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Hi, I started to lose hair about when I was 46. It freaked me out as one of my aunts wore a wig and my grandmother had very little hair. I went to a medical hair loss clinic and they said I had genetic hair loss and recommended hair transplants. I asked about taking finasteride (Propecia), which I had read helped men with hair loss and the doctor said no, it was not available to women. His assistant, however, said (when the doctor was out of the room) that they won’t give it to women due to pregnancy problems. I said I was menopausal and highly unlikely to have kids, but it was a no
go.
So I went looking for Hair Loss books and read as much as I could and found out that taking Saw Palmetto worked just as well as Propecia and without any side effects. It does the same stuff and can be enhanced with the use of a couple of other herbs. So I’ve been taking it ever since and my hair loss has really slowed down . I’ve stopped a couple of times and the hair loss increased - so I know it is working for me.
I take 160mg (standardized to contain 85-95% fatty acids and sterols) twice a day. I also take 300 mg of Biotin twice a day and that also seems to help. Both are available from a health food store and come in many brands. I take the cheapest Saw Palmetto. These supplements are often found in the section about men’s prostate health as they work for that too. Propecia was designed for prostate health and was then found, by accident, to also bring back hair growth lost within 2 years.It works on the androgen cycle which causes male hair loss and may also cause female hair loss. I don’t see a lot of research into female hair loss out there which is foolish as many of my female post menopausal friends are experiencing some hair loss now.
Perhaps this info might help someone else…
Karen
*************************
Dear Karen,
Welcome to the site and thank you for sharing your hair loss treatment regimen that you’ve experienced success with. I often hear women say they taken biotin for their hair loss but I never really tried it myself. I do think I’m going to go to the vitamin store tomorrow and get myself a bottle. I looked it up on wikipedia and it stated that its uses are for “hair problems, cradle cap (seborrheic dermatitis), and diabetes.” Under hair problems it says, “Biotin supplements are often recommended as a natural product to counteract the problem of hair loss in both children and adults. There are, however, no studies that show any benefit in any case where the subject is not actually biotin deficient. The signs and symptoms of biotin deficiency include hair loss which progresses in severity to include loss of eye lashes and eye brows in severely deficient subjects. Some shampoos are available that contain biotin, but it is doubtful whether they would have any useful effect, as biotin is not absorbed well through the skin.” Thats good enough for me. If there is any possibility it works then why not.
As far as the saw palmetto, I did previously read that it had some effectiveness in treating hair loss, so I used it early on in my hair loss as well. Unfortunately I didn’t respond to it. It’s really no surprise since I also later took finasteride (propecia) and didn’t respond to that either. My doctor had no problem prescribing it to me at age 22, but he did make it clear that I could not get pregnant while on this drug due to possible complications that could arise. I ended up taking myself off the drug. For some women it definitely works, which is why he had prescribed it to me, without me even asking for it.
I’m so glad to hear that the saw palmetto is working for you and you are having success with your treatments. Your story reminded me again about the biotin and I’m encouraged to give it a try myself.
Thanks again for sharing your story
~Y
Technorati Tags: biotin, hair loss, hair loss treatment, saw palmetto
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
gypsy 11.30.07 at 10:34 am
hi karen ! nice to see your having success!!!!it gives me hope!i was just curious what kind of test the hiar loss clinic did on you to come up with your diagnoses??????im awaiting a appointement with the derm, not until feb… gee i could be blad by then! hahaha! but anyway i would like to ask her to perform the same test…..
i also went to the health food store and picked up biotin, sawpal.and also sillica…which the sale person recommended…have you tried sillica?????
he also recommended i go see a nutrapath doc, have you concidered that????jsut curious???im considering it ! only after i go see the derm…i wnat to see what she says first…..then i will go see hte natrupath doc… and if all else fails im off to get a hair transplant… but first im trying all other options …im not to keen on surgery, since i dont have a high tolerance to pain, hahahahaah….but what must be done hey!
so nice to hear a happy ending, i finally have a litle hope..
thank you
gypsy
Karen 11.30.07 at 11:51 am
Hi
The test I had involved them taking a skin plug out of my scalp and testing it. I am sorry to say I didn’t ask them what they were testing for and how. I guess my emotions were pretty off the wall at that point in my life.
Re: a naturopath, yes, I have used a naturopath - for other reasons - and I told him about my hair. While I was on his remedies I noticed my body hair (legs, under arms) really increased. I mentioned that to him and his comment was surprise as he wasn’t aiming towards that and he remarked how everyone responds differently to treatment. I didn’t stay on it long enough to notice head hair change. The treatments were designed to improve my overall health, which was very poor at that time. The treatments worked well, but I was not good about keeping them up once my health started to improve.But I’ll bet my head hair was better and I have been thinking lately of going back on the treatments as I was much healthier when using them.
Right now I bleach my hair so it is similar in lightness to my scalp and therefore doesn’t show the thinning so much (a suggestion I read about in a book). It also gives my thin hair more body (I keep it quite short) so I can fluff it up somewhat. People often express surprise when I tell them I have very thin hair. My hair is thinner on the sides than the top.
I tried Rogaine but I had some hair loss which never came back on the side I tried it, so I guess we all have very different chemical make-ups.
I don’t use silica. The health food store said it would increase the thickness and strength of my hair - but not increase the number of hairs. Perhaps I should try it again.
Thanks so much for your site!! i think there is way too little attention paid to women’s hair loss and many of us suffer alone out here.
Karen
admin 11.30.07 at 2:34 pm
gypsy & karen - speaking of naturopathic medicine. Not too long ago I was doing acupuncture on a weekly basis. I can’t say that I know it helped with my hair but I did have a better overall sense of well being and perhaps a clearer mind which helps for everything. I think anything that can be done to create a more clean, less stressful, healthy, non toxic environment for the body is probably going to be good for the hair as well. So I definitely recommend acupuncture for that. I stopped going because work got so busy and then there is always the money factor as well, as it can get quite expensive to do that weekly, but I’m going to start going in again for treatments because I did feel better when I did them.
Also, gypsy I think you should consider seeing another hair transplant doctor to get a second opinion on your case. As a matter of fact, I’d see several. It is a big thing to get done, and most women aren’t candidates and can end up worse than they did before. The possibility of shock loss exists and you could end up losing even more hair. Just be careful.
Karen, I’m glad you are here, and I and everyone else greatly appreciate all your input. You are very right, there is so little attention paid to women’s hair loss and I suffered alone for nearly a decade. I’m glad the site has been of help and comfort to other women who are also afflicted with hair loss. It has truly been a big source of healing for myself.
~Y
Marianne 12.03.07 at 7:53 am
Hi,
I just wanted to comment on the biotin. My dermatologist has me taking 2.5 mg of biotin once daily (there is only 30 mcg of biotin in my everyday vitamin ~only10% of daily value!!) to help with hair growth. While I don’t know if it is helping with the hair yet since I am only in my third month of taking it, my nails are growing like crazy. I cut my nails off regularly since I work outside doing field research. Now I am cutting both my fingernails and toenails more often. So who knows, I might have new hair growth even though I am continuing to shed my hair.
Admin- I am getting ready to hit my third month on synthroid (100mcg), hair still falling out and getting thinner. Keeping my fingers crossed it will stop or slow down one day. I go back to the endo Dec 12 for more thyroid tests. I am just hoping that the synthroid is not the culprit and one day it will level off. Hope you get to stay on your dose of synthroid when you go back for labs since your loss has slowed down. I have talked to a lot of people on thyroid forums and they seem to say that any change in dose can send the hair loss back into overdrive but eventually it levels out. But I guess for some it doesn’t.
Marianne
admin 12.03.07 at 11:44 am
Hi Marianne - Things seem to be staying steady with my hair loss as far as the slowing down. It hasn’t slowed much further than my last report but I’m content at where it is staying at which is approximately 30-40 hairs after showering. I tie my hair back for the rest of the day so I don’t really have to count much there, probably have around 1-4 hairs each time I re-tie my ponytail thing throughout the day. To know for absolute sure the real count I’d have to use the hair catcher in the drain in the shower but I don’t feel up to that and don’t think it is necessary. 30-40 hairs post shower is a definite improvement compared to the hundreds I was shedding post shower (not including hair drain catcher) just a few months back.
I’ve weened myself down and from the 112 mcg I was on now am only on the 88mcg and things are looking good. Only time will tell if this was truly the best decision, you know months down the road if I’m still doing well, but my heart already says it is. I had other issues that were occurring as a result of the increase in my synthroid, including erratic periods… which my are usually like clockwork because I’m on the pill. But I was like having 2 periods a month… not good. Also was excessively hot at night, I’d have to get out of bed and go down stairs to cool down. Things just didn’t feel right, I was all out of wack and my hair was shedding more than it ever did in the whole 8 years I’ve lived with hair loss. I’m already feeling better and this month I had only one “normal” period. I will be heading back to the urgent care as promised to the doc who gave me the lower dosage to be rechecked and I’ll let you know what the test says. Really regardless, I’ll be staying at this dosage because I feel better on it. Tests and charts don’t always tell the whole story.
It is true that when transitioning to a different dosage hair shedding can increase and it is “suppose” to return back to normal but I don’t think that is true if you are on too high of a dosage or your body is sensitive to the medication. I was also told that synthroid has Acacia in it and a lot of people may be allergic to that ingredient and have problems with it. I’m like allergy queen so no surprise if the extra dosage was too much for me.
Marianne, make sure you keep close watch on yourself and see another doctor if you feel that the synthroid is contributing to your hair loss. I wish I didn’t wait just about 2 years before making the decision to lower my dosage. I feel I’ve wasted that time and my hair has gotten so thin due to the excessively long shed I went through with no break.
~Y
vicky 12.07.07 at 11:59 pm
Hi Karen - Just wanted to ask a question about the saw pal. Are there any side effects? and how long have u being taking them? Were u low in iron at all? and did u finally find out what u were diagnosed with? - I have had 2 biosps -(very painful), but the derm wanted to make sure that she got a correct diagnosis. She told me i have FPB - what an ugly label! ever since i found out i have this, i’ve stressed even more. I’ve tried a couple of meds, had side effects so i had to stop them. So i am interested in trying natural options if they work.
I also have gone very grey/white another thing i am constantly trying to conceal now i have to stress a/b hair loss as well. Just wandering a/b the above questions, would love to hear from u.
Also does anyone have any experience with chinese hebrs/lotions, would like to know.
By the way my mum has thinned out hair (she never ever had a lot of hair, but i suppose was creative with her hair) she is nearly 72y.o and is on anti depressants and and high blood pressure medication and had a hystorectomy at the age of 42y.o (3 kids later) and she has never paided much attention to her hair and as a result hasn’t worried about it - its still there. I take inspiration from her, but there are days where i am obsessive a/b my problem and just can’t stop worrying.
Many thanks to this site, it is very inspirational.
Vick
Lisa 02.15.08 at 4:47 am
Karen, I was very interested about your use of Saw Palmetto and Biotin. My story is that up until August of 07 I had very full and thick hair. I started to experience what I thought was my yearly Fall shedding. However, it never stopped and the amount of hair coming out was tremendous. As we all know this is such a frightening experience. I went to an internalist and she ran a bunch of blood test. One of the test was an ANA which came back 1 to 320. She told me that I had to go to a rhemotologist. He retook the test and the ana came back negative. The next step was the dermotologist, since my ownly problem was my hair loss. She did a scalp biopsy which ruled out skin lups but I was diagnosed with Androgenetic Alopcia. This is a diagnosis which is very hard for me to cope with. I am 46 like you and have 1 child under 10 and another who is 13. It’s hard for them to see me go throught with this. My Husband is my rock, friend,and sole mate for life. He stands besisdes me with hair or without hair.
After the scalp biopsy, my rhemotologist asked me to take the ana test again to make sure if it is positive. This time he wants to sent it a rhemotolgy lab in CA. It did come back postive in 3 areas, however the numbers were very low. I did not think androgenetic hair loss is the same hair loss you can get from illness. He put me on prednisone 5mg and Planquinel 200. The later medicine had side effects of hair loss and I would not take it. Went back to the dermotologist with this 2nd positive result and explanined that the scalp biopsy diagnosed the androgenetic alopecia and that is conclusive. It is not related to autoimmuune. My options for treatment are Rogaine, which did not do well with my scalp with both percents. I asked her other options and she downplayed the Aldactone and oral birth control since they are system medicines and have side effects. I am currently taking a premium woman’s vitamin from GNC and Biotin 2500mcg. They also have a Biotin thicking shampoo and conditioner which I am going to try. Please let me know if you are stil using Saw Palmentto and for how long and the exact reaction you have received from it. Does it stop the shedding? Does it grow hair? How long does it take to start seeing a difference? Finally what is the daily dosage, and is there a particular name brand you take? I get most of my vitamins from GNC.. Does a doctor have to see you to run any test while you are taking this
herb.
Thanks for listening to my story and I hope we can help each other through this very difficult disease.
P 08.04.08 at 12:30 pm
Girls,
Keep your ferritin up - low ferritin can cause hl mimicking androgenic alopecia. Needs to be at 40 to stop sheds and 70+ for regrowth. Some trichologists recommend levels of 125+ for optimal liver function (to decrease cortisol and therefore testosterone). When supplementing with iron, watch your zinc too.
marlene 12.21.08 at 5:18 pm
I have had thinning hair for several years and it is devestating my life I am so jealous of anyone with hair and just want to go to bed and never wake up
again. My friends dont understand and brush it off. I would sooner have any illness including cancer at least then the hair loss would have a cause. I spend 99% of every day obsessing about it and wishing i was dead.
Bees 12.21.08 at 6:34 pm
Dear Marlene
Understand just how you are feeling. have been losing my hair for the past 3 months, I have T.E. from what I do not know, maybe from a brazilian haira straightener that I did early in September, I have very thick hair and in the past 3 months have lost 1/3 of it. No one understands and say but your hair is still thick. I get nervous before showering because I do not want to see the hair that comes out, there is hair all over my house, everywhere I look. I am so depressed and think about it constantly, it just show you that when things are going good, you do not realize it, I am so out of things and and my husband is really now getting quite mad and just does not get it.
Beth 12.22.08 at 3:57 pm
I have also been dealing with hair thinning to the point of needing to see a therapist…it has started to consume me and every facet of my life. Happy times with friends and family go sour in my head because I hyper focus on my hair. So before I continue, I want you all to know that I feel the same pain, jealousy, longing and confusion. Through it all I have been in and out of various doctors–for 4 years. Most recently I saw a hematologist for my iron deficiency. While I was in the cxamining room waiting for him I had a bit of an awakening. Since the doctor is a hematologist and oncologist, he deals with some very sick people, cancer, leukemia kind of sick. Many very ill people walked by the room, men with tubes in their veins, women without hair and, yes, small children without hair. 2o minutes of waiting for the doctor went by and a woman walked by– thin, pale, wearing a scarf on her bald head. She paused, gave a slight wave and we briefly made eye contact. She smiled, and kept walking. At that moment, I realized something very profound and it brought me to tears. I was reminded that I am a healthy woman going through a very hard time. But, I am healthy and able. And although i want a concrete answer for my hair loss, I would never EVER wish illness upon myself just to have a reason. I believe that our bodies will create illnesses if we seek them out; with this, I try to stay positive and hopeful…I am reading a book right now that basically says that we are presented with situations because we are meant to, to help reach a higher state of consciousness…I will be glad to finally figure out why this is my situation to weed through. But it could be worse. I have realized other things to appreciate, how to nurture myself and love myself a little more. Please, PLEASE don’t ever take for granted what we DO have in the wake of dealing with what we don’t have. It’s so much easier said than done, I KNOW- and getting out of bed is tough some days. Like today. Then I think to myself, but i CAN get out of bed—I have the choice. How we deal with this is a CHOICE.
From one sad lady to another, please don’t take this as a speech or a preaching session–take it as a simple reminder from someone who can relate, that the worst thing we can do is lose sight of the good, the health, the beauty, the love, that we all have in our lives in one form or another…
Terri 01.15.09 at 9:34 am
You are sooooo right! As hard as female hair loss is to deal with, there are so many people that would trade placed in a heart beat just to have their health back or a lost loved one back!
We forget how lucky we are in this country compared to the rest of the world.
I have struggled with thinning hair for over 20 years (started mid 20’s), I have tried every shampoo, hair treatment etc. I am quite health conscious and eat very well. It bothers me that internally I am healthy and yet I feel that people must think I have health issues or maybe even cancer because of my thin hair. I used to spend all day obsessing and looking at other women’s heads of hair trying to find thin hair like mine so I wouldn’t feel so alone. Most days all I saw was normal heads of hair and it made me feel even more alone with my problem.
Just as I thought I would never find any help I read about some supplements that another lady had contributed and I have been having very good results.
I am taking 5000 mcg biotin, 500 mg Lyseine and taking 1 tablespoon of blackstrap molasses every day (make sure they are blackstrap and not regular molasses as blackstrap have more iron in them).
My finger nails are growing really strong and thick (I’ve always had brittle, dry, weak nails) and my hair is thickening up and becoming stronger and healthier as well. Sometimes when you least expect it and have almost given up….. Eureka!
P.S.
One the advice of my hairdresser I started having hightlights and lowlights (2 contrasting colours) applied to my hair. This gives the illusion of more hair for ladies with fine and thinning hair like mine and also seems to brighten up the face. I’ve always kept my hair quite short as my fine hair needed lift to achieve any volume but when it started getting so thin you could see my scalp and the hair wouldn’t spread out enough to cover all my scalp I started growing it out some (about 2 inches above jaw line now). Growing it that little bit longer, high and low lighting it and then just blow drying it under for volume (I gave up on damaging curling irons) has made a big difference to how my hair is looking. I have stopped obsessing about my thinning hair and pretty much feel normal for the first time in 20 years.
PS
PLEASE try the biotin (5000 mcg needed), Lyseine and molasses daily. I noticed a big difference after 1 month.
Tania 02.07.09 at 8:45 pm
Here is what I found about saw palmetto:
What other drugs will affect saw palmetto?
donot Do not take saw palmetto without the advice of a doctor if you are using any of the following medications:
* a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
* flutamide (Eulexin);
* garlic or ginkgo biloba;
* birth control pills;
* iron supplements such as ferrous fumarate ferrous gluconate, or ferrous sulfate;
* hormone replacement therapy;
* estrogen or testosterone;
* an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), and others; or
* medication used to prevent blood clots, such as alteplase (Activase), anistreplase (Eminase), clopidogrel (Plavix), dipyridamole (Persantine), streptokinase (Kabikinase, Streptase), ticlopidine (Ticlid), and urokinase (Abbokinase).
jacqui 02.09.09 at 7:05 am
thanks for info,ive been taking ibubrupen for heel spurs and saw palmetto
Jana 03.10.09 at 4:48 am
thankyou for the info… I was thinking about trying saw palmetto and I take iron supplements for low iron so I guess thats a no go….bummer
Hides 04.23.09 at 5:15 pm
What about topical saw palmetto?
Marianne in Ohio 04.29.09 at 7:57 am
I have been reading the post and all of the suggestions on this board. I am implimenting some of them and thank everyone for their contributions. My Aloepecia started when I was 12 y.o. I had a large bald spot on the back of my head. It resolved in about 1 year with no treatment. I had additional bald spots when I lost a job (22 yo) and when I got married (31 yo) that all resolved without treatment. This last time has been different. I changed jobs to a significantly more stressfull RN position (from L&D o tthe SICU) and went back to college. I immediately began to lose my hair. After 1 1/2 years of shedding and bald spots, I realized this was not going to get better. I went to a Derm for 1 1/2 years getting steroid creams, gels, and injections. My GYN tested my ferritin and Thyroid twice (normal results). I finally went to an Endo. and she did a bunch of test. I found that I have a sever vitamine D deficiency. the normal recommended dose is 400 units per day. I take 51,000 Units and she said it would take 6 months to get back to normal. I also was tested for a gluten allergy. It was negative, but I found out that hairloss could be caused by food allergies. I was also seen by a Rheumatologist to rule out Lupus. I am taking a range of vitamines and suppliments (many are already mentioned in others’ postings). I just want to mention the vitamine D because I believe it has played a huge role with my hairloss.
Kim 08.11.09 at 1:09 pm
Can Karen or anyone else that is taking Saw palmetto tell me what brand to take? There are so many brands and i don’t know which one give syou the right dosage. PLEASE HELP!
Collette 11.23.09 at 6:37 pm
Hi All!
I began losing my hair Summer 2006. I began eating 5000 mcg of biotin at the same time… it helped for a few months- my nails are incredible- my hair loss has been worsening for about a year and a half- very noticibly- and I upped my biotin for fun to 10,00o mcg. No help with my hair at this point but my nails are happy.
Maybe I should up it- I can’t find anything close to 300 mg. The highest dose I can find anywhere is 10 mg (which is what I am taking)
be well ladies!