Sjogrens World Forums

Sjogrens Topics => Living Life In Spite of Sjogren's => Topic started by: Autumn on July 17, 2012, 06:26:29 PM

Title: Any successful treatments for thinking hair?
Post by: Autumn on July 17, 2012, 06:26:29 PM
I was looking through some of my medical records prior to a visit with my PC doctor. On one of the first visits when I started feeling something was not right, I expressed my concern with my hair falling out in handfuls. Well here we are nearly eight years later, and I was told I have Sjogren's. My hair is getting thinner by the day, lol at least I know the reason now. Has anyone found something to help?
Title: Re: Any successful treatments for thinking hair?
Post by: Joe S. on July 17, 2012, 07:44:14 PM
Alopecia would be a key word that you could use to search.
Title: Re: Any successful treatments for thinking hair?
Post by: iraisin on July 17, 2012, 08:12:36 PM
I don't know about the hair loss issue, but if you find it is breaking and changing texture to something much less pleasant, Use the Nexxus pro-mend treatments. I use the shampoo, conditioner, then the leave-in conditioner after I towel dry, then I don't use the hairdryer and let it dry naturally.

It has done wonders. Plus I don't have to deal w/the hot air on my head and the heat itself.

Good luck!

And welcome to the board.
Title: Re: Any successful treatments for thinking hair?
Post by: sass on July 17, 2012, 08:47:27 PM
did you mean thinning hair??
ALTHOUGH........I think me likes thinking hair!  in fact, yes..I prefer it! 
Title: Re: Any successful treatments for thinking hair?
Post by: mshistory on July 18, 2012, 06:18:39 AM
Thinning hair is what brought me to the doctor in the first place. I brushed off joint pain and fatigue and other symptoms, but when I noticed just how much hair I had lost, I finally went to the dermatologist who ran some blood tests and found my sky-high ANA, which sent me to the rheumy and here I am a year later.

I use Rogaine Foam once daily (at night, then wash it out in the morning). Lupus patients (there isn't much info out there about alopecia and hair loss with Sjogren's but my rheumatologist said SjS can definitely cause it just like lupus) are often advised to use Rogaine to try to help regrow hair, but, unfortunately, it won't stop the loss.

Treatments like Plaquenil and Imuran can help reduce hair loss by reducing the inflammation and AI activity (I didn't see a huge difference while on Plaquenil and wasn't on Imuran long enough to tell).

Some medications they use to treat these diseases can make hair loss worse like oral steroids and methotrexate.

I really wish I had more positive news to share, but unfortunately, I don't expect to ever get my hair back to the way it used to be and at this point, I'm just trying to stay out of a wig for as long as possible.

Getting a shorter cut will help with the appearance of fullness and certain styles can cover really thin areas (I have a pixie cut now... it's the only style I could get away with at this point...)

Good luck and I hope you have much better results than I have at stopping this hair loss!! I know how distressing it is.
Title: Re: Any successful treatments for thinning hair?
Post by: Autumn on July 18, 2012, 03:44:34 PM
Sass,
LOL , I love my iPad but the auto correct has a mind of it's own. If I knew my hair was thinking, I would tell it to think hard about staying on my head!

Mshistory,
I never considered myself a vain person, really a low maintenance girl, however I'm not ready for wigs or being bald. I remember Demi Moore and Sigourney Weaver, yeah they can pull it off not me. A few people have suggested the Rogaine, so what have I got to lose (sorry bad pun, just trying not to feel depressed) I've been thinking about a new hairdo, that's probably a good plan.

Iraisin
I've tried a couple of products, but not those. Thanks for the tip.

Thank you all for the comments. It means a lot to know there are people feeling just like you.
Wishing you all good days!
Title: Re: Any successful treatments for thinking hair?
Post by: WildThing on July 18, 2012, 03:51:39 PM
If it's thinking:  give it a book to read!

If it's thinning:  scalp massages can encourage new hair growth.
Title: Re: Any successful treatments for thinking hair?
Post by: Autumn on July 18, 2012, 03:55:22 PM
 :D good idea
Title: Re: Any successful treatments for thinking hair?
Post by: Joe S. on July 18, 2012, 05:36:59 PM
Try the frequencies here: http://www.chakraforce.com/Tonations.html#6.
3 min / tone, 2 to 3 times per day.