Hair loss

Jane Michel · 04-18-2009, 03:18 AM

Anyone know about sudden hair loss?

Two months ago more hair started falling than normal. I used to have very thick and stiff hair such that I couldn't keep short hair because my hair stuck out like a brush and with long hair I had to tie it up otherwise it'd look like a mop. Now I have much less hair that just hangs down. There aren't any bald patches but there's just lesser and lesser hair on my head and more and more hair on the ground.

The hair doesn't look dry or brittle or damaged. It's still shiny and healthy.

Mike ODonnell · 04-18-2009, 06:54 AM

Thyroid issue? Dunno.

Darryl Shaw · 04-20-2009, 06:31 AM

I used to work with dogs and the first thing I'd do to treat a dog with any kind of problems with their coat would be add a little seaweed to their diet. I've no idea if this would work in people too but it might be worth a try.

Garrett Smith · 04-20-2009, 06:59 AM

Looking at thyroid (iodine, seaweed) and some other mineral deficiencies (zinc is one) is a good place to start.

Jane Michel · 04-26-2009, 05:11 AM

Thanks for the tips! I've been taking kelp and zinc on and off and will try taking it more regularly now.

Garrett Smith · 04-26-2009, 06:22 AM

Don't be shy with the kelp...

Frank Needham · 04-26-2009, 07:16 AM

I recall that a lot of my wife's hair fell out during pregnancy, not that you're pregnant of course, and we found through a bit of research that it was almost certainly related to thyroid imbalances. In this we didn't get to alarmed about it since the Dr said the imbalance would most likely correct itself after the birth. Dr said other hormone imbalances in women could play a part also.

Garrett Smith · 04-26-2009, 10:14 AM

Frank,
IMO, thyroid problems that show during pregnancy may get slightly better after the birth, but they get worse in the future. The children also show hypothyroid issues earlier in life than the mother.

Iodine is likely the issue (as in, not enough in the mother and thus the child).

Gaspard Winckler · 04-26-2009, 12:01 PM

This is well known issue with low carb diets - google low carb/ atkins and hair loss.

Frank Needham · 04-26-2009, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garrett Smith

Frank,
IMO, thyroid problems that show during pregnancy may get slightly better after the birth, but they get worse in the future. The children also show hypothyroid issues earlier in life than the mother.

Iodine is likely the issue (as in, not enough in the mother and thus the child).

Thanks for pointing that out Garrett. I asked my wife about whatever other details she recalled about this and told me that they ran a thyroid test on her and it came back normal. Don't know what the test is though.