hair loss over a lifetime

dani8477 · 01-01-2007, 09:56 PM

Just wondering if women with PCOS truly go bald after dealing with hair loss from PCOS over their lifetime?... does their hair just stay thin for their life, or does it actually just continue to fall out until there is none left? I ask this because my hair has been falling out/shedding pretty badly and this has been for over a year. I know that's not really that long of a time, but so far it is just thinner around the front and on top, but I don't think it's necessarily noticable... at least yet anyways. But if it keeps falling out at this rate... what happens over a long period of time? Is it that even though I'm losing my so much hair, it's also growing in at a rate that keeps me from going bald? I've tried many different things to combat it and have had no success. I wish there was some way I could see what it would look like in ten years.

paige16 · 01-01-2007, 10:12 PM

I have also wondered this myself....my hair has been falling out as well this year and i think at this rate i can be bald in a year...i have read posts where people say their hair stopped falling out but not many have said their hair grew back.....i figure it is no different than a bald man whose hair never grows back. If the hair fell out to due to the DHT, then the hair follicels must be dead???? not sure, but it is scary

ScaredSally · 01-02-2007, 09:18 AM

Yes you can continue to loss hair until you get bald areas ... I have been thinning since Iw as 17 and am now 32 (nearly thirty three) its thinned progressively .... and will continue to thin to the point of wigs ... for some reason I thought that it woudl naturally stop .. but not so ... the follicles are basically shriunking and new hairs are not able to grow ...

I am sorry but if you notice thinning now and are not attempting to treat (not treat not cure it) then you are more than likely going to suffer diffuse or patchy hair loss

dani8477 · 01-02-2007, 09:24 AM

Well I have tried to treat it... I am on BCP and was on Sprio for quite some time. Due to insurance issues, I will not be able to be on Spiro again for about a year. Also, I have been on Metformin, which didn't do anything for me either. And of course I've tried about every vitamin/herb you can think of.... Biotin, Saw Palmetto, Evening Primrose Oil, etc. etc. And I have tried Nizoral shampoo. Nothing has reduced the shedding unfortunately. I can deal with every other symptom, but this one I just cannot deal with it.. it really sucks.

paige16 · 01-02-2007, 10:08 AM

my t-levels are low now and my period is back...last blood work showed things were normal. I take progesterone cream and vitex and primrose and body hair has begun to respond to laser, since this is the first time my hormones are not out of whack. everything is turning around but one thing---the hair loss. I was hoping it would begin to grow, but no luck. The hair loss has stopped but no growth, I really don;t think there is much to do about treating it to the point where you can get new growth. I think once the hair follicles began to shrink with the high DHT levels, they are shrunk and there is no turning back. I can be wrong but i went to see a well known hair specialist in NY and he specializes in women's hair loss due to all kinds of medical issues and genetics, and he said it is sad but true, a lot of times the hair does not grow back, no matter what meds you are on. The main point of the meds is to prevent further loss.........pretty depressing

ScaredSally · 01-02-2007, 10:16 AM

It is incredibly depressing .. I have tried all treatments from Rogaine 5%, Flutamide, proscar, Diane35, vitamins.. even some chinese stuff it doesnt work .. I think if there was a cure you wouldnt havea ny bald men walking about

dani8477 · 01-02-2007, 11:54 AM

Yeah... most of my hormone levels and other lab work are all normal now. I have no problems with too much hair or acne or most of the other problems. Seems like my one main problem is hair loss and nothing has helped. And it definitely is the worst symptom to have, in my opinion.

SianCat · 01-02-2007, 05:09 PM

Soon as I started losing hair pcos became my centre focus, before that I did not want to deal with/treat it. I just filled my met presription and saw an improvement in body hair. The hair loss is what prompted me to fill my dianne 35 a month later. I feel like I have a time bomb waiting to go off. Like one day I will start gaining too much weight or continue losing too much hair. I am afraid of my own body and it is a terribly negative way to see things.

Allison. · 01-02-2007, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paige16

my t-levels are low now and my period is back...last blood work showed things were normal. since this is the first time my hormones are not out of whack. everything is turning around but one thing---the hair loss. i went to see a well known hair specialist in NY he said it is sad but true, a lot of times the hair does not grow back, no matter what meds you are on. The main point of the meds is to prevent further loss.........pretty depressing

Flutamide has stopped the hair loss and I have major hair regrowth!
I was finally diagnosed with PCOS three years ago. I had elevated testosterone levels. (119)
I was put on Metformin and Spironolactone. This combination helped all of my PCOS symptoms, except for hair loss. For the last three years my testosterone levels stayed around 22-25, but I still had the hair loss.
I read about Flutamide on this site. (Kat has used it) It works differently on the Testosterone. It works on the DHT. I don't know exactly, but it works for me-finally.
I was to the point of a comb over!
I started on Flutamide this past June. I am just amazed with the results and thankful for my Endocrinolgist, he really takes good care of me.
I know how devastating the hair loss can be. I hope that you are able to find something that works for you.