Help! My hair just started falling out about a month ago. I immediately made an appointment through my HMO. When I explained my problem to the nurse, she dismissed me after about 2 minutes, saying there was nothing that could be done, because hair loss comes and goes with PCOS. Is that true--is there nothing that can be done? Nice hair is one of the few things I have left. At the rate it's falling out, I'm not going to have it much longer. Is there anything that works for PCOS hair loss? Any advice is GREATLY appreciated!
Birth control pills help some women. Hair tends to grow like mad when you're pregnant and BCPs put the body in a fake pregnant state and work to lower testosterone. Downside is you may shed like crazy when you come off...
Spironalactone blocks the action of testosterone on the skin and can help with hair loss/excess hair. There are other anti-androgens out there but spiro is the most common one in the US. Downside to these is you can't get pregnant while you take them...
Some herbal remedies are supposed to help... saw palmetto is useful for some. Some find supplementing their diets with evening primrose oil and flax oil or ground flax seeds helps, as the essential fatty acids help with hormone balance (I think?)
Can you find an endocrinologist who might be more willing to help? Also check over at the alternative remedies board for more on, well, alternative remedies...
I am losing a lot of my hair, too... I hadn't had a problem with hair loss in ages and then, just when my hair is at its longest, thickest, prettiest ever... one year before my wedding... it starts to fall out... and fall and fall and fall...
lildutchgirl,
My hair just started falling out also. My doctor checked my androgen levels and they were high so she's going to put me on spiro. You can go to http://www.hairlosstalk.com/
and they have good info.
__________________ Me: 29/DF: 29
Dx: PCOS 2001
Sx: 40lbs overweight, excess hair, irregular periods, skin tags
Meds: multi vitamin and Metformin (500mgs)
Diet: Low fat, moderate carbs, and moderate protein
Exercise: It's hard, but I try to exercise each day
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“I may not be a 10, but the boys say I clean up good!” -Gretchen Wilson
The number one thing you also can also do is control your insulin, that will help a great deal!
Stupid nurse. I want her phone number so I can ***** her out.
__________________
Maureen 36, DH is 35
Momma to Declan Christopher, born 9/2/03
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Before pregnancy, went from 175 to 136 thanks to To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. , exercise and low glycemic index foods. Polycystic appearing ovaries are gone; ovulated regularly; bloodwork normal.
Improvement in hirsuitism and androgenic alopecia is greatly improved. AN and cystic acne are gone!
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Hi sweetie..I think I read that you just joined last month...I just joined today, and thought I would respond to your question.
I am 21 years old and have had PCOS symptoms for a few years now. I have suffered from most of the common symptoms, and might have the same symptoms of hair loss as you do, even though my mom thinks it's just my imagination
I just wanted to share basically a summary of what I've learned about PCOS. I found out about this about 1 1/2 years ago, and am a college student who likes to study, so did a LOT of research on this subject. A lot of times people with PCOS, including myself, try to cure all of the little symptoms, by taking medications, ect....which might really help someone, but I've found that the real answer to tackling this disease is trying to heal ourselves from the inside out. Basically, everything leads to the need for better health and weight loss. I have not read an article or testimony of this disease where the person suffering is in good physical shape. So, my recommendation would be, if you are someone who has a higher percentage of body fat, to try to get yourself back into shape.
I know this is hard, but it's really just about moderation, and is going to take willpower. For example, one needs to eat a well-balanced diet, watch to not eat too large of portions, and needs to excersie 5 days a week. This can even be walking for 40 minutes a day.....I recently read an article that said that the people who are on average in best shape are those to just walk every day....not because they are burning more calories, but because they are consistent in their excercise.
I hope that this has helped a bit.....this is just the best advice I can give based on all of my research...I've read about all sorts of women who have lost weight and their symptoms miraculously dissapeared!....I don't know if this is something that can improve or bring back hair loss problems, but it can't hurt to try!
I've always had problems with my hair. It grows but then for some reason it will fall out or break. Certain areas are more problematic for me than others. No BC, Avandia, or Spiro ever stopped this problem. Wheter I was on medication or not, there were times when my hair was doing good and my skin was doing poorly and vice versa.
Currently, that's exactly where I am now. Only it seems to have been an almost universal shedding of hair. Even my better side, the side the grows faster and tends to be thicker is now thinner than the other side. The only things I could come up with was that the Antibiotics I was taking for 3 weeks in August (ear infection) caused this OR I must be lacking nutrients somewhere. I started the Gluten Free Diet (another low carb method) 7 months ago and my skin is sooo happy, but no postives in my hair. I was reading that people who low carb have problems with loosing hair. Sigh...perhaps it's due to some mineral diffeciency, I don't know.
What I do know is that Silica, Lecithin, Sulfurs, Protien/Amino Acids/Gelatin, Biotin, Vitamin C/Collagen, Pantothenic Acid, Inositol, and EFAs are great for our hair. I've heard many postives when people use Higher than normal amounts of 1 or more of these supplements (most are 1000mg - 3000mg doses). In fact one hair growth formula involved Gelatin and Vitamin C Internally and Externally. Another involved Brewers Yeast, Inositol, and Vitamin C in a drink (the vit. c makes it tastier).
For those of you who don't have time for that, several people on this board found that GNC NourishHair worked great for them. I personally prefer to take capsules, so I just ordered Andrew Lessman's Hair Skin and Nails and I'll see what happens. Wish me luck and here's some links below for ya:
My mom's a Beautician and they sell Nioxin at her job so I'm going to give the topical a try, if these essential oils (rosemary, lavender, amla) I purchased don't stimulate my scalp enough. Anyway, here's a variety of popular topical products at http://www.drugstore.com/templates/s...asp?catid=1072
Hope you find something that works for you,
SJ
__________________ * Dx PCOS or IR July 2001
* IsoCare's Skin Control Cleanser
* Paula's Choice 2% BHA & Skin Lightener (when I cheat)
* Personalized Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Trans Fat Free, No Added Sugar, plus+ Diet
Well, I just started using Niazoral 3x a week, and the stuff in my sig is all stuff I started taking for the hair loss (except the BCPs) - but I've only been taking them for 3 weeks at most - just started flax oil this week when I finally found a place that sold it refrigerated. So I don't know if any of it's working yet, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. The thread in this forum about the GNC ultra-nourish hair supplements had some great general discussion about the seperate components that have worked for folks, so look for that too - I think its called "this worked for me" or something along those lines.
Good luck!
__________________ I'm back! Had lots of problems around 2002, gave up persuing treatment when Drs had wait and see attitude. I now have an endo - yay! On yasmin. Also diagnosed with slight hypothyroid - on low dose synthroid.
I can really relate, my hair started coming out by the handfull. I had visions of being totally bald in a couple of months. I started taking saw palmetto 3 weeks ago and my hair has stopped falling out I'm so relieved I can't tell you. Good luck
hair loss--what should I do? 
I'm so relieved I can't tell you. Good luck
