HairLoss

Updated on October 06, 2007
K.R. asks from Ridgewood, NY
10 answers

My hair has been falling out for over a year. My son is 16mos old now and it's still falling out. I know that it's normal for your hair to fall out after you have a baby. But I feel it's time to stop. It's noticable on my sides (temples) and on top by the hair line. I've gone to two doctors, they've run many tests on me and everything comes back normal. I want to know if anyone has any advise or suggestions on what I can do to help it stop and grow back. Please, help.....I love my hair.

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C.M.

answers from New York on

Hi K.,

I had this problem too but mine was due to a low thyroid (hypothyroidism) which is now finally under control (just recently) and my son is now 14 months old. My doctor told me that this was extremely common after you have a baby (your hormones go out of wack). Not sure what tests they ran on your but just check to see if they tested your TSH, T3, and T4 for your thyroid. I wish you well and hopefully you find out what is causing it. Good luck!

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T.L.

answers from New York on

Dear K.,

Native Remedies has a homeopathic formula to help hair regrow.
You can find Regrow Massage Oil on my web page at
http://happytales.home.att.net/NativeRemedies.html
There are lot's of great remedies here for children adults and pets. Psychologists recommend and use many of these remedies.

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K.D.

answers from New York on

I'm a hairdresser, so I'll tell you what I know... hair loss can be caused by a number of things, of course anything going on in your body, medications you may be taking, and vitamin/mineral lack thereof, could make more hair than normal fall out. If you're not on medication, and relatively healthy, you can assume there's a good chance it's some deficiency. Aside from eating healtier, the things you can do, are adding a good multi vitamin to your daily intake. The other thing you can do... and this works very effectively, somehow... add gelatin to your diet. There are Knox brand drinks, but they can get a little pricey... consuming jello works just as good. Doesn't have to be brand named Jello of course... Stop and Shop brand, whatever. Eat about a half cup every day, and I kid you not, you'll see, within a month, a huge difference in the amount of hair your lose per day. Figure, hair grows a half an inch per month, so it takes a while for things to kick in... but... I mean, I've had a lot of clients do this, and without fail, they all come back and tell me they notice a big difference. Good luck!

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Q.F.

answers from New York on

i've heard this is completely normal. a friend of mine had the same problem. not wanting to just wait it out to grow back, she started using the womens rogaine. it worked for her. i have to add in, try to leave your hair alone (not too much brushing, touching, etc.) brushing it too often makes it break much easier, it doesn't make it healthy like they said many years ago. also, i noticed when i was extremely stressed that i was starting to thin on the sides. once i realized it, i tried to pay attention to everything i was doing and see what was different. i noticed that i was actually pulling my hair out by running my fingers through my hair everytime i would get even the slightest bit stressed. after that i just kept my hair pulled back loosely (but tight enough to not feel the need to run my fingers through my hair and constantly fix it being tied back). my hair is no longer thinning like it was a few yrs ago. good luck

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A.M.

answers from New York on

Hi!! I specialize in womens hair replacement..
1st thyroid is usually the culprit after childbirth... have that checked asap.
Also anesthesia and certain meds can take up to a year to fully leave your sytem... sometime they can cause something called telogen effluvium in which the growth and rest cycles get screwed up.. this usually corrects itself within 6 onths to 1 year.
Hormone imbalance or lack of estrogen will also cause a problem with hairloss.. so be sure to have your estrogen levels checked as well.
Extreme dieting.. especiallty removing fat from your diet will definetly cause severe problem with growth and severe breakage... EFAs and omega 3 and 6 can be helpful with feeding the hair follicles with fatty acids and can also help your immune system.. biotin is also a helpful supplement for hair skin and nails.
Also Gelatin has never been scientifically shown to grow hair or nails so i wouldnt get my hopes up on that being effective.. at the very most , it MAY or may not make nails stronger thus allowing them to grow longer by preventing them from breaking off.
You normally shed 50-100 hairs per day.... when yours is shedding are you seeing the root /bulb on the ends? if not it could be a breakage issue possibly cause by lo or no fat diets.
Also , fertility meds can wreak havoc on the hair so thake that into consideration as well...
I have known some clients that swear by laser hair and scalp treatments too.. check out
http://www.bernsteinmedical.com/medical-treatments/lasert...

Also consider whether hairloss is something that runs in your family...
also a homeopathic dr maybe helpful too... they can analyze your hair and take other tests to determine which vitamoins an nutriets you might be defiecient in...

also seleniunm supplements may also be helpful, both for thyroid function and hairloss because studies have shown that many people with severre hairloss may have low selenium levels... selenium is found in mears , nuts, and other high protein foods...
also here is a list of drugs known to cause hairloss... see if you are currently taking any of these at http://www.regrowth.com/hairloss-articles/drug_induced_ha...

You might try mens rogaine to see if it produces any results, since its easy to get now... it might help if your issue is too much testosterone since rogaine attacks the dht allowing for regrowth... i have had female clients use it with some results in the hairline and temple areas.

Just to avert any problems do not consider womens hair replacement options that require braids, sewing or glues until you have fully given up on your hair.... once you start hair replcement services you are inkit for life... and even with the best care, they cause some damage.. so dont start that until you have tried everything else and feel like you have nothing to lose... that coming from someone who has dome womens hair replacement for 20 yrs... others in the field WILL not say that, they will tell you it will not damage your hair just to get your $$ so beware...
PS have the drs checked to be sure you have no auto immune issues? because thats a biggie too..

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S.Q.

answers from New York on

When I lost hair I took Vitamin B12 to stop losing it and make it stronger and Vitamin E to regrow it. hope it works for you.

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A.P.

answers from New York on

Hi K.,

I had the same problem with my hair falling out when I had my son who is now 8. I also lost a lot of weight. Come to find out it was my Tyroid. It was over-active. Right after I had him, I had lost about 20 to 30lbs putting me at 92lbs. The doctor didn't know what was going on until she had sent me for blood test. She tested for everything under the sun. It came back that my Throid was the problem. It finally healed itself so I didn't have to go on any meds. My hair came out so badly, that I had to cut it into a nice style. You may want to ask your PCP to have your Thyroid tested.

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M.

answers from New York on

Hi K.,
I guess we have a few things in common! First, I have a 9 year old daughter & a 21 month old baby girl...and I have had this problem with har loss & breakage with each one of them. I don't mean to sound negative, but there really isn't anything much you can do about it, excpet wait. I can tell you that my hair has really just begun to come back, especially in the temple area, and my daughter is now 21 months old. It is not abnormal. My hairdresser said he has seen it many times. It just takes time to resolve. I know it's stressful, but hang in there! It will come back shortly...
M.

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H.S.

answers from New York on

K.,
I know exactly what you're talking about. I have two children myself and after my second one, I experienced this. Did the doctor's visits, the tests, the empty results and the panic attacks too. I finally went to a Dermatologist. This is what they told ME ( I say this because everyone's hair is different ). Because of my hormones and my body, my hair folicles where at a halt. Everyone's hair has a certain length that it gets to and then that hair falls out and a new growth comes in. Picture this all over your head. People typically shed an average of 100 strands a day. Well, my hair had reached it's length and nothing was coming back in. She prescribed me Luxiq, which is a foam you are supposed to put in your hair 2xs a day and Rogaine for women, you're supposed to use 3xs a day. I gave it a shot, but every time I did my hair, I'd have to mess it up with this stuff and I was walking around with hair that looked dirty and messed up. I cried and refused to go anywhere. A friend of mine is a hair dresser and she gave me this shampoo and conditioner called Nioxin. Now you can get it anywhere. It's not cheap! There's all kinds for all hair types so choose wisely. You may be able to go online. The scent is a strong peppermint, not bad, just different, but you won't smell it when it's dry.( www.nioxin.com ). IT actually wakes up your folicles and cleans your scalp, so that any residue from styling or coloring is cleared of your scalp. She also told me to stop using so much hairspray, hairclips and ponytail holders. Use satin pillowcases, they're the gentlist on your hair. Have your hair cut with layers for less noticeability. Oh and the most important thing you probably want to hear, It most commonly grows back. Just take really good care of your scalp. STRESS had alot to do with it coming back, so relax and don't stress over this so much.
Your Friend From Experience,
H.

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L.Z.

answers from New York on

K., start taking your pre-natals again! Did you nurse?
I had a woman in my office that the same thing happened to, she did not nurse, but her hair did fall out in clumps especially in the front and the second she started taking the prenatals the folic acid and vitamin B complex restored her hair. Check with your doctor of course, but I do remember her going through lots of tests as well. Good luck!

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