Hair beginning to fall out?

[x0xJenna0x0]

I feel that my hair is beginning to fall out because I notice that I am collecting more hair at the bottom of the shower than ever before. How do I figure out if I really am losing my hair? Did it start out this way for everyone else? I dont physically see my hair being thinner but i see more falling out.. let me no thanks!

[rosettagirl]

It was exactly the same for me. I started noticing more hair than normal coming off in my hands and in the drain than what was normal for me. It took me years before my doctors took me seriously and it was to the point that I couldn't even wear my hair down because so much had fallen out(at least half at the top of my head).

I finally changed doctors and she sent me to a dermatologist who said I had androgenetic alopecia, which is male pattern baldness. Please don't wait to see your doctor and don't let them tell you that it is normal. If you think too much hair falling out then they need to take you seriously, especially with PCOS. The dermatologist perscribed Diane 35(I am sure there are others but this is the one I take), a birth control pill which helped, over time, to regrow some of the hair I had lost. I also use Nioxin shampoo and conditioner. I like Nioxin because I find it to be the best for my hair but everyone is different and the products are expensive.


The information below is from the website www.diane35.com

Preparation for the treatment of signs of androgenization in women, who also need contraception.
The substance cyprotereone acetate (CPA), contained in Diane-35^® is a progestin with anti-androgenic activities.
Acne, seborrhoea, hirsutism and androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness and hair loss in women) are caused by excessive androgen action. Approximately 10-20 % of women are affected by disorders related to hyperandrogenism. These symptoms are not merely cosmetic, but are often linked with menstrual disorders, metabolic abnormalities and ovarian cyst formation (Polycstic ovary syndrome [PCOS]). Women with PCOS are at increased risk of sterility, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. The timely therapy of hyperandrogenism therefore plays an important preventive role.

CPA inhibits the influence of androgens. The anti-androgenic activity of CPA reduces the excessive secretion of sebum by the sebaceous glands. This improves acne and hair and skin greasiness. The loss of hair which frequently accompanies seborrhoea diminishes. Diane-35^® is also effective in mild forms of hirsutism.

I hope this information has been helpful.

Crystal

[Eva37]

yes, that's how mine started, too
eva

[mizuza]

i have been noticing this latley too, but not sure if its just because my hair is growing longer as i had it cut really short when my boys were 1 yr...... and now when washing it there seems alot more but not sure if its quantity or just more length....

[Eva37]

hi

i know what you mean. I asked my dr about long hair (mine used to be really long until about 2 years ago). Anyway, my gp said that the longer hair is - the heavier it is - so the more will come out. Saying that i still have hair loss now that my hair is shorter
eva

[rosettagirl]

My hair fell out when it was shoulder length and when it was longer. No difference for me! It sucks when your hair starts to fall out especially when you are young(I was in my mid 20's). Talk about feeling unfeminine...it really made me depressed for a long time. Now that I have regrowth from taking Diane 35 I feel like I can at least let me hair down!

Crystal

[cedardryad]

So if you stopped taking this pill will your hair basically stop its process and revert back?

[rosettagirl]

The dermatologist did tell me that it was possible for my hair to fall out if I stop taking Diane 35. That worries me a bit because I can't take the pill forever...I am turning 35 this summer and have been taking the pill since I was about 14(with a few breaks). I am afraid to stop or even change from Diane even though my periods have gotten very painful again. I have not approached the doctor about different meds that may help hair growth but I might since I have a new doctor and she is very helpful and knowledgeable about PCOS.

[curlysue31]

I have noticed a lot of hair loss as well. It seriously looks like a small wig in the drain after I take a shower!! But what I've also noticed (and I think bothers me more than thinning hair) is that my used to be super curly hair has lost a lot of the curl. For the longest time I thought it was the shampoo or mousse or something else that I was using on my hair. Then I realized my hormones being so out of whack would definitely affect my hair like this. I'm hoping this will all get back to normal (& curly ) once I get on some meds.

Does anyone else have natural curly hair and notice that they're losing curls??

[rosettagirl]

To one Crystal from another!

I also used to have way more curl in my hair. Now that there is less hair the curl is not as nice. I actually just straighten it in the morning with a hair dryer because it is less work than trying to work with the curl. I hope you have better luck than I have!


Crystal

[curlysue31]

Hey Crystal!

I've tried that a few times, but I still have enough solid kinky curl at the crown of my head that's it's a serious pain in the butt to straighten it....I definitely can't use a blow dryer cuz it just makes me frizzy, and a straightening iron actually gets it pretty straight, but it takes 2 hours!!!! I've just been pulling it back into a ponytail. If the meds don't help any though...and from what I've been reading on this thread, it may not! I may end up biting the bullet and getting it chemically straightened, but my husband doesn't like my hair straight so it's going to be hard to convince him too! oh well.....

Hope everyone is having a great Saturday!!! I'm getting ready to take my daughter to the family picnic out at the Space Center....hope it doesn't rain!

Talk to y'all later!

[rosettagirl]

Hi Crystal!

Lucky you! My hair loss is almost all at the crown so it is less curly there and hard to work with. I used to only put my hair up in ponytails because it looked horrible down. I am able to wear it down now because some grew back and now people just think I have really thin hair and if I do it just right it is not as noticable. I also had to lighten my hair a bit, thankfully I have light brown hair to begin with! I do have one spot now that seems to be thinning again Do you think the chemical straightener might be too harsh for your hair?

Hope you have a great day at the picnic!

Crystal

[curlysue31]

Crystal - My mom owned her own hair salon until she retired two years ago. but she still does my hair...even she said I shouldn't striaghten it unless I'm absolutely positively sure, cuz it really strips your hair! She said it would make it so much more brittle and the chemicals used would probably cause quite a bit of it to fall out. My hair is still 'curly'...it's just that I'm losing the curls, there's quite a few strands that are completely straight and my hair is definitely thinning, but it was so super thick to start out with. I'm contemplating on getting a perm on my few straight pieces, but still not sure.
Are you on any meds to keep your hormones straight? I was kinda hoping that once I got on some, that my hair would get thicker again and the curly would come back?!

[rosettagirl]

Hey Crystal,

I take Diane 35 which has helped my hair regrow a bit and I just started Met about 6 weeks ago. I also use Nioxin shapmoo which I believe helps but it is my own opinion and I am sure other people don't like that shampoo. I find it very gentle on my hair. I have not used products from the drug store since high school for that very reason. My hair was never thick but I had lots of it before. I think that is why my curls are not as nice...my hair not being so thick they don't look as good without lots of work! Your mom is probably right not to straighten your hair since it could damage it even more. Nothing worse than frizzy curls! You know what I mean....lol.

[curlysue31]

HA! I know EXACTLY what you mean!! LOL
I've never heard of the Diane35. I was on Ortho TriCyclen since I was 12 and back a few years ago, I started to get acne so my dermatologist suggested Yasmin, so I switched to that...but then got tired of having to take pills everyday for so many years so I switched to the patch. Now I'm on nothing. And actually, it may sound silly, but I feel better since I've been off the bcp's! My face is clearing up and my pains are gone! <--wierd huh?!
I'm wishing I would have asked my RE about Met the other day. I just started my first Rx for Chlomid this afternoon. But from what I've read on here, Met seems to be what helps stabilize the levels in the body. I'm definitely going to mention it when I go back next Friday. It's just that I've only seen him 3 times now, so I don't want him thinking that I'm some hot-headed girl that seems to know more about what her body needs than him (if that makes sense!).
Well, have a good weekend if I don't talk to ya again...I've got a lot of accounting homework to do!