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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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I've been on medication for a skin condition the past couple of months and recently have been shedding my hair by the handful. At first I thought it was just normal hair loss because I have very long, thick hair and a lot of it which sheds all over the place but last night I was looking at it and realised just how much less bulky it looks than usual. Even running my hands through it doesn't feel the same, like about half of it is missing. It was then that I made the correlation with the medication and upon googling found that it was a common side effect. I don't know what to do  at the moment it's either lose my hair which is one of my favourite features about myself or deal with horrible stubborn dermatitis all over my thighs and legs. Either way I just feel so ugly |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Give your gp a call and discuss some other options before it gets to the point of no return "
I have an appointment tomorrow but we have already tried a few other treatments which have not worked so not feeling optimistic. Hopefully he will refer me to a dermatologist but it's still not going to put the hair back in my head |
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"Give your gp a call and discuss some other options before it gets to the point of no return "
Absolutely this.
Dermatitis is awful too, I feel for you. Took me ages to find a body cream to keep mine mostly under control. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Take a multivitamin that has added minerals in. A boost in zinc can promote hair growth. This helped me hugely when mine started falling out. "
Thank you, I have started taking multivitamins recently but I guess not long enough to see the effects |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Give your gp a call and discuss some other options before it gets to the point of no return
Absolutely this.
Dermatitis is awful too, I feel for you. Took me ages to find a body cream to keep mine mostly under control."
What is the name of the cream if you don't mind me asking? |
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"Give your gp a call and discuss some other options before it gets to the point of no return
Absolutely this.
Dermatitis is awful too, I feel for you. Took me ages to find a body cream to keep mine mostly under control.
What is the name of the cream if you don't mind me asking? "
Mine's only for sort of sub clinical stuff, after a certain point I'll go to the doctor. It's only the Superdrug Vitamin E stuff. The big pot of Cetaphil moisturiser is similar and unscented, though much thicker.
Of course everyone's skin sensitivity is going to be different. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Bless you.. what a predicament Hair is very important.. it's like your mane! I would definitely speak to your GP and see if there's an alternative medication you can try as this one, just may not work for you xx |
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"Maybe not what you want to be hearing but there’s so many people that love short shaved hair. Embrace it you will look stunning!! X"
That may be true (I'm a sucker for a woman with a shaved head myself), but I think she'd rather have the choice. And hair loss can be a sign of a serious health problem, so she needs to have it seen to. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I'm sorry to hear this op, I can only suggest speaking to your doctor and see if there's another treatment you can try, a complete guess would be that any hair loss as a side effect would be temporary and as soon as your skin clears up and you stop the treatment that your hair will grow back, maybe ask the doctor that?
Having lost a lot of hair myself (permanently) and now having a shaved head, I can understand how devastating it is to lose it, I only hope for you that it's a temporary loss. Maybe adopt a new look while your treatment is ongoing? If there's anything I can help with, please get in touch.
Big hugs flower xx  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Also with side effects, they can wear off after time, I don't know how long you've been taking this treatment for but have a look at the leaflet it might say how long suppose effects usually last. If it's working on your skin it might be worth persevering in the long term.
I know a tablet I took I had bad side effects and they took 6 months to go but they did. X |
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By *eah BabyCouple
over a year ago
Cheshire, Windermere ,Cumbria |
Ask your GP if there’s something you can take alongside what they have prescribed to help with hair loss. Would probably suggest you just take a hair vitamin not a multi vitamin and use a hair loss shampoo and spray but it maybe a few months before you start to notice things improving. Best of luck x
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By *eah BabyCouple
over a year ago
Cheshire, Windermere ,Cumbria |
"Ask your GP if there’s something you can take alongside what they have prescribed to help with hair loss. Would probably suggest you just take a hair vitamin not a multi vitamin and use a hair loss shampoo and spray but it maybe a few months before you start to notice things improving. Best of luck x
"
Adding to that ask your GP for a full blood test, there are lots of other things that can cause hair loss not just medication. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Take control of the situation and shave it until the medication has run its course. It's very on-trend during lockdown.
Not being sarky, here, either. I think it's a good look if you have the confidence to carry it off  |
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Lots of good advice on this thread. One thing I would add is to put a cup of organic oats in the bath when you have one. There is an enzyme in the oats that helps to reduce “scaling” but perhaps more importantly it reduces the desire to itch which can exacerbate any skin complaint.
I am sure you know all of these things but; water, drink plenty every day. Diet, removing things like coffee and other things can help reduce the problem. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a number of skin complaints and lockdown (and the lack of sunlight) means we probably aren’t getting enough (vitamin D you filthy sods!). Consider taking a supplement. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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Thanks for the advice everyone. I should have mentioned I'm already taking multivitamins every day and have ordered sea kelp tablets. I'm also getting healthy so my diet is very high in fruit and veg at the moment with very low added sugar.
I'm absolutely not going to shave my head, sorry... Like I said I have very thick long hair, almost to my waist, and it's like my security blanket, especially being a bigger girl I wear it down to cover up and compensate for a lot of what I don't like about myself. That's why it's so devastating, I feel like it's one of my only redeeming features!
I do still have a decent amount left (I started off with a lot more than the average person - Asian genes) but obviously don't want this to continue I'll ask my doctor about a blood test as I heard my practice is reopening for blood tests only but I'm convinced it's the medication... |
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Sunbathing is the best thing for dermatitis.
That said, have you gone to your doctor about it? Sometimes the skin can get infected from dermatitis and it needs antibiotics to get it under control so it can start healing.
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By *eah BabyCouple
over a year ago
Cheshire, Windermere ,Cumbria |
"Thanks for the advice everyone. I should have mentioned I'm already taking multivitamins every day and have ordered sea kelp tablets. I'm also getting healthy so my diet is very high in fruit and veg at the moment with very low added sugar.
I'm absolutely not going to shave my head, sorry... Like I said I have very thick long hair, almost to my waist, and it's like my security blanket, especially being a bigger girl I wear it down to cover up and compensate for a lot of what I don't like about myself. That's why it's so devastating, I feel like it's one of my only redeeming features!
I do still have a decent amount left (I started off with a lot more than the average person - Asian genes) but obviously don't want this to continue I'll ask my doctor about a blood test as I heard my practice is reopening for blood tests only but I'm convinced it's the medication... "
Really don’t think you should do a multivitamin, just take one that is for hair, target the problem. As for fruit don’t go too crazy at it’s full of sugar. Definitely go with the full blood test, your thyroid for starters could be out of kilter. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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You're not ugly!!
I can only echo what the others have said, speak to your doctor and make sure you stress to them how much this is effecting you. I'll keep my fingers crossed they can offer you an alternative.
I don't know what else to suggest except to be very gentle with your hair, maybe avoid brushing and use brushes that don't pull on the hair like a tangle teezer. And maybe a satin pillowcase as it's very gentle on your hair. I'm not sure if these will make a big difference or not but they could be worth a try.
Sending hugs. X |
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By *a LunaWoman
over a year ago
South Wales |
Have you thought about making an appointment (online maybe, for the moment) with a Trichologist?
You should be able to let them know what meds you are on and they can investigate your hair? They might give you more professional advice and suggest things to help that can run alongside the medication you are on.
You may have to pay though. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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Thanks so much for the kind words and advice xx
I have spoken to my doctor and he agreed it might be the meds and I should come off them immediately. He's referring me to a dermatologist and I'm having a blood test done this weekend to check my thyroid function and hormones
Supplement wise, I've started taking sea kelp tablets along with my daily multi vitamin and a healthy diet. Fingers crossed! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Give your gp a call and discuss some other options before it gets to the point of no return
I have an appointment tomorrow but we have already tried a few other treatments which have not worked so not feeling optimistic. Hopefully he will refer me to a dermatologist but it's still not going to put the hair back in my head "
Don’t take no for an answer from him! You need to be able to stop the dermatitis and not lose all your hair |
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"Thanks so much for the kind words and advice xx
I have spoken to my doctor and he agreed it might be the meds and I should come off them immediately. He's referring me to a dermatologist and I'm having a blood test done this weekend to check my thyroid function and hormones
Something similar happened to one of my friends so they bought some Something similar happened to one of my friends so they bought some Gzbityhn oil So you could try that because it’s 100% natural
Supplement wise, I've started taking sea kelp tablets along with my daily multi vitamin and a healthy diet. Fingers crossed! "
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By *eah BabyCouple
over a year ago
Cheshire, Windermere ,Cumbria |
"Thanks so much for the kind words and advice xx
I have spoken to my doctor and he agreed it might be the meds and I should come off them immediately. He's referring me to a dermatologist and I'm having a blood test done this weekend to check my thyroid function and hormones
Supplement wise, I've started taking sea kelp tablets along with my daily multi vitamin and a healthy diet. Fingers crossed! "
Good to hear your GP as sorted the blood test and dermatologist but I would say don’t take any supplement the next couple of days, you don’t want it in your body before your blood test, sea kelp interferes with your thyroid so could give a false reading and you want your reading to be at a normal for you not with supplements. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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Update: I spoke to my doctor today after finding bald patches last night and completely freaking out. It was a phone appointment but he said from the sounds of it it's most likely alopecia and will grow back in a few months. I have spent all day crying my eyes out but thankfully for the moment I still have enough hair left to get away with it (luckily I started out with about two heads' worth). If that should change I guess I'll just have to start wearing wigs... |
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Hair that we see isn't alive but changes that are made from the inside can result in us regaining differences that we get to see on the outside.
I would push to see a specialist who probably has more experience with managing the condition and side effects minimisation or elimination. With fuller advice from a specialist, you'll have a better understanding and perspective on what you can and would like to do.
Thinking of you, it's a tough situation. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Hair that we see isn't alive but changes that are made from the inside can result in us regaining differences that we get to see on the outside.
I would push to see a specialist who probably has more experience with managing the condition and side effects minimisation or elimination. With fuller advice from a specialist, you'll have a better understanding and perspective on what you can and would like to do.
Thinking of you, it's a tough situation. "
Thank you.
Unfortunately hair loss treatments are not available on the NHS as they are usually not considered effective. As I was made redundant during lockdown I won't be able to look into it privately anytime soon. From my research I've gleaned that it takes 3 months for changes within your body to resonate in your hair, which makes sense as I was on the medication for 3 months before I started noticing the hair loss. The problem is it's only been a month since I stopped taking it - if I continue losing hair at this rate I won't have any left in two months' time |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Hair that we see isn't alive but changes that are made from the inside can result in us regaining differences that we get to see on the outside.
I would push to see a specialist who probably has more experience with managing the condition and side effects minimisation or elimination. With fuller advice from a specialist, you'll have a better understanding and perspective on what you can and would like to do.
Thinking of you, it's a tough situation.
Thank you.
Unfortunately hair loss treatments are not available on the NHS as they are usually not considered effective. As I was made redundant during lockdown I won't be able to look into it privately anytime soon. From my research I've gleaned that it takes 3 months for changes within your body to resonate in your hair, which makes sense as I was on the medication for 3 months before I started noticing the hair loss. The problem is it's only been a month since I stopped taking it - if I continue losing hair at this rate I won't have any left in two months' time "
Have faith lovely. Inbox me if you want a chat x |
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