Hair loss information (long)

Here is some info I found on why hair loss occurs and what we can and can't do about it. (Actually it is more about WHEN we can do something about it). Most people don't give it much thought until it happens--and there is nothing you can do THEN, so bear with me and read on. It's a bit technical, so I apologize in advance... It is important to understand the normal hair growth cycle to understand why hair loss occurs. The hair follicle is an anatomical structure which produces and extrudes (pushes out) a hair shaft. Hair is made up of proteins called keratins. Human hair grows in a continuous cyclic pattern of growth and rest known as the "hair growth cycle". Three phases of the cycle exist: Anagen= growth phase; Catagen=degradation phase; Telogen= resting phase. Periods of growth (anagen) between two and eight years are followed by a brief period, two to four weeks, in which the follicle is almost totally degraded (catagen). The resting phase (telogen) then begins and lasts two to four months. Shedding of the hair occurs only after the next growth cycle (anagen) begins and a new hair shaft begins to emerge. On average 50-100 telogen hairs are shed every day. This is normal hair loss and accounts for the hair loss seen every day in the shower and with hair combing. These hairs will regrow. Not more than 10 percent of the follicles are in the resting phase (telogen) at any time. A variety of factors can affect the hair growth cycle and cause temporary hair loss including medication, exposure to chemicals, and hormonal and nutritional factors. Major surgery is an extreme physical shock to the body. After surgery your body is struggling to repair itself. Most nutrients are diverted to repairing essential organs and reorganizing the structural integrity of the body. Hair follicles are not vitally important for survival so they often lose out as nutrients are diverted elsewhere. Without a good supply of nutrients the hair follicles slow down or even stop activity completely. This may lead to a telogen effluvium type of progressive hair loss noticeable up to three months after the surgery has taken place. Surgery can also cause hair loss by other mechanisms as shown below. Systemic anesthesia has a profound effect on the body. As you would expect, it pushes the individual into a state of unconsciousness and relaxes muscles. Anesthesia also affects hair follicles. Hair follicles contain cells that are some of the fastest dividing and developing cells of the body. They have to divide fast to maintain the growth of hair fiber. Anesthesia blocks this rapid cell division. While the application of anesthesia to an individual may only be for a few hours, the hair follicles may be affected to such a degree that they shut down hair fiber production and enter a telogen resting state. A telogen effluvium type of hair loss is the result. Sudden nutritional deficiencies in protein, zinc, copper, vitamin A, and other nutrients can cause some of the hairs that are in the anagen (growth) phase to suddenly go into the catagen (dead, but hanging on) phase. This is quickly followed by the telogen phase which ends with the shedding of the hair. This premature cycle lasts about 90 days, at which time the crop of affected hairs fall out and new hairs replace them. Since the trauma occurred at a certain point in time, the hair shedding takes place over a relatively short period of time and thus is noticeable. What can you do? Once you notice shedding THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO REDUCE THE LOSS, but wait. The trauma has already happened. The new hair will come in. BUT YOU CAN DO SOME THINGS OVER THE NEXT 30 DAYS TO MINIMIZE THE TRAUMA. You can start NOW to make sure you enter surgery nutritionally stable. Increase your vitamin and calcium supplements. Make sure you get plenty of protein pre-op and as quickly as possible post-op. I am starting protein shakes now. My doctor allows them post-op as soon as I get on full liquids (day 3). This is a great opportunity to try different brands to see what you like. We all will probably lose some hair, but the extent of that loss is up to us NOW. Joy (3/1) (Hanging on to my canary feathers as much as possible!)

I don't want to lose my hair. It's VERY thick, long and curly. Its the favorite thing on my body. Its the only thing I've never complained about. Its the one thing I get so many compliments about... Please hair, don't fall out. I have been taking a multi vitamin for about almost 2 months now and have totally upped my protein intake. I really hope it helps. I'll be so sad if It starts to fall out. Kelley 28 days and a wake up! .....and worrying about hairloss

Kelley and Joy, Unfortunately I will be completely devastated if I lose my hair. Where ever I go someone always comments on my hair. Kelley, I'm like you except that mine's not curly. I've been cutting it a bit shorter over the last few months, anticipating this surgery. It's now half way down my back, but with layers. I'm pushing protein, minerals and vitamins, hoping and praying that my all of my follicles stay right where they're supposed to be!! Va

Hey Joy thanks for that info on hair loss. I was worried about my hair falling out which it is already doing. I believe it to because of that birth control shot that screwed up my hormones. I won't be taking that ever again. I haven't been taking any kind of vitamins or nothing nutritional Saturday I will be heading out to walgreens to purchase all of that stuff and start taking it ASAP. I do have a whole month before my WLS and I plan to be full of nutrients, proteins and everything else. Thanks again

Joy, Thanks so much. I had been thinking the protein was the key to a lot of it and was planning to start my protein shakes as soon as possible (like as soon as I find one at Sam's tonight). I have been using protein bars as a snack / one of my MANY meals each day for the last 2 weeks. I haven't taken vitamin supplements in years, but one of my staff brought me a box of vitamins for women over 50 and I started on those a few days ago. I will be sure that when I finish those I have something else to start on. (maybe the chewable kind that I will need to be taking on the other side.) I can't afford to lose any hair. Mine is long and there is a lot of it, but it's like baby hair texture so it doesn't seem like a lot. LOL Thanks again for the reinforcment. Hugs, Mo (with the happy Mo dancin' feet)

Thank you Joy! I know the whole thought is scary, but your post was very informative and was actually a comfort to me. Knowing why these things happen can really help lessen the anxiety. Losing hair is traumatic, yes, but knowing what is happening to us, the hows and whys, and understanding that the hair will come back can help get us through it. Thank you for taking the time to educate me! Katarina

Thank you Joy Karla

Don't for get biotin

Can You tell me about biotin??