Hair loss success ?

[Xheila]

Does anyone have a hair loss success story, where it started to grow back, and actually filled back in? If so, how did you accomplish it?

[shaws Administrator]

I cannot help, I'm sorry to say. I have lost my whole head of hair for the past 14 years. It is cyclical in that it drops out - just before summer and then slowly grows back and I usually got my first haircut about March each year. This year it hasn't grown back so haven 't needed to have it cut.

A few months ago I was diagnosed with a Polyglandular Autoimmune Condition No.3.and mine consists of Hypothyroidism/Alopecia Areata and Pernicious Anaemia.

Thankfully the hypo and P.A. can be treated but Alopecia is more difficult.

[Knip in reply to shaws]

I have never heard of polyglandular autoimmune condition before. I'm wondering if I would be classed as that...I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, Hypothyroidism, Chron's Disease, Fibrosing Alopecia, Alopecia Areata. Quite a list, all of which are considered to be due to an overactive immune system. The patch of hair I have on my crown is very useful for keeping me warm at night, but is slowly diminishing. I shall mourn it's loss if or when it has all gone! ❤️

[shaws Administrator in reply to Knip]

I would think you also have the same condition as I have.

I believe that you would need a confirmation from an Endocrinologist (and hope he/she has some knowledge about it) and I would try to make an appointment with one and hopefully he'll know about 'polyglandular'.

You can always take along a copy of the following and say you would like a confirmation that you have this condition or not. I have read one other post on this forum for this condition. So the more the merrier (at least we might get all of the replacements we may need).

msdmanuals.com/en-gb/profes...

[Knip in reply to shaws]

That article is very interesting. My B12 has been checked and is fine. My brother has type 2 diabetes and B12 deficiency for which he has injections two monthly. My late younger brother had Type 1 Diabetes from the age of 19 and also Addison's Disease. It sounds as if they may have had similar issues to you.

The problem with my adrenal glands is that when I am have adrenaline for anything, eg surgery, my blood pressure drops dangerously low. The opposite to the usual reaction. It is now at the top of my notes in red that it shouldn't be administered...including the notes that the ambulance service has access to, because it would be the 'go to' if I collapsed. I will mention it to the Doctor if/when I see him...appointments are currently like gold dust! Take care, xx

[shaws Administrator in reply to Knip]

😃

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What are your most recent iron, ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D results

Previous post shows results from 2017 terrible ferritin

TSH 2.8 (0.40-4.50 mIU/L)

Free T4 0.9 (0.8-1.8 NG/DL)

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODIES <1 (<OR=1 IU/ML)

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES 33 (<9 IU/ML)

HOMOCYSTEINE 16.4 (<10.4 UMOL/L)

Ferritin 14 (10-232 NG/ML)

B12, serum 348 (200-1100 PG/ML)

Vitamin D 24 (30-100 NG/ML)

[Xheila in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for your response.

My most recent bloodwork

September 20, 2021

Ferritin 27 (16-232 ng/mL) *this was the highest it's ever been*

Iron 187 (40-190 mcg/dL) It is usually OVER range

April 30,2021

Vitamin D 35 (30-100 ng/mL)

Vitamin B-12 803 (200-1100 pg/mL)

Folate, Serum >24.0 ng/mL (Reference Range Low: <3.4; Borderline: 3.4-5.4; Normal: >5.4)

I supplement with Vitamin D 10,000 IU (5,000 in summer), Methyl Vitamin B-12 2,500 mcg, Methyl Folate 800 mcg. I started these in February and am religious about taking them daily.

In my desperation to increase ferritin, I began taking MSM (1/4 teaspoon) and Iron (mineral bound S. cerevisiae) 26mg last week. I am not sure if this is a good idea but I need to try something else.

I realize my low ferritin may be a cause for my hair loss. But my hair loss is not steady at all! Usually it falls out the most after I switch the amount of NDT I'm taking. My last dosage change was in late May, and I've had at least three "waves" of losing hair since then.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Xheila]

Suggest you read the many posts and replies by humanbean on low iron/ferritin

If your iron is high, but ferritin low …you shouldn’t be taking iron supplements

Post discussing High iron and low ferritin

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Xheila in reply to SlowDragon]

I read humanbean's iron posts with great interest. Hers was the first response I ever got on this site, and I have been supplementing according to her wise advice. I am a lifelong vegetarian and understand we need 1.6x the amount of iron as those who get a dietary supply of heme iron from meat, so I thought maybe more iron would help. But since I have high serum iron, I will just stick with the MSM and drop the iron tablets for now.

[Sparklingsunshine]

Hi

It depends on the reason for hair loss, whether it due to hypothyroidism, stress, low calorie diets, a scalp condition, low vitamins or mineral levels or because you have an autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles. Some medications can cause hair loss, as can being menopausal.

Women can also suffer genetic hairloss similar, but not as drastic as male pattern baldness. Also called female pattern or androgenetic hair loss. If either of your parents or other family members had hair loss it can increase your risk as well. It's genetic, hormonal and some women can start noticing hair loss and less hair density from their teens. Others may not notice until they reach their 30's or 40's. Or when they hit menopause.

All of us have a certain level of testosterone within us. Women much less than men obviously. But if you have a genetic predisposition for your hair follicles to be extra sensitive to those male hormones it can cause the follicles to react by making new hairs much finer and thinner than before, they also don't grow for as long and fall out. Leaving the scalp more visible.

Over time you may notice your hair becoming less thick all over, known as a diffuse hair loss. Or you might notice your parting gets wider or thinning at the temples. Women don't normally lose hair as dramatically as men but it's estimated hair loss affects around 40% of women and nearly everyone will notice their hair getting finer as they age.

It's important to make sure your diet is good with enough calories and protein, which is the building block for hair. Biotin is also helpful. Iron and B vitamins need to be optimal. Is your hair coming out by the roots or is it breaking off and snapping due to being very dry and brittle? thyroid issues can cause dry, hair. Is your hair processed, ie colour treated, constantly straightened or bleached? That can cause breakage.

One of the few, clinically effective treatments for hair loss is Minoxidil, a lotion or foam you apply to the thinning areas twice a day. The 5% strength is more effective than the 2% one. It requires constant use or hair loss can recur but it is very effective at preventing further hair loss and regrowing hair. You can buy it without prescription in most chemists or online.

[Xheila in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

I always lose it from the scalp. My endo was concerned and checked testosterone a year ago, total testosterone was halfway in range and free was about 20%. My hypothyroid grandma was nearly bald before she passed. My mother, euthyroid, has very thin hair, and my father, I believe, had lost most of his hair, too. My sister, euthyroid, still has her thick beautiful hair. Every time I see her, we look less alike. I do color my hair, I was well over half gray by age 37. It was very scary last time I colored bc so much scalp was showing, where there used to be hair! I haven't hit menopause yet. I will research Minoxidil. But from your helpful answer, I don't think I can expect much.

[grumpyold]

My hypothyroidism was diagnosed because my hair was falling out. I was 37. I was put on levo and the endo I saw said, once my levels were good, my hair would grow back in 6 months to a year. Well, I'm 66 now and still hoping! All my levels are fine, iron, ferritin, vits and minerals as well as thyroid hormones.

I researched Minoxidil but one well documented possible side effect is weight gain of up to 10 pounds. Not sure which I would prefer. Nearly bald at the front or more chubby.

😩

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to grumpyold]

Hi Minoxidil is a blood pressure drug and the interesting side effect they noticed was those who took the tablet started growing more hair, even those who had lost it. So they made it into a topical solution as this has far fewer side effects than taking it orally.

Interestingly using peppermint oil, or rosemary essential oil, diluted into a carrier oil and applied regularly, is meant to be as effective as Minoxidil in clinical trials but with no side effects. Could be worth a try.

[Knip]

Xheila, have you seen a dermatologist? He would be able to tell you if your hair is likely to grow back again or not. I have two different autoimmune hair loss conditions. The first Alopecia Areata, where I have no body hair and have not done so since the menopause. The second is Fibrosing Alopecia, where my immune system is attacking my hair follicles on my head and they have scarred over. I have about 25% of hair left on my head 'circled' around the back of the crown. Potentially my body hair could grow back, but I have given up hoping now.

I take Methotrexate for Rheumatoid Arthritis which is a drug that could also be used for hair loss, but for me my immune system s so over active that it doesn't work. I have a friend who lost all her hair when her husband died but sometimes when she is on holiday in the warm sunshine for an extended period it all grows back. I don't think we are likely to get holidays and sunshine on the NHS though!

I hope yours will be temporary...most are. Take care, God Bless, Knip.

[Polaris]

Long story short but after Addison's Disease (suspected by two doctors last year - hospital refused to test as said to be rare), my hair changed texture, turned into weird, frizzy stripes and patches of light and dark grey with bare skin showing through as it started to fall out🤦‍♀️

Frustrated by my GP's refusal to acknowledge the implication of thyroid disease and PA on the adrenal glands, (Dr Chandy's book, "B12 Deficiency in Clinical Practice"), I turned to local highly qualified and experienced herbalist. His adrenal tonic to treat the accompanying and crippling anxiety symptoms worked so well that anxiety disappeared and, though it obviously took a while, hair is now back to normal - thicker/shinier and frizziness gradually grown out.

PS For those interested, (research shows 40% of those with thyroid disease go on to develop PA/B12def. and vice versa) Dr Chandy's book, is available to read on line chapter by chapter:

b12d.org/book

Chapter 7 -"Autoimmune glandular disorders with special reference to APS and hypoadrenalism (Addison's)", :

"Addison noticed that the adrenal glands were damaged in all the eleven cases of pernicious anaemia (PA) on which autopsies were performed at that time (Graner,1985, Pearce 2004). In other words, he had spotted a connection between vitamin B12 deficiency (manifested in the form of PA) and glandular damage."

[SecondAngel]

To balance the horror stories, I've been lucky - my levo was reduced and my hair started to fall out and thin. Upped my levo slightly (without asking the doc, to prove my point) and back to normal in 6 months.

[Timetraveler67]

Hi when I realised I wasn’t going to find a cure to my hair loss I looked into how to disguise the boldness and thinning. I use Root cover up powder which works as a fill in powder for me. If your interested it’s called COLOR WOW I have brownish hair and buy the dark blonde colour as the powder is pretty dark. It’s expensive at nearly £30 but does last ages. Another Cheaper product I’ve used At only £3 Is W7 cover up which to be honest there’s not that much difference in results when applied. Have recently discovered a wash in colour that if I leave on for an hour does cover my greys, it’s called Marion and available on eBay at £2.50p it has no nasty ingredients and has keritin in to help thicken hair. Hope this helps a bit With dealing with your hair loss, Finding these above products has boosted my confidence quite a bit so wanted to share with you and anyone else that needs something to disguise the hair loss x

[Turquoise133]

Hello XheilaI have a hair loss success story!

Much to my surprise for the first time in nearly 30 years I do not have any bald patches...

I have had Alopecia areata since my early 20s. I also have male pattern balding, which started with the perimenopause.

I was diagnosed with subclinical auto-immune (Hashimoto's) hypothyroidism last month. (so not taking Levothyroxine yet)

I have always had at least one bald patch at any one time. It is cyclical - 3 monthly rhythms of falling out and re-growing. At one point I lost 75% of my hair. I tried topical steroid creams in the 90s - they didn't work. Since then I have focused on vitamin deficiencies - iron, B12 and folic acid and managing my stress levels. Supplementing helped - I had less hair loss, but still at least one permanent bald patch.

A couple of years ago my vitamin D, which was always bottom of the range, dropped low enough for a doctor to prescribe supplements.

In the first lockdown I started taking Loratadine antihistamine tablets daily for the first time (for allergic rhinitis). I was taking these in combination with small amounts of Vitamin D (10ug) and Folic Acid (400ug), (my iron and B vits were well in range). My hair regrew...and didn't fall out!

I couldn't quite believe it ...and still don't really. At one point I got complacent and stopped taking them all. I got the 'pins and needles' feeling in my scalp that I get before my hair starts shedding...so I started taking them all again. It's been about a year now and I still have a full head of hair. I have since seen a few mentions online of other antihistamines helping improve Alopecia areata, especially in people with allergies.

So, I think for me it has been about getting my iron, B vitamins, folate and vitamin D to a good place and maybe the sprinkle of fairy-dust is the antihistamines - who knows?

How long my hair will stay I don't know...it might just be a co-incidence, but I thought I'd share and hope that this combination might work for you or someone else.

[heathermr]

I nearly lost all of my hair when I was so ill with myxoedema over 20 years ago. I was so ill that I nearly died as the Endos were just hopeless and eventually I decided on T3 treatment which has worked well for me. I purchased several wigs because I hated the thin wispy mess of hair I had left. My hair improved a little but was still very thin and brittle. More recently I started to use a multivitamin which contains a fair amount of Biotin. My hair improved again although it didn't grow too long. I now know what my problem is. I have pituitary failure caused by a head injury many years ago. Now my cortisol levels have dropped and I am seeing a pituitary specialist out of area as the local Endos are just hopeless. Since I've started the hydrocortisone my hair has grown back and is much thicker and less brittle. I've also been able to grow it down past my shoulders which is not bad as I'm now 67!!! The Biotin definitely helped plus getting the right medication makes a huge difference. My wigs have all been given away now as I have no need for them. Hope this helps

Heather