HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Rapid hair loss out of nowhere

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/29/2021 9:09 PM (GMT 0)
about 3/4 months ago I started getting weird tingling sensations within my head/scalp area. Ever since then I've had quite significant hair shedding - i.e. multiple hairs on my hand when I run my hand through my hair, many hairs on my pillow in the morning (10+), more hairs in the shower etc.

Long story short, I'm finding my hair everywhere and it's terrifying me as a 28 year old man who has always had very thick hair. I'm starting to see thinning around my temple area and crown area after only a few months of this shedding.

Has anyone experienced something like this? I don't think it's male pattern baldness as baldness does not seem to affect the males in my family.
Posted 12/29/2021 9:26 PM (GMT 0)
Lots of genes affect hair loss, so families can experience male pattern baldness that skips generations or affects some siblings and not others. I hear you that you don't think genetics play a factor in your case, but when I did some reading on this, I was surprised how much variation there can be in the same family.

Have you been under particular stress lately, either emotionally or physically? Significant stress can be enough to cause hair loss. Numerous articles have appeared in mainstream news over the past few months about how many people are experiencing hair loss lately, both caused by COVID itself (can be a long-term effect) and stress from the pandemic.

Any hormonal changes that you know of, like stopping an adaptogenic herb, changing a thyroid medication, etc.? Thyroid changes can affect hair growth and retention.

Hope you get to the bottom of this soon.
Posted 12/29/2021 9:30 PM (GMT 0)

saraeli said...
Lots of genes affect hair loss, so families can experience male pattern baldness that skips generations or affects some siblings and not others. I hear you that you don't think genetics play a factor in your case, but when I did some reading on this, I was surprised how much variation there can be in the same family.

Have you been under particular stress lately, either emotionally or physically? Significant stress can be enough to cause hair loss. Numerous articles have appeared in mainstream news over the past few months about how many people are experiencing hair loss lately, both caused by COVID itself (can be a long-term effect) and stress from the pandemic.

Any hormonal changes that you know of, like stopping an adaptogenic herb, changing a thyroid medication, etc.? Thyroid changes can affect hair growth and retention.

Hope you get to the bottom of this soon.

I was under quite significant work-related stress a few months ago, but it would seem odd for it to continue this long if it was from stress that long ago? I haven't stopped an adaptogenic herb, I currently take Ashwagandha. Thanks for you reply.
Posted 12/29/2021 10:07 PM (GMT 0)
"Has anyone experienced something like this? I don't think it's male pattern baldness as baldness does not seem to affect the males in my family."


Read my post on this, page 2,. "Saw Palmetto for hair growth".

The generations of men in my family have very healthy hair, they dont even get partially gray till very old.. No male pattern baldness in the men in my family either. Yet I was thinning and its now growing back. But I know it will never be like it was in my early 20’s.

Stress hormones and skin issues from what these infections cause can’t do this. Plus I have hashimoto thyroid which needs to be managed perfectly or symptoms including hair loss can happen (very common with hashimoto).

Post Edited (astroman) : 12/29/2021 9:51:42 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/29/2021 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
"about 3/4 months ago I started getting weird tingling sensations within my head/scalp area."

Your quote above is what would make me wonder about cause. It very well could be a male pattern problem, but the tingling makes me wonder. Could be, as astroman mentions, hashimoto or stress. Stress, as saraeli references, can even make one tingle, but I've never been stressed and had the tingling on my head. And the fact your stress was months ago also makes me wonder why it w3ould happen now.

I posted recently about sudden hair loss. It is not the normal type I've experienced in my life as I'm much older than you. But the speed of the loss has me believing it's something else - Lyme, Bart (tested positive for both),, autoimmune or, in my case, kidneys.

Have you had any thyroid tests or recent Lyme, co-infections tests? Male pattern baldness does run in my family, as most all males on my mom's side were pretty bald by the time they were early 30s. Somehow, I did not start losing much hair until I was in my late 40s, but there is still a lot there, at least today. The way it's going, tomorrow may be a different story.

As mentioned, it very well could be male pattern baldness. It just sounds a little suspicious when you mention 10 hairs or more on pillow. Good news is, if it is from Lyme, I have lost hair like that before since Lyme, but maybe not as fast. But it grew back when I got all under control for a while.

With all we have with Lyme, it might seem trivial to some to worry about hair. But, to me, it's just another thing that Lyme has taken, and it irritates to have it happening. At your age, I totally understand.
Posted 12/29/2021 11:47 PM (GMT 0)
Visually what dies your scalp like- is there dandruff? Itchy /flaky at all? Dandruff is really just a nickname for psoriasis or skin yeast like candida. Both the above can create a slight burning sensation which may be similar to your tingling sensation you were talking about. Candida can be a problem with lyme or Confections, these infections create a turf war inside and outside of your body.

When it’s from stress whether a mental or physical, and infection is physical stress ; Hair loss can occur from that 3 to 6 months later.
Posted 12/30/2021 12:07 AM (GMT 0)
That's really great advice from astroman and running wild.

If I could go back in time I would have gone to a hair specialist (maybe a dermatologist?) when I first started noticing the signs of hair loss.

They can do a pretty cool analysis nowadays with the hair follicles to see what is going on.

They have some kind of machine for it.
Posted 12/30/2021 2:42 AM (GMT 0)

running wild said...
"about 3/4 months ago I started getting weird tingling sensations within my head/scalp area."

Your quote above is what would make me wonder about cause. It very well could be a male pattern problem, but the tingling makes me wonder. Could be, as astroman mentions, hashimoto or stress. Stress, as saraeli references, can even make one tingle, but I've never been stressed and had the tingling on my head. And the fact your stress was months ago also makes me wonder why it w3ould happen now.

I posted recently about sudden hair loss. It is not the normal type I've experienced in my life as I'm much older than you. But the speed of the loss has me believing it's something else - Lyme, Bart (tested positive for both),, autoimmune or, in my case, kidneys.

Have you had any thyroid tests or recent Lyme, co-infections tests? Male pattern baldness does run in my family, as most all males on my mom's side were pretty bald by the time they were early 30s. Somehow, I did not start losing much hair until I was in my late 40s, but there is still a lot there, at least today. The way it's going, tomorrow may be a different story.

As mentioned, it very well could be male pattern baldness. It just sounds a little suspicious when you mention 10 hairs or more on pillow. Good news is, if it is from Lyme, I have lost hair like that before since Lyme, but maybe not as fast. But it grew back when I got all under control for a while.

With all we have with Lyme, it might seem trivial to some to worry about hair. But, to me, it's just another thing that Lyme has taken, and it irritates to have it happening. At your age, I totally understand.

Thanks for your reply. It is just very strange that it came out of nowhere, a few months ago, and hasn't stopped since. I have had my thyroid tested and it has always come back as fine. I have lyme, bart, myco, cpn, and various viruses - although my symptoms are much less pronounced now after a few years treating, and I'm able to work full time.

I guess it does seem trivial in comparison to the symptoms I had that nearly killed me, but for some reason this is making me very depressed.
Posted 12/30/2021 2:45 AM (GMT 0)

astroman said...
Visually what dies your scalp like- is there dandruff? Itchy /flaky at all? Dandruff is really just a nickname for psoriasis or skin yeast like candida. Both the above can create a slight burning sensation which may be similar to your tingling sensation you were talking about. Candida can be a problem with lyme or Confections, these infections create a turf war inside and outside of your body.

When it’s from stress whether a mental or physical, and infection is physical stress ; Hair loss can occur from that 3 to 6 months later.

I have had issues with my scalp for probably over 10 years now. It's often itchy and I get flakes that come out when I run my hand through my hair. I've suspected it's some form of psoriasis, but I'm not sure. I've tried Coal Tar shampoo and Nizoral (as people have recommended for seborrheic dermatitis, although this has only ever provided temporary relief).
Posted 12/30/2021 4:49 AM (GMT 0)
This may sound a little out there but a complete died makeover was actually part of my healing from what maybe seemed like slight extended lyme symptoms but was actually gut related all over body symptoms. lyme can wreck your gut which then can create autoimmune or over all body health issues.

Another way of saying it- As these infections take hold they create symptoms almost on their own but probably tied to the infections since they are many times NOW immune related.

It’s hard to tell at first but what you eat has a direct impact towards your immune system and your complete body including your skin. In my case I didn’t just read about it, It was a pleasant surprise that experienced firsthand, it certainly a while.

I had all over body itching and scalp flakes in winter that I contribute to lyme, Candida and diet and maybe hypothyroid.

It’s hard core winter here and I don’t have scalp “dandruff” like I did years ago. If it does get itchy and dry (hello January) then I use more Nizoral. But the dandruff of my past seems to not return anymore.

Nizoral I normally only use only a couple times per week but let it soak in vs rinsing off fast. In between I alternate with regular average shampoos and saw palmetto shampoo from Amazon a couple times a week - it can’t hurt. Tried that coal tar shampoo years ago- stuff stinks and was harsh on my scalp- it kind of burned. In hot summer periods I have used shampoo with salicylic acid which helps deter an overly oily scalp on hot humid days.

Post Edited (astroman) : 12/29/2021 9:58:06 PM (GMT-7)

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply