hair thinning

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Hi everyone, only just joined this site and think it's great - thanks to those that have replied to my previous. hope I have some luck with this one......
I don't know what to do and I'm desperate for any advice or info.
I've always had fine hair, even as a youngster. I'm 44 now and my hair is breaking off and is generally thin. This is ruining my life, if your hair's not nice you don't feel nice. I've bought every hair thickening product on the market, shampoos, conditioners, leave in lotions etc., you name it I've tried it!. I've been on the internet, searching for a miracle. Has anyone out there tried anything that actually works?. My diet's not bad, I eat plenty of fruit & veg and short of buying a wig I don't know what to do. There are plenty of sites offering transplants etc., I don't want to /can't afford to do that. Is there any medicine / lotion that anyone's tried that helps? There are lots of sites that offer miracle cures but if I'm going to send off my hard earned dosh. it would be nice to know if I'm being ripped off or if the offer is genuine. Funnily enough, women complain of hair thinning / loss when they are pregnant, mine was the opposite- whilst pregnant my hair had never been so good, loads of healthy thick hair and I felt great. Shame you can't buy a similar hormone pill that resembles pregnancy (WITHOUT THE BABY AT THE END!!)
Any help would be most appreciated.
Thanks in advance...

Terri (u.k.)

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Hey, terri. Welcome to A2K. First make certain that you don't have a scalp problem. See your dermatologist. If there is no problem, try this:

Get a good dandruff shampoo and after washing your hair, put some sort of setting gel on it. Then blow dry. You may then want to use electric curlers. That process gives body to my hair, and I have very soft, fine hair. Also, use a comb with big teeth, so that you won't pull out the hair.

Hope this helps.

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Also, fruits and veggies, though good for you, won't help your hair. Hair is mostly protein so meat and fish would be better. Or it may be genetic in which case science has not caught up yet. I'm no expert on this as I still have a full mane but I know people that have used hair weaves with success. Good luck!

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terri, i don't know what kind of shampoos you've been using, but Sodium Laureth Sulfate, which is an ingredient commonly used in shampoos can cause your hair to fall out. It' basically a detergent that allows the shampoo to get sudsy.

I am currently using a shampoo called Shen Min. I switched after learning about SLS's because I swim and shampoo often and noticed my hair was coming out after each wash. Here is the link.

http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=shen+min&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=ff

Also, do you take calcium?

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Terri, you are young, but do you think it possible that you are in the early stages of menopause? That is when my hair REALLY got thin--it was always fine and fairly thin, but now it is easy to see scalp.

Have you tried minoxidil? It seldom causes real hair growth, but it does help to prevent more hair loss.

I agree with Letty that you should see a dermatologist--it could be genetic or a symptom of something else.

Good luck.

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Terri - hair loss is a natural process and related more to genetic make-up than anything else. It involves a response to increases in the hormone androgen as we age. If you have noticed a tendency amongst members of your family (male or female) to thin with age, then that is your fate.

In my own case a great head of hair on my father's side has given up to the onset of male pattern baldness passed on from my mother's family - damn those quitter folicles!!

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You can also try hair extensions. Here's a link, can't vouch for quality or the company's reputation, but it's easy to find hair extensions on the 'net: http://123wigs.com/wigstore/extensions/search_browse.asp?mode=browse&extensiontype=4

Anyway, an extension (or "fall") isn't a complete wig so you may be more comfortable with it. It's not a perfect solution, but it is something you can do while investigating other options.

Another thing I've heard is that hair cut short and in layers will tend to appear thicker than longer hair of one length. So that might also help.

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Also, Rogaine and Propecia have helped some of my male friends. Rogaine can be bought over the counter or check with a doctor about Propecia.

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I took a supplement for a while called methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) and it seemed to make my hair thicker. I was taking it for melasma; it helped only a little with that and I felt the results didn't justify continued use. The stuff I was taking included vitamin C for increased absorption.

~~~

As far as hormones go, most women do have thicker hair during pregnancy, and it falls out after the birth. My 'fallout' was really bad. It's been 2 yrs and it is all back to normal (except for being more gray).

You might want to try a soy supplement of just add more soy to your diet. Recently I tried a soy protein drink from Bolthouse Farms which was really a treat. You probably don't get it in the uk, but you probably have similar products.

Another thing that can up your hormones is fenugreek. A tea (actually a decoction) made from fenugreek spouts is quite powerful. I saw on 'Naked Chef' once the host, actually purchased fenugreek sprouts from a market. I think the show is set in London. I just sprout them myself.

Soy is probably safer than fenugreek, and I don't use fenugreek that often.

http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/41/21.cfm

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Gala wrote:

terri, i don't know what kind of shampoos you've been using, but Sodium Laureth Sulfate, which is an ingredient commonly used in shampoos can cause your hair to fall out. It' basically a detergent that allows the shampoo to get sudsy.

I don't have a problem with shampooing, but I did notice that whenever I use conditioner, hair strands tend to fall out. But I don't understand why this would happen since I have healthy hair... Is there a chance that sodium laureth sulfate would be in conditioners? (And I can't leave out conditioning. I have a lot of hair that needs to be smoothed down if I don't want my head becoming a tangled mess.)

Terri, I'm not sure about how to make hair thicker, but I do know some tricks to make your hair overall look and feel thicker. You can try a volumizing shampoo and brush and blowdry your hair from the inside by putting your head upside down. There are also sprays or gels that keep it volumous, too. And when you use shampoo, make sure that you get ones that are right for your hair. If your hair is normally dry, then get the moisturizing one. As for me, I get moisturizing shampoo because if I use the "normal" one, then my hair results in a poofy mess. My older sister has somewhat thin hair, but she's sort of fixed that by using shampoo for oily hair. She never uses conditioner, too, since it just makes her hair look even thinner.

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hair thinning
Don't fall for those "miracle cures". The only miraculous thing about them is that people do fall for them. They are a scam!

If your problem is genetic, those miracle cures won't help, and if it's a skin problem, a dermatologist is definitely the way to go.

The lauryl sulfate ingredient seems to be a common thread among the comments here; can you find a conditioner without it? Check your current conditioner's list of ingredients (if it hasn't a list, then don't buy it again!).

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hair thinning
Thanks to all you out there for replying.
Don't quite know what to do now......... guess I'm stuck with my thin hair.
I have stopped using all the thickening lotions etc., as they tend to make my hair worse and I'm not blow drying at all. I can make it appear thicker when I blow dry etc., but it's short lived, slightest damp weather or too hot and it's flat again!!!!!!.
I am really interested in Rogaine and Propecia, has anyone tried this?. Hair extensions are not an option, I've heard these are really difficult to look after and the hair they're attached to can break off as well.
I don't have any problems with my scalp, and I do eat plenty of meat (although no fish) aswell as veg, I think my problem is to do with my genes - all my family have thin hair. Looks like I'll have to put up and shut up!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks to you all anyway.
Terri

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Most diseases (or in this case I guess you would call it a 'condition') are not caused either by 100% genetic or environmental factors. It's a mix. For example, here's the current thinking on Type 1 (Insulin-dependent) Diabetes:

Quote:

The causes of type 1 diabetes are complex and still not completely understood. People with type 1 diabetes are thought to have an inherited, or genetic, predisposition to the disease. It is theorized that this genetic predisposition may remain dormant until it is activated by an environmental trigger such as a virus or a chemical. This starts an attack on the immune system that results in the eventual destruction of the beta cells of the pancreas.

So a Type 1 diabetic can't produce enough insulin, and they have to take insulin shots to make up for the lack.

Also, even if a condition is 'genetic' (100%) such as phenylketonuria, a metabolic disorder, does not mean it cannot be treated or prevented. In the case of PKU, avoiding phenylalanine in the diet prevents mental retardation in people with the disease.

So you are not necessarily 'stuck' with thin hair. It is up to you to decide to treat it, either with pharmaceuticals or alternative methods. It just depends on wether you think it is worth the money and inevitable risks.

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terri.
If it's any consulation.... most woman with thin hair are stuck with it for life, but it seems, they manage to retain enough, to stay presentable, till it dosn't matter any more.

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hey terri i have a solution that may work for you but dont wish to post the info....if you want to know please feel free to email me at [email protected]

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