I'm losing my hair....

[4myson]

I don't know why, but at my front crown, I can see scalp through my hair!

I am hypo-thyroid but have been taking meds religiously for over a year now.

I had radiation for breast cancer (could radi cause this???).

Has anyone else experienced this? My hair is long and curly, but I am seriously considering cutting it to make the top front look or appear fuller?

Does that help?

If anyone is a hairdresser, does cutting it shorter make hair look more volumeous?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[4myson]

 

[snappy]

Hi, 4myson. I am hypothyroid too, since 2004, shortly after my bout with breast cancer. In order to insure the correct level of thyroid med, my doc checked my TSH levels checked every 3-4 months. He increased the level 3 times, and I am still seeing him every 3-4 months to make sure nothing changes.

You may want to go in and have your blood work checked.

I could tell when I needed the med increased by how tired I felt.
Do you have any other symptoms?

BTW, we have a great breast cancer support thread, also on the community board. Drop in sometime, a great bunch of ladies.

Can't help with the hairstyle, though.

 

[MAKmom]

This may not have anything to dowith you but VO5 shampoo has
Laurel Sulfate(SP)? in it & it made my DD18 hair fall out. She bought it cheap & was using it for awhile. I found a website that said Laurel Sulfate can cause hair loss. Check your shampoo. Sh estopped usong it & its growing again.

 

[Honeibee]

4myson, how old are you? I am just about to turn 45 and have had the same problem for several years. My doctor has tested my blood over and over. We attribute it to my being peri-menopausal. It's kinda like a guys receding hairline. Middle age is fun, ain't it??

 

[DawnCt1]

By all means, see a dermatologist. He/she can explore any possible reasons why this is happening and offer treatment suggestions!!

 

[Laurajean1014]

How long is your hair now?

I'm not a hairdresser, but if you cut it shorter won't it appear to be thicker and have more volumne?

 

[perdidobay]

Last year my hair started getting thinner in the area you described and was also thinning all over...judging by the amount in the drain after I shampooed my hair.
My doctor told me to take a seleium supplement and also a zinc supplement daily, and my hair is now coming back in, after a few months of use.
I am post menopause and also on anti-depressants, either one could be the cause, according to the doctor. Stress can also cause hair loss.

 

[EthansMom]

I agree that you should go see a dermatologist.

I went completely bald in a spot about the size of a quarter several years back. Went and saw the dermatologist, who diagnosed me with Alopecia and was able to get the hair to grow back with steroid injections into my scalp (ouch).

Good luck!

 

[4myson]

My dermatologist said it was from hormones. So, he had me take extensive blood testing. Everything came back normal - even my TSH was .71 (YES!). When I first had my TSH it was 25.76 (it should be .05 - 3.00). So, I don't think it's the thyroid (however, I am no doctor).

I just finished radiation for breast cancer (maybe my body is reacting?). My radiologist said that even though I am done with radiation, it's still in there working.

I am 42.5 years old. My life is not very stressful. I have a full time job, but managable. I have one child (who is an absolute pleasure). My husband is a good guy and tries very hard. He's self employed (which is good and bad), and the company has been struggling and now seems to back running smoothly. So, no big issues of stress except for the breast cancer. (But I must admit, it was very smooth and frankly, a wonderful experience for me. I learned through that process that I am HUMAN, I do love my life and that I can get scared, but really, I am quite brave. I have more respect for myself now than before I was diagnosed.

My derma suggested taking vitamins (Biotin and Saw Palmetto) as well as, use Rogaine (Extra Strength - Men's). I've been using it for just about a month, but I haven't seen improvements yet. There is growth (gray of course), but I'm not liking this. I'm just a bit too vain for loss of hair on the top front of my head. I have always had beautiful hair and now this.

I will call me Derma to see if I can take seleium or zinc - thanks for the tip.

Injections - yuck - but if it works, well!

 

[4myson]

Laurel Sulfate.....hmmm. I'll check my shampoos. I am currently using Progaine to work with the Rogaine. But if back to basics has that, than it may be promoting it. I've been using BtB for about 4 years and it has been going on that long. Thanks for the tip.

Any hairdressing ideas?

 

[4myson]

Dermatologist says Selium and Zinc is okay to take for me. I checked on line at Back To Basics and it does not show Laurel Sulfate, but I'm checking my bottle tonight. If it does, I will have my family discontinue using this product as well as, any other product that promotes hairloss. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[outstandinfarmer]

I have long, curly hair too. For about a year and a half I had been losing all my hair. I lost over half the hair on my head. In my crown area it was completely thinning out. I cried every morning. I want to like a million doctors and they all said it was due to stress. Well, I wasn't stressed out, I knew there was something wrong with me. Finally I found a doctor that prescribed me a pill that would push extra testosterone out of my body (even though my tests said that my testosterone levels were normals). It worked. I barely lose any hair now. And now my hair is coming back in and it's getting back to normal.