Random hair loss in patches. Please help =[

So I've been losing my hair in patches since September. It was subtle at first, I have three different textures of hair and my thicker, curly jet black hair was the first set to begin to fall out.



I was working at a sleep away camp for the summer and it was my first time in lake water. I swam daily. I was also on a strict wheat free diet. I washed and conditioned my hair daily and it was fine until I gotten home for good. I stopped washing so often and resumed my usual regi. Co wash every 2 days, wash once a week. Seal with olive oil. I would run my fingers through my hair and whole healthy strands would come out 4 or 5 at a time each time I did it. First one patch developed, then another. Currently I have 1 large spot on the left of my head and 3 smaller ones, top right and back. The rest of my hair is thriving.

I'm at such a loss. The shedding has slowed, then again that texture of hair is now gone. My fine wavy strands are now falling out as well but not as alarmingly as before. I do not take vitamins. I have resumed consuming wheat in small amounts although I may cut it out altogether again.

Do you ladies have any suggestions?

Please and thank you.
 
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tHENATuRALhAiRpRoJEcT

Well-Known Member
were u applying ANYTHING directly to your scalp???

(also the underlying reasons for your wheat free intake may have given you issues... w/ chlorine factored in?)
(if since september... I'd see the MD that ordered your dietary changes stat)

possibly triggered hormonal or allergy responses??
 
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AlliCat

New Member
I have no idea what could have caused this. So sorry to see you're going through this. Hopefully others will chime in, bumping for you
 

Krullete

New Member
I was working at a sleep away camp for the summer and it was my first time in lake water. I swam daily.

Skin parasites and worms can sometimes be found in lake water (slow currents or stagnancy, higher relative temperatures). Is it possible that you contracted such parasites in your scalp?

Have you consulted a dermatologist?
 

AlliCat

New Member
Skin parasites and worms can sometimes be found in lake water (slow currents or stagnancy, higher relative temperatures). Is it possible that you contracted such parasites in your scalp?

Have you consulted a dermatologist?

I was thinking this too
 
No I haven't applied anything to my scalp, and the choice to go gf was all mine. I have allergies that range from uncomfortable to impossible. I'm allergic to wheat, it exasperates my eczema. I've never had scalp issues though.
 
My dermatologist had nothing to offer. My eczema was also exasperated but when I returned home my skin cleared right up. There was also no itching or sores.
 

sensi sweetie

New Member
Oooh. I think this is a bit beyond us (do we have a Dr in the house??)

Don't panic, you won't go bald or anything, but I do think you need to consult a dermatologist for proper diagnosis and treatment :yep:

Something similar happened to my step mom but now her hair looks better then it has in a long while. Good luck!
 

sensi sweetie

New Member
My dermatologist had nothing to offer. My eczema was also exasperated but when I returned home my skin cleared right up. There was also no itching or sores.

Shoot we posted at the same time.

Was your visit covered by insurance? Consider going to someone else. Just my two cents because I have encountered many careless practitioners.

Did he check your hormone levels?


ETA:
and/or go to your GP and get bloodwork done for deficiencies
 
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He did not check my hormone levels. I think I will go see another practitioner. Dermatologists can be so frustrating. In dealing with my eczema I've been prescribed steroids and ushered away, it may mask the problem but it never did much to stop it. I stopped dealing with dermatologists medicinally a while ago.
 

Missjae09

New Member
Even though my hair is growing I have two patches of missing hair in the back of my head. it's not completely bald, the areas have "fuzz" but it's random! the rest of my hair is healthy, no issues as all but my hair has broken off very close to the scalp. I don't know the cause of my hair loss either. It may be a form a alopecia... just an uneducated guess.
 

sensi sweetie

New Member
He did not check my hormone levels. I think I will go see another practitioner. Dermatologists can be so frustrating. In dealing with my eczema I've been prescribed steroids and ushered away, it may mask the problem but it never did much to stop it. I stopped dealing with dermatologists medicinally a while ago.

I wonder if your medication has anything to do with it?

Yes, please don't give up and visit someone else. Mention you wan't your hormones checked and like I said if you are insured take advantage of it and visit a GP for additional testing as well. As soon as you figure out whats causing it you will be able to treat it :yep:
 
I don't use the steroids any longer. I stopped about 3 years ago. I really have no idea what's going on but I will go see another doctor.
 

ART11

New Member
I'm going to put this out there. I do not mean to offend anyone in the process, this is strictly an alternative point of view that may assist the OP. I'm also not open to arguing the point either and if it makes me a horrible person, I can handle that.

I have dealt with many MANY derms in the past. I usually left the dermatoligist's office disappointed. I was losing hair at one point - not patches like you but combful after combful. I put it all in a baggie and went to the derm. He poked around up there with his little gloves on for about 60 seconds and told me the same thing, he couldn't see what was wrong blah blah blah. And that was that, mind you I have a whole BAG of my HAIR in my hand!! His nurse came in, a blond woman with a braid all the way down to her tailbone. The thought struck me that if it was HER HAIR, he would be doing every test to try to find some solution to where that hair was going. My little afro-ish mess was meaningless to him as he had a completely different standard of beauty. He was the last dermatologist I saw that was not a person of color. I do not know who you saw but you may want to keep this in mind when choosing a doc that deals with aesthetics. SOME - not ALL - but definitely SOME (in MY personal experience) just do not value our beauty.

I hope you find a solution soon. I know it is difficult to deal with and not getting any answers makes it 10 times worse.
 

smoothie696

New Member
I honestly think that's alopecia. I have alopecia and it looks just like that. The hair the grows back in is usually a different texture/smoother when it grows back in. Usually gets to the size of a quarter and they tend to happened close together. I would get a 2nd opinion. My alopecia first showed up when I went to college. It's usually shows up if your stressed. I have found sulfur and injections help. With sulfur it will fill in within 9 months. With the shots it took me about 3 months to fill in. HTH!
 

SelfStyled

Well-Known Member
IA with Smoothie- it looks like Alopecia to me. Find another Derm, or even follow up with your PC and have them run some bloodwork ASAP. Also take a close look at your hair products, since you have wheat allergies do any of the products that you are using have wheat protein, wheat germ oil, etc?

Top Seven Sources of Hidden Allergens

5. Hair Products
Shampoo, conditioner, and even hair dye can include common allergens. Celiacs and those with wheat allergies should take special care, as one of the most common allergens in these products is wheat, either in the form of wheat germ or as hydrolyzed wheat protein. Other allergens in widely available hair products include citrus oils and extracts, mushroom oil, almond and other tree nut oils, and hydrolyzed soy protein.
 

Br*nzeb*mbsh~ll

Well-Known Member
I co-sign with SelfStyled. It's alopecia, now you have to find out what type. Be diligent and do not give up. This may sound simplistic, but try rubbing aloe vera gel and jbco in a 50/50 combination on your scalp. You should see regrowth in about a week.

I know what it's like, though my case was less severe. The derms just don't seem to have a clue. Steroids are their main line of defense, unfortunately. Keep researching - You can beat this.
 

Ms Lala

Well-Known Member
I have horrible experience w/dermatologists. I've had to learn to care for my skin issues by researching my self and trying different things. I'm sorry I don't have any suggestions but I would look around for a good MD or maybe a trichologist if the MD isn't helpful. That looks pretty severe.
 

Candy828

New Member
First - That does look serious. Not only could you have gotten it from the lake water, you could have picked up something from someone else. In the sleeping arrangements. i.e. bedding, showers etc.

Second - If doctors are not giving you good advice. The first thing I would start doing is using Tea Tree Oil. It is a natural fungus and bacteria fighter. You can apply it directly to the scalp and also put some in your shampoo. It only takes a few drops.

Third - I would start applying natural regrowth treatments. This is one recipe from my favorite natural "homemade" site using herbs. The tea tree oil can be a substitute for the thyme.
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Hair Regrowth Hot Oil Conditioner
[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]http://hmbeautyrecipes.homestead.com/HAIRconditioner.html
[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Ingredients:
[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]3 drops of essential oil of thyme
[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]3 drops of essential oil of lavender
[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]3 drops of essential oil of rosemary
[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]3 drops of essential oil of cedarwood
[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]1/8 cup of grapeseed oil
[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]1/8 cup of jojoba oil

[/FONT][FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Directions[/FONT][FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]:
[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Apply at night, to scalp in thinning areas. Do not rinse out till morning.
You can also just use this as a leave in.
[/FONT][FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]
If you do nothing.... that is the worst thing you can do.

Internally, cleanse you body with some good herbal teas.
[/FONT]A colon cleanse is also good. You could have gotten internal parasites from lake water as well. These are just some of the things to consider.
 
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Thank you ladies. I already use tea tree for my eczema so I will begin to do so for my hair. These are much larger than a quarter though and fell out very quickly.

I do not have Celiacs, that is a gluten intolerance. I have a wheat allergy, it's a little different. I'm going to get the materials for the oil mixture today and begin applying it, I've gotten my eczema and allergic reactions under control using tea tree oil and sea salt so I'm quite optimistic.

Thank you ladies again.
 
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