Question:
Help! My hair is shedding really bad!
I'm now 3 months post-op and have upped my protein consumption to over 60gm a day. I've noticed my hair is really shedding bad now having to empty my hairbrush several times a week. My nails are okay, but my hair is really brittle. I take multivitamins twice daily. I take the Women's Multi-Vit. I don't tolerate the protein shakes at all. I've tried several different kinds their just to sweet tasting for me. I've starting adding protein bars which have from 10gm to 20gm a bar. I can only tolerate meat if it's say in a soup or ground up like taco meat. What can I do to get my hair to grow back again without using the special shampoos. I can't have anything that has minoxidil in it since I'm already on blood pressure meds and it really monkey's with my system. Thank you in advance. — Deborah Joyner (posted on May 25, 2006)
May 25, 2006
Deborah: Here is an article I found about hair loss, which may give you
some comfort. It's normal for most of us following surgery, and probably
isn't a whole lot we can do about it. I honestly don't believe it is
related to the lack of protein, but more because of the surgery, effects of
anesthesia, etc. It's pretty typical for most of us to experience it
between 3-6 months out. If you have it happen again later on in your
journey, then I would say that it would be nutritionally-related at that
point, but not so much so early on. Here is the article:
Telogen effluvium is the name for temporary hair loss that follows some
shock to the system.
Cause
In a normal healthy person's scalp about 85% of the hair follicles are
actively growing hair and 15% are resting. A hair follicle usually grows
hair for 4 years then rests for 4 months. The old hair then falls out and a
new hair begins to grow. When the hair rests it changes into a club hair.
When the new hair starts it forms under the resting club hair and pushes it
out.
Thus, it is normal to lose up to about 100 hairs a day on one's comb,
brush, in the basin or on the pillow, as a result of the normal scalp hair
cycle.
If there is some shock to the system, as many as 70% of the scalp hairs can
be precipitated into a resting state, thus reversing the usual ratio.
Typical precipitants include:
Illness
Operation
Accident
Childbirth
Nervous shock
Weight loss or unusual diet
Discontinuing the contraceptive pill
Overseas travel resulting in jetlag.
The resting scalp hairs, now in the form of club hairs, remain firmly
attached to the hair follicles at first. It is only about 2 months after
the shock that the new hairs coming up through the scalp push out the
"dead" club hairs and increased hair fall is noticed.
Thus, paradoxically, with this type of hair loss, hair fall is a sign of
hair regrowth. As the new hair first comes up through the scalp and pushes
out the dead hair a fine fringe of new hair is often evident along the
forehead hairline. At first the fall of club hairs is profuse and a general
thinning of the scalp hair may become evident but after several months a
peak is reached and hair fall begins to lessen, gradually tapering back to
normal over 6-9 months. As the hair fall tapers off the scalp thickens back
up to normal, but recovery may be incomplete in some cases.
Because nail and hair growth are under the same influences, an arrest in
hair growth is often mirrored in the nails by a groove across them
coinciding with the time of the shock to the system. The time of the shock
can be estimated from the fact that a finger nail takes 5 months to grow
from the posterior nail fold to the free edge. So if the groove in the nail
is half way down the nail then the shock must have been 2 1/2 months ago.
Treatment
Telogen effluvium is self-correcting. It is really not influenced by any
treatment that can be given. However, gentle handling of the hair, avoiding
over-vigorous combing, brushing and any type of scalp massage are
important.
You should also ensure a nutritious diet, with plenty of protein, fruit and
vegetables.
The doctor may check your levels of iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid, as
any deficiency in these can slow hair growth.
Related information
On DermNet:
Hair loss
Alopecia areata
Other web sites:
Telogen effluvium - from emedicine dermatology, the on-line textbook.
— Carlita
May 25, 2006
I have never heard the above statement of hair stopping and then growing,
not to say that it doesn't happen. I was advised by the doctor's and hair
dressers that I would experience hair loss around three months out due to
the drastic change in diet and limited amounts of protein that are consumed
the first few weeks after surgery. Nothing I did stopped it until I
started to go to a more normal diet. After about 4 months things with my
hair returned to normal. It is a side effect but well worth it. Talk with
your hair dresser and see if a new cut will change the look of things. It
did for me. Don't sweat it and worry it is natural to have happen.
— 1968 Loser
May 25, 2006
From a hairstylist view....It is very normal to loose the hair and it may
keep falling out for about 3 months and stop. If you will let your
hairstylist look at your scalp you will be amazed at the new hair that is
coming in. Dont worry it will come back. Just get a cute cut to help you
with the process and you will look and feel better. ANd you really do need
to make sure you are eating enough protien and at least 18 fat grams a day.
— Katie B.
May 25, 2006
below you will find the link to the protein products I use. I also add
Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle Cure conditioner daily and this protein treatment
twice daily, HOWEVER, do not do it by the instructions, wash your hair in
a gentle shampoo like Johnson's baby then use the 3 min miracle by aussie,
but leave it in 10 minutes, after that rinse, and towel dry your hair
GENTLY, scrubbing your scalp causes hair loss! Then add the protein
conditioner and leave in for 30 min to an hour, I do it on my days off when
I am running around the house cleaning. If you need any further info, feel
free to email me at [email protected]
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C00VM0/104-0394291-3507965?n=3760911
— vlaster
May 25, 2006
Deborah,
I had the same problem, only worse than most people because of
complications and having nothing but liquids and iv nutrition for 3 months
following surgery, so I lost about 60% of my hair. Protein doesn't help.
Although it's a normal thing to lose hair, I really panicked and went
everywhere for help, my pcp panicked when he saw the extent of my hair loss
and got me an almost immediate appoinment with a dermatogist (it normally
takes 10-12 months to get in with her)and she had no suggestions so I
finally stopped in at the health food store and was told about a WONDERFUL
vitamin that works wonders. It's Nature's Plus, ULTRA HAIR PLUS, it's
sustained release. If you can't take a big pill you can grind it and put
it in something soft and eat it. Within 3 weeks I had tons of tiny new
hairs coming in and my hair actually grew in thicker than it had ever been.
I found mine at Nature's Outlet (a health food chain store) but I'm sure
you could find it online. Good luck! It will grow back. Pam
— Pam D.
May 25, 2006
The only thing that helped me was Biotin. It is a vitamin supplement that
you can get at any drug store, grocery store, or Wal-Mart. Ofcourse there
was nothing I could do to stop the initial hairloss, but it did help it
grow back thick! I had beautiful EXTRA THICK hair (stylist would cringe
when they saw me coming, and break combs in my hair trying to comb it,
LOL), so I was pretty disappointed to be getting thin on top. Now my hair
is not as thick as it was, but still allot thicker than allot of people's.
I have had 2 plastic surgeries after the GB and my hair didn't seem to be
phased at all ( I believe because I stayed on my Biotin faithfully).. And
I have never been able to get all my protein in (I hate cheese, and I am
not a big meat eater!!), so I honestly don't think diet has anything to do
with it.... JUST TRY THE BIOTIN, it will take a few months to see results
but if you stick with it, it will be well worth it. My husband had surgery
6 months ago and I make him take it regularly also!! GOOD LUCK
— GAYLE CARMACK-LYONS
May 26, 2006
hair loss with WLS is very common. You loose hasome of your hair when you
have a newborn baby and this is the same thing. Once I reach my goal
weight, I stopped loosing any more hair and som,e of it grew back. Why?
because I was taking my vitamins and eating/drinking my protein. In short
I was following my Dr. instructions. I stopped loosing my hair, and some
of it grew back, but it is not as thick as it was prior to the surgery.
I hope I am able to help you,
Dani
— Dani96
May 26, 2006
I just got done reading the article that was posted, I've been in the
cosmetology feild for 12 years and doing hair for 9. I can tell you that
you lose on an everage of 175 hair per day, now after your body goes
through something as major as surgery and the lack of proper nutrition you
will lose hair. Also take into account the fact that you are on medication
for your blodd pressure. Try using a womens multi vitamin and try using
nixion shampoo and conditioner, it will help with the blood circulating to
the folicles that aren't producing hair and will help your hair look fuller
and feel a little bit thicker. Good luck!
— Jenney
May 27, 2006
tyr an unflavored protien in you soups and other food add cheese to foods
like soups and very thin sliced cold cut! unjury unflavored and any whey
unflavored are good for this. compare ingridients in your vits to other
bariatric vits you might not be getting enough of something in there. i
would also add biotin to your plan of attack! best of luck! vicki g
— vickig
May 29, 2006
Double that protein and get it from protein powder (whey). Go to GNC and
get them to mix samples for you without milk.. If you REALLY can't find a
protein flavor you like then get the unflavored stuff and put it in some
oatmeal or cream of wheat.
— SJP
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