Comments on: Losing My Hair…Am I Vain? Rosalinda’s Hair Loss Story

By: Priya

Priya — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 19:51:37 +0000

Hi Everyone,

I have had diffuse hair loss and genetic hair loss ever since I started my periods, in my early teens to currently 26. After trying all sorts of lotions and herbal potions and hair vitamins nothing has seemed to work. I went to see a trichologist last week who has given me a 2% minoxidil solution with methly nicotinate and medroxyprogesterone acetate to use for a initial 4 four months, and I will be getting some blood tests soon to check hormone levels, vitamin levels ect…. I hope my trichologist is a great detective and I hope to find a underlying cause for the hair loss. Lets see what he uncovers

By: Ann

Ann — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:56:47 +0000

Hello everyone,

I’m looking for some advice or perhaps some words of encouragement. A little about my story… my hairloss started when I was 18. I am now 30 years old. When I was 23 years old the situation had become so bad that I was completly bald on the sides of my head and in the back. So bad that it became impossible to position my hair so that it didn’t show spaces. I decided to go on rogaine for women. The good news for me is that it worked. All of my hair grew back and it felt thicker then I had ever remembered it.

A few years later, I started taking birth control pills. I watched carefully to make sure that I didn’t notice any extra hair loss. When I saw that everything was ok, I continued taking the pill. My doctor never mentioned to me the possible side effects on your hair when you STOP taking the pill! I stopped taking the pill 11 months ago. A few weeks after I stopped, I noticed that I was shedding… a lot. Handfulls and handfulls of hair! This intense shedding continued for 4 or so months. Nothing grew back! Instead I have continued to lose hair, albeit at a slower pace. Now I can even see where my bald spots are starting to return on the sides of my head.

5 months ago I upgraded to rogaine for men with the hopes that it would turn the situation around for me. In the first 3 weeks, I saw tons of tiny little hairs on the floor. I thought it was a good sign… like the initial stages before the hair would start to grow back. However, I still don’t see any little white fuzz hairs and nothing has grown back in. I just continue to lose.

My question is… do I still have hope of regrowing my hair? Perhaps the hair will rebound now if my hormone levels have leveled out? Any other signs that I can look for to know that the rogaine is regrowing new hair? Is is normal not to see any regrowth after 5 months?

Thanks! Ann

By: Rosalinda

Rosalinda — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:01:16 +0000

I absolutley love this website. It’s nice to find people in the same boat. I did end up buying the lasercomb. I want to say that I am fantastically impressed by it’s results, but alas, I cannot. I still have bouts of extreme hair loss but I think the lasercomb has helped me retain some hair. I went to get my hair cut shorter again last weekend (grr, I used to have lucious hair down to my waist!) and my hairdresser said she noticed baby hairs in my scalp. Well woop-dee-do. What about the adult hairs that are falling out? Those are the ones I want. I have so many weapons of choice against the nasty enemy of sheddage that I don’t know what has helped me keep hair on my head. I use rogaine 5%, nioxin (just the shampoo), vitamins (although I am not good at taking them regularly), the lasercomb, exercise…I feel like everything is devoted to keep hair on my head. I watched the Miss Universe pageant last night and I was almost in tears at the end. Was I jealous of their fabulously toned bodies, complexions or smiles? No! I was looking at their hair the whole time. I used to have hair like that. And that one dang commercial about how the model likes her hair to have volume! Ah! Just give me my hair back! I’m sick of thinking about it, sick of looking at other people’s hair. I have noticed that a lot of my cousins are thinning too. But we are young. Is it our genetics? Our hispanic background? What we eat? I’m going back to the doctor one last time, maybe I can convince them to give me a scalp biopsy. Then, I am going to a holistic practioner. I’ll let you ladies know what I find out.

By: Ann

Ann — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:30:20 +0000

I read the info on the internet, but have not heard of any actual people’s stories of improvement

By: Ann

Ann — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:29:37 +0000

Lynnie,

Thanks so much for the info! Have you ever heard of restoring iron levels stopping hair loss?

By: Lynnie

Lynnie — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:57:27 +0000

I heard taking Folic Acid can help boost your iron levels? May want to check with your doctor on that?

“Both iron and folic acid are needed by the body for the formation of red blood cells. If the body does not receive adequate amounts of these nutrients, anaemia can develop.

The absorption of iron from the gut is decreased if it is taken at the same time as coffee, tea, eggs or milk. Its absorption is enhanced if it is taken at the same time as foods or supplements containing vitamin C (ascorbic acid).”

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100001038.html

By: Ann

Ann — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:14:50 +0000

Has the iron supplementation been working for anyone? I was also iron deficient with a ferritin level of a mere 5!! I have been on 325mg of ferrous sulfate 3 times daily for about 3 months now. So far I haven’t noticed any changes, but my last blood test only showed my ferritin at 34…so I still have a ways to go. I am just looking for any hair success story that has happened b/c of iron supplementation. Anybody know of any??

By: Angela

Angela — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:27:24 +0000

Hi Shi,

Yeah mine is thinning all over but I notice it more in my bang/crown area too. But I think it might just be bc its the easiest place to look at it in the mirror upclose? Still not sure.
My hair steadily got thinner since high school and right now its not falling out like crazy but its also not growing back to what it once was. So if anything, I feel like it is slowly getting worse and that is what is making me so paranoid. I am currently still on the pill so I am also scared of what will happen when I get off of it for good. I’m also wondering if being on the pill is hindering new growth (I’m on a low estrogen pill).
I’ve heard people say its stress too! My mom likes to tell me to not worry about it but it is a lot easier said than done. I do try to tell myself its not the end of the world and maybe through those affirmations I will no longer be bugged by it all.
I’m glad you found this site– its such a lifesaver and a great place to vent:)

Angela

By: Shi

Shi — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:38:00 +0000

Angela,
Thank you very much for the quick response.
I think you are definitely right. I bruise very easily, I am constantly tired and weak and I rarely eat meat. I did start taking iron supplement a few days ago as well as a low dosage of zinc. Yes my thinning is all over my head…its not a specific spot even though I notice it more around the crown on my head. Did your situation improve/worsen/remain the same over the years? I am constantly fearing of what it will be like in a few years. I try to think positive, but it is very hard for me. My mom and my dad both have nice hair (not really thick, but nice) so I don’t think its genetic.
I am really happy I found this site. I feel like I can actually talk to someone who understands me. My friends don’t want to hear about it and my doctor just recommended I go to mental health so “I don’t miss out on my college experience thinking about this too much.”
Everyone also keeps telling me it is stress, but the only stress I have is my hair.
It feels good to vent 🙂
Thanks again Angela!
p.s.
I also use nizoral shampoo…I shed less when I use it, but its only supposed to be used twice a week so it doesn’t dry out the scalp.

has anyone heard of egg yolks for hair growth?

By: Angela

Angela — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:06:24 +0000

Hi Shi,

Is your hair thinning from all over your head? I was a vegetarian for 10 years until this past Thanksgiving when I started to wonder if my lack of protein and iron was contributing to my fragile hair. My hair loss started after going on and off birth control but I cant help but wonder if my diet is also playing a role. Right now I try to eat some sort of animal meat once a day and I am taking a 200mg iron supplement. Since taking the supplement I’ve noticed less hair caught in the drain after showering (so that is good)!
When you go to the doctor next week ask to get your Ferritin level tested. Many sites suggest that it should be 70 or higher for optimal hair growth. Last time I checked mine was 40. I’m trying to get it as high as possible!

Just some thoughts.

Take care,
Angela