How's your hair with SS?

[Pamela]

I started losing my hair years ago before I new about the SSJ.  I was using the Rogaine but my cosmetologist told me to stop using that and use Nioxin.  It's a 3 step program.  It was awesome and all my hair grew back.  I used it for years but then was reading an article about chemicals in shampoo's etc. that cause brain cancer.  I checked the Nioxin and it was full of the bad chemicals.  I got scared and quit using it!  Now my hair is falling out again.  I started using Biotin for my hair and nails but it hasn't helped like the Nioxin did.  I'm trying to stay all Natural with my shampoo and soap.  I even use the natural hair dye.  Has anyone else used or heard of the Nioxin?

[Pinkfish]

So it seems to be pretty typical for SS. If you have long enough hair, try putting it in a bun on top of your head while sleeping. I have found that it helps a lot on the "pillow rubbing" damage to the hair. Also, argan oil is amazing! I have started soaking myself (mostly face and hands) in it before bed every night. Just wait until it dries a little before hopping in bed. Lucky me gets zits even with the dry and flakey skin on my face, but the oil doesn't make me break out more than I normally do.

[gemini052377]

Pinkfish, I once had long, soft, strait and shiny hair. Hashimoto's thyroid had already begun to wreck havoc on my hair before my Sjogren's dx. It is still long, thankfully thick enough you cannot tell how much sheds/falls out each morning and night, no matter what I do it is very dry.

[4Kids]

My hair is not what It was, but it has bounced back. Biotin, Cod Liver Oil, B12, Iron supplements, grass fed beef bone broth, and MANY applications of olive oil on dry hair, let sit for 30 mins, and washing out have helped. I have PCOS so take Spiro for that, and that too helps with the androgens that can cause havoc on hair loss.

I also use expensive shampoo for dry hair.

But the quickest thing for a help is to thoroughly coat it with olive oil, cover with saran, go enjoy a tub and wash out.

hth

[Thea]

The pharmacist suggested baby shampoo. I got a bottle of some nice unscented "natural" stuff. Will see how it does. She also suggested as above, putting baby oil (or olive oil) directly on the scalp.

[gemini052377]

Thanks for the info, I will look into the supplements and definitely try the olive oil!

[Tivia]

Very dry and brittle, falls out and is thinning. I guess its the sjogrens side of things.

[litliwlowa]

I forgot, but mayonnaise is also a good conditioner and "moistener". Sounds gross, but it works. Similar to olive oil, work the mayo in your hair, cover with plastic wrap, leave on for about 20 minutes, then rinse.

[SjoGirl]

I fortunately have not been losing hair, but it is dry as a bone. I keep it short and plan to go pixie length (much to the dismay of my husband). It looks horrible when it's longer.

I use baby shampoo, wash it only a couple of times and week, and use a mask as conditioner (the regular conditioners do nothing).

Keeping it shorter I also don't have to use a curling iron which dries it out more.

[SjoDry]

The other day I got home just in time to see Dr. Oz on tv. He had some male stylist on & they were talking about dry hair. He said that the best shampoo for very dry hair is sulfate-free.

At the conference this past weekend, I went over to the sample table to get some of my favorite green gum. There were 2 women talking at the table. The one woman was saying that she uses the ReviTEAlize shampoo and how great it was. I saw that the same company that makes the green gum had both shampoo & conditioner on the table with some other dry mouth products.

I heard her say that she used to use Rogaine shampoo all the time because she had terribly thinning hair, but that she had started using the ReviTEAlize shampoo that was on the table and her hair had gotten much thicker.

Mine is thinning some...but it is definitely very dry and am thinking about trying the shampoo I saw. Maybe it will help to look thicker & have more moisture in it? Guess it couldn't hurt & if it doesn't work, it can join all of my other hair & cosmetic products in the beauty gone wrong, graveyard :-/

Sjodry

[machenza]

Thanks for the info, I will look into the supplements and definitely try the olive oil!

BTW in a medical almanac from 1922 I found a text on topical pilpcarpine that states it can be used as a hair restoration. I also found online that there are shampoos and oils with it, so I am going to give it a try.

Nellie

[Nymph]

Sjodry,

I use shapoos without sulfates most of the time, and it does really help. My favorite is Trader Joe's moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. It is cheap for an all-natural product. I use their conditioner as a leave-in, too. I do have to use a clarifying shampoo about once a week, too, to avoid scalp gunk and mineral build-up. It sounds like the shampoo you saw might be a good one. There are a lot more sulfate-free choices on the drug store shelves these days. You just have to make sure to not use products that are going to build up on your hair with them, as sulfate-free shampoo isn't strong enough to get that stuff out of your hair.

[twilite]

hi Nellie 

"pilpcarpine" are you talking about the pilocarpine that we take for dryness?

Thanks ~ twilite

[litliwlowa]

There are a lot more sulfate-free choices on the drug store shelves these days.

Aveeno now has a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner.

[wildforwater]

I have no problems with my hair unless my thyroid levels are off.  Then it's dry and dull and and I also lose a lot of it.  As soon as my endo gets my levels normal, my hair is back to looking good.

Maria