I am suffering from PCOS since more than three years now, i am in my mid 20’s and now have stopped taking the hormonal pills, I am fed up now. I have neither had irregular periods nor have I put on any extra pounds of body weight. But i face alot of hair fall problem and now my hair has started thinning down and it looks ridiculously thin and scarse. Please advice, are there any remedies for the same!! I am really beginning to worry as I can see my scapl when I oil my hair or wet them.... Pls help!!
If you ended bcps about 3 months ago, you may be experiencing a shed called a TE because of it. This should resolve itself in about 3-6 months.
Otherwise you may want to look into treatments to get your androgens down.
Spiro or Flutamide will block the action of testosterone on your follicles and hopefully lower you levels some.
Going back on bcps may lower your testosterone a bit again. Have you tried yaz or yasmin? They have no androgenic activity and may be worth trying if you haven't yet.
Metformin can help lower your androgens indirectly by helping lower your Insulin Resistance. I didn't test positive for IR but Fortamet has helped bring my Testosterone down a bit.
Finesteride or propecia can block your Testosterone from converting into DHT (the hair killing hormone) or if you want to try an alternative approach, herbs like saw palmetto and stinging nettle do a similar thing.
Rogaine can be used as a topical to stimulate hair growth. Just be aware that there's a shedding phase in the beginning that you may need to stick out, but if you do then you should see some regrowth.
There are still options so don't give up hope! I thought I'd be in a wig by now but have managed to keep this monster at bay somewhat. I suffered a recent set back last summer but think I may be slowing or stopping it's progress now and am praying I can achieve a little regrowth.
Good luck!
Oh! Also get your thyroid and Iron levels checked. These are two other factors that can influence hair loss.
Thanks a million for the reply and for the confidence!!
Just this morning after shower, I was so worried as after washing my hair and combing it I literally got a bunch of dead hair in my hand and all the strands coming off literally from the roots. It was easily more than 60-70 hair strands and that scared me since hair does not grow that fast. I take so much care not to brush through my hair roughly, tie a braid a loose one, etc but nothing seems to help prevent the hair loss and thinning.
I had stopped my hormonal pills about more than a year ago. And my periodic cycle is exactly of 30 days regular, no weight gain what so ever. My hair was never so thin, and the last sonography (a year or so ago) had told me I had very few cysts and PCOS was clearing. Lately suddenly since a couple months or three, suddenly i started witnessing hair fall and hair thinning, I have a nice length of hair and it pains to see them thinning. After oiling my hair or wetting them, I can literally see my scalp. Its a nightmare!!
The medicines and alternative treatments you have recommended below are really good. But I am a bit confused as to which medicines to start with.
I was wondering what yaz or yasmin is? Also I have heard and read alot about Saw Palmetto but FDA doesnt approve of it as a drug, where can I buy this from as I am not too sure if here in India this is present!!
Also do I need to maintain a diet of some sort to help prevent PCOS and hair fall??
Kimm, I apologize for so many questions, but I am really worried as I do not want to go bald
Could you please device a medical regimen for me, now that I have told you what exactly is my current situation! Also, are these drugs all OTC or would I need a prescription for the same?
Once again, I appreciate all the help...
Warm regards,
Namita
Quote:
Originally Posted by kimm
Hi there -
If you ended bcps about 3 months ago, you may be experiencing a shed called a TE because of it. This should resolve itself in about 3-6 months.
Otherwise you may want to look into treatments to get your androgens down.
Spiro or Flutamide will block the action of testosterone on your follicles and hopefully lower you levels some.
Going back on bcps may lower your testosterone a bit again. Have you tried yaz or yasmin? They have no androgenic activity and may be worth trying if you haven't yet.
Metformin can help lower your androgens indirectly by helping lower your Insulin Resistance. I didn't test positive for IR but Fortamet has helped bring my Testosterone down a bit.
Finesteride or propecia can block your Testosterone from converting into DHT (the hair killing hormone) or if you want to try an alternative approach, herbs like saw palmetto and stinging nettle do a similar thing.
Rogaine can be used as a topical to stimulate hair growth. Just be aware that there's a shedding phase in the beginning that you may need to stick out, but if you do then you should see some regrowth.
There are still options so don't give up hope! I thought I'd be in a wig by now but have managed to keep this monster at bay somewhat. I suffered a recent set back last summer but think I may be slowing or stopping it's progress now and am praying I can achieve a little regrowth.
Good luck!
Oh! Also get your thyroid and Iron levels checked. These are two other factors that can influence hair loss.
I can't really recommend a treatment plan for you, because we're all so different and I'm definitely no expert here!
BUT I can give you some ideas on what info to get from your doctors and medications to ask them about.
You also want to look at your thyroid and iron levels. Lots of girls with pcos seem to also have hypothyroidism for some reason and that can wreak havoc on your hair as well. Low iron can make it tough to grow hair for some girls as well.
You also want to see where all your sex hormones are at. If you have a high testosterone level or even high normal, it can also mess with your hair.
Do you also have acne or facial hair? Those are other signs that high androgens might be the culprit.
Yaz and Yasmin are birth control pills with no androgen activity (most bcps have at least a little because of the progesterone) Diane-35 is another one that you can ask about that has no androgen activity. Those should help cut your androgen levels and raise a hormone called shbg which is important because it binds up any free testosterone floating around in your blood.
Antiandrogens like spironolactone and flutamide are good to ask about because again, if it's testosterone that is the cause of the hair loss it can block it from affecting your follicles. Most doctors start with spironolactone first.
I've also read a few success stories using dht blockers. Saw Palmetto is not fda approved for androgen related issues, but many girls here have had luck using it. I *think* it may be aiding me with my facial hair at least. I'm also working with a naturopath to help get my hormones back in balance here.
I would also maybe ask about metformin. I don't measure as insulin resistant in blood work, but have many of the symptoms. After being on it for several months, I've been somewhat successful in getting my testosterone levels down.
The only thing that isn't prescription that I mentioned is the Saw Palmetto. I would maybe hang back on that though until you know what is causing your hair loss first.
If it is androgens then Saw Palmetto would definitely be worth trying, but if it's something like hypothyroidism then I don't think it would be of much help.
Sorry if I can't be of more help! I know how painful this is.
This is an awesome place for support and information. I'm a member there myself under the same screen name.
There's a lot of information sharing on treatments as well as cosmetic options that may be good for you to look into so that you can at least feel comfortable going out in public while you battle this monster.
^Agreed with Kimm, also what's your diet like? You need to make sure your getting enough nutrients to nourish your hair. Try eating a diet high in protien (eggs, lean turkey & chicken, fish, nuts, whole milk) and veggie.. Are you taking multi-vitamins?
As Kimm mentioned if your hair loss is being caused by elevated androgens - spearmint tea, saw palmetto, white peony, flaxseeds and maca can help
This is my grandma's recipe for hear loss: smear castor oil on the scalp and the hair roots but not on the hair, wrap the hair with a newspaper, tie with a cloth and leave overnight, wash in the morning. Repeat every 7-10 days (results will come after 6-7 treatments). Hope it helps.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nami
Hi Guys,
I am suffering from PCOS since more than three years now, i am in my mid 20’s and now have stopped taking the hormonal pills, I am fed up now. I have neither had irregular periods nor have I put on any extra pounds of body weight. But i face alot of hair fall problem and now my hair has started thinning down and it looks ridiculously thin and scarse. Please advice, are there any remedies for the same!! I am really beginning to worry as I can see my scapl when I oil my hair or wet them.... Pls help!!
If you ended bcps about 3 months ago, you may be experiencing a shed called a TE because of it. This should resolve itself in about 3-6 months.
Otherwise you may want to look into treatments to get your androgens down.
Spiro or Flutamide will block the action of testosterone on your follicles and hopefully lower you levels some.
Going back on bcps may lower your testosterone a bit again. Have you tried yaz or yasmin? They have no androgenic activity and may be worth trying if you haven't yet.
Metformin can help lower your androgens indirectly by helping lower your Insulin Resistance. I didn't test positive for IR but Fortamet has helped bring my Testosterone down a bit.
Finesteride or propecia can block your Testosterone from converting into DHT (the hair killing hormone) or if you want to try an alternative approach, herbs like saw palmetto and stinging nettle do a similar thing.
Rogaine can be used as a topical to stimulate hair growth. Just be aware that there's a shedding phase in the beginning that you may need to stick out, but if you do then you should see some regrowth.
There are still options so don't give up hope! I thought I'd be in a wig by now but have managed to keep this monster at bay somewhat. I suffered a recent set back last summer but think I may be slowing or stopping it's progress now and am praying I can achieve a little regrowth.
Good luck!
Oh! Also get your thyroid and Iron levels checked. These are two other factors that can influence hair loss.
That is a loooong answer and I'm not sure if I'm actually regulating it yet, but since you asked ....
I've been on Flutamide 250mgs since Oct 07. My testosterone rose in the following year despite being on it. (I started about 4 months post partum)
I realized I had thinned a ton around July 08 and panicked. I had a huge shed from the stress of that ( I REALLY panicked) and started seeing docs. One doc had me try a low dose thyroid med but I had an adrenal issue that I didn't know about so it sent me hyper and I had another huge shed. (mentioning these because some of my regrowth could be just recovering hair lost from these episodes)
Went off that and went on Fortamet (extended release metformin) in Oct 08. Upped it from 1000 to 1500mgs in Nov. Around this time I started on antidepressants and had some difficulty finding the right one, probably not helping the shedding.
Slowly but surely though I started to notice the shed cycles becoming less severe (they also were happening around my period) and I've been seeing regrowth. The regrowth has taken a looooong time to start making a cosmetic difference and sometimes I wonder if it's really happening or not. But my husband keeps commenting and so does my mother in law that my hair has been looking thicker so I don't think it's just me.
I have a hair apt on Thurs. and my girl will tell me the truth, so I'll see what happens then.
So met and flutamide I think are the biggies. I got my Total T from 63 in August to go down to 39 as of last week. My free T went from .6 to .4
Other things I've been doing that I *think* may be contributing.
Lasercomb since august of 08
Nizoral 1% shampoo
Emu Oil at night (just started this one)
Prozac - This sounds odd but I think it *might* be part of why my androgens are a little lower.
Supplements -
3 tablespoons of ground flaxseeds per day
Saw palmetto - really noticed a difference in facial hair once this was added.
NAC - Not sure but still doing this one
Omega 3,6,9 - don't think it's having a direct effect but doing it for overall health.
Viviscal - Not sure on this one, but have seen good anecdotal evidence that it's worth a try.
Spearmint and nettle tea every day.
I'm doing a bunch of other ones too, but mostly for adrenal problems. (I feel like I've drunk a pot of coffee all day every day)
I've also been working with a couple holistic docs and an acupuncturist. It's getting uber expensive though, so I'm beginning to back off on some of this. I was also dealing with some profound depression and a hyper anxiety feeling so I needed to get control of that as well.
Sorry for not much more of a direct answer, but I'm still trying to get to the bottom of all the possible contributers.
I may also have have a wheat intolerance that's contributing as well as hypothyroidism that I can't treat just yet, but I think my androgens are the main culprit with this stupid hair loss.
Not a pantene commercial yet, by any means, but I think I've at least temporarily slowed the beast. Hopefully I'm not imagining it and I can keep it up!
Kimm, thanks for the info. So you were never diagnosed as IR, but have symptoms? What were/are those to lead to take Met. Met is one of those drugs being used by a lot of PCOSers even though they are not IR, so I am confused as why one would take it? Just to help to lower androgens?
As far as flutamide, does it work the same as spiro?
Also, what were your other symptoms that lead to your diagnosis of PCOS? When did it start?
No i was never diagnosed as IR. It took a loooong time to find a doctor that believed that it would help me. My IR symptoms are hypoglycemia if I don't eat for a while (better now that I'm on met) and I have dark skin on my knuckles and the crooks of my arms. It's subtle but definitely there. I also crave carbs like crazy!
I think among a certain set of doctors the theory is that pcos is linked with IR even if it's not detected in bloodwork.
When my Testosterone began rising again, even though I was on flutamide, it was suggested to me that this could help lower it. And it has! My total T was 60 or 63 in August and as of last week it's 39!
I'm not exactly sure how spiro and flutamide work exactly. I know for sure that Spiro reduces testosterone some and blocks it's effects from hair follicles by binding to any receptor sites that the free T would go. Flutamide is supposed to block the action of T as well, but I've heard both that it does and doesn't lower T levels. For me it didn't, at least on it's own.
I started to get Facial hair and acne around the age of 19. I've always battled my weight, but am active so for the most part have kept it under control. When I went to docs about my facial hair and acne I was told my T levels were fine and there was nothing I could do. So I just concealed as best I could.
Then when I was around 26 or 27 and engaged to get married, I went on a bcp. I started to gain weight and shed hair, so I switched. Lost the weight and the acne went away, but my facial hair went nuts and my hair started to shed 300+ a day! It turns out the new bcp was highly androgenic, because when my total T was tested I was at 200!
So I was on Spiro up until I tried to get pregnant and it helped with my symptoms somewhat but not totally.
Now I don't have a weight issue for some reason, since having kids and my cycle has always been normal except for a few months between July and December. Since going on met though, they've been regulated again.
I also have cysts on both ovaries. I don't know if they're still bad or not, since I need to find someone else to do another ultrasound and check them out.
So Flutamide didnt really help to lower T on its own...
Flutamide does not 'work' by 'lowering t'.
It blocks T from binding to the androgen receptors.
Quote:
MECHANISM OF ACTION:
Flutamide is a nonsteroidal antiandrogen which competitively inhibits the binding of androgens to the androgen receptor. It is devoid of other endocrine activity.
The flutamide worked at first, but as my T rose it probably just couldn't keep up, or I wasn't on a high enough dose for my androgen levels.
Now I'm on met so I think/hope it's allowing the dose I'm at to work better. I'm also doing a ton of alternative/herbal stuff too, so it might be a combination effect.
I did read a couple of studies that said Flutamide did seem to lower androgen levels, but then I read others that said it didn't. Maybe it's an individual thing? For me at least, it seems it doesn't.
I THINK I got it. So when I have read in other posts on the board stating that spiro and flutamide actually raised testosterone but blocks the effects, it should NOT be the case because it should have no endocrine activity so it should never raise testosterone or even estrogen for that matter, right? Hormones are so confusing! Nevertheless, these drugs block the effects of the androgens on the follicle.
did the flutamide dry out the skin and scalp too much? Also, if I go on, would I have to go on a bcp too to counter any menstrual irregularities?
You know, I just feel so scared to take anything. But I also feel so scared about taking nothing at all. My body has changed so much. My hair is falling out. I am a lot more muscular/veiny but I dont really even work out. I just dont know what is going on.
did the flutamide dry out the skin and scalp too much? Also, if I go on, would I have to go on a bcp too to counter any menstrual irregularities?
I didn't have any side effects from flutamide.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peggotty
You know, I just feel so scared to take anything. But I also feel so scared about taking nothing at all. My body has changed so much. My hair is falling out. I am a lot more muscular/veiny but I dont really even work out.
You should work out. Working out isn't just about 'losing weight' and 'building muscles', it's also about balancing your hormones.
For me, flutamide helped to keep the rest of my hair from falling out while it 'bought me time' to get my hormones into normal ranges via lifestyle changes.
I only came off of the flut once my levels were in normal ranges - not because the flut had 'fixed' anything.
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Hair Loss Problem... Help Pls!! 
Pls help!! 
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