The Pill, Thyroid, And 4 Other Types Of Hormonal Hair Loss
The Pill, Thyroid, and 4 Other Types of Hormonal Hair Loss Hair loss used to be something that women suffered occasionally after childbirth or illness. It is now so common that doctors see it everyday. Hormonalbirth control is largely to blame. It damages the hair follicle in a way that can take years to repair. Other conditions such as PCOS and thyroid disease also play a role. Some progestins are like testosterone , so theyshrink and damageyour hair follicle. Modern birth control triesto get around the problem by using different progestins, but they are not much of an improvement,and they have the unfortunate tendency to cause fatal blood clots. Ironically, birth control is often prescribed to treat hair loss, in the hope that the synthetic estrogens will counteract the progestins and promote hair regrowth. My advice: Get OFF the Pill and stay off it. Let your bodys own estrogen and progesterone run the show for a change. Yes, stopping the Pill may trigger a temporary increase in shedding (2 to 3 months later), but that will pass. As your own estrogen and progesterone take charge, you will slowly regain your normal hair. 2) PCOS, Testosterone, and Insulin Resistance Testosterone causes hair loss. This occurs in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome ,a condition which, incidentally, is headed for a name change because it has very little to do with cysts on the ovaries . Most PCOS-sufferers have hightestosterone on blood test. Some have normal testosterone, but still show signs of testosterone sensitivitysuch asacneandfacial hair. For a discussion of all the different types of androgens, please see see my latest post: 4 Causes of Androgen Excess . The testosterone of PCOS is usually caused by insulin resistance, which in turn is caused by: refined sugar, omega 6 veget Continue reading >>
Is Your Medication Causing Hair Loss? These 11 Drugs Are Common Culprits
Medications certainly aren’t the only thing that will cause hair loss, but they are often overlooked. If you feel like you are losing your hair, one of your first steps is to look at your medication list. You will also pay attention to other well known causes including poor diet (caloric or protein restriction), major illness or surgeries, major psychological stress, significant weight loss, chronic iron deficiency, thyroid disorders, and childbirth. Don’t have any of those? Well then lets look at which medications are common culprits of hair loss caused by drugs: The cholesterol lowering drugs, aka “the Statins”. Only atorvastatin (Lipitor) and simvastatin (Zocor) have reported hair loss as an adverse effect, not the newer statin Crestor (rosuvastatin). The anticoagulants (warfarin or Coumadin) are commonly used blood thinners and have been reported to cause hair loss. The ACE Inhibitor blood pressure medications captopril and lisinopril are the two in this category that have reported hair loss in > 1% of folks taking them. Soriatane (acitretin) is a pill used for the treatment of psoriasis that has a well known adverse effect of hair loss. Amiodarone (Cordarone or Pacerone) is used in patients with arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation and has a rare but reported side effect of hair loss. The anticonvulsant valproate (Depakote). Depakote is used for seizure disorders, controlling mania in bipolar disorder and for migraine prevention. Valproate does carry reports of hair loss. Cimetidine (Tagamet) is an over the counter acid reducer used for ulcers and reflux disease and hair loss has been reported, though infrequently, in people taking it. Colchicine is a medication used for the treatment of acute Gout attacks. It does carry a very small risk of hair loss. Horm Continue reading >>
Drugs That Can Cause Hair Loss
I was asked if I could provide a list of a drugs that can possibly trigger hair loss. I would like to start the list off with my current nemesis, Synthroid. Synthroid is a common medication that is prescribed to treat hypothroidism. Apparently it is a pretty common side effect to experience hair loss from it for those individuals who are sensitive to the medication. I’m sure there are plenty of women taking the drug with no adverse effects to their hair, but it should not be overlooked as a possible contributing factor to your hair loss. The listed “side effects” section on drugs.com it indicates that the hair loss is “usually temporary,” and the “special warnings” section indicates that “it is temporary,” well is it or isn’t it? Of the several doctors I’ve spoken with they have confirmed that it does cause hair loss in some individuals, and not the temporary kind, at least not until the problem with the medication is resolved. Just as a low thyroid (hyopthyroidism) can cause hair loss so can an overdose of the medication Synthroid. The following are signs of over stimulation: Abdominal cramps, anxiety, changes in appetite, change in menstrual periods, chest pain, diarrhea, emotional instability, fatigue, fever, flushing, hair loss, headache, heart attack or failure, heat intolerance, hyperactivity, increased heart rate, irregular heartbeat, irritability, muscle weakness, nausea, nervousness, palpitations, shortness of breath, sleeplessness, sweating, tremors, vomiting, weight loss. You do not necessarily need to be experiencing all of these symptoms to have an overstimulated thyroid caused by your thyroid medication. I put it out there so that you can have this knowledge in case you begin to notice hair loss after starting the medication or having Continue reading >>
Help — I’m Losing My Hair!
When I was younger, everyone wanted Farrah Fawcett’s hairstyle. Jennifer Aniston popularized “The Rachel” haircut on the hit show Friends. And we’re all seeing men sporting “man buns” alongside women. Hair is a big deal in our culture. Hair has figured prominently in history, too. The Bible tells us that Samson garnered his strength from his long hair, and lost that strength when Delilah cut it off. Priests and monks used to shave the crowns of their head to show a lack of vanity and symbolize their vow of chastity. Over the centuries, different cultures have upheld norms about hair: for example, the Mohawk hairstyle that we’ve all seen stems from Pawnee Native American nation of the Midwest. People in some African tribes shave their heads as, for example, a sign of mourning or marital status. We value our hair. Who doesn’t view a head full of lush, shiny hair as a symbol of health, success, and confidence? Our hair is tied closely to our identity. We talk about “good” and “bad” hair days. And when we walk out of that salon with our hair freshly styled, it feels like we’re on top of the world. Hair-loss statistics According to the American Hair Loss Association, by the age of 35, two-thirds of men will have some degree of hair loss; by age 50, about 85% of men will have significant thinning of their hair. Hair loss is prevalent in women, too — they make up 40% of hair-loss sufferers. Thanks to society’s pressure to be attractive, hair loss can have a major negative effect on quality of life. Hair loss can be devastating, leading to loss of confidence, poor self-image, and even depression. Alopecia areata There are many causes of hair loss, including thyroid issues, hormonal changes, scalp infections, certain medications, chemotherapy, and r Continue reading >>
Pcos And Hair Loss: The Basics
In previous articles weve spoken a lot about hirsutism or increased hair growth as it relates to PCOS. Something we havent covered, though, is the connection between PCOS and hair loss (alopecia). This is something that I am asked about on a fairly regular basis and it is incredibly distressing for those women struggling with hair loss. Generally speaking, we can hide or manage our excess hair but hair loss becomes difficult to hide without resorting to a wig. So, lets have a look at what we need to know about hair loss and how we can best manage it. The first thing we need to understand is the hair cycle. We have about 100 000 hair follicles on our head and we lose about 100 hairs per day (this is normal) Each hair grows for 2-6 years and then enters into a rest phase before eventually falling out. A new hair should start to grow soon after the old one has fallen out. At any given time, 85% of our hair is in a growth phase whilst 15% is in the resting phase. The problem with hair loss is that the hair follicle enters the resting phase but doesnt re-enter a growth phase, leading to hair thinning and baldness. ( 1 ) Research has shown that 67% of all women who suffer from alopecia or hair loss also have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome ( 2 ). That shows a significant link between PCOS and hair loss. There can also be other causes that well get into later but for now, lets stick with PCOS. How High Testosterone Levels Cause Hair Loss We know that women with PCOS have higher than normal androgen (testosterone) levels ( 2 ). A hormone called Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is converted from testosterone and it binds to the hair follicles, making them go into their resting phase sooner than they should, This means that with each growth phase of the hair, the hair becomes thinner and t Continue reading >>
For Pcos, 13 Side Effects Of Metformin You Should Know About
Did you know that 10%- 25% of women who take Glucophage just don't feel well? They experience a general malaise, fatigue and occasional achiness that lasts for varying lengths of time. Malaise a warning signal for your doctor to closely monitor your body systems, including liver, kidneys, and GI tract. About one third of women on metformin experience gastrointestinal disturbances, including nausea, occasional vomiting and loose, more frequent bowel movements, or diarrhea. This problem occurs more often after meals rich in fats or sugars, so eating a healthier diet will help. The symptoms lessen over time, so if you can tolerate the GI upset for a few weeks, it may go away. Some women have found it helps to start with a very low dose and gradually increase it. Most people think that aside from possible gastrointestinal upset, there are no side effects from taking metformin, and thus you can take it for a very long time. This is not true! The sneakiest side effect of all is a vitamin B12 insufficiency. A substance formed in the stomach called "intrinsic factor" combines with B12 so that it can be transferred into the blood. Metformin interferes with the ability of your cells to absorb this intrinsic factor-vitamin B12 complex.(12) Over the long term, vitamin B12 insufficiency is a significant health risk. B12 is essential to the proper growth and function of every cell in your body. It's required for synthesis of DNA and for many crucial biochemical functions. There is also a link between B12 insufficiency and cardiovascular disease. According to some research, 10%-30% of patients show evidence of reduced vitamin B12 absorption. The Hospital de Clnicas de Porto Alegre in Brazil has shown that one of every three diabetics who takes metformin for at least a year have evide Continue reading >>
Stop And Reverse High Blood Sugar Related Hair Loss
Stop and Reverse High Blood Sugar Related Hair Loss Edited by Donna, Eng, Doug Collins, Nuance and 1 other Sugar-related hair loss results in androgenic alopecia in both men and women. In men, it's usually referred to as Male Pattern Baldness. Usually this type of balding begins with the thinning of hair at the crown or at the front of the hairline. In women, it tends to be an overall thinning of the hair. A typical case of androgenic alopecia hair loss in a male. Sugar related hair loss is based on the two following scientific premises: Sugar is known cause of hair loss. Since the year 2000, several studies conducted in Finland, Taiwan, Mexico and Turkey, have confirmed that eating too much sugar causes hair loss. This means that you should avoid eating sugar of all kinds including white sugar, cane sugar, golden sugar, brown sugar, agave syrup, corn syrup and any type of product made from glucose, sucrose, dextrose or fructose. Was this step helpful? Yes | No | I need help High glycemic foods also cause hair loss. You should avoid eating foods that are converted rapidly into sugar once they are consumed. These are known as high glycemic foods. They cause sugar in the bloodstream to rapidly elevate, which forces your pancreas to produce excess insulin, which in turn throws most of the systems in your body out of whack. This includes the endocrine system, which produces the hormones that determine the rate of hair loss. Deep-fried foods are high glycemic and causes baldness. Was this step helpful? Yes | No | I need help Research has found that hair loss occurs with the consumption of sugar because: Hair is made of protein and there is no protein in sugar to nourish your hair follicles or hair shaft. High glycemic foods cause hormone imbalances that can stunt the growth Continue reading >>
Does Diabetes Cause Hair Loss?
What diabetes can do to your body If you have diabetes, your body doesn’t produce insulin, doesn’t use it effectively, or both. Insulin is a hormone that moves the sugar from the foods you eat from your bloodstream into your cells to be stored or used as energy. When you don’t have insulin or it isn’t used effectively, sugar can build up in your blood. That excess sugar can damage organs all over your body, including your eyes, nerves, and kidneys. It can also damage your blood vessels. These vessels carry oxygen around your body to nourish organs and tissues. Damaged blood vessels may not be able to deliver enough oxygen to nourish your hair follicles. This lack of oxygen can affect your normal hair growth cycle. Hair usually goes through three phases. During the active growing phase, which lasts for two years or more, hairs grow at a rate of 1 to 2 cm per month. Hair then goes into a resting phase, which lasts for about 100 days. After this phase, some of the resting hair falls out. Diabetes can interrupt this process, slowing down your hair growth. Having diabetes can also cause you to lose more hair than usual. That hair loss isn’t only on your head. You can lose hairs on your arms, legs, and other body parts, too. When hair regrows, it does so at a slower-than-normal rate. People with diabetes are more likely to have a condition called alopecia areata. With alopecia, the immune system attacks the hair follicles, leading to patches of hair loss on the head and on other parts of the body. Diabetes itself can lead to hair loss. You may also lose hair as a side effect of stress from living with a chronic illness, or from medicines you take to treat your diabetes. Some people with diabetes also have thyroid disease, which can contribute to hair loss. Speak wit Continue reading >>
Drug-induced Hair Loss
Many commonly prescribed prescription drugs can cause temporary hair loss, trigger the onset of male and female pattern baldness, and even cause permanent hair loss. Note that the drugs listed here do not include those used in chemotherapy and radiation for cancer treatment. Your doctor may not mention hair loss as a side effect of some drugs, so don't forget to do your own research and read the drug manufacturer's complete warnings. Your pharmacist can provide you with this information even before you fill a prescription. Many pill and medication guidebooks (sold in bookstores and pharmacies) are also excellent sources of complete information about prescription drugs. If your doctor prescribes any of the following drugs, ask if one that does not have hair loss as a possible side effect can be substituted. The drugs are listed by category, according to the conditions they treat, then by brand name first followed by the drug's generic name in parentheses. In some categories, individual drugs are not listed. For these conditions, you will want to discuss the possibility of hair loss as a side effect of using any of the drugs that treat that particular condition, since many do contribute to hair loss. All drugs derived from vitamin A as treatments for acne or other conditions, including: Anticoagulants (blood thinners), including: Cholesterol lowering drugs, including: Convulsions/Epilepsy Anticonvulsants Antidepression drugs, including: Paxil (paroxetine) Fungus Antifungals Beta-blocker drugs, including: Timoptic Ocudose (timolol) Timoptic XE (timolol) Many drugs prescribed for the heart, including the beta-blockers, which are also used to treat high blood pressure, and include: Hormonal Conditions All hormone-containing drugs and drugs prescribed for hormone-related, rep Continue reading >>
Natural Vitamin Supplements For Hair Loss | Viviscal
Natural Vitamin Supplements for Hair loss Hair loss can be caused by factors ranging from illness, medication, poor diet, hormones and over-styling. Any one of these causes can interfere with the hair growth cycle , and can prevent hair follicles from growing new hair. We lose on average 100-150 hairs per day, and hair grows at an average of inch per month. But when you notice more extreme hair shedding or slowed hair growth than this, it could be a hair loss symptom. For women, your hair loss symptoms may be thinning hair or gradually more exposed scalp on the top of your head. For men, you may find a growing bald spot on top of your head. About 50% of people have some kind of hair loss by the age of 50. For hair loss symptoms due to aging or hormones, womens loss tends to be temporary while mens is most often permanent. But never fear, if men take action early and take supplements for hair growth like Viviscal Man , they can nourish thinning hair to prevent further hair loss symptoms. Hair loss symptoms can cause psychological stress for women, especially because society places such an emphasis on beautiful hair and hair as a source of womens femininity. Many men and women who have hair loss report feelings of depression, self-consciousness and low self-esteem. Telogen effluvium, Natural Hair Loss and Vitamins Hair loss caused by bad diet is telogen effluvium , a temporary hair loss condition that causes hairs that are usually in the anagen (growing) stage to be prematurely pushed into the telogen (resting) phase of the hair growth cycle, triggering those hairs to fall out. Telogen effluvium can be treated over several months. Treat hair loss naturally by eating more vitamins and supplements, and minerals for hair loss, such as Vitamin C, Biotin, Niacin, Iron and Zin Continue reading >>
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (pcos)
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder that affects how a womans ovaries work. It commonly produces symptoms such as weight gain, fatigue and increased facial hair. But it can also cause excessive hair shedding and hair thinning in those with a genetic predisposition and follicle sensitivity . POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME (PCOS) AND HAIR LOSS PCOS can cause hyperandrogenism where your body produces too many androgens (male hormones). Androgens are naturally found in all women. They affect the degree and frequency of bleeding during your menstrual cycle and can also cause acne and oily skin. However, if your hair follicles are sensitive to androgens they can also decrease the growth of hair on your scalp and increase the growth of hair on your body. This is especially true if you have excessive amounts. Follicle sensitivity is not simply caught or randomly acquired. Its genetically inherited and has been there since birth. If you have little or no hair follicle sensitivity, your hair may not be very affected by extra androgens. But normal or even sub-normal amounts of circulating androgens can cause hair loss if your follicles are very sensitive to them. Treatment for PCOS can be complicated, depending on symptoms other than thinning hair. However, if hair loss is the only or predominant symptom, its relatively straightforward. Hair thinning from PCOS is treated by orally and/or topically taking anti-androgens. Topically applied solutions usually contain an anti-androgen as well as a stimulant. The most common oral anti-androgens used for hair loss are combination oral contraceptives such as Spironolactone or Dianette, but oral and topical solutions used together are most effective. Continue reading >>
Can Metformin Cause Problems With Vision? Is It Permanent?
I’m afraid there is no simple answer to this one. But there is a clear way ahead. Let me explain. If you get blurry vision as soon as you start the metformin, there are some experts who say that this is could be a good sign. How come? Well, diabetes affects vision and you could have been losing your eyesight gradually, as your sugar levels went up over months and years. You are not even aware of this change in vision, because the loss is so gradual. RELATED: If You Take Metformin, You Need These Nutritional Supplements As soon as you start the metformin, your sugar suddenly comes under control and your eyes suddenly cannot adjust to the new, lower blood sugar, causing the blurry vision. The answer therefore could be to lower your starting metformin dose and then slowly, increase it over a few weeks/months, giving your body and your eyes a chance to adjust. The blurry vision could disappear with this. However, if you have started to experience blurry vision after using metformin for a few years, the answer could be very different. This form of vision loss happens due to loss of Vitamin B12 from the body, because Metformin interferes with our ability to absorb this vitamin from food. Vitamin B12 forms the protective sheath or insulation of all nerves in the body, including the one that is critical for vision, the optic nerve. When the optic nerve is damaged due to prolonged metformin use, the right solution is to immediately supplement with Vitamin B12. You should also know that with long term use, metformin also interferes with our ability to use two other vital nutrients, Vitamin B9 and Co Enzyme Q10 in the human body. This can cause a range of side effects – from hair loss and insomnia and heart palpitations to unexplained muscle pains. The real answer – to both Continue reading >>
Is Dry Hair A Side Effect Of Diabetes Drugs?
Since I began taking metformin and lisinopril, my hair has become extremely dry and brittle. My hair stylist suggested that it might be the medications. Before I started taking these medications, my hair was very healthy and shiny. Have you ever heard of anything like this, and what can I do about it? — Wanda, North Carolina Neither diabetes nor the medicines you are taking is likely to cause dry hair. Lisinopril causes hair loss in less than 1 percent of the population. Here are some other things to consider, though: Do you have additional symptoms, such as fatigue, weakness, cold intolerance, constipation, unintentional weight gain, or brittle fingernails? If so, you may have hypothyroidism (a condition in which the body doesn't make enough thyroid hormone). This condition can cause changes in hair growth and texture. Malnutrition and hypoparathyroidism (in which the body doesn't make enough parathyroid hormone) can also cause dry hair. Genetic conditions are sometimes associated with dry hair. However, the most common causes are harsh detergents, chemical treatments, or sun and heat damage. I recommend that you see a dermatologist, or, if you have other symptoms as well, your primary-care physician, for proper diagnosis and care. Learn more in the Everyday Health Type 2 Diabetes Center. Continue reading >>
Diabetes Hair Loss
There is a definite connection between diabetes and hair loss. Some women are not even aware that they have the condition and a loss of hair can be one of the first signs. On this page I'll take a look at the symptoms of diabetes, why it causes hair loss, and what to do if it's affecting you. NOTE: This information is provided for guidance purposes only and should not be seen as medical advice. You should always discuss ANY concerns about your health with a qualified medical professional. Could Your Hair Loss Be a Sign of Diabetes? According to recent statistics, 24% of diabetes cases go undiagnosed. Data from the National Diabetes Statistics Report 2014 shows that there are 29.1 million Americans with diabetes - but only 21 million people are aware of it. There are lots of different reasons that diabetes causes hair loss, which I will cover later in this article. But it's also worth knowing that thinning hair can also indicate two other related conditions - insulin resistance pre-diabetes Insulin resistance is a precursor to pre-diabetes and BOTH conditions are precursors to type 2 diabetes. More About Insulin Resistance and Pre-Diabetes When insulin levels in the body remain sufficiently high over an extended period of time, the body's sensitivity to the hormone begins to decline. This is called insulin resistance. A difficult condition to reverse, insulin resistance causes symptoms that include high blood pressure, lethargy and hunger. It's a 'vicious circle', because the increased insulin levels and weight gain make the insulin resistance even worse. Eventually it can develop into pre-diabetes, which doctors can identify by increased glucose levels in the blood. Research supports the fact that women with insulin resistance are at risk of hair loss - so it's certainl Continue reading >>
Help!!!!! Does Metformin Cause Hair Loss?
HELP!!!!! Does Metformin cause hair loss? B12 deficiency is a well known side effect of Metformin... I am so sorry you've had to go through such a heart-wrenching experience. Best wishes for a happier outcome next time (((hugs))) I have a website with loads of PCOS info www.mypcos.info Please stop by! Leader of Managing PCOS Naturally www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/groups_i OMG!!! I am having the same problem and I have been on 2000mg since Nov so 4mths too. I experienced a MC in Dec and my Doc chalked it up to that. It never stopped coming out and it's bad. I just had another MC yesterday. I don't think the MC is the problem. I read about low B12 absorbtion and MC and they are linked. So would make since if my body is not absorbing the B12 due to Metformin then it could explain my hair loss and recent MCs???? Wow I will have to discuss this with my doctor! Whilst it's not commonly accepted as a side effect of metformin, there are a lot of people asking whether it is (not all PCOS sufferers) which makes me think that it may just not have been identified as a side effect yet as it is only affecting a small percentage of those who take it. The hair loss you are experiencing is SEVERE. I know you don't need me to tell you that. I strongly recommend you go back to your doctor and investigate what is causing it. It's definitely a sign that something's amiss, whether it's the metformin or something else and I think you need to know what that is. I have a website with loads of PCOS info www.mypcos.info Please stop by! Leader of Managing PCOS Naturally www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/groups_i Metformin doesn't directly cause hair loss, but it CAN interfere with the absorption of vit. B12 - which can then lead to hair loss. I would highly suggest getting your B12 levels tested. Your b Continue reading >>
