My Battle With Female Hair Thinning

[Maxine]

Hi. It's so good to find a place like this where other women are suffering too. I have been suffering and dealing with thin hair and hair loss for 20 years. I am now 42. Although the full thickness of my hair has never been restored (I have pictures of my hair in my teens and it was THICK and luxurious), it has been better and "worse" through the years. I too have been through "All the medical tests" and everything has come back normal. I've used Minoxidil with half-way decent results but had to quit because I was one of the 5% who absorb it systemically: it grew facial hair on me and made me gain weight and yes...I was meticulous about making sure I never got any on my face and washed my hands after applying it. There went my last AFFORDABLE HOPE. I thought about a hair transplant but too expensive AND...I don't have enough hair left anywhere on my scalp for a donor site! It's thin all over now except a little 1 1/2" circle on my callix and the top of my head! I had a hysterectomy about 5 years ago and the hair REALLY came out after that but then went through a terrific regrowth period and I thought everything was hunky dory! Now over the last year, my hair is just about the worst I've ever seen it; dry and brittle in spite of intensive conditioners and EXTREMELY slow-growing and FALLING OUT. I am not only thinning in the temples but all over the scalp and I can not see a horrible thin spot in the hairline of my middle of my forehead...gosh...devastation. I recently saw the doctor to see if any of my blood tests had changed and of course, to my dismay, nothing's changed. I'm healthy as a horse. I don't understand it! I'm thin yet don't have thyroid problems, I eat a good diet, exercise and take hair vitamins, I'm not on any medications other than Tylenol and Ibuprofen for my arthritis (which are not suppose to affect hair loss). I do amatuer ballroom and swing dancing and let me tell ya, the see thru spots when I pull my hair back just look HORRIBLE on camera. I'm SO self-conscious. I don't notice any of the other women with thinning hair. They all have great hair and I know it's theirs cuz I check out their scalps! I look around every where I go and look at women's heads and the hair they have. Very few women have thinning hair. I feel like such a freak. I don't mean to brag but I am fairly pretty in the face and have a great figure for my age. My hair just ruins my looks... Sighhhhhh....I dunno....my husband says that maybe this is God's way of keeping me humble. If that's true then, I'm sorry but I think it's a terrible punishment! I am trying Saw Palmetto on my scalp right now. I break the capsules open and rub the oil onto my scalp. I've been doing it for the last 3 days with hopes that it might block the DHT that they say causes thinning. I don't give it much hope but at $12 a package, it's worth a try. Hair loss IS depressing and devastating to a woman. I'm here to vouch for that. Thanks for reading this.
Maxine

 

[mariejoe]

... Now over the last year, my hair is just about the worst I've ever seen it; dry and brittle in spite of intensive conditioners and EXTREMELY slow-growing and FALLING OUT. I am not only thinning in the temples but all over the scalp and I can not see a horrible thin spot in the hairline of my middle of my forehead...gosh...devastation. I recently saw the doctor to see if any of my blood tests had changed and of course, to my dismay, nothing's changed. Maxine

Can you pinpoint any event that may have triggered this last bout of hairloss? Is your scalp healthy, no irritation or redness?
What blood work have you had done?
The following is a quote from: http://www.hairlosstalk.com/research/wo ... BloodTests

There are a series of tests that an educated specialist will have done on you. Without these tests, there is no way for any physician to accurately diagnose your condition. If your physician says these tests are not necessary, or refuses to do them for you, then it is advised that you find another physician to handle this situation. We cannot stress this strongly enough. You need to have these tests done, and you need a qualified specialist to review them, and your scalp, in order to get the care you need. The tests are as follows:

» Hormone levels (DHEAS, Testosterone, Androstenedione, Prolactin, Follicular Stimulating Hormone, and Leutinizing Hormone)
» Serum Iron, Serum Ferritin, TIBC (Total Iron Binding capacity)
» Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
» VDRL
» Complete Blood Count (CBC)

To those, I would add estrogen and progesterone. If they are not in the proper ratio, it could be a problem.

Keep in touch.

 

[Maxine]

Thanks, but no. I can't pinpoint any particular trigger other than stress which everyone has. My hair is unpredictable. It does itch sometimes but there is no redness or flaking and no sores. Maybe I should try using Nizoral but my scalp appears to be healthy!!!
Yep, I've had all the tests:» Hormone levels (DHEAS, Testosterone, Androstenedione, Prolactin, Follicular Stimulating Hormone, and Leutinizing Hormone)
» Serum Iron, Serum Ferritin, TIBC (Total Iron Binding capacity)
» Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
» VDRL
» Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Everything....NORMAL!!!!!!!!

 

[mariejoe]

ARRGGHHH! How FRUSTRATING it must be for you. Hair loss for women is very devastating. I know how freaked I was when I first came to this forum. And at least here I knew I wasn't alone.
Some days, I think I'll chop it all off and wear a wig, if it's getting a lot thinner and is real noticeable.. Other days, I figure it's DEFINITELY gonna get better. There are days i wonder, WHY ME, but those days are fewer and fewer. I get to the point where I can accept it, and it is something I can't worry about a lot anymore.
You do everything you can...

Have you read the research here on possible treatments: http://www.hairlosstalk.com/research/women/step3wom.htm

If I see anything interesting on my internet forum travels, I'll post it.