telogen effluvium query

[LMIN_14]

Hi Tom

Very interesting website and forum I've had a good read through.

I started shedding in December 13 and noticed immediate thinning. I had a very stressful summer which included my partner losing his job in June, getting beaten up and having his hand smashed in, troubles with his teenage daughter and some issues with his drinking. Things settled down and we got on with things.

In late November I had a keratin blowdry also known as a Brazilian straightening treatment. The shedding and thinning started almost exactly a week after.

In September 13 I stopped my pill as we were going to try for a baby but we changed our minds and I went back on in November. I've been on Yasmin for 6 years.

I've had a minor bout of TE before in 2010 but it was no where near as severe as this. Again I'd had a very stressful summer and the shedding commenced shortly after a Brazilian blowdry again. I've only ever had them done three times. No shed after the first one.

In December I went to my GP who said it's age and it happens to females as they get older but I'm only 31 and 30 at the time. She did some bloods and they were normal. I went back in Jan and asked her to test my hormones - which have all come back normal too apart from high SBGH which my GP said was because I'm on the pill. My thyroid tsh level was slightly high - 6 above the range of 0.5 - 5 so my GP is having it retested in 3 months which is may. I'm also having my ovaries scanne next Monday to check on the PCOS.

I'm concerned as there could be many potential triggers. I'm also worried because I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 19 and I'm frightened this is actually AGA.

I've got a lot of regrowth at different lengths but my parting doesn't appear to be filling in. It's very thin and under bright lights, such as the ones in my office, it looks very severe. I also have diffuse thinning at the back of my head and my temples have been very affected.

I've noticed a reduction in shedding from brushing and on my clothes but I still shed about 50-60 hairs from a shower.

I have a light tingling sensation on my scalp almost a little burning sometimes. Last time I went to my GP I asked her to look for any bald spots she said she couldn't see any but noticed I had serborheic dermatitis and gave me betnovate scalp application which I've been using twice a day for almost 3 weeks. I can't tell if it's helping as the dermatitis is right on the back of my head apparently.

I've been taking
Florisine x 1 a day
biotin 2000mg a day
Evening primrose oil x2 a day
High strength vitamin c
L-lysine 500mg
saw palmetto
High strength zinc x 1 a day

I asked advice from a health food shop assistant about the mix and she said it wasn't harmful.

I now appear to be shedding shorter hairs, some very thin about 3 inches but more worrying some almost eyelash length.

Any advice you have or if anything jumps out at you please let me know.

Thanks

[LMIN_14]

I meant to add all my shed hairs long and short have a white bulb on the end

[Tom Hagerty]

I'm concerned as there could be many potential triggers.

You do have many potential triggers: Possible PCOS, prolonged psychological stress, that Brazilian straightening treatment, on and off with birth control pills, and who knows what else. ☺ I could comment on all of those triggers but I'll limit myself to just one - the Brazilian thing. Is this thermal hair straightening? If it is, this "reconditioning" is not great for the hair follicles or the hair itself. This relaxing of the hair shaft can cause damage, and the stuff you put on you hair to correct the damage can even cause more damage. But what does a man know about this sort of thing! Talk to another woman who has had some experience with the straightening process.

Getting straight

Hair Straightening.jpg (4.97 KiB) Viewed 20503 times

You mentioned taking Florisene. For people who want to know what's in the Florisene tablet click Florisene.com. Everything about this supplement is explained clearly on this website. But my suggestion before getting too optimistic about this supplement is to do some research on the downside of iron supplementation. If you have excessive levels of iron in your body you are at risk of major problems like premature aging and an increased risk of heart disease. Of course if your serum ferritin level is low - between 40 and 60 nanograms per milliliter is optimal - you'll want to bring that number up. Red meat is ideal for raising that number slowly; pills are more dramatic but may be problematic.

You also take high strength zinc. Too much zinc (and iron too) interferes with the absorption of copper. Copper is involved in the production of collagen and perhaps other skin constituents like elastin. It's also involved in the conversion of the amino acid tyrosine into the dark pigment that gives color to your hair. Some people who take megadoses of zinc for a period of time might not like what they see in the mirror - premature white hair. Of course white hair will give you a distinguished look - helpful if you're running for a political office; not so helpful if you're trying to hold on to your mischievous boyfriend.

Those white bulbs at the end of the shed hairs mean that these are telogen hairs. Losing 50 of these a day is normal. What's not normal is if they are not being replaced by terminal hairs - thick, pigmented hairs that grow to a decent length.

I wish I could give you more help. You're obviously doing a lot to improve your hair. Read through some of the messages on this hair loss forum. There are some helpful ideas on these pages which might be just what you're looking for.

[LMIN_14]

Hi Tom

Thanks for responding.

My serum ferritin is up to 83, my trichologist said one Florisine a day to maintain this.

I had some blood tests too for iron and hormones. I have really high SBGH levels but I'm on Yasmin contraceptive pill and have been for about 5 years.

One thing concerning me is if I could have Diffuse Alopecia Areata. It quite uncommon but I've always had problems with my immune system, I'm highly allergic to a number of things and have suffered with severe eczema since I was two. My Nan on my fathers died from complications from Lupus. I've asked to be tested for Lupus but my GP had said it's unnecessary and just because my Nan had it it might not be linked to me.

I have a burning sensation on my scalp constantly that makes it itch too. I feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall. I've now become very obsessive with this.

My shed hairs all have telogen bulbs even the shorter thin ones that are concerning me.

[Tom Hagerty]

I have a burning sensation on my scalp constantly that makes it itch too.

A healthy scalp should not burn or itch. Something is going on in your scalp tissue like inflammation that is producing that 24-hour a day sensation in your scalp that you're obsessed with.

Several months ago I read William Davis's book Wheat Belly. You wrote, "I've always had problems with my immune system, I'm highly allergic to a number of things..." This book addresses these problems and presents a simple remedy - maybe. Read some of the 3500 customer reviews on Amazon and look at this YouTube video. There's just a chance that Dr. Davis's recommendations may help you. I have a woman friend who had immune system problems and allergies all her life. She is on the William Davis diet and she told me she is now "cured." I half believe her.

If you read the book and find the contents relevant to your situation, I hope you tell us about it.

[LMIN_14]

Thanks Tom I'm going to look at this book, a personal fitness trainer reconmended this to me a couple of years ago but I didn't think much of it!

I've already taken wheat and dairy out of my diet. I'm in week three now. I use almond milk in hot drinks and have soya yoghurt. I try to take in my protein through meat and nuts and I eat a lot of grains and am a big fan of puy lentils. I can't eat egg unfortunately as it causes anaphylaxis and I have Silver Birch Syndrome - which is a very frustrating allergy to certain uncooked fruit an vegetables, particularly green vegetables (sounds like every child's dream!! )

I've also stopped alcohol intake apart from the odd glass of wine at events or social affairs.

I've asked my doctor if I can have a referral to an allergy clinic as I was under one as a child here in the UK. Where some people build up an immunity to the things they are allergic to my body does the opposite.

The burning seems to be more when I am anxious about my hair - which is quite a lot at the moment. I'm going to start yoga and meditation to learn to relax and focus my energy.

I'll let you know how I get on with Wheat Belly. I love an excuse to read a book!