Anyone lose so much hair they needed a wig
I too suffered from hair loss and it shocked me, because I wasn't warned. But, yes, I did have to turn to wearing wigs. However, while wearing them, I took an oral vitamin, called Biotin (go to this website; this is the exact kind I purchased, from Walgreen too: http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/nature\'s-bounty-super-pote ncy-biotin-5000-mcg-vitamin-supplement-rapid-release-liquid- softgels/ID=prod1520533-product) Within a month, I began to see my hair grow back thicker and fuller.
It's a bit discouraging in the beginning, but once you begin taking the Biotin, you'll be fine. Good luck :)
on 6/7/11 2:46 am - Califreakinfornia , CA
It explains why we lose our hair after surgery and it goes on to explain that it will grow back and that taking supplements will not help it grow back. It's going to grow back when the trauma of having all those surgeries have passed.
Telogen Effluvium and Other Effluviums
Some hair loss conditions go by the name "effluvium," which means an outflow. Effluviums characteristically affect different phases of the hair growth cycle.
Hair follicles on the scalp do not continuously produce hair. They cycle through a growth stage that can last two or more years, then regress to a resting stage for up to two months before starting to grow a new hair fiber again. At any time on a healthy human scalp, about 80% to 90% of the hair follicles are growing hair. These active follicles are in what is called the anagen phase. That leaves up to 10% to 20% percent of scalp hair follicles in a resting state called telogen, when they don't produce any hair fiber.
Slideshow: What Your Hair Says About Your Health
Telogen Effluvium
Telogen effluvium (TE) is probably the second most common form of hair loss dermatologists see. It is a poorly defined condition; very little research has been done to understand TE. In essence though, TE happens when there is a change in the number of hair follicles growing hair. If the number of hair follicles producing hair drops significantly for any reason during the resting, or telogen phase, there will be a significant increase in dormant, telogen stage hair follicles. The result is shedding, or TE hair loss.
TE appears as a diffuse thinning of hair on the scalp, which may not be even all over. It can be a bit more severe in some areas of the scalp than others. Most often, the hair on top of the scalp thins more than it does at the sides and back of the scalp. There is usually no hair line recession, except in a few rare chronic cases.
The shed hairs are typically telogen hairs, which can be recognized by a small bulb of keratin on the root end. Whether the keratinized lump is pigmented or unpigmented makes no difference; the hair fibers are still typical telogen hairs.
People with TE never completely lose all their scalp hair, but the hair can be noticeably thin in severe cases. While TE is often limited to the scalp, in more serious cases TE can affect other areas, like the eyebrows or pubic region.
Whatever form of hair loss TE takes, it is fully reversible. The hair follicles are not permanently or irreversibly affected; there are just more hair follicles in a resting state than there should normally be.
There are three basic ways TE can develop.
1. There might be an environmental insult that "shocks" the growing hair follicles so much that they decide to go into a resting state for a while. This results in an increase in hair shedding and a diffuse thinning of hair on the scalp. This form of TE can develop rapidly and may be noticeable one or two months after receiving the shock. If the trigger is short lived, then the hair follicles will return to their growing state and start producing new hair fibers pretty quickly. This form of TE usually lasts less than six months and the affected individual has a normal scalp hair density again within a year.
2. The second form of TE develops more slowly and persists longer. The hair follicles may not all suddenly shed their hair fibers and enter a resting telogen state. Rather, the follicles may enter a resting state as they normally would, but instead of returning to a new anagen hair growing state after a month or two, they stay in their telogen state for a prolonged period of time.
This results in a gradual accumulation of hair follicles in a telogen state and progressively fewer and fewer anagen hair follicles are left growing hair. In this form of TE, there may not be much noticeable hair shedding, but there will be a slow thinning of the scalp hair. This form of TE is more likely to occur in response to a persistent trigger factor.
3. In a third type of TE, the hair follicles do not stay in a resting state but rather cycle through truncated growth cycles. When this happens, the individual experiences thin scalp hair and persistent shedding of short, thin hair fibers.
Causes of Telogen Effluvium: Stress and Diet
What are the trigger factors for TE? The short answer is many and varied. Classic short-term TE often happens to women soon after giving birth. Called postpartum alopecia, the sudden change in hormone levels at birth is such a shock to the hair follicles that they shut down for a while. There may be some significant hair shedding, but most women regrow their hair quickly.
Similarly, vaccinations, crash dieting, physical trauma such as being in a car crash, and having surgery can sometimes be a shock to the system and a proportion of scalp hair follicles go into hibernation. As the environmental insult passes and the body recovers, the TE subsides and there is new hair growth.
Some drugs may also induce TE, especially antidepressants. Often a switch to a different drug resolves the issue.
More persistent insults can result in more persistent TE. For example, a chronic illness may lead to TE. Arguably, the two most common problems are chronic stress and diet deficiency. Many dermatologists believe chronic stress can gradually exert a negative effect on hair growth and lead to persistent TE. Research with animal models has provided evidence to back up this claim. There does indeed seem to be a link between stress, a change in hair follicle biochemistry, and more hair follicles entering a telogen resting state.
Whether dietary problems are causing TE in North America is hotly argued among dermatologists. A lack of a mineral, vitamin, or essential amino acid can certainly cause TE, such as with people in third world countries where diets can be completely deficient in one or more nutrients. Animal experiments also provide supporting evidence.
www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/effluviums
on 6/7/11 4:52 am - Califreakinfornia , CA
I did however steal it from Elizabeth N, but I've decided after I post it three times it becomes MINE.
I only have to post it two more times and it becomes mine, mine, mine.
on 6/7/11 9:23 am, edited 6/6/11 9:24 pm
it was nice to feel in control again .
To make it grow back ... SILICON elemental SILICON . Zinc . Iron ( preferably anything but emental iron ) Biotin doesnt hurt but im not sure how much it helps either . hair vitamins cant hurt either .
(((((((()))))))))) It WILL work. Also , bru**** a lot ... it stimulates the roots ..using a natural boars head bristle brush ... massage Ur scalp when U remember too.
If U startwearing a wig U basically give up and it will never grow back ... its Ur choice .
Yep there are beautiful human hair wigs . Personally , Id go for highlights ( any color thickens the hairshaft ) and lowlights .. and FEED and water and GARDEN my hair and TOUGH it out GRRRL.....
Before U get a wig - why dont U try a color and ahighlight weave and cutting into a bob ? I bet it will look and feel and SWING a lot thicker ...
As far as getting my hair colored and highlighted, I am allergic and that will just make more hair fall out. The last time I got a perm, you can't imagine how much hair fell out due the chemicals and I itched for about 2 weeks and the rashes where horrible. Anything with fragrance or color is off limits for me. A weave I was told would just weaken what is left. I asked my niece who is going to cosmetology school about extentions and she said no way, not enough hair.
So, I am just trying to do something that will make me look better so maybe I will feel a little better. I am still in pain everyday and I am just getting fed up. I am going to go back to surgeon if things don't better in a few weeks. I really don't want to go through another surgery
My hair is fine, but I have short periods of hair loss,(when I neglect my supplments) which I control with zinc losenges, three times a week. since my zinc is stable I rarely loose more than a few strands... it sounds like you have a lot of mal-absorbtion going on, which is what causes the weight loss...but so bad, that your nutrition is badly compromised...Make sure you get the D3...in what ever type your surgeon recommended., and something with magnesium in it to increase your absorbtion of calcium...you have to build your bone density up.... Remember you are worth this effort and you are worth the expense to be and appear healthy...
