Hair Loss - Audubon,IA

Updated on January 21, 2012
J.K. asks from Audubon, IA
5 answers

As some of you know I'll be seeing a rheumatologist soon due to some blood work and symptoms that point in that direction. I've had the feeling for a long time that it isn't RA because everything I've read said that it's symmetrical, and my pains are NEVER symmetrical.

Just a fore-note, I don't read a lot of this stuff out of hypochondria, I like learning about it even if DON'T have it... Medical issues/diseases interest me!

I've been reading a bit about Lupus lately to make myself familiar with it, and I plan to read up on the other auto-immune connective tissue diseases, so I'm prepared for whatever diagnosis I may get. One of the symptoms of Lupus is hair loss...So what is considered significant hair loss?

Ever since I was a teenager I remember my hair falling out a lot. In my mind, if your hair is on the pillow when you wake up or you have bald spots, it's significant, but that doesn't happen to me. Instead, I have hairs all over the bathroom, they fall out in the kitchen. When I shower, wash my hair and run my fingers through it, every time I end up with hair coming out! I've always had thick hair so it's never concerned me much. I did ask a hair stylist when I was about 17 if it was significant, but she said that weather and the condition of your hair can cause it to fall out and that that is normal.

I should say that I dye my hair and I KNOW this can cause it to fall out. But even over the periods of time where I have never dyed my hair, it falls out. It falls out in the same amount when I dye it. I take pristine care of my hair. I use organic, sulfate free shampoo, I condition it with heavy moisturizing conditioner for 5 minutes every time. I protect my hair with a heat protector if I straighten it or blow dry it, which I do rarely these days.

How do I know if my hair is falling out too much or if this is normal? TIA

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More Answers

M.L.

answers from Houston on

Lupus hairloss is mostly caused by lesions/rash on the scalp, not from internal hair loss. Sometimes, hairloss will be caused by inflammation or swelling, so you should be able to see if that is the factor when the Dr. checks your scalp. So if you don't have the scalp sores or scalp inflammation, than lupus is most likely not the reason for hair loss. I also had similar bloodwork and had to go to a rhuematologist for possible ra or lupus and was also having hairloss at the time, so I really focused my research on that. While ra has the symptom of symmetrical joint pain, other forms of arthritis do not.

Hair loss can be attributed to thryroid problems, hormonal changes, stopping breastfeeding, some medicine side effects, alopecia, trauma or stress. Mechanical hairloss (meaning not from within the root) is from stress we put on our hair, such as chemical breakage, too much combing/brushing especially when hair is wet, too tight ponytails...

I am a hairstylist and hair goes through resting periods. So, in essence, one side of your head may be in a growing phase, while the back of your head may be in a resting phase and another part of your head wil be in the fall out phase. So, it's fairly normal for hair to always be falling out... They way you can tell if you have hairloss as a women that is not typical, is if there are areas in which you are seeing the scalp more, and if you put your hair in a ponytail, and the diameter is much thinner than usual.

3 moms found this helpful

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

What you described is how my hair falls out and that is perfectly normal. I always have new little hairs which of course make my hair look frizzy but still they are replacing the ones that fall out.

I am 43 and my hair is just as thick as it was when I was 20 and my hair has always fallen out in that volume.

I could run one hand through my hair right now and have five to ten hairs in that hand, sound about right?

Oh I have thick curly hair.

2 moms found this helpful
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P.K.

answers from Milwaukee on

Have your thyroid checked if you haven't already!!!

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M.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

My hair is everywhere with lots in the vacuum too. My scalp is flaky too. Ugh!! It looks real nice and healthy though. I had to laugh when my 9 yr. old said, "Mom, you have pretty hair for a 44 year old." I was told to use biotin, but have yet to try it. Good luck with the Doctor. I pray it isn't lupus. There are 2 types, I think and my good friend has suffered much with it.

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T.B.

answers from Milwaukee on

Have you had your thyroid checked? Losing hair is also a symptom of a thyroid problem.

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