, gently massaging your scalp. Let the mixture sit for three minutes and rinse thoroughly.

 

LIE UPSIDE DOWN!

Lie on a slant board OR have your head hanging off the edge of the bed for 15 to 20 minutes per day. This will cause blood to flow to the scalp.

 

YOGA

Yoga helps a lot in slowing down and preventing hair loss.

 

Try to Avoid:

• Hard brushing

• Tight braids

• Pulling hair too hard when blow-drying

• Blow drying if and when you can

• Commercial shampoos or rinses with artificial colors, preservatives, and dyes

• Harsh chemical products and hair spray

 

Try to:

• 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.

• 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.

• 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

 

TO REVERSE DRAMATIC HAIR LOSS

40 percent or more, usually the result of severe alopecia or cancer treatments

Virtualrealityhair.com

Can cover sparse patches with real hair that has been inserted into a nearly invisible second skin

This method will only work for about a month, even during swimming

$400 per month!

[lulubelle]

Negin, what a wealth of information! My hair has also thinned over the past couple of years and I am concerned about it. My only other question is does the type of shampoo you use make any difference? It seems it is more of an internal remedy. If shampoo matters could you please suggest some?

Thanks you so much!

[Guest momk2000]

I go through cycles where my hair falls out (among many other symptoms), and all of my tests come back "negative". At this point I'm assuming it's my hormones (I'm 45) unless the docs come up with something better.

[lionfamily1999]

I shed, like a cat. When the seasons change my hair comes out like crazy. When I shampoo I pull away handfuls, when I brush it the brush comes away full. I can also run my fingers through it at random times and hairs will come away with my fingers.

 

Perhaps, this having only covered six weeks, you're shedding?

 

Otherwise, stress can cause that (is there a cure for stress?).

 

Oh, and I had a friend that was balding, she went "no-poo" and says she's noticed a great change in her hair's thickness and texture (thank you Hive, no-poo was a wonderful gift from you).

[Alexandra]

It seems that everyone has made the point for bloodwork but I also wanted to mention this. There is a generic brand of shampoo that every once in a while I buy accidentally and my hair starts falling out. I think that stress also contributes to hairloss. Get some good shampoo on your way home from the doctor's office. :001_smile: