kamilchoi
06-14-2008, 01:05 AM
Hi,
Im 21 and about 3 months ago I noticed my hair falling out en mass, and it is likely that it had been falling out for a few months before that but it took me (and my mum) to notice it.
I have seen my GP and had blood work done with iron, zinc, thyroid all coming back ok. I have been taking birth control pills (diane 35) since last September (so a bit under 9 months). AFter having a read of other forums, and from the advice of my GP, I stopped taking the pill about a week ago, as it is possible that my body cant tolerate the progesterone in diane. Obviously if the pill has been cuasing my hair loss it wont stop very quickly, and from what I have read, it usually takes a few months (if at all) for the hair loss to stop.
THIS IS WHAT BOTHERS ME:
I have noticed that my hair is falling out with the root attached, and sometimes with other white bits attached also. Nobody has mentioned whether their hair is coming out with the root or not, I wonder if maybe the hair loss could therefore be attributed to some sort of scalp condition? I havent seen a dermatologist yet, and I need a referall from my GP which I am due to see after a month being off the pill. Can anyone shed some light on the root issue? Before the hair loss, my hair would come out but without the root attached?..
any info would be really appreciated.
thanks
Im 21 and about 3 months ago I noticed my hair falling out en mass, and it is likely that it had been falling out for a few months before that but it took me (and my mum) to notice it.
I have seen my GP and had blood work done with iron, zinc, thyroid all coming back ok. I have been taking birth control pills (diane 35) since last September (so a bit under 9 months). AFter having a read of other forums, and from the advice of my GP, I stopped taking the pill about a week ago, as it is possible that my body cant tolerate the progesterone in diane. Obviously if the pill has been cuasing my hair loss it wont stop very quickly, and from what I have read, it usually takes a few months (if at all) for the hair loss to stop.
THIS IS WHAT BOTHERS ME:
I have noticed that my hair is falling out with the root attached, and sometimes with other white bits attached also. Nobody has mentioned whether their hair is coming out with the root or not, I wonder if maybe the hair loss could therefore be attributed to some sort of scalp condition? I havent seen a dermatologist yet, and I need a referall from my GP which I am due to see after a month being off the pill. Can anyone shed some light on the root issue? Before the hair loss, my hair would come out but without the root attached?..
any info would be really appreciated.
thanks
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Audrey-B
06-15-2008, 06:23 AM
Hair in the growing stage will have the root or the little ball as you call it attached when it comes out.
Abnormal hair shedding can be attributed to many things. I had hair loss since January 2001 and my gp and a dermatologist i saw said everything was fine. My menstrual cycles were all over the place and my gp simply told me to go on the pill.
My iron levels kept dropping but my gp never saw a problem in this either. I didn't know what was the correct level for iron or for anything else. I simply took the gp's word for it and followed the range of the lab results, thinking if you fall within range then everything is fine.
In 2006 i found out my iron was too low and this year i found out i have a thyroid condition, my hormones are not balanced, i'm not digesting protein correctly and all these things affect hair loss. I've likely had all this since 2001 at least.
Another common cause of hair loss can be gluten intolerance. You can do a blood test for this.
Your particular problem can possibly be as a result of the birth control pill you were on. Some people find that the pill can disturb their hormonal balance rather than help it. The pill will also deplete you of your B vitamins, so you should be taking a multi B while you are on the pill.
If the pill has caused a hormonal imbalance and causes you to have too much estrogen then you need to stay away from soy products. I've got too much estrogen and i can't believe how many products contain soy flour or soy lecithin in it, everything from bread to biscuits to chocolate.
You did right to go off the pill and it would likely help to go on a good quality vitamin. If you consult a dermatologist make sure it is one is trained to deal in hair loss as they are not ALL trained in the hair loss field, i found this out too late. In the end i visited a Trichologist for my hair loss as they are trained in hair and scalp conditions. The one i visited has a website with quite a lot of information on it. If you do a search for Tony Pearce Trichologist some of his info might help you.
Abnormal hair shedding can be attributed to many things. I had hair loss since January 2001 and my gp and a dermatologist i saw said everything was fine. My menstrual cycles were all over the place and my gp simply told me to go on the pill.
My iron levels kept dropping but my gp never saw a problem in this either. I didn't know what was the correct level for iron or for anything else. I simply took the gp's word for it and followed the range of the lab results, thinking if you fall within range then everything is fine.
In 2006 i found out my iron was too low and this year i found out i have a thyroid condition, my hormones are not balanced, i'm not digesting protein correctly and all these things affect hair loss. I've likely had all this since 2001 at least.
Another common cause of hair loss can be gluten intolerance. You can do a blood test for this.
Your particular problem can possibly be as a result of the birth control pill you were on. Some people find that the pill can disturb their hormonal balance rather than help it. The pill will also deplete you of your B vitamins, so you should be taking a multi B while you are on the pill.
If the pill has caused a hormonal imbalance and causes you to have too much estrogen then you need to stay away from soy products. I've got too much estrogen and i can't believe how many products contain soy flour or soy lecithin in it, everything from bread to biscuits to chocolate.
You did right to go off the pill and it would likely help to go on a good quality vitamin. If you consult a dermatologist make sure it is one is trained to deal in hair loss as they are not ALL trained in the hair loss field, i found this out too late. In the end i visited a Trichologist for my hair loss as they are trained in hair and scalp conditions. The one i visited has a website with quite a lot of information on it. If you do a search for Tony Pearce Trichologist some of his info might help you.
kamilchoi
06-15-2008, 08:05 AM
Thanks for the response Audrey-B.
I was taking a multivitamin until i started taking the iron supplement, my mum said it probably wasnt a good idea to overload on the pills. Ill ask the pharmacist what they think.
I am a bit scared that the cause is hormonal, but not due to taking the pill. I have noticed that i have hair, albeit white and fine, on my upper arms, stomach and chest where i never did before. Maybe the timing was incidental? The pill is prescribed to stop hair loss and growth but it doesnt seem to be doing it...
I was taking a multivitamin until i started taking the iron supplement, my mum said it probably wasnt a good idea to overload on the pills. Ill ask the pharmacist what they think.
I am a bit scared that the cause is hormonal, but not due to taking the pill. I have noticed that i have hair, albeit white and fine, on my upper arms, stomach and chest where i never did before. Maybe the timing was incidental? The pill is prescribed to stop hair loss and growth but it doesnt seem to be doing it...