I'm losing my hair :(

So, I've always had really thick hair that was hard to manage, but I didn't mind too much. But within, oh, the past three weeks or so, I've noticed that a lot of my hair is falling out, a lot more than the normal amount I would lose daily. I can just run a hand through my hair and come out with a dozen or so hairs. My hair is actually noticeably thinner now.

I'm hoping this is okay and my hair will go back to its normal ways. Anyone have any idea what the problem could be?

stress?....or radiation?

I'm actually less stressed than I should be, given my current workload. Not to say that I'm not stressed, it just seems like it's not enough to make my hair fall out.

Radiation? Maybe there's something my university isn't telling me . . .

Did you switch shampoo or conditioner?

IEEE!

Nope, I've been using that stuff for months.

I've been thinking of two possibilities:

• I haven't gotten my hair cut in a very long time (trying to grow out a stupid short haircut that was five inches shorter than I wanted). I don't know if this could affect the way my hair grows.
• I recently had a thyroid biopsy, and know there's scar tissue on my thyroid. I don't know if this could affect the way my medicine works.

Damaged hair can cause hair loss.  If your ends are fried and thin, get a trim.  The damage can move up the hair shaft and cause breakage.

Are the shed hairs broken, or do they come out of the scalp? 

Lots of links on google about thyroid and hair loss.

Got this from here:

4. Make Sure It's Not Your Thyroid Drug

First, if you are hypothyroid and taking levothyroxine (i.e., Synthroid) as your thyroid hormone replacement, and still losing hair, you may need to take action. Prolonged or excessive hair loss IS a side effect of Synthroid for some people. Note: Many doctors do NOT know this, even though it is a stated side effect in the Synthroid patient literature, so don't be surprised if your doctor is not aware of this.

Even if it's not that, might not hurt to ask your doc, I don't think it's 'normal' to suddenly start losing more hair.

 

Original Post by loriklorik:

IEEE!

 FREAKY!

It seems like a combination of shorter broken hairs and hairs actually from the scalp. I asked my friend to give me a ride so I can get my hair cut (I needed it anyways, my layers were looking odd).

I don't do much else to damage my hair. I rarely blow-dry it and have never once straightened it.

You lose an average of like 100 hairs a day. Unless it's coming out in huge clumps, you're probably okay. My hair falls out a lot, too... and my hair is thin.

Thyroid problems can cause dry skin and the falling out of hair. Any big dietary changes? Hormonal changes? If it starts to be an even bigger issue or if it's already bothering you enough, you should go to a doctor and get some blood work done. My hair is ridiculously thick and it's been falling out like crazy recently, probably way more than 100 hairs a day, so I got a blood test done checking for various deficiencies and thyroid levels. Good luck figuring it out :)

Original Post by alibsam:

You lose an average of like 100 hairs a day. Unless it's coming out in huge clumps, you're probably okay. My hair falls out a lot, too... and my hair is thin.

 It is coming out in clumps though, which definitely isn't normal for me. That's why I'm starting to get worried.

I have to wait until tomorrow to talk to my endocrinologist. There wasn't any bloodwork done after my biopsy so I'm not sure if there were any changes in my thyroid level.

Then go to the doctor.

Hairstylist here - could maybe shed a little light on the situation...

The thing about hair is it usually takes 3-6 months to usually affect your hair and nails.  This being said, I would try and think back in the last six months, have you had anything really out of the normal happen to your body.  That being stress, hormonal change, medication, rapid weight loss, rapid weight gain, not enough calories, not enough protein??? 

If you did, then once your body recoups from the "trama", your hair will stop falling out as much and then start to grow back.  No worries.  The hair falling out can be stressful in itself...

But too in PA we are experiencing a season change, and that also causes hair to fall out a little more, because of the changes in the climate. 

Up your folic acid vitamins, and you should be fine though... Just remember that taking additional folic acid will also take 3-6 months to start to show through your hair and nails...

I used to have thick hair and I noticed my hair was thinning around the crown a few years ago. I asked my doctor during my annual visit and he said unless it's falling out in clumps or in a circular pattern, there's nothing medically wrong. I suggested that maybe I was wearing my hair too long so it was too heavy and dragged my hair too much. I got it cut shorter (above my shoulders) and it gave my hair more bounce and made the thinning look less apparent.