Why is my hair falling out?

[Domino]

When i take a shower and run my fingers through my hair, it comes out in big clumps. My hair is in pretty good condition, i just got all the dead ends cut off. I'm not sure why it's happening. It also happens when i brush my hair and sometimes when i wake up in the mornings there is a lot of long hair on my pillow. I wouldn't be very worried, but it's a lot of hair.

Has any female ever experienced this? if so can you tell me wtf is wrong with me? Thanks.

Hi, honey, let me see if I can help. I've had problems with that since age 19 to varying degrees. In my case, it's autoimmune. Many women experience hair loss and it can be anything from hormones (like a thyroid problem) to food absorption problems (G.I. issues like IBS). After I got REALLY sick, my hair was coming out at a distressing rate, so I know how you feel. It's scary and upsetting.

I'd like to suggest something I've had some success with. Biotin supplementation. It's B7, you can take high doses without toxicity, and it's inexpensive. It will at least slow the loss rate and encourage/accelerate new growth.

Have you treated or colored your hair lately?

 

[iwakar]

I definitely recall that from beauty school days. Excessive chemical treatment can ravage your scalp, and needless to say your hair. If you haven't been doing dye jobs and the like, I'd suggest seeing a doctor. Finding an inexpensive one is the trick in your case. I don't have a suggestion beyond what the others said about a clinic.

 

[scantilyclad]

Hi, honey, let me see if I can help. I've had problems with that since age 19 to varying degrees. In my case, it's autoimmune. Many women experience hair loss and it can be anything from hormones (like a thyroid problem) to food absorption problems (G.I. issues like IBS). After I got REALLY sick, my hair was coming out at a distressing rate, so I know how you feel. It's scary and upsetting.

I'd like to suggest something I've had some success with. Biotin supplementation. It's B7, you can take high doses without toxicity, and it's inexpensive. It will at least slow the loss rate and encourage/accelerate new growth.

Have you treated or colored your hair lately?

I actually take Biotin everyday! It's part of my daily supplement regimen. I haven't color treated my hair recently,but i did about 3 months ago. I wonder if that really could be part of it.

 

[Tigerlily]

I actually take Biotin everyday! It's part of my daily supplement regimen. I haven't color treated my hair recently,but i did about 3 months ago. I wonder if that really could be part of it.

i doubt it. i am leaning towards thyroid issues. see if there is a way you can get to a dr.

 

[JocktheMotie]

Have you checked WebMD?

 

[Domino]

How much biotin do you take, just out of curiosity?

 

[INA]

Did you start a pill form of birth control in the last 6 months?

 

[JivinJeffJones]

Is it possible you've been irradiated?

 

[Tallulah]

i doubt it. i am leaning towards thyroid issues. see if there is a way you can get to a dr.

Yeah, I think so, too. And that could also contribute to your clinical depression.

 

[scantilyclad]

How much biotin do you take, just out of curiosity?

I take 1000 mcg once daily.

Did you start a pill form of birth control in the last 6 months?

nope i haven't taken birth control in over 5 years.

 

[Little Linguist]

According to Wikipedia, hair loss has the following causes:

Male pattern baldness
Androgenetic alopecia
Fungal infection such as "black dot" tinea or tinea capitis
Chemical breakage such as over processing, or frequent use of chemical relaxer
Heat damage as from repeated hot comb use
Chronic exposure to traction on hair shaft such as Traction alopecia
Compulsive hair pulling such as trichotillomania
Hypothyroidism
Iron deficiency
Alopecia areata
Telogen effluvium resulting from physical or psychological stress
Hereditary disorder of the hair shaft or genodermatoses
Secondary syphillis can cause "moth eaten hairloss"[3]
Discoid lupus erythematosus or chronic cutanous lupus erythematosus
Lichenplanopilaris
Pseudopelade of Brocq
Tufted folliculitis
Dissecting cellulitis
Alopecia mucinosa
Keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans
Adverse effect from certain drugs such as chemotherapy
Testosterone booster tablets.

Question: Do you exercise and eat well (balanced diet)? Anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders, as well as a sedentary lifestyle and unbalanced diet can contribute.

The most common reasons are: lifestyle (eating too little or too much), genetics, hormone imbalances, stress, hypothyroidism....

 

[Domino]

Ok, that's a pretty good amount. I've seen people take 5,000 mcg a day for major hair loss. Never gone that high myself.

 

[scantilyclad]

Question: Do you exercise and eat well (balanced diet)? Anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders, as well as a sedentary lifestyle and unbalanced diet can contribute.

The most common reasons are: lifestyle (eating too little or too much), genetics, hormone imbalances, stress, hypothyroidism....

Yes i do exercise (almost every day..light cardio mixed with light weight training) and eat a well balanced diet. I have been eating less than usual, but i've been on a low calorie diet. I've still been consuming a fair amount of calories though. Between 1500 and 1700. I've never had an eating disorder that involved not eating at all or purging, but i've had trouble with binge eating most of my life.

 

[avolkiteshvara]

You might be anemic.

Increase your consumption of liver or take an iron supplement.

Eat a little more than 1500 calories especially if exercising.

I am an amateur gynecologist in my spare time!

 

[Little Linguist]

Yep, I'd say get checked for anemia, hypothyroidism, and hormone balance.

That's your best bet - sorry to say that, I know the doc can cost, but we're all willing to give out money for EVERYTHING EXCEPT our health.

Even if things are tight, you have to think about your health first...above all else. If you don't have that, you don't have anything...

 

[rajagiri3]

don't be stress.

 

[Oddly Refined]

Has any female ever experienced this? if so can you tell me wtf is wrong with me? Thanks.

I had this problem when I was under extreme stress. You might visit a doctor.

 

[Nijntje]

Do you brush your hair a lot? I have hair which can't decide if it wants to be wavy/curly or straight, thus i very rarely brush it lest it go in to an utter puffball of crapness. So whenever i wash my hair massive amounts come out, but it doesn't actually make any difference to the amount of hair on my head. I also colour my hair a lot as i get bored easily.

 

[scantilyclad]

OK so..after i asked my boyfriend to look at my scalp when i woke up this morning, i was very surprised to find this:

I called the nearest clinic right away. i had to wait about 3 hours before anyone could see me, which sucked.

After the doctor ruled out any genetic reasons he said it might be alopecia areata, but said he would run a full range of tests.


he said he would have my results by the end of the day and he'd have a nurse call me with them. i'll let you guys know what the nurse says.

 

[Atomic Fiend]

Jesus... yeah get medical help.