I've had several episodes in my life where my hair began falling out in droves, and I'd have handfulls in my brush, running my hands through my hair, in the drain after a shower,... I'm going through it again. The first episode I had was when I was 26. I had another one a few years back, and now this one (I am 39, almost 40).
I think doctors take us women in general not as seriously as they take men, and they write everything off to "stress." Well uhm, okay that's all good and fine, but stress also kills, it raises blood pressure, it affects hormone production (including hormones responsible for our weight), it can affect our skin, our blood's clotting abilities, our neurotransmission, our digestion. So "just stress" is a total cop out because it assumes the person suffering from whatever symptom they have has control over it and can just "stop it," or "just relax," or somehow if we just take a vacation, or "don't let it bother you," that everything will turn around.
That's highly presumptuous not to mention it's not a darn bit helpful.
I have baby fine hair. If I pull the front part back to put in barettes you can see my scalp. It's as if I could literally count the hairs I have. Even at the part, there's a lot of space between each hair folicle.
I also colour my hair because if I didn't it would look even thinner. It gets limp, oily, flat, and dull. But colour gives it body, thickens the shaft and increases volume.
Many derms will say offhanded things like, "stop colouring your hair" assuming chemical damage is causing it to break off. What we know that they apparently aren't investigating is that this is not breakage, this is fall out.
Do you have patterns? (I don't - no bald spots or patches, it's overall, and especially noticable on the top of my head and sides -- you know, the part where everyone sees when they look at you -- and in places you cannot cover up).
If the hair falls out and has a bulbous tip at the folicle end, it could be hardened sebum build up causing the shaft to choken and die off. I have this, and I found that using Polysorbate 80 with Biotin and Niacin helped. It's made by Twinlab and it's a solvent - it breaks down oils on the skin without damaging the skin or hair. It only affects oils, not collagen. IF this is what is causing the hair to fall out, you may like this product. I had good results with it, but you have to be faithful. (I need to just go buy several bottles at a whack so I don't put long periods of time in-between).
So it does not work on a chemical or hormonal level, it's purely topical and works only in the way of sebum reduction. The niacin causes temporary reddening because it increases blood flow. This is thought to help nourish the scalp. Because it is not a systemic-based product it should not interfere with any of your medications or your health conditions.
Oxygen deprivation has been cited the cause for many conditions. I believe this to be the case, personally, as well.
If it is the sebum, then the barrettes and hair pieces (which I have worn) *can* cause damage but not by breakage, - rather because the root itself is weakened and thinned from being choked off so slight pressure is sufficient to pluck the hair from it's folicle home.
Another consideration is Avacore (sp?) -- and similar products. I heard on a radio talk show (where people called in to discuss various consumer products, not just this one) - people called in with having good results with this preparation. It apparently attacks the DHT production which they say causes hair loss. Again it is not systemic, and the theory is sound. I've never tried it but I'm probably going to end up doing so eventually.
I understand and empathize, believe me. It's frustrating to not be taken seriously, or to have this condition minimized as a superficial cosmetic concern. This affects our quality of life greatly, and I can only hope eventually that the medical profession recognizes this.
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