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To Everyone Experiencing Hair Loss....From: Pam (anonymous@obgyn.net)Wed, 22 Nov 2000 08:03:16 -0600 (CST)
If I can help any of you experiencing hair loss feel a little better, it will make what I've went through have some sort of meaning. About 4 years ago (I was 26 then), my long, thick, gorgeous hair fell to the floor in clumps when I was having it colored (this is NOT what caused the problem). This is when the excessive hair on the face, etc, etc. began also. I also began experiencing scalp itching something awful at the same time. This is what I have learned from four years of intense research on hair loss. 90% of female hair loss is termed androgenic alopecia (meaning wacked-out hormones are the problem). What finally stopped the loss for me was finding a doctor who agreed that my thyroid was on the low side, even though tests were "normal". This also helped my skin, although not 100%. this was before they figured out I also have PCOS. One important thing to remember is that it is very rare for a woman to go 100% bald. I mean, very rare. My mother has this disorder also, and she is also now menopausal, a double whammy to the hair, and her hair got thin and still is. She thought she would go bald too, but it didn't happen. There are basically three things that cause hair loss in women. Messed up hormones, childbirth, surgery, and starting or stopping BCP's. The reason for this is that hair follicles are very sensitive to chemical and hormonal changes. Any extreme stress to the body can cause it. Hair grows in 3 month cycles, so what usually happens is for example: You go on the BCP, everything is great for a while, then you go off it. Your hormone levels dramatically change and the hair in the growing phase at that time is affected. 3 months later you think you are going bald. I have had months of counting every SINGLE hair that fell out in the shower (some days up to 300!). Normal hair fallout per day is 50-100, depending on the individual. My second experience with hair loss was when I let my doctor talk me into taking BCP's to try to control some of the symptoms of this disease earlier this year. If you read the information that comes with the BCP's, hair loss is listed as a side effect. I decided to take Ortho-Tricyclen because they rave about how it clears up acne so well. I immediately broke out worse, much worse, so I stopped them after one month. My hair fell out like crazy again for about 6 months afterward, although not as bad as the first time. I think this time I wasn't as freaked out about it because I knew what was happening and why and knew I would NOT go bald. Believe me, it has taken me a lot of sleepless nights and nightmares like you wouldn't believe to finally have this attitude. As for the dating situation, yes, it really made that difficult. My hair has always been my crowning glory and to lose that to me was like to lose everything. I know it sounds superficial. But I found that most guys are really understanding. They are people, just like us. They get zits on their rear, just like us (my drop dead gorgeous boyfriend got one once and was SOOO embarrassed). I was really surprised because he understood and stood by me. I just want to tell you guys...my hair has thickened back up again. It really did. I never would have believed it would. Twice now. My advice to you would be to go to the doctor and get a TSH test for thyroid (goes hand in hand with PCOS). Normal range for women is 1-6, but most women feel normal at 1-2. Find a doc who is willing to try. It took me four docs to find one. You can also take your asal body temperature (in the armpit, before you get out of the bed in the morning - anything below 97.9 is sub normal). If you're insulin resistant, get on Metformin, and Spironolactone is supposed to help with hair loss also. I am currently planning on starting Met soon, and it that doesn't help my skin I will then try Spiro also. Hope this has helped, Pam I'm sorry for being so long winded. I just had to see if I could make you feel better.
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