"You still have a lot of hair..." - Page 2

MirCurls · 07-13-2010, 12:19 PM

I think there are two categories of humans who don't really understand how women can totally become depressed about hair thinning/loss: men and doctors (although I suspect some female doctors will be more sensitive than the ones I've had).

To us, hair is part of our identity, moreso I think than men who hear about male hair loss since their young, see male role models go bald, and can shave their heads and be considered manly-stylish.

Women do not expect to lose hair. We're valued for lush, beautiful hair moreso then men. We see hair as our "crown of glory". When it starts going away, it's traumatic.

When my sis was diagnosed with lupus and started having thinning/bald patches, *I* was the one who wept with her about her hair. Her husband wouldn't get it. Guys wouldn't get it.

Doctors are so used to being preoccupied with more urgent matters in terms of "life or death" or severe health issues, that hair loss probably seems insignificant from a MEDICAL view other than being an indicator of some endocrine or other issue (or a side effect). It has value as a symptom or indicator, but prolly not much else, unless they make moolah off selling products. Otherwise, to them, it's cosmetic.
And I understand that--when you have patients with disfiguring, life altering diseases or terminal ones, hair loss can be seen as a non-issue, a minor irritation.

To us, it's horrifying.

stphie · 07-14-2010, 10:46 AM

I am here curlies and completely understand what you are all going through. I have had diabetes for 17 years and for the past 3-4 years have been losing my hair gradually. Each year it gets worse. Just thinning, and we girls know it --if you want to know just put your hair in a ponytail. It the width gets smaller, your thinning! Went to a derm and he suggested biotin and Rogaine. Haven't tried Rogaine but am interested. Have tried SO many supplements. Even Prenatal, but I think I may have had an allergic reaction to it because my skin was becoming red and itchy on my face and chest. I stopped that, and now take Shen Min, Biotin about 5mg a day. It's extremely frustrating when doctor have no idea what's happening. mine could be my diabetes, just unsure. It is so very hard for a woman to go through this, and some days it just brings me down

I am so thankful for this site. Any suggestions/what worked what didn't would be so helpful. Hang in there curlies-we can be an encouragement to one another. Know that God did make you uniquely special and you're beautiful.

MirCurls · 07-14-2010, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stphie

I am here curlies and completely understand what you are all going through. I have had diabetes for 17 years and for the past 3-4 years have been losing my hair gradually. Each year it gets worse. Just thinning, and we girls know it --if you want to know just put your hair in a ponytail. It the width gets smaller, your thinning! Went to a derm and he suggested biotin and Rogaine. Haven't tried Rogaine but am interested. Have tried SO many supplements. Even Prenatal, but I think I may have had an allergic reaction to it because my skin was becoming red and itchy on my face and chest. I stopped that, and now take Shen Min, Biotin about 5mg a day. It's extremely frustrating when doctor have no idea what's happening. mine could be my diabetes, just unsure. It is so very hard for a woman to go through this, and some days it just brings me down

I am so thankful for this site. Any suggestions/what worked what didn't would be so helpful. Hang in there curlies-we can be an encouragement to one another. Know that God did make you uniquely special and you're beautiful.

This happened to me. Horrible dermatitis on my arms (started in left forearm) then started moving to my chest. Had to get a steroid shot and RX steroid cream for it, cause it was driving me nuts and was bright pink-red and I looked like a mutant lizard.

I think it was the MSM, but not sure. I stopped the hair supplement/vitamin mixture.

I am going to try biotin and flaxseed individually, rather than in a mix with MSM (which makes me so sad, cause that's also good for joints, and I have bad knees).

Here's to the discovery of a happy hair cocktail for all of us....

CurlFace · 07-22-2010, 04:01 PM

I think you're all correct, men (for the most part) don't get it. Except maybe the ones who are trying to cover their baldness with a comb-over. Anyway. The biotin really seemed to make my hair grow! I've had many comments on how long my hair has gotten. I had my hair cut this week and I wasn't as afraid as I was the last time about getting my hair washed (actually, last time I wouldn't let her wash it for fear of all the hair that would fall out). I take 1000 mcg of Biotin per day. The Rogaine I'm using is the men's foam, which seems to be helping as far as the shedding. The dermatologist said it was fine to use, and I haven't had any side effects like others have (I've heard others mention facial hair, aging of facial features...)
I'm going to stick with this routine for as long as needed (probably forever).

IrishOne · 08-02-2010, 12:40 PM

Wow. I have been to tons of Dr.'s in the past 4 years. My 3b curls are 70 percent gone. My bang and hairline will be gone by Christmas. At thisnpoint I don't even care any more. Although all the docs I saw did have different tests done, all of them said it was normal thinning from age (I'm 50 and 7 years post menopause) and then would laugh and say I had so much hair I would never lose it all, said as they sat across the room from. I pass on hormones, thyroid, iron, autoimmune test. Theybwon't take me seriously until I'm bald. I' doing the pre natal vitamis, biotin, special shampoo, minoxidil. I think it's too late. Why do they say to do something as soon as your hair starts thinning, for best result, and then laugh you out of the office? All woman docs too, and one with curly hair.

per_simmon · 09-12-2010, 04:10 AM

This happens to me quite often with my alopecia. It's mostly hidden, and I've told people about it only to have them respond that nobody knows so what's the difference? Yes, thank you, hair loss is still stressful, frightening and an enormous pain in the ass to deal with, even if no one can see it most of the time.

Sending out big hugs to everyone out there who has to deal with hair loss. It's a raw deal, and unsympathetic doctors just make an already bad situation much, much worse. I'm really happy to have the doc I do now, but I had to go through quite a few to get to him.