Excessive hair loss - Hair Loss / Alopecia Message Board

nuttygirl · 01-07-2007, 10:07 PM

I'm a 37 yr old woman who is losing a handful of hair daily.....

It started when my son was born and I went on paxil for anxiety, atenolol for tachycardia and birth control, this was almost 9 yrs ago. I was told the loss was from hormones and the birth of the baby plus the birth control. Well I lived with it and it wasn't so bad, my hair was really full and curly and it wasn't too bad at that time. Well, I've been off the birth control and paxil for almost 3 yrs and my hair loss is getting worse! Especially the last year or so and really bad the past few months. My hair is thin now and I'm losing so much I fear I will be bald within a few months. I have no bald spots, just overall thinning and lots of it. I do not have a stressful life, I'm a stay at home mom. My atenolol is a very low dose now as it was decreased - 25mg - and I'm on xanax now for my anxiety but that isn't known to cause hair loss. I'll also mention I have zero sex drive. I eat a healthy well balanced diet, take quality supplements and generally take good care of myself. I am going to go to my regular doctor but am confused as to what I need to ask her to do as far as testing. Could it be hormonal? I tend to get a lot of fungal type rashes on my upper body also and have never been able to control this even with lamisil so maybe it is on my scalp and causing the hair loss??? I'm just at a loss and very devastated by the amount of hair I have been losing the last 6 months. I really need advice on what testing to have done and what I might try. Also, are there specialists for this or is my regular doctor ok to see about this?

Thanks,
Tori

Carolthumm · 01-08-2007, 12:11 AM

yeast problems such as skin fungus, toenail fungs and systemic fungus can be treated.

systemic fungal problems can make your hair fall out and since you have skin fungal problems, you may have a systemic fungal problem.

Low iron could also make your hair fall out.

systemic candidiasis can be take care of with herbs or drugs such as diflucan, nizorol, or ketacozinol, and probiotics.

If your doctor won't help you in this regard, do the candida test that you will be able to find on a candida website. Diet would also play a large role in this.

Dr. William Crook has written a good book on candida, how to control it with herbs and diet--recipies included and what to eat and avoid eating.

kittywitty · 01-08-2007, 06:14 AM

Nuttygirl -

Have you ever had your thyroid tested? That could be causing it, too.

noodles3 · 01-08-2007, 06:40 AM

Most doctors don't have a clue how to treat this. The two top reasons for hair loss are hormone imbalance and thyroid disease. Anti depresssants can cause hair loss also, so can low ferritin (it should be 70), vitamin deficiencies.. I would start with a dermatologist but don't get your hopes up, it took me 3 tries before I found one. The endocrinologist can run thyroid tests and the gyn can cover hormone testing.

littlebunnyfoo · 01-08-2007, 09:06 AM

My first step would be to go to your regular physician and have blood work done - complete blood count, thyroid, iron, ferritin. Low iron could be your culprit. After getting testing done, I would ask for a referral to a dermatologist. Good luck - I'm right there with you.