Hair Loss? Help!
kirdyq
Posts: 165 Member
I've been exercising daily each morning at 5am since January 1st. I usually exercise 5 out of 7 days a week on average. I do the 21 day fix program from Beachbody. It's about 30 minutes a day when I do it. Then about 3 of those days, I do the 10 minute ab program that is part of 21 day fix.
I eat very healthy. I probably eat around 1500 calories a day or so. I take a daily multivitamin, Daily Vitamin D (I have a slight deficiency as found per blood tests at my doctor), I take a supplement that is for hair and nails, and I also take a scoop of vital proteins collagen each morning in my coffee.
My hair has never been so thin in my life. I do think I have some damage that happened due to balayage highlights and then some heat damage on top of that. I am going to the salon next week to see if my stylist thinks it is more a breakage issue or a thinning issue.
But it's never looked so sad. The main change I can think that has happened since this started was the daily exercise. My eating habits have been very very consistent for about a year and a half now. So I don't feel that is it.
Have any of you experienced this? Have you found anything to help thicken your hair back up, if so?
I eat very healthy. I probably eat around 1500 calories a day or so. I take a daily multivitamin, Daily Vitamin D (I have a slight deficiency as found per blood tests at my doctor), I take a supplement that is for hair and nails, and I also take a scoop of vital proteins collagen each morning in my coffee.
My hair has never been so thin in my life. I do think I have some damage that happened due to balayage highlights and then some heat damage on top of that. I am going to the salon next week to see if my stylist thinks it is more a breakage issue or a thinning issue.
But it's never looked so sad. The main change I can think that has happened since this started was the daily exercise. My eating habits have been very very consistent for about a year and a half now. So I don't feel that is it.
Have any of you experienced this? Have you found anything to help thicken your hair back up, if so?
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Replies
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Are you eating back your exercise calories?9
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How much weight have you lost since January? What is your height and weight?
Are you hitting the minimum protein and fat goals?
How old are you?8 -
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You "probably" eat "around" 1500 calories a day? So you dont really know how much you're eating?
You're likely undereating, especially if you're not eating exercise calories back. Also, just because your diet has been consistent for a year and a half doesn't mean hair loss isnt due to your diet. It can take months or more of undereating to take affect.
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On average I'd say I eat 1500-1800 a day. I keep track in this app.
I started out last Memorial Day at 150 pounds, and now I am at 130 pounds. I have just very gradually lost the weight.
I am 39, 5 foot 8, and hover around 130.
I do eat plenty of protein, lots of veggies and moderate amounts of carbs2 -
I started shedding like a *kitten* right around 40. Added to the fact that some people do lose a little hair in a deficit and that could be it.
I can't think of any reason exercise would cause thinning hair. I hope your stylist tells you it's just breakage and you just have to wait it out!3 -
I lost a lot of hair when I was losing weight also. Turned out I needed an iron supplement even though it was the “low end of normal” my doctor tried it out and it helped a lot. (It has unfortunate gastrointestinal side effects though so definitely talk to your doctor about this!!)1
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How old are you? Have you had your thyroid checked?1
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I had that happen too but I was eating a lot lower than you.
Maybe eat at maintenance for a few months and stop losing until it gets normal again?0 -
If you have damaged hair and are washing it every day you might find it breaking more and you losing more. If you aren't washing it often, you might find it doesn't look as good because of sweat and salt buildup.0
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Did anything else change besides just the weight loss? E.g. did you change shampoo or any other hair products, change medications, have a baby or maybe stop breastfeeding (hormone change), start showering more often (because of the gym) etc?0
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Blood work and a dermatologist visit. I have been through this. Also had 50 mg of zinc into your diet in conjunction with your hair supplement if it doesn’t already include it. Nutritional yeast tablets are also a great source of b complex. It also could be telagin efflivium which is just the shedding cycle starting pre maturely sue to a shock on the system (weight loss) it is self resolving albeit very frustrating.3
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There is a boatload of stuff that can cause hair loss. Sleeping with an eye mask over your eyes, sleeping in between two pillows, not washing your hair correctly, not conditioning your hair, using a lot of chemicals in your hair, physically mishandling your hair (twisting, pull, rubbing towels on it), not appropriately brushing your hair and/or using the wrong brush or comb, wearing the same hairstyle, thyroid or other medical problems, and weight loss. In your position I would:
1. Learn how to correctly shampoo, condition, and towel dry your hair. You probably think you know, but might not. Just spend a few minutes reading up, the worst thing that happens is you wasted 5 minutes affirming in your own mind you already have these things down.
2. Learn how to comb and brush your hair.
3. Learn how to style your hair differently every day, if you are long haired and wear your hair up in the same style over and over.
4. Change or reduce chemicals you use in your hair.
5. Learn how to appropriately use heat on your hair, if applicable to you.
6. Consult a doctor for blood work. If you have a medical issue, this is where it will show up.
7. Examine how fast you are losing weight and your macros.1 -
I posted this on a maintenance board recently! Mine isn't feeling thin or looking thin in the mirror, but I am shedding a lot more than usual. I averaged 1.2 lb of weight loss per week since December, and I've been maintaining at 1600+ (some days I'm not even counting anymore), and just the last week or two I have noticed more hair shedding in my brush, in the shower, when I blow-dry. Honestly, I'm wondering if it's hormonal and not related to weight loss because I've also been having quite a *time* with PMS symptoms as I get older, and I turned 37 this year.0
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I've been exercising daily each morning at 5am since January 1st. I usually exercise 5 out of 7 days a week on average. I do the 21 day fix program from Beachbody. It's about 30 minutes a day when I do it. Then about 3 of those days, I do the 10 minute ab program that is part of 21 day fix.
I eat very healthy. I probably eat around 1500 calories a day or so. I take a daily multivitamin, Daily Vitamin D (I have a slight deficiency as found per blood tests at my doctor), I take a supplement that is for hair and nails, and I also take a scoop of vital proteins collagen each morning in my coffee.
My hair has never been so thin in my life. I do think I have some damage that happened due to balayage highlights and then some heat damage on top of that. I am going to the salon next week to see if my stylist thinks it is more a breakage issue or a thinning issue.
But it's never looked so sad. The main change I can think that has happened since this started was the daily exercise. My eating habits have been very very consistent for about a year and a half now. So I don't feel that is it.
Have any of you experienced this? Have you found anything to help thicken your hair back up, if so?
What other deficiencies did your blood work test for? Iron and iodine deficiencies can also cause hair loss. Despite being anemic for 30 years, I have to specifically request I be tested for iron in my yearly labs, so don't count on it having been done.2 -
I lost a lot of hair when I was losing weight also. Turned out I needed an iron supplement even though it was the “low end of normal” my doctor tried it out and it helped a lot. (It has unfortunate gastrointestinal side effects though so definitely talk to your doctor about this!!)
@kiela64 I have no gastrointestinal side effects with https://smile.amazon.com/Solgar-Gentle-Iron-Vegetable-Capsules/dp/B00013Z0QA/
(Others - don't just start supplementing with iron without getting blood work done first.)5 -
kshama2001 wrote: »I lost a lot of hair when I was losing weight also. Turned out I needed an iron supplement even though it was the “low end of normal” my doctor tried it out and it helped a lot. (It has unfortunate gastrointestinal side effects though so definitely talk to your doctor about this!!)
@kiela64 I have no gastrointestinal side effects with https://smile.amazon.com/Solgar-Gentle-Iron-Vegetable-Capsules/dp/B00013Z0QA/
(Others - don't just start supplementing with iron without getting blood work done first.)
Thanks for the tip! It used to be covered but my insurance changed so I have to buy it anyway might as well get something better.0 -
kshama2001 wrote: »I've been exercising daily each morning at 5am since January 1st. I usually exercise 5 out of 7 days a week on average. I do the 21 day fix program from Beachbody. It's about 30 minutes a day when I do it. Then about 3 of those days, I do the 10 minute ab program that is part of 21 day fix.
I eat very healthy. I probably eat around 1500 calories a day or so. I take a daily multivitamin, Daily Vitamin D (I have a slight deficiency as found per blood tests at my doctor), I take a supplement that is for hair and nails, and I also take a scoop of vital proteins collagen each morning in my coffee.
My hair has never been so thin in my life. I do think I have some damage that happened due to balayage highlights and then some heat damage on top of that. I am going to the salon next week to see if my stylist thinks it is more a breakage issue or a thinning issue.
But it's never looked so sad. The main change I can think that has happened since this started was the daily exercise. My eating habits have been very very consistent for about a year and a half now. So I don't feel that is it.
Have any of you experienced this? Have you found anything to help thicken your hair back up, if so?
What other deficiencies did your blood work test for? Iron and iodine deficiencies can also cause hair loss. Despite being anemic for 30 years, I have to specifically request I be tested for iron in my yearly labs, so don't count on it having been done.
^ this. And also in my experience I’d had my iron checked several times and it was technically in the normal range. However when I told my doctor about the hair loss she only then told me it was at the very bottom of the normal range, so only then was it discussed. You need to tell your doctor your symptoms because it’s not always going to be clear if you just ask for something to be checked.1 -
kshama2001 wrote: »I lost a lot of hair when I was losing weight also. Turned out I needed an iron supplement even though it was the “low end of normal” my doctor tried it out and it helped a lot. (It has unfortunate gastrointestinal side effects though so definitely talk to your doctor about this!!)
@kiela64 I have no gastrointestinal side effects with https://smile.amazon.com/Solgar-Gentle-Iron-Vegetable-Capsules/dp/B00013Z0QA/
(Others - don't just start supplementing with iron without getting blood work done first.)
This ! I started taking an iron supplement without a test and it made things worse, mainly because I wasnt iron deficient in the first place....
When I did do blood tests, turns out my D3 levels were completely MIA and I was peri-menopausal *sniffles*.
I am blaming hormone brain #denial
P.S Sorting D3 out sorted an awful lot3 -
Also have your doctor test you ferritin along with your iron. Ferritin controls your bodies ability to absord and use iron effectively. A few years ago I had all the classic signs of anemia, but my iron was well within the normal range. Luckily I have a wonderful doctor who suggested we test the ferritin as well and sure enough that was very low. Basically meaning I have enough iron but my body just isn't absorbing or using it correctly.3
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OooohToast wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »I lost a lot of hair when I was losing weight also. Turned out I needed an iron supplement even though it was the “low end of normal” my doctor tried it out and it helped a lot. (It has unfortunate gastrointestinal side effects though so definitely talk to your doctor about this!!)
@kiela64 I have no gastrointestinal side effects with https://smile.amazon.com/Solgar-Gentle-Iron-Vegetable-Capsules/dp/B00013Z0QA/
(Others - don't just start supplementing with iron without getting blood work done first.)
This ! I started taking an iron supplement without a test and it made things worse, mainly because I wasnt iron deficient in the first place....
When I did do blood tests, turns out my D3 levels were completely MIA and I was peri-menopausal *sniffles*.
I am blaming hormone brain #denial
P.S Sorting D3 out sorted an awful lot
I'm 52 and wish menopause would hurry the heck up >.<2 -
So, I did specifically ask for the iodine bloodwork (came back just fine), but I can't remember if they did iron or not. I'll have to bring up my labs and look. I will be going to my dermatologist next month (I see her on the regular due to an acne issue) and I'm definitely going to bring up all of this with her. I did have a very mild vitamin D deficiency, and I do take a supplement for that.
Tomorrow is my haircut/color appointment. I'm curious to see what my hairdresser is going to say about my hair. I've been texting her about it. I want to see if she says it's breakage or if it seems to have thinned. She was saying that of course breakage is typically something you are physically doing to your hair yourself - whether that be bleaching (which I've done with the baylayage), heat tools, etc. And that thinning is typically some type of thing going on inside your body. It's just so weird to me if breaking is the issue. I have basically had the same type of stuff (color and styling wise) done to my hair for YEARS and I've never noticed any of these problems until just maybe the past 6-9 months or so.
Last night in the shower I shed off a ton. I'd not washed my hair for a day or two, hadn't done any sort of heat styling to it whatsoever, and I'd just pinned it up yesterday. When I took it out and showered, it was so disappointing to see all that come off.0 -
So, I did specifically ask for the iodine bloodwork (came back just fine), but I can't remember if they did iron or not. I'll have to bring up my labs and look. I will be going to my dermatologist next month (I see her on the regular due to an acne issue) and I'm definitely going to bring up all of this with her. I did have a very mild vitamin D deficiency, and I do take a supplement for that.
Tomorrow is my haircut/color appointment. I'm curious to see what my hairdresser is going to say about my hair. I've been texting her about it. I want to see if she says it's breakage or if it seems to have thinned. She was saying that of course breakage is typically something you are physically doing to your hair yourself - whether that be bleaching (which I've done with the baylayage), heat tools, etc. And that thinning is typically some type of thing going on inside your body. It's just so weird to me if breaking is the issue. I have basically had the same type of stuff (color and styling wise) done to my hair for YEARS and I've never noticed any of these problems until just maybe the past 6-9 months or so.
Last night in the shower I shed off a ton. I'd not washed my hair for a day or two, hadn't done any sort of heat styling to it whatsoever, and I'd just pinned it up yesterday. When I took it out and showered, it was so disappointing to see all that come off.
That must have been upsetting - sending you a hug. I will never forget the horror of seeing my scalp shine through my hair for the first time - makes me feel a bit sick even now. Even though I didnt clock the shedding and just the outcome, I can appreciate you are probably feeling the creeping horror.
With acne going on, I am still thinkimg hormones might be influencing things OP - has this been a thing for you in the past ?0 -
Sorry you're experiencing this. Are you still trying to actively lose weight? 130 at 5'8" is very slim. It might be too low for YOUR body, and you are seeing some of the fallout from that. Otherwise, everyone else has provided solid advice. Keep in mind that even with lots of shedding (my hair was coming out in handfuls after each of my pregnancies), I never went bald despite being convinced I would with the amount that was falling out. It might look like more than it really is. Hope you get some answers from your doc!1
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Thanks guys! 130 was my goal weight to hit. If I ever consistently went below 125, I don't think I'd like that. I think I'd probably have way to low of a BMI then. I log my weight every day just to keep track, and I usually bounce around between 126-132. It just varies based off of what I eat. I would say that I eat very healthy, but of course you have those times where you go to a restaurant, or have a birthday party, have drinks with friends, need that chocolate fix...lol! I don't mind a treat once or twice a week. I just try to not make it an everyday thing. 130 was my goal, so I'm just trying to maintain a weight around that now.
So here is the backstory with the acne, in case you are wondering. That has been something that has went on since 2014, so it's not a new change to my body. I was having horrible, horrible headaches back at that time. I requested an MRI because the doctors kept telling me it was just tension headaches. Well, I had something called cerebral venous thrombosis...there was a blood clot in one of the sinus veins in my head! It was blocked, hence the horrible headaches! I'd been a headache sufferer for many years, but this was something different! Moral of the story is...doctors are not always right. You have to be your own advocate. At the time that I started having the headaches, before I had even requested the MRI, I decided to stop taking my birth control pills, because I'd heard they could cause that issue. Well, after many, many, many blood tests the neurologist said nothing genetic was wrong with me and that the clot was likely caused by the estrogen in the birth control. So now, I am never supposed to take it again. But...it always kept my acne away. After stopping it, I was breaking out like a teenager again. So, that is why I currently see a dermatologist. She has found a couple topical prescriptions that seem to work really well for me.2 -
OP - you really have been through the wars ! I am impressed at your advocacy skills too. You may find that the changes in hormones support, weight and additional health challenges have had an impact on your hair. As I am peri-menopausal (more fun to come !) so I turned to Rogaine which has worked wonders for me. Perhaps a trip to a trichologist may get you more answers and/or possible solutions regarding your hair?0
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As others have said, ask your doctor to have your iron levels checked. I am prone to anemia, and have experienced severe hair loss. General nutrient malabsorption could be a cause as well (something I’m in the process of fixing too). It’s very frightening, but luckily our hair is not vital to our survival, but sudden loss of it could be a sign of something larger in the body that is going wrong. I hope you’re able to discuss with your doc and find some answers! ❤️1
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