Question:
OK - she's eaten all the protein, regliously, and followed instructions

My surgery twin is having a terrible hair/nail problem. SHe has been perfect with her protein, in fact more than she was even told to, and is losing her hair in clumps and her nails are getting soft and peeling. We've looked through the archives and can't get satisfaction from what we are reading. What can she do at this point to help stop the damage? She is trying to get even more protein, 100 grams, and is taking specific vitamins for hair and nails and is going to start with nioxin. What else is there?? please give us some guidance.    — Rebecca L. (posted on June 6, 2001)

June 6, 2001
what about vitamins, complete? Is she taking them twice a day?
   — Jeanne P.

June 6, 2001
research I've done on other web sites about wls surgery say hair loss just happens to some people no matter what between 3-9 months, the rapid weight loss phase. Then things even out and the hair growth returns to what it was.
   — KATIE B.

June 6, 2001
Is she taking a multivitamin twice a day? Is she taking calcium twice? did she wear artificial nails prior to surgery? If she is doing everything right and this still persists she must tell her doctor and perhaps see a dermatoligist.If I was losing hair in clumps I would have a doctor run some labs on me thyroid and diabetes can do that. particularly thyroid.
   — Rose A.

June 12, 2001
She should check out her vitamin/mineral supplements and make sure they include a total of 25,000 IU Vitamin A, 75 mg of zinc, and 900 mcg of biotin and make sure her protein is hydrolyzed ("pre-digested"). Whey supplements are more bioavailable than soy, meat, milk, or egg! 90-100 mg/day sounds about right to me, although some take even more.
   — Linda B.