Going through these forums, I've noticed that many people have suggested treatments only to discover later that they haven't worked. I'm getting desperate--I still have a decent amount of hair left (but I've only noticed the hair loss approx 20 days ago) but my hair has thinned quite a bit and falls out horribly in the shower. It makes me so angry and upset because I'm helpless to control it and obviously stress doesn't make the situation any better. I'm about to start college this fall and I really don't want to show up bald! I want to make a good first impression and having hair would be helpful!
The weird thing is that I've been on birth control for my PCOS for the last two years without any hair loss and now, all of a sudden out of no where, I'm losing hair like crazy. Has this happened with any of you or did your hair loss develop with your other symptoms at the start of your PCOS? Please help! I'm trying to stay calm but every day I'm getting closer to no hair at all...
Well...your hormones could still be acting up...even though you're on something. Maybe having your levels checked isn't a bad idea.
It also could be something more simple. For me it was anemia. Once I started taking iron regularly I saw a HUGE difference in my hair growth. My hair had thinned out and now you can't even tell.
Also treating your hair the best that you can is a plus. Stop using harsh chemicals that means shampoos...find one without detergents. They dry out and break your hair, which is making a bad situation worse.
Bottom line you've got to find the direct cause and then a solution is easier to find. I hope that helped a little.
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Treatments that are KNOWN to work for women with hormonally induced hair loss include:
Spironolactone 200mg (minimum dosage, out of the system w/in 2 mos if you want to get preggers) (saw palmetto seems to be similar but not quite as good)
low androgen bcp (Mircette, Yaz, Yasmin)
Revivogen DHT removing shampoo
Nisim shampoo and serum (regrowth aid)
Copper peptide (increases hair counts) conditioner
Iron (if ferritin is below 70)
Exercise (helped me reduce shed from 50/day to 15/day!)
I am doing all these to combat sudden hair loss at age 31. Good luck!
Treatments that are KNOWN to work for women with hormonally induced hair loss include:
Spironolactone 200mg (minimum dosage, out of the system w/in 2 mos if you want to get preggers) (saw palmetto seems to be similar but not quite as good)
low androgen bcp (Mircette, Yaz, Yasmin)
...also Flutamide (that's what I took).
Run a search here on the boards to find threads and research on it.
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I have same problem but I started losg hairs before 2-3 years and at that time didnt know what was the reason for sudden hair loss. Last year I came to know tat I hv Pcos. I hv female patrn baldnes n also my iron level is below normal level. I am 23 yr old n hv scarce hairs on the forehead. i just hate it. it looks soo bad. I am using belts 2 hide tat bald patch on my head. feel ashamed. currently m nt tkg any mdicns but wud lke 2 knw 4m my soulcysters wat shal i do 4 it. will d hairs grow bck? wich is d best way 2 treat it.... go 2 normal doctr or gynecologist or dermtlst????? please suggest.
Thank you all for these helpful replies! I'm going to talk to my doctor when she gets back from vacation (I've tried talking to another doctor but she was very unsympathetic and told me nothing could be done). About five months ago I switched to a seasonal pill called Jolessa. I think I'm going to switch back again to Yasmin because Jolessa has done nothing positive for my hormone levels and try either sprio or flutamide. Both seem to have their drawbacks, though--spiro seems to make some people sick and I read that flutamide can cause liver damage. Are the doses that you're taking for flutamide low enough that this isn't a problem? And which do you guys think is best? (I've looked into Avodart but I'd like to at first try something that my insurance can cover. Also, avodart seems a little risky.)
I tried most drugs but I think I lef it too late .. I am now on Flutamide btu I am still balding adn still freaking out this is SO cruel .... I hate losing my hair its made my life a total misery I have no self -confidence left and I dont let men near me I feel like I am turning into this bitter twisted old woman and I cant stop it
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I feel exactly the same way. It just feels so unfair that we have to suffer through these ugly and unpleasant symptoms--sometimes I feel like I'm turning into a man with all this DHT and testosterone wrecking havoc on my body. As far as your hair loss goes, if it gets really, really bad, maybe a hair integration system could help you? Mine hasn't approached that point yet (but it's rapidly getting there with each day) but I plan to use one if I really need it. But then again, I start thinking how unfair it is that young women such as ourselves have to resort to wigs!
I hate having to brush my hair, taking a shower, or even wearing it down and finding strands on my shoulders and shirt. It's such a scary, stressful feeling. But I guess we all have to hope that we can control these symptoms instead of letting them control us. As far as medication goes, since your hair follicles were in the telogen phase before lowering the DHT, you will lose more hair before it gets better because now your hair is finally going through the cycle again--and the next stage is shedding before re-growing again.
I have nothing to offer here other then I feel all of your pain. I was known for my thick long curly hair people would always compliment me on my hair. Now... my hair comes out if you barely touch it. Heck it comes out if you don't touch it. I hate taking showers because washing my hair leaves my hands covered in strands..brushing my hair leaves the hair brush full of hair each time. I have cried screamed and yelled. I hate this so much. Sometimes I don't wash or brush it I just stick a head band over it in hopes that I can preserve what hair I have left. I just don't know what to do anymore. I look in the mirror and I see scalp. It is so depressing.
Blaire, Just a thought - perhaps you are experiencing Estrogen dominance? Recommend getting in with someone who's experienced with bio-identical hormones, for example a GYN or Naturopath. My naturopath can do salivary hormone testing and is experienced with such things...Perhaps dig around on the web for someone like that near you??
I, too, suffered from thinning hair on the top of my head. I ended up buying a wig. No more bad hair days! I was up front with my co-workers and told them that I had a health condition that has caused my hair to be quite thin on top and I was tired of trying to do something to my hair. Once I got over the initial first few days of seeing each employee/friend for the first time, it was fine. I bought my 2nd wig this weekend and wore it to work several weeks ago, every single person I came across told me how great I looked and how natural the hair looked. So anytime I run across someone that hasn't seen me with my new "do", I'm up front and tell them it's a wig. I don't want people to think I'm trying to hide something. I only share this information with family and friends and co-workers that already know my situation though, not with strangers off the street. I wish I would have done this years ago - - been doing the Donald Trump Side Sweep for too long and was very self-conscious.
I was diagnosed with atypical PCOS and suffered severe hairloss well before I was diagnosed, mostly I attribute my loss to continual severe stress. I used to have 3 times more hair than when a series of disasters hit. Still, I managed to link it to stress and low iron level, I haven't tried anything else like spiro, advocart etc. I know iron is extremely important whether you have PCOS or not , should be taken with more zinc, also I took fish oil and B vitamins which did wonders for my mood and depression (also not treated with Meds)...I stopped shedding and my hair increased in diameter drastically, I can't see my scalp anymore but not back to my wild hair days yet: it took 1 year to get there and see results, so I'm taking it slow and not even near the 70 in serum iron level recommended for regrowth !!! so hang in there and try your best to manage severe stress as PCOS has a lot to do with hormones running amonk!!!
Ghertza, I'm very interested in knowing exactly what it is you take for your hair loss? I am desperate and willing to try anything. I have never heard of low iron being linked to hair loss but everytime I have my levels checked my iron is very low.
Has ANYONE found a solution for PCOS hairloss? 
