hair loss

[lauraelmore1033]

I've been noticing that my hair seems to be falling out by the handful lately; my shedding problem is worse than the cat's, and she's really got it bad. I'm wondering if it could be connected with the amount of time spent exercising and if anybody else has experienced this. I put in about 70-100 miles per week which is a lot of hours on the bike since I am a very slow rider. I used to notice hair loss in my younger days when I went on crash diets, but I'd like to think I'm being more sensible these days. I guess I'm wondering because that "real age" test said I exercise too much. My weight has been declining ever so slowly without an appreciable change in eating habits. Will the hair loss stabilize, I wonder? It seems to be getting worse every day at this point:( .

[Aggie_Ama]

You might want to see your doctor and have them check your thyroid. I believe hair loss can be a symptom of thyroid problems, maybe other things.

A few years ago my hair was thinning very badly when I was working out 6 days a week. I went to my doctor for some other issues and he ran a metabolic panel. Turned out I was okay, the highlights I got to celebrate my weight loss were too harsh for my hair! I didn't think of it because I have dyed my hair for years and was having some other concerns.

If you are really concerned, check with your doctor. My mom says her hair changed texture as she aged, so maybe it is hormonal?

[Grog]

I find this a serious cause of concern indeed.

You might want to look at what you eat and at what you don't eat. Maybe you don't eat enough, or at least don't get all the nutrients you need. You want to make sure you get enough protein, vitamin, and minerals (notably iron). If you have increased your riding and not your eating, it's very likely to be a source of the problem.

Hair is keratin-based, like your nails and... corneas (the lenses of your eyes) so be careful. What is hurting your hair might hurt other important parts of your body!!

Are you trying to loose weight?

[Bikingmomof3]

Check with your doctor. The amount your are losing does not sound "normal". It could be caused by so many different things, it would indeed be best to run it by your doctor.

[emily_in_nc]

How old are you? I just read that increased scalp hair loss is common during perimenopause. I think mine is falling out at a slightly increased rate; nothing dramatic, but I'm 45.

Definitely worth asking your doc!

Emily

[Artisan]

Yes, I've experienced this as well. I have issues with my hair coming out by the handfuls too at times. I noticed just by happenstance that when I took B complex vitamins it would decrease and when I would not take them for a few weeks it would start up again. I'm not positive this is the source of the problem as I have been excessively tired lately, I've started taking iron pills in hopes of elevating that. I was actually put on thyroid medication a few years back but when I changed doctors they did testing and said my thyroid was normal. You should probably go see your MD and get some blood tests done if this continues. I keep promising myself to make an appointment but just never get around to it...

[chickwhorips]

i've recently gone through the same problem.
when i would leave home my hair would stop falling out, when i got back it would start falling out again.
a few things i noticed: one, the water here dries out my hair and so it breaks off. i changed my shampoo and conditioner and it has helped a bit. want to get one of those showerheads with a filter but DPITA say's they don't work. :rolleyes: also when i leave here i have access to fresh fruits and veggies and i think that may help too. diet pays a big roll in your hair, skin and nails.
since i cut 5 inches off my hair it doesn't seem like i'm shedding as much.
so what i'm saying is if you go to the dr and he/she says everything looks "normal" you may want to look at those things.
also, your hair goes in cycles. parts of the year you "shed" more than other parts of the year.

[lauraelmore1033]

Thanks all for your thoughtful replies. I did see the doctor recently because he was concerned that my blood pressure was on the high side. He ran all the usual tests, but I didn’t follow up because the blood pressure dropped. It seemed silly to schedule another appointment just to tell him my blood pressure was normal. The tests came back as mostly normal, but, what do you know, it says here my thyroid is “abnormal”. That can make your hair fall out? But I’ve been feeling so energetic lately! I thought low thyroid made one sluggish. Ah, the chicken scratches at the bottom suggest I consider a low dose medication. I guess I’d better schedule that follow up. I guess the age issue is also pertinent; I’m 43 and do go through periods of serious hot flash action. (for almost 10 years now!). I suppose it is possible there is a problem with the eating as well, but that is quite a confusing issue since I am very much over weight. I once calculated that it should take 4400 calories to maintain my current weight—but I usually consume around 2200-2500 calories. I’ve been telling people for years that my body defies the laws of physics! I’ve totally given up on the idea of losing weight; I just try to eat when I am hungry and stop when I am not(not always successful, there, though).

[lauraelmore1033]

What is DPITA?

[chickwhorips]

Dear Pain In The A$$

[CyclChyk]

Altho your hair falls out by the handfulls, is it thinning?? And how long have you had this problem? And yes, a side affect of thyroid disorders is hair loss. So if this has begun recently, I would definately suggest consulting your doctor.

FWIW, on the flip side, I have had hair loss for literally years but I have LOTS of hair (not thick mind you, just lots of it) and it is not thinning out. I just lose lots of hair. I have high BP but my thyroid is normal. When I use Nioxin it greatly reduces my hair loss, but when I don't use it, I shed worse than my 4 dogs put together.

Have your tried Nioxin? Its expensive, but a little goes a long way.

[CyclChyk]

Sidenote:

thanks Chick for the new nickname for my DH-

D'pita..........I like it. :D

[chickwhorips]

nioxin is the shampoo and conditioner that i use. i love it!! i have dry curly hair, makes it soft and not so much leaves my head.

also how often do you wash your hair and brush it?

[Grog]

I suppose it is possible there is a problem with the eating as well, but that is quite a confusing issue since I am very much over weight. I once calculated that it should take 4400 calories to maintain my current weight—but I usually consume around 2200-2500 calories. I’ve been telling people for years that my body defies the laws of physics! I’ve totally given up on the idea of losing weight; I just try to eat when I am hungry and stop when I am not(not always successful, there, though).

Have you considered talking with a dietetician? Maybe that could help address the broader issues as well. Seriously analyzing what you are intaking and how it helps you go by with your life and exercise might help you make decisions to bring a more balanced and healthy life? Maybe you don't need that. But if your health is a concern to you it could be a good point of departure, not because there is a crisis, but before there is one...

Good luck!!

[Aggie_Ama]

Could you abnormal thyroid be that is a little on the high side? I had two friends with thyroid problems, one hypothyroid and one hyperthyroid. Both had problems with their hair thinning. The one with the hyperthyroid was not significantly under weight.

Good luck, I remember how stressful my hair thinning was. :mad:

[lauraelmore1033]

I've never heard of Nioxin. Is that available over the counter?
I do admit that I experience a great deal of resistance to the idea of seeing a dietitian--or even my doctor, for that matter. At one point my GP thought I had Cushing's Syndrome and sent me to an endocrinologist. She said that yes, my hormone levels were odd, but she attributed that to eating too many carbohydrates and not getting any exercise. When I told her that I exercised a great deal more than the half hour a day she was recomending, she nearly shouted me down, saying, "you NEED to GET a HALF an HOUR of exercise A DAY! and that was that. It seems pointless to go to an expert when they're not going to believe me anyway and will simply advise me to do things I am already doing.:(

[chickwhorips]

it is a salon product. you would have to see what salon near you carries it. or if you really want it i could order it (i'm licensed) and send it to you all the way from alaska if you can't find it.

at nioxin's (http://www.nioxin.com/) main websight they have a salon locater where you could find a salon near you.

[roshelleuop]

Thinning hair runs in my family, so two years ago at the age of 24 when I started noticing my hair thinning, I went to get my thyroid checked (like many of the ladies here said to do). My hair was naturally thinning all over and I was seeing balding spots near my temples. Luckly my bangs covered the spots, but I was very self consience about it.

They said my thyroid was fine but that my iron was very low. They also said that one of the most common causes of hair loss or hair thinning is when women put their hair up in pony tails really tight when it's wet. Throughout the day as your hair dries, becuase it's held back in a pony tail (which I do every morning) there is no where to expand, so they break. After so many years of breaking, the doc says, they sometimes give up and it causes bald spots. Similar to when men wear hats.

So, I started taking iron pills and forcing myself to eat red meat atleast twice a week. I also started letting my hair air dry in the am before putting it up. Hope this helps!!

Roshelle from Milwaukee

[Artisan]

They said my thyroid was fine but that my iron was very low. They also said that one of the most common causes of hair loss or hair thinning is when women put their hair up in pony tails really tight when it's wet. Throughout the day as your hair dries, becuase it's held back in a pony tail (which I do every morning) there is no where to expand, so they break. After so many years of breaking, the doc says, they sometimes give up and it causes bald spots. Similar to when men wear hats.

So, I started taking iron pills and forcing myself to eat red meat atleast twice a week. I also started letting my hair air dry in the am before putting it up. Hope this helps!!

Roshelle from Milwaukee

Thanks Roshelle, I put my hair up in a ponytail while it's wet most days. I'm going to try to break myself of this habit or even go with a short cut again.

[Velobambina]

Chick--is Nioxin safe for color treated hair? I'm at the hair thinning age (almost 44) and I have it colored to hide the ever-increasing grey. It looks like my salon carries it, so I might go ahead and invest in some.

[chickwhorips]

Chick--is Nioxin safe for color treated hair?

yes it is. mine is color treated and works just fine. here is there complete line (http://www.nioxin.com/go/products/thinning-hair-systems) for thinning hair. Systems 3, 4, 7 and 8 are for chemically treated hair and the different systems are for your "type" of hair.

[CyclChyk]

Ditto to what Chick said. I have been coloring my hair for .... ahem.... well a long time, and nioxin actually makes my hair seem healthier. It feels softer; my scalp doesn't itch (Paul Mitchell Tea Tree loves my head :) ) and there is a distinctly noticable difference in my hair loss.

I love Nioxin, just hate the price.

[trashalicious]

hair stylist weighing in... sorry for the novel.

#1, it is strongly recommended that you go to a doctor. i literally got out my textbook, and it says: "In general, anyone who has unusual, excessive shedding should see a doctor." i understand your fears and it's your decision, but just know that it's highly advised.

#2, you need to determine whether the hair is actually breaking off or falling out, because those are two very different problems. if you run your fingers through your hair, do the hairs that fall have blunt ends on both ends, or does the part that came out of your scalp still have a little "nubbin" (technical term, haha) of follicle on it? some hairs with follicles are natural, but if the majority of them have follicles, that's hair loss.

some hair loss possibilities:
alopecia areata - an autoimmune skin disease that affects people with no obvious skin disorder or serious disease. reversable.

telogen effluvium - can be caused by childbirth, shock, drug intake, fever, crash diets, birth-control pills, low protein intake. reversable.

traction alopecia - caused by pulling or twisting, like wearing tight ponytails for many years. the times that i have seen this it's been at the hairline from the hair being pulled back so tightly. how tight is your helmet?....seriously.

androgenetic alopecia is genetic hair loss which causes overall thinning. for this one, your hair follicles are actually shrinking, causing each hair to become thinner and thinner until nothing is produced. i've never done this but it's recommended that you can hold a white index card behind your hair at the scalp to see more clearly, and you should actually see the "miniaturized" (that actually IS the technical term!) hairs. do your parents or other relatives have hair loss?

i hope that's helpful!

[HipGnosis6]

I have thinning caused by PCOS. It's a hormonal issue that can be identified with a hormone screen by your doctor. It's treatable, though the hair loss is difficult if not impossible to reverse - I'm OK with just making it not get worse, personally....

[mary9761]

I also have PCOS and have been losing my hair for nearly 10 years. :eek: Unfortunately, I've lost most of the hair on the crown of my head, looks very much like male pattern baldness. :( What looks DAMN SEXY on a man, I don't think I'm going to pull off well if I continue to lose my hair. Many of my photos looks like I'm bald on top. Good luck

[EmmaStone]

Hair fall is the last worst things in life. I hate to lose my hair. I have been gone through this and I know the feeling very well. Unlike man, saving head is not an appropriate solution for women. Without hair or thin hair you look ugly and it's going on self-esteem. There will be the time when you went crazy when you see notings goes well. In the market, you will see thousands of hair products who are promising to reverse hair fall in 30 days or less time. But the maximum is fraud or scam. You have to fioud the real one that really works. as I have found one for me. From then to now I have used this product on regular basis. It helps me to restore my hair. I have done cryziest things to get beck my hair. When all things failed to save me from my severe hair loss problem then this products has comes with the light of hopes. I'm talking about amplixin hair support produts. Its an amazing product for your hair health. It works for men and women both. I'm suggesting you consult with a doc first. Then follow proper instruction and besides use this product. It worth trying. If you interested to know more you can visit their website. https://amplixin.com/

[smartcric11]

I want to get rid of hair loss, I have heard people saying that long biking makes your hair root weak and as a result, hair fall happens. How true is this?