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 The author before her hair loss began. An agonizing secret: One woman's story of lossEditor's note: Lisa O’Neill Hill is the co-owner of a writing, editing and consulting business in Southern California. At first I thought the shedding was temporary and must be connected to a medical problem. I consulted eight doctors, endured dozens of blood tests and spent thousands of dollars. I secretly hoped I had a thyroid problem, a hormone imbalance, some kind of vitamin deficiency, even lupus. I needed an explanation. But all the tests came back negative. That doctor gave me hope, but that hope has long since faded. Although his regimen has worked for many, it didn’t for me. I suspect nothing will. After exhausting my options, I’ve had to face the truth: nothing is going to stop my hair from falling. My father and brother have varying degrees of hair loss and my mother always had fine hair. My maternal aunt had very little hair on the top of her head, classic female pattern baldness. I’ve never been thrilled with my appearance, but my hair was the one thing I was frequently complimented on. It was an integral part of my identity. When my hair began to shed, my already fragile self-esteem broke apart. I felt ugly, ashamed. Watching my hair abandon me put me in a dark place. I went to therapy for a year and began taking antidepressants. I was in crisis. Those around me, even though they were there for me, didn’t quite understand why this was affecting me so brutally. I’d sob in my husband’s arms and talk about my hair constantly and obsessively. My hair was the last thing I’d think about before I went to sleep. And it was the first thing on my mind when I woke up. For a long time, my sanity was held together by a group of strangers, women across the country and around the world who, like me, are struggling to conceal their hair loss and handle the deep emotional toll it takes. We met on the Women’s Hair Loss Project, an online support network where we traded information about treatment options, coping mechanisms, hair pieces, the numbers of hairs that fall out (yes, some of us count) and where we lauded considerate doctors and condemned dismissive ones. Our stories had commonalities: Losing our hair made us feel unattractive, unworthy, less womanly. It robbed us of joy. We withdrew. “I want to die,” one woman wrote. In public, we studied other women, envious of the hair that they take for granted. I had that hair once. I marvel at old photos. At the time, I didn’t realize or appreciate how much hair I actually had. I do what I can to hide what is happening. I had my hair cut shorter to make it appear thicker. I part it a certain way. My hairdresser styles my hair frequently, blowing it out with a big brush. I am beyond grateful to her. Still, I worry about others noticing my hair loss, about what my head will look like tomorrow, next week, next year. When I commit to a social engagement months away, one of the first things I think about is what my hair will look like by then. For a long time, I’ve kept my secret close to me. But it’s been exhausting. I may not be at the point of my hair loss being that noticeable, but I know one day it will be. What then? I am afraid it will send me back into that dark place. For women with genetic hair loss, the options are limited. We can use Rogaine (which works on some people but only for as long as it is applied), take medications that will suppress our levels of testosterone and increase our levels of estrogen, or look for something cosmetic like a hair piece. We are desperate for a solution. I’ve lost faith in the medical establishment. I’ve been dismissed by cavalier doctors who undoubtedly looked at my head of hair and thought I was crazy. Everyone loses hair, they said. That’s true. But for most people, that hair grows back. I knew all along that my situation was different; my follicles were dead. I just wish I hadn’t been right. I’m grateful I don’t have cancer or some other life-threatening illness. Yet this has cut me to the core. My 7-year-old daughter knows not to touch Mommy’s “delicate” hair and asks why I frequently wear baseball caps. At the grocery store, at church, at the mall, I notice other women with genetic hair loss. We are a sorority of suffering sisters. My hair is still falling out. In fact, lately it seems to have increased. It still makes me sad, but I know I have done everything in my power to remedy it. It’s time to stop fighting and to accept the cards I have been dealt. I know I’m making progress. I have transitioned from hysteria to detachment. I no longer cry about my hair loss. I am loath to give this any more power. This is part of who I am. I shouldn’t be ashamed, but somehow what is happening makes me feel less than the person I used to be. I am more than my hair. At least that’s what I constantly try to tell myself.
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BTW, Natalie – thx for the info u posted in your last post – good to remember! Good luck to u as well. : )
Hello all you beautiful ladies....I just wanted to share with you, that I too have significant hair loss. It's been going on for about 7 years for me. Started in my early 40's, I had the thickest hair, my hairdresser told me many times that I had enough hair for 10 people, then one day, out of the blue I started noticing hair all over the place. I think I've went through almost every emothion mentioned here. I never had any suicidal thoughts about the hair loss, but I have cried many time while standing in front of my mirrow,attempting to style my hair and to cover all the thin spots. I never recieved a diagnosis either, I was checked for thyroid problems, for lupus..etc. was even told that it could be because my body wasn't storing up iron as it should. Then told that vitamin D3 deficency could be a cause. Mine seems to have "seasons" for a better word of shedding. It will be minimal for a bit, then I'll notice heavier shedding. I believe as women, we do tend to hold pride in our hair....after all, the bible calls it "our crowing glory." My hair was always the one thing I knew I had going for me, it always looked great. So, I've adjusted too, my hairdresser gives me cuts that camoflauges the loss and I'm more at peace with this now. Just a thought..I've contributed my hair loss to peri menopause, seems it started around the same time as all my other symptoms. But, I want to tell you ladies about a product I found. I am not endorsing it, nor do I work in any way to sell this product, my beautician told me about it...and it has given me back my confidence. I go out now and don't worry about someone noticing my thin spots. It's called Xfusion...you can search it online and buy it cheaper through on line stores than in salons. It's a powder made of keratin (what our hair is made of), it comes in all the basic shades. I mix light brown and auburn to get my shade. After drying and styling your hair..you sprinkle this on anywhere you have thin hair....it works wonders. People don't even notice my hair loss anymore, even I can't notice it. It's really been a "lifesaver" for me. I would reccomend anyone to try it. Keep your chins up ladies...even if we go completely bald...we are still beautiful ! After all, beauty is only skin deep, right??
Hi Dizzyd,
Just a quick note- wanted to make sure you knew I wasn't the same "Natalie" as the earlier post I found that I believe you are referencing since the tones and intent of the posts are quite different!
I am male in his early 30's and I feel what you are going through, experinced, feel you are a clone copy of me. The sensations are as follows SHOCK, PANIC, TREATEMENT (not working), DENIAL, ACCEPTANCE,FOREVER SORROWFUL. It is unthinkable how much your hair is interwinned in to your very fabric of your being. I have/had very thick black shiny hair and the hair stylist hair trimmer would always jam becasue of the thickness of my hair and he would say 'you'll never go bald' but a few years ago my hair started falling out, some might say no big deal but when your self esteem is has been permenantly dented due to a disability like I have hair loss is the worst news in the world. You see I have a squint in my left eye and my hair was the only think that drew attention away becasue it was what most people envived in my and say 'god we wish we had your hair' so you see loosing my hair is a like a death sentence but its a very slow and painful procedure.
I have no idea what I am going to do once it's gone, it I feel like I am going to be in a very dark place and there is no cure.
I would not have minded if I did not have the squint as radiance comes from a persons eyes but I dont have that luxuary.
Those of you who have hair, count your bleesings and those of you who do not but have health you are the truly fortunate. Me I have neither.
My hair used to be so thick I couldn't hold it up in a bun. Now, 40 years later, it has thinned so much that I must wear a wig. If I go out with a hat, people are so extra nice to me because they assume I'm undergoing chemo! I keep it shoulder length and put it up so the wig's combs can grasp something and help keep it on. (Once in a car accident, I was out of the car to talk to the other driver when I realized my wig was on the front seat because it flew off from the impact!) The hair just stopped coming out of the dormant stage and stopped growing. Eventually, I had less and less hair. I'm a type 2 diabetic and I'm under treatment for my thyroid, but the medication doesn't seem to help. My mother and grandmothers both had full heads of hair when they died. I guess my medical issue and stress have finally caught up with me. I, too, grieve for my wonderful thick hair, but there is nothing I can do but wear a wig. Thanks for talking about this. I often wonder if our environmental pollution and adulterated food supply has any hand in this.. Too late for me.
Have a look at this link
http://www.mdidea.com/products/herbextract/pinebark/data18.html
Thank you SO much for sharing your story! I am going through the same thing. I have been for years. I too have been wearing a shorter haircut and have been through SO many bloodtests and doctors. Everything is always normal. Glad to know I am not alone. My best to you.
I've had hair loss too, but I believe it's due to thyroid. However, a family friend of mine, years ago, had extreme hair loss and had gone through so many tests, like you and others. Finally, she sent her hair to a lab that does studies of the hair itself to see which vitamins and minerals were evident in the hair. She discovered, I believe, that she was very deficient in zinc. After supplementing for some time, her hair grew back thick. None of the doctors were able to give her that info. She found a lab that does hair analysis herself and sent in the sample hair for them to study. It's just a thought in case you haven't tried that. Her hair was so thin that it was quite clear that she had an issue with hair loss and after it looked very normal.
ST,
Is there any way that you can find out the name of the lab?
After I stopped breastfeeding, I was diagnosed with "genetic" hair loss and thought...what a pile of crap. So I started researching, trying things out. The most important change I've made is going on the Paleo Diet. It's hard at the beginning, but guess what!!! It works! Give up grains, rice, beans and milk products! My hair has grown back! I notice when I "go off the wagon" and eat a sandwich, I notice for 3 days afterwards I experience hair loss again, but then it regenerates.
Also I take a good multivitamin and biotin.
My hair was so thick and beautiful, then in my mid 20's it started falling out in hand fulls. Nobody understands how devastated I am over losing one of the only things that made me feel feminine. I'm 44 now and my hair is super thin, I am so depressed, nobody understands or cares.
Mt....
I totally feel your pain. I too have lost most of my hair. It started when I was about 19 and now I am 41. I have been wearing a wig since my early 20's. I get so depressed! You would think that after this long of dealing with it , that I would be better now. But that's not the case. I have often thought about suicide because I just don't feel good enough. But reading your post makes me feel less alone. Please don't give up. I won't if you won't. I am crying right now as I am writing this and I want you to know you are beautiful, inside and out. ~ Shannon
People who wears a baseball cap actually looses their hair faster or it could be the cause because it's not getting enough sun exposure. Also people who don't wear hats during the winter or cold weather increases the rist of hair loss.
Sun exposure, Really? Please tell me this is true and I'll go out everyday and stand in the sun. Where can I read about this and why haven't we heard about this before? If it's vit D, I check out ok with D. But I generally don't like being in the sun a lot, so it makes sense. I will research it, but it you have a source. I'd love to read more about it. Lynn
Feel 4 u! getting a fungus is a real common way for hair to fall out. gyms and the military are the biggest culprits to get fungi. bad diet and stress are common among women. clear iodine will kill the fungus as will mustard oil. if you look back 2-3 yrs before the events started you might figure it out. and then develop a plan of attack. email me and I'll let you know what I found out. I grew the hair back on a 63 yr old man (bald). really! it took a year but it worked. niacin and biotin are very important also. start with a good multi-vitamin, such as 2 centrum a day and we can figure out the rest. genetic hair loss is bunk. the enviroment plays the first role. genetics determines where the hairline will go, not make it fall out!
we need your email addy to reply to u
Geeeeeez, all that waste of time spent on hair just to have it out last all that waste of time spent on your make up in the grave!!!
i am a balding 36 year old male. it sucks losing hair. i've always had thin hair for as long as i can remember. i first started noticing i was losing my hair in the front in my late twenties. now i'm noticing it progress to the back and i figure that i will be bald from front to back with hair only on the sides and rear by the time i'm in my 40's. my brother was fortunate enough to have really thick hair and i don't see his thinning at all yet. he got lucky. most of the men on my mothers' mothers side were bald by the time they were 18. i'm unwilling to get hair creams or wear a piece. it sucks, but i just have to accept it. i can imagine it's even worse for women as i can understand that women are very beautiful with a full head of hair. it's typical to see men lose their hair. still sucks though.
My story is very similar to yours. I got sick of dealing with my hair so I shaved it off completely down to the skin. That same day I was reading about hair loss and if there were any natural remedies. It turns out that diet plays an important role. The article was claiming that your scalp is getting less blood flow through the capillaries. The site suggested taking multivitamins and niacin. I guess the vitamins make up for lack of nutrition and niacin increases blood flow. It also suggested massaging your head three times a day to try and get those capillaries flowing again. Guess what? ITS WORKING. I cant tell you which of those things did the trick, but my hair is growing thicker again. It's obviously not perfect and never will be again, but it's nice to trim off a few years. I think that most likely the multivitamins and head massages are doing the trick. I'm emphasizing the head massages because I feel them working. I didn't try the niacin by the way because it makes me feel funky. Possibly shaving it with a razor helped it grow back thicker too. I hope this helps someone.
http://www.mdidea.com/products/herbextract/pinebark/data18.html This helps hair to grow back
My wife's hair fell out every time she ate food with Soy in it. Doctors sent her down a long, wild, goose chase and charged a lot of money in the process but failed to accomplish anything of value (other than revealing their lack of understanding). Suzanne's comment above is spot on. Once my wife stopped eating low-grade garbage food that contains, Soy, legumes (including ALL wheat), grains, etc etc, her hair stopped falling out.. Beware of doctors... they like to act like they know it all but they really don't. And, many don't like to blame food as its not something they can 'fix' aka give you a pill to take nor cut you open.
"I stopped seeing Doctors years ago and now I feel GREAT"
How about starting to lose your hair when you are 15 years old? Bald by 20. That sucks.
Yoga! At age 40 I thought I would be wearing a wig by now (age 50) but a surprising benefit of my yoga practice is healthy hair. I didn't begin a yoga practice for my hair, but about 4 years after doing yoga daily, my hair is as thick now as it was when I was in my 20s !!
I always had a ton of fine, curly, long hair. At the age of 41 I started to notice my hair becoming thinner. Over the course of 18 months I had lost almost half my hair. After doing a lot of research online & getting myself to a top notch integrative medicine doctor I found out what the problem was. The doctors I had seen before deemed all my lab work normal. When I saw the hormone specialist she interpreted my blood work very differently. Instead of just looking at my TSH level which was in normal range she analyzed my Free T3 & Free T4 which are the true indicators of thyroid function. Mine were low. She started me on natural dessicated thyroid hormone and within two months my hair started growing back in. She ordered me off all soy products as well. Soy interferes with the thyroid's ability to absorb iodine. I am a vegetarian and was consuming soy on a daily basis which was wreaking havoc on my thyroid and other hormone levels. She also prescribed Iodoral – an iodine supplement. My hair stopped falling out within 3 months. Do not rely on a simple TSH test to determine a thyroid problem. You must look at free t3 and free t4 to determine if your thyroid is functioning properly. Hope this is helpful for some of you.
Thank you for that information. I ordered the iodine and just yesterday I read on Dr. David Clark's site, who I found on You Tube first, who warns against taking iodine because If the thyroid problem isn't Hashimoto's, it could trigger Hashimoto's. I am pretty sure I do have Hashinmoto's as it is really common for the low thyroid crowd. i have been treated for low thyroid off and on over the years and had a lot of adverse effects from the medicine. I am not going to take it till I can be sure.
Losing my hair has cost me everything, I quit high school, I am now 57 and I dont even go out anymore. I'll never understand why people were so cruel to me. I dont think they knew what they were doing. I have no friends, I always wish that I was happy. I understand all of you. If u r younger than me, please dont isolite yourself, I want NO ONE to end up where I am.
Hang in there Kathy!
Oh, I do understand, kathy. I keep saying I'm going to something and then think I'll wait till my hair looks better and then I don't go much anywhere. Actually other people probably don't care, but I am deluded into thinking it is going to get better. It probably won't and meantime I am isolated.
Hello Lisa – and other commentators. My name is Elline, founder of LeMetric. I too suffer from genetic hair loss – Alopecia. I would love to speak to you and any others about whats going on with your hair. We are looking for women who are not afraid to speak out about this! It should no longer be a secret! I love to help women, and our upcoming projects will do just that, with all your help!
You can see what I look like here with no hair on: http://lemetric.com/jour.php
I have noticed a small but definite improvement from using Viviscal. The instructions say it will take six months; I've been
using it for a little over four months, so am hoping the improvement will continue. It is available on several websites......
I get it from Amazon.com.
Afflicted, thank you. I realize my focus must be on our Lord first. My hair loss is not important in the big scale of things. He has given us His all. I ask myself, what am I doing with His all?
I started losing hair noticeably at age 24. I tried everything – doctors, diet, propecia, rogaine, avoiding styling products, biotin and other vitamins, styling around the thinning, that stuff you "shake on" to make it look as though you have more hair. At one time, it was so upsetting I thought I would go crazy. Blood tests revealed nothing beyond a "slight" raise in Testosterone, but really nothing out of the ordinary, and the pill (various versions) and other estrogen didn't help. I am now in my 50s and the loss is definitely noticeable - nobody every suggests that it isn't visible any more. I asked mu hairstylist about it, and he said "hairpieces and wigs are always noticeable." I felt like saying, if that's true, what am I supposed to do? Really, I don't have an answer. I think about it every day of my life at some point. But I also think about other things as well. So much of it at this point, I think, is finding a way to deal with what seems unacceptable and to love myself even though I have this imperfection. IT is painful and tied up with how we perceive ourselves as women, but I am more than these follicles, and I try to remember that.
I have been wearing wigs for almost 25 years, due to genetic hair loss. There are gorgeous wigs available and they don't have to be expensive to look good. Life is too short to spend time worrying over something that can't be cured but is definitely not fatal. Buy a few wigs that are exactly what you wish your hair looked like, wear them proudly and ENJOY LIFE.
Coconut oil, jojoba oil and essential oils (lavender and rosemary), and scalp massages will help; it worked for me.....I suffered for a period of time with loss of hair, I also changed my diet and use only natural organic oils for my hair. I am 35 and my hair is growing longer and thicker. I wanted to share this with you, hopefully this will help.
I didn't hear you say how often you do this treatment, but it seems to me that washing all that out every day or whenever you do it might be harmful. I do use a natural shampoo, but still.
The author has beautiful red hair and is losing it, ok. I feel bad for her. I've had some odd hair problems in my life (not due to loss, but to an amazing assortment of cowlicks). Part of the reason her hair seems to be falling out rapidly is because she has red hair. Red hair has the largest diameter of all human hair. Because of this, the average redhead only has about 90K hairs on their head, while the average blonde has about 140K. Having less hair to begin with, redheads who have a hair loss seem to recede/go balding at a much more rapid rate then people with other colors/diameters of hair.
You are missing the point here, sonas76. Hair loss is an emotional thing....
Just shave your head and stop worrying about it. Bald chicks are hot
WooHoo! That is exactly what I did to help deal with the emotional loss of my hair loss. I started losing my hair in my early 20s and it caused a serious depression. Last year my therapist kicked me in the fanny but good and rightfully so. He asked me what I thought it would be like to be 13, a girl, and losing all my hair. I was shocked. "That would be way more horrible than me losing my hair" how awful to lose your hair when you are just starting to be noticed by boys and noticing back, and just starting to be super concerned about looks and vanity. He told me that was what his daughter was facing due to a recent cancer diagnose. It was a huge wake up call for me. After sharing that story with my family, I learned for the first time that a teenage cousin in Ireland had also been diagnosed with cancer and due to chem was losing her hair. OMG, two young women I had connections to were facing something so much more horrible than me and her I was whining about "just my hair"
A couple of weeks later I heard an ad for a St. Baldricks event and knew that was what I was supposed to do. I never looked back. I shaved it all off and now keep it super short. I am complemented all of the time and I find that I have a restored sense of self worth. Plus, I know that when i shaved it off the first time I raised a ton of money for childhood cncer research.
I know its not for everyone, but for you ladies who can handle a bald or shortie hair cut...i strongly urge you to CUT IT ALL OFF. Take back your life! Set your own rules for what is beautiful! Stop letting society dictate to you what is feminine and what you should look like! And...visit http://www.stbaldricks.org
I am the founder of the Children's Alopecia Project. We are devoted specifically to children living with all forms of hair loss due to alopecia. We help build self-esteem, provide support and raise awareness of Alopecia. From my experience with alopecia the most devastated demographic with alopecia would have to be adult women. It is because you have lived your life and the media and others have told you what beautiful is and let's face it, bald is not beautiful in advertising. What really happens best when an adult women experiences alopecia is finding a true beauty that exists inside. When you find it, it shine brighter then any bald head. I hope for a cure or at least a treatment that works for anyone, until then CAP will help kids. Ladies, visit us at http://www.childrensalopeciaproject.org and http://www.facebook.com/childrensalopeciaproject and see the strength in children and get yourself to acceptance as fast as you can. When you do, you will fly higher then you ever thought you could. Hang in there. – Jeff Woytovich
I can completely relate to you Lisa and I can understand what you have and are going through. I started losing hair when I was 23 and I was detected with PCOS. It did lower my self esteem, confidence. Now, I am 31 and have stopped thinking about my hair loss because I don;t care what people think anymore. I took me around 7 years to think like that though.
Honestly, I didn't even notice my hair loss until my daughter made some panicked comment about the future of HER hair. I started taking fish and flax oil supplements for the Omega 3s and noticed that my hair was growing back in. I improved my blood sugar control and it came back even more. This won't, of course, work for everybody, but it's worth investigating. I do notice that severe stress will make it start going again, but it does come back. It's not to previous levels, but it is no longer so traumatic.
Uhh... hair transplant?
I could not have said it better myself, Lisa!! You put EVERY SINGLE word on paper that I have been thinking for almost a year. I was diagnosed with "Androgenetic Alopecia" (female pattern baldness) in August of 2010. It has haunted me ever since. I have woke up every morning and gone to bed every night with hair loss as the major focus of my day. It has changed me in a negative way I never thought possible. For someone with low self-esteem to begin with – this has been devastating to me. THANK YOU for having the courage to write this article – you have said everything that I have been feeling for almost a year now.... God Bless You....
stay strong beauty
Thank you so much for sharing your story, you've had said everything I have kept inside for the past 15 years.
I am a 38 year old female who noticed my hair thinning at the age of 23. I panicked and thought EVERYTHING was causing it. My shampoo, my towel, hot water, the sun, what I ate, lack of vitamins, I even thought that my cats pulled it out while I slept......the ideas kept coming and coming, of course none were right.
In the past 15 years I have too tried countless fixes, such as Nioxin, Nizerol, Biotin, Vitamin B, Fish Oil, Flaxseed Oil, Natural Shampoo, Rogaine, Spironolactone, Propecia, Birth Control pills.
I have seen many dermatologist, endocrinologist and gynecologist. In the earlier stages I was told I just have thin hair. All blood tests came back normal.
In 2003 I read about a disease called PCOS. I consulted a reproductive endocrinologist, He did an ultrasound of my ovaries and did determine that I had VERY mild PCOS. I barely qualified based upon blood test results and symptoms. He then prescribed me with birth control pills and spironolactone. I have no idea if they did anything for my hair loss, perhaps I'd have no hair now if it wasnt for these medications. They did however, do wonders for my acne.
Today I am still on spironolactone and birth control and take daily vitamins. Last year I had a dermatologist prescribe me Propecia. . Initially caused a very long shedding period. I feel like I have much less hair all over since starting the medication, but am afraid to stop it, fearing I will lose more.
It has been 10 years since I have worn my hair down in public. I pull it in a tight bun, unless I have the pleasure of wearing a bandanna, which I try to wear as often as possible. I use Dermatch every other day to try to conceal visible parts of my scalp. My hair just gets thinner and thinner and I have no idea how far it will progress. It looks terrible down and It is not just the lack of hair, but also the quality of hair. I look as if I dye, straighten and torture my hair on a daily basis. In reality I I havent dyed it since 2001 and air dry it whenever possible. Not to mention that I sleep on a silk pillowcase, shower with filtered water and only wash it every 3 days (I condition it daily). I only comb with very large tooth combs and brush as little as possible.
I dread leaving the house, for work or for fun. Each day is torture for me. I hate looking in the mirror and hate catching a glimpse of my head in car while driving in the sun. I have a topper wig that I paid nearly $2000 for 2 years ago and have only worn it 6 times. I am so afraid it will fall off and because it clips into my natural hair, I am afraid it will damage or pull out what I have left.
I too am so glad not to have some terrible disease such as cancer and often feel foolish and selfish for being so concerned over something that means absolutely nothing. I have made some progress, I havent cried about it in years. I have come to accept it, but i most definitely dont like it!
I do a daily news check for hair loss and see some progress has been made, although very slowly. I have my eyes on companies like Acell and Histogen. Hopefully they bring a cure and hopefully in our lifetimes! Fingers crossed!!
For those new to hair loss, here is some advice from someone who has done daily research for the past 10 years.
Hair loss is NOT caused by hats and/or scarves. Only a severe vitamin deficiency would cause hair loss (although taking a daily vitamin may slightly improve the appearance of the hair itself). Only extreme stress will cause hair loss....and we are not talking a bad day work or a fight with your boyfriend. Shaving your hair will not make it thicker. Shampoos that promise more and thicker hair do not work. Some shampoos can improve the appearance of your hair, but it is just an illusion, your hair is not actually thicker. Items sold on late night television and on the radio do not work. Only Rogaine and Propecia are FDA approved treatments. Hair loss can happen from constant pulling on your hair, such as tight ponytails, weaves, extensions. This is called traction alopecia and is usually permanent. Most women are NOT good candidates for hair transplants. Transplants are done by taking hair from the back of your head and transplanting this hair to the balding areas. For men, there is pretty much have a guarantee that they will always have hair on the back of their heads and it will never fall out. For most women with hair loss, hair is lost all over the head. Therefore, any transplanted hair will most likely eventually fall out too. Women seeking a transplant procedure should make sure she is a good candidate for the procedure and that her transplant doctor is well schooled on female hair loss.
Anyone with sudden hair loss should see a physician as hair loss may be sign of an underlying disease, a hormone imbalance or a severe vitamin deficiency. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) most hair loss is caused by good old genetics......
I was reading your comments because my daughter (20) is losing her hair and has already consulted with dermatologists and endocrinologists with little success. As a male who started losing his hair at 16 I can partly understand your pain...and people who dismiss the trauma and anxiety caused by female hair loss are either extremely insensitive or simply stupid.
I'm 65...bald...and avoid mirrors. I still remember the "pain" when my friends would make fun of my premature baldness...and that started nearly 50 years ago! Even though I look younger than my chronological age I would still take a magical pill if it would restore my hair...
I am looking for a solution for my daughter. It seems that you have done your research and have tried many different approaches. There certainly isn't a single "remedy"...but we will keep searching...just like you do.
TV
I feel for ya lady, I think i'm losing my hair too. But Its not the end of the world. If my wife lost her hair tommorrow she would still be the most beautiful in my life. Lol when I'm 40 Im sure hair loss will be the least of my worries.
Hi Lisa, although I'm a man, I feel your pain. I too had many compliments on my hair all of my life. In fact, it seemed to be the only thing that people liked about my physical features. 5 years ago my hair began falling out too, but unlike your genetic hair loss, mine was caused by a Thyroid problem. I also have a vitamin B deficiency, so I take medicine for both. I take Thyroid medication every day and it has helped tremendously. The Thyroid medication gets my levels back to near normal. But, I have still lost some hair. I've learned to accept it as you have. For me, it doesn't make it any better to have Thyroidism. In fact, my body feels like I am a man in his 80's instead of mid 40's. I don't recommend Thyroidism to anyone. I have to take a Vitamin B injection into my abdomen once every two weeks. The injections have really helped cure the numb feeling I was beginning to get in my toes.
I'm sorry for your hair loss. Because I have worked with you in the past, I can say that you are a beautiful person inside and out. Although your hair is really cool, I just wanted you to know that your personality and humor are what stood out in my book. I'm sure others would agree. As for me, because I'm a guy, I think I would rather have genetic hair loss than Thyroidism. My energy level is not nearly what it used to be. Thanks for sharing your story, it looks like it has helped many others. Best wishes, Rigo
I felt for once I was not alone. I look at everyones's hair no matter where I am and always comment to my family "Look I'm the only one here with no hair" of course they tell me to stop it, no one cares or see it, but I know differently. I sometimes wonder what othere people think of me. Maybe they think I'm recovering from a serious illness, yeah, that's it. Then I say, oh well, I have to keep going on. I have not choice or I will become a shut in. As a child and young adult my hair was so thick, I have to have it thinned out. Never did I think I would be ashamed of my hair. But I try to be grateful for other things in my life. God has been good to me other ways. Sometimes I notice the men and can't understand how they have more hair than me, including my husband whose hair is so thick, he can't even make a part. Go figure WHY? So glad I read all your stories, and can relate to our very SPECIAL group of ladies with such beautiful strnght of character Thank you ladies and someday we to can throw our hats in the air like Mary Tyler Moore for those of you who remember her show.
Thank you for sharing your story. I too have androgenetic alopecia which started in my 20's. At 38, I use women's rogaine daily. I don't know if it's doing anything, but I continue to use it because I am afraid to see what would happen if I stopped. My mother is 60 and has lost a large part of her hair and wears a wig every day. It really just sucks. I wish we could see more women come forward with this issue to take away the stigma.
Thank-you for your story, Lisa, and to all the commenters who share this burden. I too had very thick, healthy beautiful hair all my life but it suddenly started falling out by handfulls right after I completed 3 months on the acne medication Accutane. Though my dermatologist assured me before I agreed to his suggestion that I try Accutane, that any side effects, including hair loss, would be temporary and would go away after I stopped taking the medication, and that if there was any hair loss during those three months, it wouldn't exceed 10%, he clearly had no idea what he was talking about. The hair fell out including eyebrows and lashes, and became finer and twisted. Now more than 80% of my hair is gone and continues to fall out. My doctor had nothing to say to me when I told him what happened, and none of the doctors I've seen since can do anything to help me. I have no other issues and take no other medications which would cause hair loss. I tried Rogaine once but it didn't do anything. The pharmaceutical industry (Hoffman La Roche is the maker of Accutane) is too rich and powerful to fight in court ; it would take a rich and powerful victim or group of victims to battle them and it wouldn't bring my hair back. I hope for a miracle one day for all of us.
Thanks for this article.
I am a 21 year old guy, in college, and I am losing my hair.
Like you, I loved my hair. It was very thick, and curly. People all the time would complement me on it.
Besides my hair, I am pretty ugly.
This is really so hurting, and painful. it is diffcult to describe how obsessive i have become about my hair. i think about it every minute it seems.
i hope that one day a company will make a product for hair loss.
god bless.
Link i found relating to Pine bark extract and the key to hair loss
http://www.mdidea.com/products/herbextract/pinebark/data18.html
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Hello all,
I am a 21 year girl with symptoms of female pattern alopecia . I have lost 3/th of my hair in the past 5 years. Whatever said above holds true in my case. Everyday I wake up thinking about my hair loss. sleep thinking about it . Everywhere I go I see people's hair. My self esteem has greatly reduced. but I have one source of help My Lord Jesus Christ who can heal my illness. I believe in his healing power. Thanks for this article.
in may 2010 i found 2 patches of bald on my head. 1 year later, the patches had spread. then my hair began falling out in handfuls and clumps, clogging the shower drain every time i washed. in a 3-week time span, i was left with nothing but a few straggling strands of hair on my head. at that point i just shaved what was left off.
i'm 34 now and bald, with just a bit of peach fuzz left on my head. my eyebrows are almost gone. underarm hair is gone. leg hair is nothing but a little fuzz. bikini line – nothing to speak of there.
it is absolutely horrifying. i have a wig that does look great, but A) it's too hot to wear it and B) i feel fake in it; it's just not who i am anymore. i look in the mirror and cannot believe i look like this. i had long, almost waist-length blond hair, i loved it. now i feel like a freak, a monster. everyone tells me it's "only" hair, but unless you're going through it, you can't understand it. yes, i'm thankful that i'm not ill in anyway, but it is just bizarre and absurd that this has happened.
i feel destroyed by it.
Why can't she just have hair replacement surgery? Sure, it's expensive, and may take more than one application, but if she's published in CNN she can't be hurting for money.
Please don't be so naive in your suggestions. Trust me, if there were an instant fix (even at a hefty cost), most hair loss sufferers would grab it like food in a famine.
Contrary to your supersmart and innovative solution, hair transplants are NOT feasible for a large portion of female hair loss sufferers. The pattern of their hair loss is diffuse and therefore there is no stable donor site from which to obtain hair from. Please research before you suggest magic answers again.
Very cold comment. Hair replacement surgery isn't an option for female pattern baldness. I'm sure most people suffering from hair loss would find the money for a transplant if it would be successful.
Lisa,
Thank you so much for sharing your story and for Y for posting about it on the WHLP.
My story mirrors yours in almost every single way (I had brown curly hair).
I especially relate to staring at other womens' hair when out and about. And feeling angry that women take their hair for granted. That whether their hair is up, down, clean, or dirty, they don't have to worry about their scalp showing. Or being a 40 year old woman with less hair than most 80 year olds. It's especially frustrating to see anorexic models and actresses with gorgeous hair (so much for the nutrition notion).
Anyway, I'm writing because I am quite desperate to find a support system. I've posted on WHLP without much reply. I've posted where I live (the Bay Area) to try to find other women to meet, but no response. They say there are "thousands" of sufferers like us out there. And I see some of them when I'm out (though they're almost all a different generation). And I really feel I have no one to regularly talk with, connect with.
Especially since I'm single. I think you're incredibly lucky to have found someone who already loves you. It's a lot easier to be early 40s and have hair loss and have someone already love you, then to be a normal, healthy, otherwise relatively attractive, single woman. I feel like I have to fake/hide the true amount of hair I have, in a sesne "trick" some man into loving me. Without telling him that at some point in the not too distant future, I'll have to wear a hairpiece (while hiking? exercising?) and then at night he'll have to look at me without it, and somehow still find me beautiful.
If you are a pen pal or know any sufferers in the Bay Area I could reach out to, or any other suggestions, I would be extremely grateful.
Thank you.
Alison – I know you don't have Alopecia but these 2 organizations may be able to point you in the right direction for other support groups: Bald Girls Do Lunch at http://www.baldgirlsdolunch.org/ and NAAF at http://www.naaf.org
I think if you contact either of these org they may be able to help you find a support group in your area.
Hi Alison,
Where in Bay Area are you? I am in Santa Cruz. I used to live in San Francisco and San Mateo. I went to one place in SF to get a hair piece. I too often visit WHLP website. Today I feel really depressed because recently I went to see doctors at Stanford clinics to evaluate my hormone levels and also investigate further my PCOS condition (I was diagnosed years ago) and possibly POF... Guess what...they said everything is normal with me, that I looked good and send me to see a psychiatrist. I just cant take it anymore to see my hair falling out in clumps and to see it all over the place. I am 33 by the way. I you want to talk, email me. Take care.
Hi, Alison.
Sorry for the delayed response. I totally understand. Can you please find me on the network? (Ask Y to track me down if you need to.) I'm in SoCal but I'd love to chat with you over email. No one understands this unless they have been through it. Take care!
Hi Alison/Ella/Lisa... I also live in the Bay Area... It would be nice if we could write to each other via email... sometimes it's just good to have that extra support from someone who's going through it as well.. Please feel free to email me too. Thanks.
Lisa – I think you are very brave and beautiful for sharing your story. When I was losing my hair, from Grave's Disease, I too would think about my hair first thing in the morning when I woke up and it was the last thing on my mind at night. I don't consider myself a vain person, but my hair loss became my focus point. I empathize with you and hope by sharing your story, you are finding a new way of coping and dealing with your hair loss.
I also want to let you know about my company, Madcapz, that manufactures and sells fun women's baseball caps. I created Madcapz when I was losing my hair and wanted a fun feminine cap to wear. We sell to many many women with hair loss from medical conditions and genetic conditions. If you would like to take a look, http://www.madcapz.net.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Hi All,
Your stories are so powerful and compelling. Thank you for sharing them, it's encouraging to know that you are not alone.
I thought I'd share with you some forums and companies that might be of assistance to you.
Forums: I've found Alopecia world http://www.alopeciaworld.com and http://www.heralopecia.com to be great communities for people to share their stories and give and receive support from others who also have hair loss.
A group of companies I've also had a long relationship with is the Transitions Hair International Group. They are a group of hair loss professionals who seem to care more than the average company in my experience. Please go to:
http://www.iwanthair.com for USA/ Canada/ Mexico
http://www.transitionshair.com.au for Australia.
If you have lost your hair through alopecia in Australia you may with to contact Fusion Health for their hair tonic, it has been reported in the media how it has helped many with Alopecia regain their hair. Or for a great support organisation go to http://www.aaaf.org.au – the Australia Alopecia Areata Foundation. A very caring group too.
I hope this is of help to some of you out there.
I am so sorry for you! I am 25 and going through the same thing. And every women in my family old and young have beautiful thick hair. Mine started when I was 19 I have no idea why and neither do any doctors I have seen. Our hair doesn't make us us!! Hang in there.
You never know what you have until you loose it. Literally. I had beautiful curly hair. Envious hair. I lost it to chemo along with both breasts. My eyebrows never grew back after chemo. My hair barely grew back. Now what did grow back is falling out, permanently. I am in a dark place, hoping to find the strength to accept all the changes, all the loss and, eventually wearing a wig for the rest of my life. Loosing my hair is harder than loosing my breasts. Why does hair have to play such an important role in the human factor. Hair does define us or there wouldn't be such a huge industry to fight balding. I'll never be the same person as I was before all this happened. Too much to accept.
Several cosmetic choices for female hair loss are high protein shampoos that provide an appearance of fuller hair. These shampoos give hair more texture and thickness. Mousses can offer more body too. Keratin protein fiber powders brushed into your hair create a look and feel of greater hair fullness. Scalp sealers reduce the color contrast between your hair and scalp. Consider a lighter hair color too and reduce the color contrast between your hair color and scalp. All these products are readily available.
Maury-eazol
I have been suffering from hair loss now for 2 years. Some people take it as a joke, but is the most devastating experience that a woman can suffer. You can't understand how someone that is suffering from hair loss feels unless you go through the experience. Sometimes I get so depress that many negative thoughts go through my mind even suicide. I am desperate. I am engaged and I have thought about breaking my engagement over my hair loss problem. Thank you for posting your comments some are very helpful and makes' me feel that I am not alone.
Elsa
Elsa, I feel your pain!! I think about suicide also. I have been losing my hair for about 4 years now. It has ruined my life. I know I am more than my hair but I just cant deal with it! Your so not alone in your pain!!
Elsa,
I have suffered from hair loss for years now. Never though that I would say "years". But it has been years.
I was suicidal at one point also. I went to bed thinking about my hair, woke at night with a panic about future of my hair and woke thinking about it. Television is drenched in hair commercials. Friends chat about coloring their hair or how great a friends hair looks when they have a new cut. There are constant reminders.
Be good to those who are good to you. They love you because of you. Not your hair. Would you leave your partner because he lost his hair? No. You might even feel more connected to him because of his loss. Would you stop being someones friend because of hair loss. Silly thought huh? I too hate the thought of my hair loss but all we can do is do our best to try and move on.
My only solace is thinking that some day after I have lived my long life I might be fondly remembered as the person I am not my great hair. Maybe the crazy hat lady. I could live with that one too. I still love the story I was once told of an elderly woman who got rid of all of the mirrors in her house. Because she felt it no longer mattered what she looked like.
It was trivial.
My husband has stuck by me. I need to remember that he and our daughter want to enjoy our life together. Memories of us all together. If I never lost my hair I doubt that our memories would be centered around my great hair.
Three years ago my husband had a 20% chance of survival fighting cancer. He is in remission. I have MS and my future is also in jeopardy. But I am still walking. Life has no guarantees. Really. Hair loss is hard because we feel out of control over something that should be really basic.
I do best when I am doing something for someone else. Volunteer. Donate an exotic food to the food bank. Give the person clearing tables at crappy restaurant a 10.00 tip. Help the elderly lady around the corner clean up her front porch and give her someplace nice to sit with a cup of tea. Take your mind off of yourself. Remind yourself that people are good to you because they love you. Not your hair. When I am really sad I try to look at the world around me and remember that with my MS I am lucky I can still see it. And by all means. Get Married.
I am not yet 20 and yet as a very young woman I suffer from hairloss.
Who knows if it's because of those stupid highlights that I did out of a CVS box of hair color or because of high stress levels or vitamins. Blood test after blood test revealed nothing.
I am truly moved by every single one of your stories and though you, Lisa, have stopped shedding tears, I have not. With every hair I shed it's hard not to shed a tear.
Thank you everyone for sharing your stories and I hope to one day, as a future doctor, help every single one of you.
I lost all the hair on my head when I was in my 30's. It started with small patches then progressed very rapidly to smooth shiny baldness. I went to every doctor in the area and finally a hair loss clinic doctor told me that I could lose every single hair on my body. It started out with a rash on my body that itched and was red and bumpy. I finally accepted my loss and started using hair pieces and nobody knew. Eventually I lost all the hair on my head. I have been wearing beautiful wigs for over 20 years. I worked full time and no one knew except for my family. I have lost good friends to cancer and I have realized that losing your hear may be devasting to women but cancer is far worse. I am now 61 years old, a grandmother of 2 beautiful girls. I will be married for 40 years this December and I love the way I look. I am so used to not having hair on my head that I love not wearing the wig around the house. I don't go out of the house without my wig; but I wish I could.
My dad, who is still living at 96 told me a long time ago, "If that is the worst thing that happens to you, feel grateful!"
I know how you all feel. I cried a lot, felt sorry for myself, went to all kinds of doctors and treatments. I suffered from depression, went on anti-depressants and then I realized that there are far worse things in life. My husband is on disability and suffers from chronic pain every day of the past 19 years. Believe me, there are far worse things in this life.
I have a sister-in-law that has had 4 bouts of cancer and survived and is so happy all the time. I have not shared my story with any group. I just found this group by accident. Please, please don't ever think of suicide. There are beautiful wigs out there and you can go on without hair on your head. Be grateful every day for all the other wonderful things in your life.
@ Lisa O’Neill Hill: Could you please share the name of the NY endocrinologist who specializes in hair loss? I have lost 80% of my hair within three short weeks due to a change in the dosage of my thyroid medication and need to explore my options.
I too went to the endo in NY who specializes in hair loss (Dr. Redmond). Unless there is another one. Save your money. Buy his book. Really, really, really. Look on Amazon. The book is really helpful.
You will everything you need from the book. Save your money. He looked at my labs I had done prior, put me on BC and Spiro. That was it.
I would say with the thyroid problem go to a naturopathic doctor just for a different point of view. Insurance is not helpful for this but see if you can get tests ordered through your doctor that your naturopath suggests.