Hair Loss - Help!

[tsvales]

Hi all,

Has anyone lost enough hair to make a difference?  What did you do?  I have lost my hair to the point of patchy baldness in the front and crown and a quarter size circle of baldness in the back.  I don't know what to do.  My hair goes every which way now.  I can't seem to control it at all.  My husband said just to wear a scarf when I go out.  I can't stand to look in a mirror, I am more concerned with that than going out.  Help!!!!!

Sandi 

[susanmarie]

I've lost patches over the past few months. Apparently it's part of my lupus. It seems to have slowed down and I'm growing hair again. I started taking vitamins specifically for hair, skin & nails (in fact, i believe that's the name of the product)...you can get it at your local drugstore I'm sure.

[tsvales]

Susan, what's the name of the vitamin?  Either, I can't read right or you didn't say. LOLOLOL

Sandi

[Pooh]

Hi Sandi,
I think it's this dang disease.  A while back my hair started to fall out so bad I could rub my hands together and just ball it up after shampooing.  I too have a deep widow's peak but cover the bald space with my bangs.  Also the top is getting very thin.  I've tried vitamins and a number of dry scalp remedies to no avail.  Some of it has grown back in and most of it has stopped falling out, but it is not nearly as thick as it once was.  I wish I could tell you something incouraging but I think we all have gone through it.  Ask your doctor about it when you see him/her, it's possible one of meds is contributing to the loss.

Take care,
Hugs, Pooh

[tsvales]

Thaniks, Pooh.  I showed my Rheumy or rather he saw my head and said it's the Methotrexate and asked if I wanted to go off the Meth.  I want to see if this med helps, so I said no.  Now I am really getting worried.  Ready to get my husband's clippers.  LOL

Take care,
Sandi

[Scottietottie]

Hi Sandi 

My hairdresser recommended zinc supplements for thinning hair. My hair thinning was caused by thyroid problems though, not meds.
Zinc might be worth a try. Apparently if you don't need it - it tastes metallic. If you do - it tastes chalky or of nothing.
Check that it wouldn't interact with other meds.

Take care - Scottie 

[irish]

I have lost some hair in front on top and on the sides and the rest of my hair is much thinner. I have no bald spots but it is thin enough that can see scalp in certain areas so I have to keep it curly and fluffy. I have the high thyroid antibodies plus the Sjogrens so guess hair loss is to be expected. I told my hubby that I was not going to mess around if it got real thin. I was just going to get a wig and wear it when the thin times come round.

I am to the point that I have not got much pride left. This is from someone who went without her bottom 4 front teeth for about a year before they decided to pull all of them. I just joke about my losses as it doesn't do much good to lament over them. I have a different outlook on life then a lot of people, I know plus I have changed my outlook on lots of things since I became ill. I get more upset over my flower garden that is overgrown with weeds than I do over going bald.

If I lose all my hair my hubby will have a double treat in the morning---no hair and no teeth. He is such a good sport!!!!!Also, I think you can also buy some of the hairpieces that can be used to fill in on the top or crown of head when it thins out. Take care all and look for pretty scarves. Irish

Please join us for our chats.For more information about live chats go to: http://www.sjogrensworld.org/chats.htm

[tsvales]

Hi Irish,  I know EXACTLY what you mean.  I am ready to just cut it all off.  Somehow, I think that would make me feel better.  I just recently got my upper teeth pulled and I told my husband that guess he never thought he would be waking up next to a fat, toothless, bald woman!  He said that's OK, I just look like him now!  Like that made me feel better!  LOLLOL  It's really very hard to take care of yourself.  I remember when I never went anywhere without makeup.  I don't remember when I wore makeup last.  Definitely eats at the self-esteem and self-worth, doesn't it?

Take care,
Sandi

[susanmarie]

Sorry! The vitamin supplement is called "Hair, Skin & Nails"

[Debora]

Too bad we couldn't lose the weight and gain the teeth and hair!

Funny about this hair thread, I was trying to deceide if I should get my hair cut, its a mess!

I used to wear make up all the time, my friends still tease me about all of us going way out in the mountains to cut firewood and I had one make up and never got dirty!  I did just as much work as they did but you never know if a good looking guy is going to come out of the woodwork   
My friend-boy will be here tomorrow night or Friday morning, oh man, that means I will be putting on make-up, fixing my hair and cleaning my house!  Maybe it will put me in a positive mood since I hardly get to see him!

Take Care
Debora

[sallijessi78]

Sorry you are having to put up with this.Apart from the meds, how is your iron/ferritin levels?As when mine are low I lose more hair in chunks, and my gp and heamo both said the low iron can contribute to it,just a thought.
My good friend is going throught he same problem at the moment as her immuno drugs have made her lose alot of her hair(high doses of pred and cyclosporin), and she is also understandably very reluctant and self conscious to go out in public.I bought her a couple of cool hair bandanna's and hat but she feels she is too old to wear them.
Anyway I know it mustnt be fun and just hope that it starts settling for you soon.But hair or no hair, we will all still love ya.

Take care.
HUgs
sallijessi

[tsvales]

Thanks for all the info.  Susan, I will definitely check into that vitamin.  Thanks for the name, I was waiting for a Vitamin Q,Z, or something like that I didn't think it was Hair, Skin and Nails.  LOL

Salli, I just had a complete blood work done and everything is fine.  So I don't think there is a deficiency there. 

I have these bald patches in the front to my crown. The rest of the front is see-through as I call it.  I used to have very thick hair.  So this is really a shock to me.

Debora, you are so funny.  I was the same way with makeup and all that. I know I have gotten bad when the other day I put perfume on and when my husband came home from work he said where did you go today?  I looked a mess, but was in the bathroom and just saw the perfume and sprayed some on.  I said look at me where do you think I went?  LOL

Take Care
Sandi

[susanmarie]

I can't say for sure that it will help your hair grow back but it does give you vitamins that should help with further loss. Have you tried rogaine for women? that might be worth a shot too! just trying to think of some more ideas for you

[Lady M]

I also experienced hair loss...so much so that my bathroom sink looked furry....   My problem was Plaquenil...apparently if you take it long enough, hair loss can result.  I reduced my dose from 200mg per day to 100, and that did the trick.  My hair stopped falling out so much....and the reduced dose is still enough to keep my fatigue in check. 

Good luck to you!   

[susanep]

Just remember when we all worry about our hair loss etc. that most of the stars on t.v. and movies have had all kinds of things done and added to look like they do. Strip all that away from them and well, we might really be surprised. Also we live in a day and time that when  you take a look at some of the young people you can see various hair styles with razor cuts, streaks, mohawks and all kinds of things. Wow, when you think about it ,we all look pretty good. 

susanep