Hair Loss

As I am sure most of you have experience, I am too going through the frustration and scare of hair loss. it has been going on for a bit now but it is really starting to worry me more and more. I am only 4 pounds from my goal weight (set by my nutritionist and therapist) but am still losing a lot of hair. My question is this: how long was it before people started seeing a change in their hair? Did the hair loss continue for a significant duration of time after you met your goal weight? And do you have any recommendations for remedies or things that might assist in regrowth? Thanks so much for taking the time to read this and answer. :)

The state of your hair (and nails) reflects the health of your body several weeks earlier... because these items are developing inside the body under the skin before they appear on the outside.   So there can be a time-lag of four to six weeks between the body being restored to health and the hair getting back into good condition.  If you're still underweight, keep going.....  good nutritious foods, any supplements that you've had recommended, plenty of fats... it'll all help.

Hi yogurtqueen

Yes, the hair loss is dreadful.  In my experience, it stops falling out about three months after I stop dieting and increase my weight.  The last time I had this problem (I go up and down) I saw a specialist and he prescribed a sort of multi-mineral supplement - iron, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc.  I think if you are seeing a nutritionist you are probably getting all the minerals you need anyway, so I wouldn't worry too much.  You should soon start to notice new regrowth all over your head; this will give you a really attractive fluffy, flyaway look for a while, but it's a good sign that you're getting better.  Congratulations on the weight gain.

I am 2 lbs away from my goal weight (might be at it today, the 2 lbs was a week ago) with 13 weeks of recovery and my hair is still falling out like mad. I started taking pre-natal vitamins and that has seemed to help. It is immensely frustrating though, it makes me sad to wash and brush my hair any more.

I was on a low carb diet for way tooo long and my eyebrows fell out.  (No kidding),  I also lost the hair on my arms and legs, and some on my head. (Nowhere else.)

I went to my doctor and she prescribed OTC Biotin at 2.5 mgs per day.  It seems the high protein diet pulled the Vitamin B7 (Biotin) out of my body. Please note that this is a really rare phenomenom. She also advised me to purchase the Biotin at either GNC or the Vitamin Shoppe, or a health food store because those stores usually have a higher consistency and quality of brands that may be sold at other stores. (I can't verify this information, it's just what she told me, and no, I don't work at either of those places.)

I've been taking the Biotin, things have been corrected, however it has taken about 6 weeks.

My doctor said hair loss is not unusual when you change your diet, it's just a natural cycle and your hair will come back. 

You might try getting some Biotin, it's working for me.

I know where your coming from on this because my hair has been falling out since the end of July. It fell out like crazy I couldnt even wear it down till like November. I hated showering and brushing it bc so much fell out. I didnt brush it for like two months I would wear it curly bc I was scared. Now it is almost April and I can def wear it down and then there are times where Im like Oh its better now and then it shed more on one day and I get worried. Like today is annoyign me haa. Mine never came out in clumps or anything just alot of shedding. I dont loose much in the shower but with blowdrying and straightening I loose alot. Remeber you do loose 100 a day. The best advice I can give is that it took time for you to loose weight and put your body in this state. So its gona take a while to get your hair back bc thats the last thing your body cares about. I wana tell you itll get better quick like 3 months. But that was def not the case with me it took over 6 and im still recovering. I am way past my goal weight too. Hang in there eat lots of nuts and healthy fats because that helps hair. I used to have super thick hair and now I guess its average. I do have alot of regrowth soooo I guess I better listen to the advice im giving you and be patient haha. Hope this helps a little if you wana talk message me!

thanks for all the replies guys...i really appreciate it. Ughh this process is so scary and I HATE showering and washing my hair because SOOO much comes out. My hair is so thin now and it used to be so beautiful and full. :( I am currently taking Biotin and have been for about two weeks but I haven't seen any difference yet. I'll keep my fingers crossed and look into some other supplements and eating more fats. Thanks again everyone! :)

I took biotin and for like 3 months my head was soooo itchy and then I realized it was the biotin. Ha also dont look up things on the interenet which Im guilty of bc its all negative no one is going to come back and write about their hair loss stopping bc they will be done thinking about it. Try and focus on other things for the next few months and get some nice headbands and wear your hair up. Trust me I know this is hard as I was runner up for best hair in my senior year book. Hair isnt everything and we may think it is but there are alot more important things in life!!!

haha OMG so was I! You are so right though and I have been reminding myself that hair isnt everything. Its just concerning when you have huge amounts of hair being lost every time you shower or brush your hair. Im almost scared to brush it at all anymore. Thanks again for everything, though!

I would recommend you see your OB/GYN.  My friend had hair loss and it was due to a hormone imbalance.  Once that was taken care of, it grew back and she is fine.

yeah I saw like 3 different doctors and they all said once the trigger (the weight loss was removed) it would be fine again. Yeah just wait around thats all you can do I would say it takes like 7 months. I swear it goes by really fast if you just dont think about it!!! Good luck