Hair loss and Viviscal

[Poppylop]

Hi, just wondering if anyone on here has tried any of the Viviscal range for their hairloss, my hair is falling out really badly on the pred, it's really getting me down, Holland and barrett had an offer on it so I googled it and found it had good reviews so bought the shampoo, conditioner, elixir and suppliments, I started it all at the weekend so still very early days but just thought I would ask if anyone has had good results on it.

[Hidden]

Hi Poppy

If you just put ‘Viviscal’ in search, just the one word, lots of Posts come up.

I’ve tried it, nice products but no real affect for me but l’ve had a double whammy by having Chemo as well as Prednisolone, so l’m not the best person to give an opinion.

healthunlocked.com/user/Amb...

Is from PMRGCAUK & she’s tried it

MrsN

[piglette]

I tried absolutely everything to sort out the haystack on my head. In fact Viviscal was the only thing that had any effect.

[Blearyeyed]

Looking at what's in the supplements , I think you would do as well with any woman's multivitamin / mineral and biotin either as a separate supplement or in combination , and Omega 3 to compliment . It would cost a lot less money after your offer has expired .

I haven't used the hair products , my Auntie tried them to cope with her more severe alopecia issues but she went back onto Plantur 39 and another hair oil whose name escapes me .

I use African black soaps all over now , a Shea butter and hemp oil shampoo and some African hair oil and virgin hair lotion , natural base products , which have reduced my hair loss and thickened my hair more than I have managed before . I don't wash my hair as often as I used to either as stripping the natural oils from the hair and scalp does cause more hair loss and damage. I think increasing Protein and Vitamin C/ D / Omega 3 in my diet has also helped as it is Collagen issue that has caused my life long hair and nail problems , the medications just add to it.

Hope it works for you

[Choco-Holic]

I’m using it and think my hair loss is slowing down. That said, I wash my hair as little as possible (twice a week max) used to wash it at least every other day! If it upsets me I just tie it up so I can’t see it so much! I’m going to stick with Viviscal for now as it’s not doing me any harm. I’m taking prednisolone and methotrexate, so both could be to blame for me. I also take 5mg folic acid 6 days per week (not methotrexate day). X

[sandrathecat]

Morning Poppylop, yes, I have been using Viviscal for a year now and have found that it helped me a lot. I take the tablets and use the elixir which is great and really boosts the volume of my hair. You can use the elixir on wet or dry hair. I don't wash my hair as often as I used to and using the elixir each day seems to thicken the look of my hair and stops it looking dry.

[Poppylop in reply to sandrathecat]

Hi sandrathecat, have you had any stomach problems with it, I've been taking it for a week now and my tummy has been playing me up a bit, and been feeling a bit sick, I've got ibs and ulcerative colitis, so not sure if it's the tablets or just my dodgy tummy.

[sandrathecat in reply to Poppylop]

No, no problems with it Poppylop. Stick with it for a while as it has helped my hair a lot. My hairdresser says that my hair has thickened up quite a bit since I started taking it. I have taken it for a year now so I think you have to take it for a while before results show. Might be the pred upsetting your tummy. Hope your tummy problems settle down.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Poppylop]

They are listed adverse effects:

aaom.org/hair-care/viviscal...

[OutdoorsyGal]

I bought the shampoo and conditioner and think it helped what hair I had left FEEL and LOOK fuller, but it didn’t grow any new hair, IMO.

Getting PMR inflammation down and getting off prednisone did help with regrowth, and Biotin capsules (which I had been taking BEFORE PMR), helped a LOT with texture, making the rough cuticle lie down, so my hair felt smoother and looked shinier.

The Viviscal effect, IMO, is either a moisture-attracting effect that makes hair shafts seem thicker, or an electrostatic effect that makes hairs “repel” each other, simulating more fullness.

That said, I have used up my Viviscal products (they smell nice in a minty way) and am reverting back to my former shampoo and conditioner, but continuing to take 5000 Biotin every day.

Good luck!

[PMRCanada]

I’ve heard it works for some folks but then as soon as they stop, their hair returns to the same condition it was before they started. I also investigated a number of products when my hair was starting to shed/thin about 3 months after starting pred. Seems to me Viviscal products had an ingredient that didn’t sit well with me.

I find 5,000mg of Biotin helps greatly, not only with texture and fullness, but growth too. Chewed my thin fingernails all my life, but now on biotin my nails and hair grow and my fingernails are harder. I also use John Freida Volume hair products and they are amazing.

Our hair is such an important part of who we are and how we view ourselves. So sorry that you are experiencing loss. Hope your products work for you.

[BoaterAnnie in reply to PMRCanada]

Just want to double check the dosage you mentioned for biotin since I am experiencing hair loss too. Is it by any chance 5,000 mcg (not mg)? Thanks.

[PMRCanada in reply to BoaterAnnie]

You are correct, the dose is in mcg. Thanks for pointing this out.

[BoaterAnnie in reply to PMRCanada]

Thanks! I'm going to order some

[Poppylop in reply to PMRCanada]

Hi, I have been taking biotin for a while, I got them from Holland and barrett, they are 1000ug, is this the same as mg, I've also seen mcg on here, I'm not sure if it's all the same or not and whether I have been taking enough or not.

[PMRCanada in reply to Poppylop]

As I have posted above, a correction. My biotin dose is indeed mcg....not mg. 5000 daily.

[PMRCanada in reply to Poppylop]

I also found this list below (2018).

I do eat eggs, berries every morning with my Greek yoghurt, avocados, and take omega 3 supplement. This combined with the Biotin has helped my hair and nails, but I know others who don’t get the same positive results??

Here are the 14 best foods you can eat to promote hair growth.

Eggs. Eggs are a great source of protein and biotin, two nutrients that may promote hair growth. ...

Berries. Berries are loaded with beneficial compounds and vitamins that may promote hair growth. ...

Spinach. ...

Fatty Fish. ..

Sweet Potatoes. ...

Avocados. ...

Nuts. ...

Seeds.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Poppylop]

microgrammes (mcg) are .001 milligrammes (mg) - factor of 1000 difference!

Converting micrograms (mcg) and milligrams (mg)

1 microgram (mcg or µg) = 0.001 milligrams (mg) 1 microgram (mcg) = 1000 nanograms (ng) 1 milligram (mg) = 1000 micrograms (mcg) 1 gram (g) = 1000 milligrams (mg)