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hair loss questions, again

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/20/2011 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

The good news is that I am approaching what seems like a possible remission after flaring, or being at the edge of a flare, for almost nine months. Right now I am taking 4 Asacol twice a day and mesalamine enemas as needed (usually twice a week).

The bad news is that my hair is not falling out as extremely as it did from August to the end of October, but it's still awfully thin. I have no new sprouts. I have the sinking feeling that no new hairs are growing to replace the ones I lose each daily (back to a normal rate).

I write this knowing that no one can diagnose or guarantee anything, and overall I'm trying not to let this get the best of me, but it's so depressing. I had such a thick head of hair my whole life. It was one of my few features that I really liked and made me feel attractive. So I obsess--is it the Asacol? Was it the prednisone (stopped at the beginning of August)? Is it some random hormonal thing? It seems like TE since it started with itchy scalp out of nowhere and sudden, heavy shedding (no clumps).

Just needed to put that out there and see if anyone has any words of wisdom. I so appreciate you all. This is such a tolerant, welcoming, supportive place and even though I mostly lurk I enjoy coming here.
Posted 12/20/2011 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
Well, all I can say is, I don't see any call for giving up hope yet. You say you are only approaching possible remission at this time. From when I began actual remission, it took somewhere between 1.5 to 2 years (yes, 2 YEARS!) for all my hair to grow back.

Patience, grasshopper.
Posted 12/20/2011 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
I had a terrible reaction to Asacol and mezavant Where a had dierhea all day all nights do to the medication,lost 9 lbs. in a week(i am small to begin with)3 months later started losing hair like crazy(always had very thin hair)after few months it stopped.Obviously my hairloss was do to not getting enough nurision durng my illness since I am not on any medication.If you look up hair loss our hair grows and falls out in cicles.Usually it falls out few months after an illness or stress.
Posted 12/20/2011 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
Not sure what all you've tried but massaging your scalp is as far I know the #1 best natural way to induce hair growth and keep coloring. I have a sister that is a hair dress/stylist/specialist, I add the specialist since she deals with many problems related to hair including loss whether due to medications, hair products or age. She has always told us to take the time to massage our scalps will shampooing it may just save some gray hairs or thinning out.

Of course there is always a possibility of over massaging to the point of pulling hair out, and doing this during a shampoo helps since it acts as a bit of a lube. The massaging helps to waken the hair folicals or stimulate the hair growth areas, or at leas this is what I understand.

Also be kind to your hair, it needs proper shampoos and possibly other things to help make it healthy. I wouldn't be coloring it unless you are doing so to help strengthen your hair. I don't really know a lot about this but I know the info is out there since it's what I've been told.

Good luck
Posted 12/20/2011 11:29 PM (GMT 0)
Start taking Biotin it is suppose to help with hair and nail growth
Posted 12/20/2011 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
Took a year to get my hair back... It's going to be a long, long time.
Posted 12/21/2011 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
I obsessed over this too, fadoozle. We're here for you. :-)
Posted 12/21/2011 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
Some say Folic Acid helps with the hair loss. Why the heck does it only fall out from the top of the head. I'd trade not shaving my chin for some shedding.
Posted 12/21/2011 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
I've never been on Asacol, but had the same problem over the summer this year. I was on predn "only" for 2-2,5 months and had started Lialda during that time. Two, three weeks after tapering predn my hair went crazy. I was literally shedding. Even though I have short hair, after few weeks my DH noticed that something was wrong. A man, he isn't supposed to notice that kind of thing :-)
What was worse, I was overseas for the whole summer, and had no contact with my doctor. Was really worried that it was Lialda side effect and I would finish being bald in a couple of months. After being back to US I saw my GI and dermatologist. They both said that it can be due to several reasons: flare-up taking its toll, predn - taking its and Lialda - on top. Moreover, I got seborrheic dermatitis sometime in the course.... Yay! Lucky me! But both of them were quite positive that it would pass. Esp dermatologist was pretty sure that my hair would grow back, he already saw some new hair coming through (I've believed him, even though I couldn't see them). He just put me on Biotin 5mg per day. And now, voila!
I've been taking Biotin since the beginning of Sept this year (and Lialda, cont) and my hair already looks better, a lot thicker. And since I have short hair, I can already feel the difference. Seborrheic dermatitis is still there, and the medicated shampoo is not a gentle one, that for sure. I also color hair every 4-5 weeks top and still, they are coming back.
If you can, start Biotin, as for me, it's obviously helped. Even if hair was to grow back any way, the biotin made it faster and right now, I almost don't see any loose hair at all. Hope it helps you too.
Posted 12/21/2011 3:20 AM (GMT 0)
Oh, I forgot to say that biotin did no good, nor did nioxin shampoo. What did help was a big rubber bristle brush that massaged my head. I noticed the scalp stimulation helped.
Posted 12/21/2011 3:20 AM (GMT 0)
I also take Biotin and think it is a good supplement for your hair. I also started shampooing w/ a product that doesn't have any sodium laurel sulfate in it. I understand that acts like a detergent and is hard on your hair. The one I got is called Jason's Biotin Shampoo. It was not expensive (under $10 on Amazon) and I think my hair comes out alot nicer. It doesn't lather well b/c it doesn't have the sls in it but I really liked it once I got used to that fact. I would also assume that you have had your blood checked to make sure you are not anemic....that could also contribute to hair problems.
Posted 12/21/2011 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
I had severe hair loss after my second surgery to construct a j pouch after a severe flare up earlier in the year where I had to have my entire colon removed. I think it's the lack of nutrients your body is getting versus the meds.
Posted 12/21/2011 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

Thanks for the great advice. I've already been using Nioxin and taking Biotin with no noticeable results. I haven't seen a dermatologist. I just don't see any new hair growing, and even though I'm losing what feels more like a normal amount, I feel like it's progressively getting thinner all the time.

I'll try to hang in there and be patient...and possibly accepting of the new normal. Sigh.
Posted 12/21/2011 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
fadoozle, I don't have UC and am not on meds except for BP and glaucoma but I went to see a couple of doctors for gradual hair loss over the last year and this is what I learned:  The doctor will check your meds to see if they cause hair loss.  Then, if you have a medical condition that causes it (scalp or other health conditions like UC).  After that, the lab will check hormone levels especially thyroid and testosterone and iron levels.  I'm female and sometimes a female with high testosterone levels will have hair loss.  Low iron can also cause it. If none of this turns up, the dermatologist said it could be: hereditary, stress or allergy.  He prescribed a shampoo and a scalp oil treatment which are supposed to cut down scalp inflammation:  ketoconazole shampoo and Derma-Smoothe scalp treatment.  It's hard to say in your case but your primary doctor is the one to start with and lab tests would either confirm or eliminate hormone and/or iron deficiency. If it's hormonal, you would probably be referred to an endocrinologist; if it's not, then a dermatologist.  I also had to stop coloring my hair (ugh).  Anyway, that's what I learned in the past year.  Hope that helps.
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