Newbie--Losing Hair in Cycles

[Lucy4]

Greetings all :)

I posted on another thread, then realized that I hadn't properly introduced myself.

I'm 61 years old, and I've been experiencing abnormal hair loss since early July this year. Over the last four or five years, I've noticed a pattern developing where I will start losing hair at a rapid rate beginning in July and lasting to November. Then regrowth occurs over the next few months until the next cycle begins the next summer. I've always seemed to be more of a "shedder" than a lot of my friends, but what I've been experiencing the last few years is way out of the norm, even for me.

I had my thyroid checked a few months back and the results were borderline--not distinct enough for my doc to put me on hypothyroid meds. I'm trying my own experiment with kelp supplements for the iodine, along with selenium to help with the absorption. I know it's a long shot, but I figured it was worth a try to see if it reduces or even stops this cycle.

I have to say that I'm getting pretty frustrated about it. After doing some research, I haven't seen much mention given to the type of hair loss I've been experiencing. I'm pretty sure this is an endocrine thing, and maybe even hereditary. But I'm quite at a loss as to what, if anything, I'll be able to do about it.

Anyway, that's my story. It's nice to find this site and to start educating myself.

Lucy

[Stacey2478]

I am experiencing the same thing and I am 30 years old. It has been going on for 2 years. I can't give much advice, just support. I know what you are feeling, and it is awful. I have had my thyroid tested, hormones tested, I've seen a dermatologist, and the next step is an endocrinologist. Hang in there, don't be afraid to let it all out and cover all of your bases. Tell them they are wrong if they tell you it's "nothing to worry about" or tell you it might be stress. They are NOT psychologists.

[Lucy4]

Thanks for your input, Stacey. Hair loss is often seen as merely a cosmetic issue of lesser importance to many doctors. Some male doctors may not have the ability or time to figure out how to empathize with a female's response to hair loss in our society. I'll keep plugging along at looking for answers, and I'll update any results, positive or negative, regarding the things I'm trying. Thanks again.

[kawawa]

My hair did the same thing for 14 years. However, when it had regrowth it mostly was still very thin, but more presentable. Last July I had a terrible shed and got bald spots. I have no underlying health problems but all the women on my mom's side of the family are extra thin to the point of "you can't miss it!"

I ended up in a topper, which I love and it makes me look 10 years younger too!

[natasha]

I'm 32 and new to this site as of today. I started to experience the same thing in July last summer (which ended in a bald spot on the left side front of my head). When the shedding stopped it re-grew within 2-3 months and now it started again this July. Only this time the shedding is my whole head (no isolated areas). I, for the first time ever had started counting what I'm loosing in the morning after showering and realize it is around 85 strands each morning. I stopped my birth control, which I think only made matters worse and stopped taking a small dose of zoloft (25mg.) which I only took for one month anyway. I'm now taking multivitimins, B vitamins and calcium with no change. I was tested for my regular MD for a hormone imbalance and I'm waiting for my results. I would really like to keep my (once thick black hair), but as time passes and each day there is less, it has become worrysome. The only other symptoms other than this massive shedding I have noticed is excema on my eyelids, insomnia and weight loss. If anyone has any advice or tips, please respond. I feel at a loss with this one and try to remind myself "it could be a lot worse". I hope my blood test give me a clue as to what is wrong. If not, I guess my next step is a dermotologist right??

Thank goodness for this site. Good luck to all of us!

Natasha

[feelingwiggy]

great attitude, it starts with research and the great support you will find here!

[natasha]

Thank you for your response. Your hair piece looks beautiful!

[Stacey2478]

the bc pills (stopping and starting) definitely have an effect. Even if they don't list hair loss as a side effect it is a proven fact that coming off or going on bc can cause it. With the insomnia and weight loss I would consider thyroid, which your doc should check ( as well as a full hormone panel, which from what I have been told works best on day 1 of your cycle). weight loss and insomnia can often be a side effect of coming off bc (I experienced that recently) as well as coming off antidepressants, although I don't know much about Zoloft. I recently started taking Biotin which is supposed to be terrific for hair and nail growth (they give it to patients using Rogaine sometimes). It's too early to say if it is helping my hair, but my nails (which I bite constantly) are stronger than they have ever been, and seem to be growing like weeds despite my bad habit of biting them off! Good luck and be sure to talk to your doc about the best time to do a hormone panel! Let me know what they say, they all have a different opinion! Oh, and as far a dermatologists go, do your research, some of them can be kind of useless.

[Lucy4]

Thanks to everyone who has responded.

Kawawa--Your photos are truly inspiring. It's great to know that such impressive results can be achieved with a topper. Thanks for showing me some options.

Natasha--good luck with your blood test results, and keep us posted. My test didn't give me the answers I was looking for, but I think it's important to keep on searching. This website is a great resource.

Currently I'm not on any prescription meds which might be suspect, and I've tried to be kind to my hair and scalp over the years--seldom use hair coloring or even hair dryers. So at least I'll have a clear idea whether or not my supplements are helping within a few weeks. I may give biotin a try too, since I've read some positive things about it.
Thanks again everyone.

Lucy4

[natasha]

Stacey2478
Thank you for the information! My lab results have been sitting on the doctors desk for 2 days and she has not called me to give me results (fustrating when doctors don't realize their patients are anxiously waiting).
No matter what happens success or not with stopping this aggressive shed, I will let you all know the results. I hope to help someone out with a success story :)
I have stopped all prescription medications (one week along). I thought yesterday I was noticing less of a shed...but I think it was wishful thinking.
I'm taking valerian root for my insomnia and that seems to be helping.
I will keep in touch. Good luck to all of us on this site! Please post if you are successful with your hair battle.

[Kellie246]

I don't know if this is at all related to this thread, but I read this article about lab mice with a certain gene that causes cyclical shedding...

http://www.ukmedix.com/hair-loss/more_hair_loss_genetic_research4875.cfm

[kawawa]

I must be related to the mice family! That's right, just call me mousy.

[Lisah]

Does anyone think it could be harmful to take to many vitamins for hairloss??? My family thinks that I am taking to many and that may be my problem... But I know it's not the problem but I do worry sometimes what It may be doing to my liver or other organs?? I have to take thyroid medicine, I take b/p medicine and the rest are for hair.....Biotin-Iron 150 provillus, but I can NOT tell a difference either way but still am scared to stop for fear of worse if that is even possible. The iron issue is a big gray area to me because everyone seems to have low iron and does it really matter what your iron level is anyway???? hope for a better day for everyone with HL!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks, Lisah

[Lisah]

Thanks PattiV
That makes me fell better!! I am sure hoping my iron will come up soon, the shedding has been so bad for soooo long and my iron has been low for over three years now. They have just put me on the Iron-150 per day and I am praying this helps me. The highest reading in the last few years was 51 and that was in January. Last testing a few weeks ago was back down to 38 ....I guess because of very bad periods all my life and never having been preg.. I am keeping my fingers crossed!!! Thanks for your help, Lisah

[Lucy4]

I've begun to see my predicted slow down of my annual hair loss, so I thought I would update with my results and observations.

As in the past several years, mid-October marks the end of my major shedding. My experiment with iodine supplementation (via kelp) and selenium may have helped with the amount of hair lost, but didn't seem to make any difference with the amount of time the hair loss takes place--around 100 days. This year I do seem to have more hair intact, but not enough difference to recommend these supplements if you are borderline with your TSH test, as I was. This time around, I counted my hair loss and it averaged out at around 100 hairs per day.

I just had my yearly physical, and my doc suggested alopecia areata based on my imput, and he didn't even examine my scalp. He didn't have any suggestion as to why this is so cyclical for me. So I will regroup and continue to educate myself before the next round. I'm just hoping for healthy regrowth before next July.

I'm so grateful for this site, and I will continue to contribute to the exchange of information here as much as possible. And thanks again for those who have offered advice and support.
~Lucy :)

[Denise B.]

You have to educate yourself and find out what works best. I am finding that everyones hairloss is individual even though it may be diagnosed as this or that disease process. We also have to be firm with these docs. People don't seem to take hairloss very seriously.

Please keep use informed about your progress. For the more you know we all will know.

I have been taking biotin 5 mg for while now. I don't know so much about my hair, but my nails are alot stronger and don't break as easily. I will continue the biotin cause I think it can't hurt.:>

[Lucy4]

Just an update. I've been seeing some pretty good regrowth this time around (I'm a seasonal shedder). I have been taking 10mg of biotin daily for a few weeks now, as well as increasing iron in my diet. Maybe it's a coincidence, but I'm grateful. I'm still at a loss as to how to diminish the shedding which will probably ramp up in July, but I've got some time to do more research.

[Lucy4]

I thought I would update this thread one last time to let people know what worked and what didn't for my seasonal TE.

Short recap...I have annual significant hair loss for around 4 months (July-Oct). I have fairly good regrowth (not robust) until the next July rolls around and it starts all over again. After several years of dealing with this, I have concluded that the trigger is a combination of hormones (I'm post-menopausal with sub-clinical hypothyroid numbers), and I'm probably responding to the heat of the summer months as well.

In the last year I have concentrated mostly on nutrition and supplements to get results, and I saw definite improvement over previous years, not only in the amount of hair lost, but also in the regrowth.

First I made a concerted effort to get more animal protein and iron into my diet. For years I rarely ate red meat. So I try to eat meat (including beef liver) more often. Second, I supplement my diet with kelp which has 150 mcg of iodine to support my thyroid. Third, I use a selenium-based shampoo (like Selsun) fairly regularly during the heaviest shedding period. I'm not certain that it played a big role, but I did have less shedding during this experiment.
The fourth thing that helped for the regrowth was supplementing with biotin.

I hope this information might help anyone who has similar recurring TE as I do.

Warm wishes and encouragement to all...

Lucy