Comments on: My Story and What Helps – Karen’s Hair Loss Story

By: Melanie

Melanie — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 12:23:51 +0000

I definitely recommend reading Dr. Gefforey redmonds book. It’s your hormones. It will give u tons of helpful info. I am in menopause and my hair began to slightly receed in the front first then several months began to shed very bad in the shower. And all day long. I don’t use a hairbrush anymore just my fingers. No flat iron or blow dryer. I am on my first month of viviscal supplements haven’t noticed any change yet. I just began an estradiol patch 0.006 mg. due to my ovaries shut down per menopause. In dr Redmond book he explains if hair loss is due to estrogen loss HRT can help. But if testosterone is an issue u need a test blocker like spiro Saw palmetto can be used also he admits but with not enough sufficient evidence to back up. I don’t know if you can use saw palmetto with estrogen or if they cancel each other out tho. But u can use estrogen and spiro so maybe?

By: Lucy

Lucy — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 19:14:46 +0000

Hello Wonderful people. 3 years ago I had very long thick hair today I’m trying hard to get it back. I had very flowing long thick curly hair and got so many compliments and questions, if it was my own hair?. Then I started abusing my hair by putting in relaxers to straighten out my beautiful curls and hair colors and hi lites. My husband who loves my curly hair and would love me bald or hair kept on telling me, ” you have beautiful curls leave it alone “.
The hair loss began after I had came back from this hair joint inside Walmart, it was’nt owned by Walnart. The stylist placed tons of hi-lights in my hair even though I had told her just place “a tad” in my hair. With the highlights and relaxer 1 month earlier ,my hair has taken a downward spiral. High Lights and relaxers are hair killers they thin out and damages the hair and causes hair loss. If you feel you must relax your hair use a mild relaxer with natural products in it, my suggestion if you must color your hair go for natural products that’s from plant sources.
What seemed to work for me better now is that Instead of always shampooing my hair I use warm water and conditioner only. I make my own natural concoctions of rose Mary olive oil and other natural home made strengthening products. It’s also very helpful to see an endocrinologist and your Gyn that helped me a lot. My family doctor ran some extra blood work of my hormones and so did my Gyn. It’s so important to know what’s hi what’s low what’s normal what abnormal by seeing your endocrinologist and Gyn reiterating.
Your hormones can also play a big role in hair loss as well. My hair was coming along mighty fine with taking biotene, B 12, a multivitamin, vitamin c, fish and flax seed oils. The omega’s are real important for hair growth. Just make sure it’s one that’s Mercury free and monitor your Mercury with your doctor. I also had my doctor test for aluminum Mercury and lead. All my levels came back normal and my feratin (iron). Normal levels of feratin also play a key role in hair growth, and abnormal hair loss. If you can eat liver and red meat go for it, or if your a vegetarian try SPINIACH and other natural sources of iron.
Getting back to hormones, hormones can play crucial role in hair loss hair gain hair thinning. If your hormones are not balanced this can create hair loss hair thinning . Check also your TSH levels, and the functioning of your Thyroid glands. I saw my Gyn and is doing bio identical now. Prior to that I was taking the estradiol and progesterone then Prior to that estradiol & testosterone combo with progesterone. A woman should not take estrogen without progesterone as it places us at greater risk for cancer. At one point I stopped taking my hormones and holy holy my hair started falling out like crazy. The reason I was gaining weight, but if your taking hormones you got to exercise. Believe me I don’t like to, so I do things I enjoy like dancing an hour to salsa music doing stretches and walking. I’m back on my hormones and my weight is just the same when I were off. My hair stopped falling out and it’s getting thicker from the new healthy growth minus the hi lights, minus the flat iron blow drying and keratin & flat ironing; they’re hair killers. My hair from the ends that had been Chemically treated in the past is thin. As the new growth comes in more I cut the chemically treated area at ends off.
In summary I must be honest to tell you all that when I was going through these stages of depression ,because of my hair loss and changes ,times I would look at these hair commercial and say oh I loathe these models with healthy long hair. Not anymore, I realize some wear extensions for these commercial . These days yes I miss my long hair days, but I realized I’m a healthy female and it could be worse . I realize and tell my self and if I had some deadly disease I would fight with everything inside of me and, I would just enjoy each and every day while fighting the best way I could. Also the more you worry and stress the more your hair can fall out.
My suggestion do something you love doing until your totally absorbed in it not to think so hard about your hair problems, but still do everything you can to help find the answer of resolvement. We are all God’ s beautiful people in our hearts, in our minds ,in our souls. Our hair is only a small portion that makes up the huge larger portion of our true beauties and real worth. Thanks to Karen who started her blog and all you other women suggestions all so helpful. It helped me. It shows strength is in unity, and when one of us falls it’s always good to know we have one of us right there to pick us right back up. We are all in this together!!and stronger together!!

By: Depressed

Depressed — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 22:31:15 +0000

I am 45 and have been dealing with hair loss for 10 yrs. I have tried every vitamin supplement known to help with hair loss. However, I never stay on anything long enough to see if it works. The key to anything is consistency. After years of dealing with it, I went on Rogaine. I was on it for 7 mons. I used the 5% foam 1x daily. It actually stopped my hair loss but it changed the texture of my hair and I never saw any new growth. So, I decided to go off of it….BIG MISTAKE! After, 2 mons my hair started falling out like crazy! I am scared to death that my hair will eventually become so thin that my scalp will start showing. I have been off of Rogaine for approx. 3 1/2 mons and only started noticing significant hair loss 2 mons after stopping Rogaine. I’ve read its common after stopping Rogaine and that you will never regain the hair you’ve lost if you go back on it. I’m at a loss on what to do. I’ve debated on going to see Dr. Redmond in NY but I’ve heard if you read his book it has a lot of fantastic information. It will help you to know what questions to ask your doctor. It seems he mostly puts women on Spiro and birth control pills to help with the hormone levels. However, Spiro has side effects and like Rogaine, its for life or your hair will fall out again if you stop. So, it’s the chance you take if you want to keep your hair. My suggestion would be to go to a Dermatologist or Endocronologist and demand they run the following tests….total testosterone, free testosterone, DHEA-S, blood count, iron levels, TSH, Estradiol, Prolactin, FSH, chem., 17-OH progesterone……Also, use a good DHT blocking shampoo like Pura d’or Regenepure…..take vitamins like Biotin, Saw Palmetto, Iron, B12, Lysine, zinc, silica & Vit C. Rogaine will help to keep the hair you have but doesn’t necessarily cause regrowth…but DO NOT stop it once you start. Use the 5% foam as that is the most effective. Make sure you are also tested for PCOS to rule that out. We have to be our own advocates and demand these doctors listen to us! I am currently taking Saw Palmetto, Lysine, multi vitamin, iron, Viviscal, Vit D & Biotin. I am seriously thinking about getting back on Rogaine because I am losing so much hair. I am also seriously contemplating going to my dermatologist and trying the Spiro. You just have to keep trying and see what works….be vigilant…dont give up! Be consistent and give things time to work….sometimes it takes months. I did try and still use Viviscal and it did help with my hair loss….I won’t push anything that hasn’t helped me. It’s very expensive but anything is worth it to me if it helps. Also, I’ve ready a lot about people using Nizoral shampoo…so read up on that. Dr Redmond recommends the Nutrogena TGel. I do think most people need to use a good DHT blocking shampoo. I also used Phyto supplements but I can’t say that I ever saw a difference in my hair loss. I bought it once and never bought it again. I know how you all feel…it’s VERY depressing as a woman to have thin hair. I pray we can all find a cure for ourselves!!

By: TII

TII — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 01:26:36 +0000

Jenn, what’s the supplement you started. Is it still working?

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 05:13:48 +0000

I have high testosterone levels and have been losing steady amounts of hair for 10 years now, on average I’d lose 30-50 in shower and 50 more after I brushed. Overall in 10 years I have lost probably 60% of my hair and it regrow a back very thin, dry and limp. I just stared urn supplement and a me a hair supplement that has saw palmetto and other ingredients in it. Within less than a week my hair responded, I now in the shower lose maybe 8 hairs and then when I brush maybe 6 more. I’ve been using now for a month and I’m doing great, if I miss a few days my hair falls out again right away so it’s got to be a daily thing.

By: Dee

Dee — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 13:00:40 +0000

I have thinning hair all over , especially at the top of head. My body hair has decreased due to hormones and age. I am 64. Great I don’t have to shave my legs anymore. I use to have high levels of testosterone but decreased with menopause. I have taken Biotin and Keratin but has not stopped hair loss nor has it caused regrowth. I have used Nioxxin to no avail. I am at a loss to what else to try or who to see. Also my thyroid levels are fine so it isn’t that. I don’t know which way to go now. Don’t want to wear a wig!

By: MAGR

MAGR — Fri, 04 Oct 2013 19:26:21 +0000

To Bees,
I am to losing my hair from a brazilian blowout done in August 2012. It has been really hard and my husband too is fed up with my reaction. I was terrorized at the thought of losing my hair (I am still terrorized but now I am just waiting for the moment to go to Follea). It has been 13 months of torture as I feel hair by hair dripping down my harms all day long, counting the 250 to 300 hairs every time I wash and slowly seeing my appearance change as my hair wears away. All my bloodwork is normal and the loss started the day of the blowout. There is a lot of formaldehyde in this treatment and mine was applied at the scalp. I wonder if your hair stopped falling out and if you recovered? Your treatment was four years prior to mine and would like to know what is the possible end of this nightmare. My scalped flaked in big pieces two weeks after the treatment and from then I started having scalp pain and itching. I see regrowth that falls out soon after. Did you ever find out what was the hairloss mechanism? My theories are that a) my scalp aged from being in contact with the chemicals, b) made my follicles vulnerable to DHT, c) chronic inflammation. I have lost about 60% of my hair. My doctor wants me to start spiro but I dread the side effects. At least now my only problem is hair. I really appreciate any insights you have to share (a way to improve and if hair gee back). Thank you

By: Cat

Cat — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 16:06:17 +0000

Joyce, I am curious to know if the Nioxin is helping this time around. I read in a recent online comment about the Nioxin products that the ingredients changed when P&G purchased the line and that the price also went up. I just wonder if the product is still as effective. Thanks….

By: joyce

joyce — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 04:08:58 +0000

Took methotrexate as immune suppression for 5 years as well as being on synthroid 88 mg. Lost about half my hair. Started using Nioxin hair care products. Did wonders for my hair. Was also on estrogen for 25 years. Anyway the nioxon pretty much stopped the hair loss. Have actually started using it again because hair starting to thin again. Think its an age thing now. Anyway, I tell anyone with hair loss to try it. It worked for me…

By: Annee

Annee — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 22:26:58 +0000

Saw palmetto has been used by natives for centuries. It is an approved treatment in Europe. So why all the scare tactics? Basically they say don’t take it with ANYTHING else. Of course, the drug companies would rather have you spend a fortune on their hair loss products. cynic