Hair Loss

[MDukes]

Well I lost all the weight I gained on vacation plus 2 more lbs in one week!! Yeah!! However, have a question, I have noticed in the last 3-4 weeks I have been losing/shedding a lot of hair. Could this be a side effect of the Atkins diet? It wouldn't seem so since I eat so much protein, but was wondering if anyone else has had this happen.

[otenn]

You know, when I got my hair cut last week, the hairdresser asked me if I had had a baby recently because my hair was falling out in and unusually large amount and in a pattern typical to hormonal hair loss. I had a baby just over a year ago and she said that could be it, that often hair loss happens a few months postpartum, and that a second round hits at about the one year mark, so I never thought much more about it. It is starting to slow down again (or else the haircut made it less noticeable), but I did not even think of attributing it to atkins? who knows? I'm interested in any other responses you get.

Mari

[agonycat]

*shrugs*

I have always shed a great deal of hair my whole life. Surprised I am not bald yet.

I doubt it is due to the diet, considering the vitamins/minerals we take and all the protein. I haven't a clue on this one.

[bluugirl]

I've noticed i'm shedding more hair too - but i'm not sure if it's my imagination or not. (I usually shed alot anyway) However it could be b/c i wasn't taking my vitamins as I should have been. I've gone back to taking my vitamins daily.

[tofi]

I have heard of this happening to people on Atkins Induction and also read in other places that any sudden weight loss can cause some increased hair loss. The follicles tend to shut down and the most mature hair falls out then it takes a while till the next one starts growing. I hope someone else has reaad this - I'll try to find the reference. It does stop and reverse itself.

BarB

[numberonewendy]

Well here I thought I was the only one on this. I have long hair and never had much hair falling out before this LC wol. Lately it has been happening and freaking me out some. Seems to tangle a lot also.

My daughter said her hair is falling out lots more too...she too has long hair and follows this woe. She thought, on no maybe the diet, but then thought about...which...believe it or not quieten me down about the subject. Her thoughts are.... You know, dogs shed in the summer time with the heat. Our hair probably does the same thing??? (I know, funny explanation, but hey she gave it her best...LOL)

I like Barb's reasoning better, please see if you can see anything written on this, it would be much appreciated. Every morning when brushing my hair out I look at all the loose strands, and quietly try to put it out of my mind, but its not going!

[Karen]

I've read about hair loss on ASDL-C happening with newbies and oit causes them alarm. They have reported that the hair does grow back. I seem to have a lot of gray hair falling out. Maybe it will be replaced by brown hair? :D

Could it be fat hair that your losing, soon to be replaced by healthy, new, fit and trim hair? ;)

I think I like Barb's explanation better!

Karen

[doreen T]

I've always had thin hair, and yes I noticed that I seemed to be shedding more. But the problem for me was breakage, not that the hair was actually falling out from the follicles in the scalp. And the new growth that replaced it has been strong and great condition. (of course, then I go and fry it with a perm!.. :rolleyes: )

Normally, hair and skin cells are completely renewed and replaced every 4 to 6 weeks. Stress - even good stress - can affect the growth of hair cells in the follicles, causing the hair strand to actually fall out, or the new hair that grows will be weakened and brittle at that particular point, and thus will break. An abrupt change in diet can potentially "stress" the system enough to cause such changes. But with the 4 to 6 week cell growth, you won't notice a change in your hair until a month or two into the new diet.

If the thinning is at the scalp level, and you're noticing bald areas, this may indicate some other health problem ... low thyroid springs to mind.

Biotin is a good idea ... also a source of essential fatty acids such as flax or fish oils, or best of all, a blended mix of nutritional oils, such as Udo's Choice, which provides a balance of omega-3, 6 and 9.

Doreen

[bluugirl]

well it is true during the summer months we shed more. As my mom always said, it's good to shed, it's like a tree, you cut the branches and stronger 'hair' grows through. i'm not gonna worry unless it is something noticeable and not my imagination :D

[ShirleyL]

Gee, mine is so thick I could stand to lose a bit. I'd be happy to pass it on to those who need some... hehehe

Actually, I haven't noticed any more of mine coming out.


Shirley
Florida

[MDukes]

Thanks for all the responses!! My hair loss doesn't appear to be from breakage and I'm seeing the effects around the rim of my face. I started taking biotin about 3-4 weeks ago and of course started vitamins this week. I thought about the summer shedding theory but being here in Florida it got hot a long time ago(!) and believe it would have started shedding back in April or May. Hopefully there will be new growth and based on your replies it will be better than ever. We'll see...... if it doesn't slow down soon, however, a trip to the dermatologist may be in order.

Thanks again!!

[numberonewendy]

I've been keeping my eyes on this thread..as my worry has deepened too. No breakage here either, but hanging in there. I am actually thinking if this keep going on, I will go and get the drastic cut I didn't want to do until the time comes...you know..when one looks older and shouldn't have long hair anymore....LOL

Quietly, I am hoping...is it Barb???? to do the research.....if I had more time...I would. Time..doesn't it suck.....

I haven't been to the doctors it seems in months..amazing what summer does to one...put things on hold sort of speak.

If I don't get any answers, I suppose a visit to the doctors would be a good one...plus get my Dr. Atkins book back....LOL

Come on folks...if some of us has this problem..and some of us have time....then lets check it out....So we can all rest our minds...

[gypsy729]

Hello everyone!

I too am experiencing the hair loss. However, I never thought it was the diet because it happened to me once before I went on the diet. The last time, I had quit taking the pill. Three months later, Wham!, the hair just jumped out of my scalp. It was most distressing. Just handfuls and handfuls. Luckily, I have a LOT of hair to begin with. I (and my mom, of course) was the only one who noticed. This was in winter, so the summer shedding theory is out the window. Plus, this is a LOT more loss than shedding.

It is happening again, but I haven't been on the pill for a while. I think going on the diet causes a hormonal shift of some sort. My TOM has been erratic as well. I am hoping that it straightens itself out soon or I will be bald!:eek:

It is good to know that I am not alone!

Hugs!
gypsy

[numberonewendy]

I noticed my *Thang* is different too. I was shopping the other day with a Client and all of a sudden I thought my insides were going to fall out....Freaked me out, never had that kind of flow before?

MSM is a supplement I have been told that is good for a lot of things and hair is one of them. Just wanted to share this info as when I get a chance to go to the shops I will be looking into this.(I would like to keep whats left of my hair...lol)

[debbiedobson]

lora of lowcarb luxury addressed this issue in her april 11th newsletter. http://www.lowcarbluxury.com/newsletter/lclnewsvol02-no07.html#letters
it was the explanation i'd been waiting for!:D

[Liz]

I was staying out of this thread although just before it started I noticed that my hair had become noticeably thin--quite distinctly. I didn't contribute as other factors might have been at play such as having a run of changes of mind about hair colour and changing 4 times over a 6 week period. Still, if it is b/c of Atkins in some way, and assuming Lora is a credible informant, then I'll wait to see if it thickens up again. Hope so.

[cyntalkalo]

It is very important to take a very good multivitiamin and the omega 3 oils supplement or cod liver oil (comes in capsule form) If you are having hair loss your skin and nails will obviously become a problem. These are things you don't get enough of on a high protein diet. I have had thin hair prior to, but this is the second time on the Atkins diet and I had more hair loss than usual. Eating salmon and tuna more often helps too. I also take an extra calcium supplement. Being a middleaged woman means Iwe are going thru lots of hormonal changes. Having babies and our regular monthly all takes its toll on bodies more so than men. So we really need to be more physical and eat right in order not to have these types of health problems. I no longer have so many of these problems since I became faithful to the vit/supp and doing my best to eat some veggies within the diet. Give it try what to have to lose by sides more hair! Just a little funny.

[numberonewendy]

Debbie.....

A Big...Big...Thanks :)

[MDukes]

I am so amazed by all these responses!! Glad to know I'm not the only one with this concern, but also VERY GLAD there are people out there with good information to pass along. I checked out the newsletter article and it made sense and helped to calm me down, however, I know what is normal everyday hair loss for and what is ABNORMAL and like the article says -it is alarming to see the amount of hair coming out during a shower!!! Styling has gotten harder too! So already, after 3-4 weeks I'm seeing and feeling the effects of the hair loss. But, I tell you, I can't imagine coming off this WOE. If a doctor were to tell me to stop I don't think I would! Guess I would have to go wig shopping instead!!

I will keep everyone posted on my progress whether good or bad!

Thanks again for everyone's remarks!

[herodl]

Big "phew!" after reading this thread. I too started losing a lot of hair and was worried. I read the article "Lora's Column" and feel MUCH better. I just joined this discussion forum today and previously has looked around on the Internet for answers. I had to laugh as most sites indicate that a lack of protein is a main cause. Definitely not my problem!

I did also visit my doctor yesterday about my hair loss. Like Lora he indicated it may be the stress of losing weight and suggested we "just keep our eye on it." I was a bit worried as he doesn't have much hair himself, but the article has helped to reassure me.

I see that Lora recommends a multivitamin without iron - does anyone know why this might be?

Cheers,

Lori

[doreen T]

Originally posted by herodl
I see that Lora recommends a multivitamin without iron - does anyone know why this might be?hi Lori,

Excessive iron can have some negative effects in the body. I emphasize the word excessive. Iron-deficiency anemia is still common, in this day and age of people being afraid to eat red meat. Click here to read a recent discussion (http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11624) that we had regarding the problems with too much iron.

Doreen

[Lynda]

As you can see from our picture David has long gorgious hair. We noticed a lot more of it in the shower a few months into the diet, them we noticed when he brushed it there was tons of hair in the brush.
I immediately told him I thought it was related to the diet. I lost a lot of weight many years ago and with that weight lose some of my hair.
I was gone on vacation for a few weeks, and told him I would look for info about this when I got back, specifically here on this forum and low and behold, we are not alone on this problem. Gotta love this board!
I could never see Dave's scalp through his thick hair before, but now I do. I am worried. I am not very attracted to bald men. I know some women are, but David's hair was my first attraction.
I love that we are losing so much weigt on this WOE...50 pounds for him and 25 for me in 5 months. We feel so much better and look better too... and the sex has gone through the roof !!! But I want us to keep our hair. Please let us know what you find out PS David is very good at taking all the Atkins vitamins regularly... I am not, but my hair isn't falling out, although it seems a lot dryer than normal. :confused:

[herodl]

I read thru the posts, tks for pointing me to them Doreen. I'm still working my way around the site so I appreciate your help.

Lori

[Lynda]

I didn't realize I had not read page two of this thread. ooops. Lora's letter was very informative. Although Dave's hair is 30 inches long and has taken 5 years to grow, it is good news that it will come back.... that is a relief. I have been picturing him bald lately and it makes me shutter... not very nice huh... Little short hairs growing in between the long ones will be just fine in comparison to pool cue ball head!!! Again thanks for sharing info, I feel lot's of relief... another little item to share, we just had our cholesteral checked and it has come down since starting the diet and is in a good range. This despite the concern of people not supportive of this WOE.

[doreen T]

hi Lynda & Dave,

Just popping in to say hello to you both. Sorry about Dave's hair, but it will grow ... just wish it would grow NOW!

Congrats on the lbs lost so far, that's awesome. And so great that you've done it together.

Doreen

[Mrs. Y]

My hubby shaves his head every summer and the hair always grows back quickly, thick and gorgeous.

Might be an idea to just have it trimmed super short for a bit to give it that extra boost.

(You could both do the Sinead O'Connor thang - would make for interesting conversation!)

[Lynda]

Yes we have stuck it out together through thick and thin (hair that is hehehe) on this WOE. We are starting to bike ride to feel better and to get us losing again. Dave's been stalled for a month or so.

I went on a cross country trip with my three sons and was sure I would gain weight, due to a couple of cheats along the way... ice cream in the middle of Arizona after driving in 105 degrees was more than I could resist, also a few snacks that were not low carb...ie., Pringles potato chips and crackers... it is so boring when you are in the RV for 17 hours a day... but I did get some Buffalo jerky in Yellowstone that was great snack food and barely any carbs... anyway to make a long story even longer...I lost 5 pounds... I love this WOE!
Even when you cheat a little you still are OK... a little is the key word... I ate a piece of pizza, crust and all when I got home ( just to test the 'you can lose even if you cheat' theory I guess) and I gained a pound! Ahhhh first time I went up instead of down... back to 20 to 40 carbs a day... that is the range that is working for us... induction zone some days but closer to 40 most days...with very few "splurges".

Our friends who turned us on to this WOE were splurging every other weekend, we noticed that they always had a very hard time coming back to low carb and finally quit. When we would go out with them and other friends we were getting lots of compliments, which is a good source of encouragement to keep it up... and they would just stand there going "damn!" So now they are back... which is good for them and us... nice to go to dinner with folks with the same WOE and we know they not only will look better but feel much better. That pizza crust made me feel like a lithargic slug... I had to go to bed and I moaned and groaned all night. Karmic revenge of the pizza crust! I rambled enough now... better go get my classroom ready the kids will be back in school very soon.:cool: Bye for now, Lynda

[madpiano]

Hi

I also noticed increased hair-loss on this diet, and my friend who follows it as well has the same problem. I don't buy the suggesting from Low Carb Luxury, as it never happened to me before on any diet, and they were much more of a shock to the system than this diet ever was ( like living of 500 calories a day....). I had a look through my little books of knowledge (called Vitamins and Minerals) and apparently lack of Silica causes hair loss. The main sources of Silica is grains. As we do not eat grains on this diet, this could be a reason. I went down to Holland&Barrett today and got the Silica supplement. I'll keep you updated.

[numberonewendy]

I'll keep you updated.

Please do, as I still have hair coming out every morning and never had this problem b/f Low carbing. I am taking MSM as was suggested by someone else here on the forum, yet no change and it has been a couple of months now!

[MDukes]

Since I originally started this thread I thought I would give an update... I'm still losing hair. I've been to two doctors, the dermatologist confirmed it was telogen effluvium but had nothing to offer because the event that triggered the hair loss happened months ago. He didn't seem convinced it was due to the diet but did say if it is due to lo-carbing, it may continue as long as I'm on this woe. My other doctor did lots of lab work to make sure there wasn't something else going on and everything came back normal. In fact my GP and GYN dr were both very very happy with the results of my lab work!! I've been told the hair loss will stop as suddenly as it started - so everyday I hope this will be the day! So far, although my hair is thinner it still doesn't look too terribly bad.

[irish]

Read the Low Carb Luxury newsletter article about hair loss and it does make alot of sense. I have always had enough hair for three people and than started losing it. I did some resarch on the web and found that, like you said, fast weight loss can cause hair loss. I thought that maybe it was also due to my HRTs being changed to estrogen and testosterone (I recently read that testosterone may throw a woman into male pattern baldness). I've been on the new HRT's for 5 months and low carbing for 2-1/2 months. I voiced my concern to my gynecologist and he agreed to take me back to PremPro. Hopefully between the changed HRTs and giving it more time, my hair will come back.

irish

[Dizz]

Gosh, I'm so glad to find this page. My hair is falling out too. I thought it was Atkins as well but after reading the article I realize I had an event prior to the diet. I retired (quit my job) the end of February and started the diet in June.

Mystery solved. Thanks.

[Lara]

Hey Dizz. I too am doing the hair loss thing but I found out through a blood test that I am hypothyroid. Hair loss is a symptom of this condition. Maybe a combination of the weight loss, the thyroid condition and (lucky me) menopause have caused my hair to grow thin. Anyway, I take 2000 mg. of evening primrose oil to help combat any further loss as well as my thyroid meds. Seems to help and also lessens the power surges of meno.

Take care,
Lara
:)

[nsmith4366]

Well, everyone. My hair is very long...to my waist. I know that most people lose about 100 hairs a day through just living normal life with a normal diet. When I have hair in the shower floor or my brush I just figure my hair is like 10x longer than theirs so it looks like more. I've always had alot of hairloss...and regrowth. Hair is always going through a constant cycle. However I feel mine is mostly due to natural breakage during brushing or using a cheap conditioner before combing out wet/which I don't do anymore. I take multi vitamins and make a point to eat mostly essential oils, omega 3 and 6s and monounsaturated fats, tuna, salmon and olive oil. I wear about 4 years of hairgrowth on my head and you know what? The most recent 10" are really shiny and strong compared to my high carb hair length. It's the protein and the oils...I'm sure of it. :)

[irish]

I had my thyroid checked and it's fine. Anyway, regardless of why I am losing it, it's not enough reason to get me to switch back to the old way of eating. I'm in this for life!

Lynn

[madpiano]

Hi All

Here, as promised, my update. I have stopped the silica supplement nearly the day I bought it ( what a waste of money!!) as I have read, that excessive silica can cause an increase in Melanomas. I have loads of moles ( and I mean loads !), so I didn't want to risk it. The same web-page also says, that silica-defitiency is very rare, as we breathe it in as well. The last couple of weeks, there has been lots of discussions regarding the pollution in London and one of the main culprits in this is silica, which can cause lung-cancer. I also noticed, that my multi-vitamin supplement contains silica already. So, I just make sure, that I take it every day now ( I used to forget sometimes).
Hair-Loss has pretty much stopped, but I haven't noticed regrowth yet. Maybe those 2 days on the extra silica, gave my body just the needed boost ?? :confused:
I will try and find out more about this silica stuff. Seems like we need it, but maybe eating it, is better than breathing it in ??
How is everybody else's hair-loss ?? Any news yet ?

[MDukes]

Well.... madpiano..... I just read your post after I went to the vitamin store and bought some silica!! I'm still going to try it though. I've tried everything else (Omega 3 fatty oils, mega-hair, and biotin) so why not silica? My hair loss has been going on since July (3 months now) the past two days have not been as heavy so I'm hoping it's at the end of its cycle. I've lot enough hair that I'm having to part it differently and style more carefully. I really would hate to end this WOE just to find out if the hair loss stops, but I may have to. How is everyone else doing?

[madpiano]

Hmm, you may well be at the end of the hair-loss anyway. Mine lasted from July to about 1-2 weeks ago. So 3-4 months. Maybe my body thought it could fool me ( and the scales) by shedding hair-weight instead of fat-weigh :D ?? I'll keep you updated.

[numberonewendy]

Mine has slowed down some (I could just pull on bits and it would come out). Still a bit on the brush every morning.

[Tazmani77]

Well I do feel it is the diet. My hair has always been long and thick untill I started this WOE. Now it is getting really thin. I can see my scalp through my hair and that is something I couldn't do before. I don't have a thyroid problem or any other health issues. It is not my immagination and I can't think of another thing that I started doing just before this hair loss thing other than the Atkins diet. I do think this is a side effect of this diet for some people.

[Natrushka]

Originally posted by Tazmani77
Well I do feel it is the diet. My hair has always been long and thick untill I started this WOE. Now it is getting really thin.

Hair loss can be a problem for anyone who loses a lot of weight, regardless of how they lose the weight. Did you read the article in the link, Taz? If I remember correctly the effect (hair loss) usually preceeds the event (weight loss or other traumatic event) 3 or 4 months afterward. It could very well be that you are lacking something in your diet, or it could be a reaction to something (weight loss or something else). I see that you did start LC about 4 months ago.... when did the hairloss start? And did you lose a lot of weight on Induction? From what I recall it is supposed to be temporary.

Nat

[MDukes]

I'm beginning to feel encouraged. Hair loss has slowed considerably in the last 2-3 days!!! Only thing now is that I don't know if it stopped due to the supplements I'm taking (silica, liquid zinc, biotin, mega-vitamins) or if it would have stopped anyway!! I'm just REALLY glad it has finally slowed down and hopefully will stop altogether very soon!

[dwala]

MSM , sorry to say, has been pretty much busted as a "quack" drug. I believe it is patented by one or two people, and has a pretty high profit potential, but I'm 100% positive there have been no controlled studies done by respected labs supporting its efficacy.
On the other hand, it hasn't been shown to have an adverse effect that I recall, either.

I believe it was profiled by quackwatch.com among others.

Sowwy. Don't shoot the messenger.

p.s. I'm the bald one in the photo below, and people still lurrrves me. Of course, I'm an artist, so that explains everything. The lady in the photo with me is Rebecca, who couldn't eat her way up to a size 8 if she had to. Grrrumble. She likes carrot sticks. FREAK.

http://workdays.com/bold/rebdwa.jpg

[Lessara]

I've noticed just last week my hair was just coating my hairbrush, and its easy to notice with red hair! So I searched and found this thread! Thank Goodness!! :rolleyes:
I feel so much better! I loved being on this diet especially since my hair responded by being stronger, shinner, and wavy!
You should see my before picture! :eek:

[numberonewendy]

Well I've stopped taking MSM dwala..why take something when one is not sure if its good or not?

My hair has slowed down in loss, thank God, but much thinner then before and believe it or not, easier to manage :D

So, I'm relaxed :D

[Ka3n]

Biological Sulfur and Your Health

MSM was isolated by Robert Herschler and Dr. Stanley Jacob of the University of Oregon Medical School in the early 80's. Their research revealed that MSM, or methylsulfonylmethane, is a natural sulfur compound found in all living things. It is actually one of the most prominent compounds in our bodies, just behind water and sodium. A 160 pound man has approximately 4 pounds of sulfur as body weight.
Scientists almost missed MSM when studying nutritional needs because it plays such a small part in our food chain. However, in his research, Dr. Jacob determined that the sulfur in MSM, called sulfonyl, is as safe and as important as vitamin C in our diet, unlike the bad sulfurs: sulfas, sulfates, sulfites and sulfides.


Why is MSM Important?


MSM originates in the ocean and reaches the human food chain through rainfall. It is the prime source of bio-available sulfur, which is lost from our food by processing, drying, cooking and preserving. MSM is an important nutrient (not a drug or medicine) and is a component of over 150 compounds. It is needed by the body for healthy connective tissues and joint function, proper enzyme activity and hormone balance, along with the proper function of the immune system.

Because bio-nutritional sulfur plays such a major role in these healthy body functions and others, it was found that supplementation with MSM improves many health problems such as: allergies, asthma, emphysema, lung disfunction, arthritis, headaches, skin problems, stomach and digestive tract problems, circulation, cell osmosis and absorption.

MSM acts as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory. It also inhibits muscle spasm and increases blood flow. MSM is critical to the formation of connective tissue of all types. MSM is a natural form of organic sulfur found in all living organisms, including human body fluids and tissues. Sulfur is found in many common foods, including raw milk, meat, fish and a variety of fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Why is it lacking in our diet?
However, processing, heating, storage, and preparation of foods destroys essential MSM sulfur. Without sufficient MSM sulfur in the body, unnecessary illness of varying types may result. Research has shown that MSM is helpful in improving joint flexibility, reducing stiffness and swelling, improving circulation and cell vitality, reducing pain and scar tissue, and in breaking up calcium deposits. According to Earl L. Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D., MSM makes cells more permeable, enabling the body to flush out undesirable foreign particles.

"MSM softens the cell walls, allowing allergens, foreign proteins and any free radicals to be moved out of the system," Mindell states in his book, The MSM Miracle: Enhance Your Health with Organic Sulfur.
MSM is an odorless, water-soluble, white crystalline material that supplies a bioavailable form of dietary sulfur, which plays a major role in stabilizing and promoting numerous body functions. MSM is responsible for the flexible bond between cells, including those that make up the skin. It acts to block undesirable chemical and physical cross-linking or bonding of collagen which is associated with tough, aging skin. Approximately half of the total body sulfur is concentrated in the body's muscles, skin, and bones. It is present in keratin, the tough substance in the skin, nails and hair. Sulfur is necessary for making collagen, the primary constituent of cartilage and connective tissue, but it is also responsible for the conformation of body proteins through the formation of disulfide bonds, which hold connective tissue together. MSM does this in conjunction with vitamins and amino acids, and the process is going on 24 hours of every day. The body never stops making new cells, and this calls for an unceasing supply of MSM and all other essential nutrients. Tests conducted with laboratory animals indicated that wound healing occurred faster with a group receiving MSM, but even faster with both MSM and vitamin C supplementation. Beth M. Ley, in her book, MSM: Our Way Back to Health With Sulfur, lists common signs of sulfur deficiency, including slow wound healing, scar tissue, brittle hair or nails, gastrointestinal problems, arthritis, acne, depression, and more. "The body is in a constant state of repair, but if we do not have all the necessary 'parts'", says Ley, the body will "produce weak, dysfunctional cells."

Think of it in terms of making concrete: one guy brings water, one guy brings sand, and the other guy brings the cement. You have what you need to make concrete, but the guy bringing the cement keeps taking a break because he's tired. The final mixture or product you have is adobe and not concrete. Similarly, when cells need replacement and you're not giving your body the right balance of building materials, you start losing flexibility in body cells and start building up foreign proteins and free radicals in both cells and body fluids. MSM insufficiency can result in a diverse array of disorders.

MSM is non-allergenic, non-pyretic, and has no interfering or undesirable pharmacological effects. You cannot overdose with MSM - the body will use what it needs and flush out the rest without harm. Because it is also a free radical and foreign protein scavenger, MSM cleans the blood stream, so allergies to foods or pollens can be eliminated, sometimes in just a few days.

MSM is not a vitamin, nor a drug. It is a member of the sulfur family but should never be confused with sulfa drugs or DMSO. MSM is odorless, and does not produce intestinal gas or body odor, which may occur with other forms of sulfur. The formation of Keratin for hair and nail growth is dependent on MSM. MSM is also necessary for the catalytic functions of many enzymes, as they work with glutathione to regenerate vitamin C. MSM is therefore more important in the 'antioxidant network' than previously understood.

Studies suggest that the level of MSM in the body decreases with aging. As a dietary supplement, MSM is recommended for neutralizing and eliminating toxins as well as alleviating conditions of environmental and food allergies, pain from inflammatory disorders, gastrointestinal ailments, and infection.

"MSM works - that's true," says pain expert and assistant clinical professor at the UCLA School of Medicine, Ronald Lawrence, M.D., PhD. "But how it works ... has not been proven." In a double-blind study of MSM's impact on degenerative arthritis, Lawrence found that patients who ingested 2,250mg(two to three capsules, below) of MSM a day for six weeks felt an improvement in their pain reduction by 82 percent, on average. "I've been practicing medicine for 50 years, and in all those years, I've never seen a substance like this," he says. Researchers are not sure if MSM is so effective for arthritis because of its sulfur content, because of its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, or because of some yet-undiscovered mechanism. Some researchers are pointing to MSM as the possible explanation for why some cancers go into spontaneous remission. The answer here may lie in MSM's ability to assist in moving free radicals and foreign proteins out of the system.

A study published in 1986 showed that MSM was "effective in the chemoprevention of ... mammary cancers." (Study by Dr. D. McCabe, Dr. P. O'Dwyer, Dr. B. Sickle-Santanello, Dr. E. Woltering, Dr. H. Abou-Issa and Dr. A. James, published in the Archives of Surgery, 12/1986

According to a recent book by Lawrence, Jacob, and Zucker, entitled The Miracle of MSM, MSM can be a natural remedy for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, tendonitis and bursitis, muscular soreness and athletic injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, post-traumatic inflammation and pain, heartburn and hyperacidity, headaches and back pain, and allergies. People taking MSM may notice other benefits, including softer skin, harder nails, thicker hair, and softening of scar tissue. Unlike aspirin, which offers immediate pain relief, MSM may take 2 - 4 weeks before you have significant improvement. "Except in rheumatoid patients - they've felt differences in just one day, and certainly by three or four days," according to Dr. Lawrence.

Dr. Lawrence has treated more than 1,000 patients with MSM. According to Lawrence, "It's safer than water." Patients at the Oregon Health Sciences University who have received oral MSM as part of their treatment show no toxic build-up, even after years of ingesting more than 2,000mg of MSM each day. It appears that the body uses what it requires and flushes out the rest within 12 hours. "The effects of MSM on rheumatoid arthritis almost mimic that of cortisone," says Dr. Lawrence, "and it's more effective for allergies than antihistamines - without the side effects."

Scar Tissue: Burn victim Bill Rich discovered MSM when a veterinarian friend had him try MSM. Bill's skin was flat, purple and leathery, up and down a majority of the right side of his body. After only a few days of taking MSM, Bill noticed an increase in stamina and energy, and, in time an astonishing effect on his scarred skin as it begam to heal, turn pink, and fill in. As of this writing, Bill had little more than a 2 inch section of skin that is still barely detectable after having more than 60 feet of skin graft scars.

Wrinkles: When the body replaces old skin cells, if there is a deficiency of MSM, the new cells are stiff and contribute to wrinkling. MSM supplementation helps the body replace bad cells with good, healthy, elastic cells. In time, wrinkles go away. Brown and black spots and skin tumors can be arrested and reversed as new cells replace the "insuffucient" cells.

Damaged Skin: It is the MSM in Aloe Vera leaves that sooths and repairs skin that has been cut, scraped, burned or damaged. The body then repairs the skin with the proper raw materials. MSM can be added to water, aloe vera gel, and other preparations for application to the skin. Best results are obtained when MSM is applied topically and taken internally.

Lung Dysfunction: Emphysema is not always caused by smoking. Horses and dogs get emphysema, and they don't smoke: It is a deficiency of MSM that causes this condition(welding fumes, smoke, etc. are an aggravation), and supplementation with MSM can reverse it. John Booth of Portland Oregon, states: "I worked in the shipyards as a welder down in the hull and smoked 2 packs of cigarettes a day. I got emphysema; I was coughing and hurting most of the time. I started taking MSM, and after a year I have strong lungs that allow me to breathe easily. The MSM made it possible for me to continue on with my work and my life."

Diabetes: Even diabetics can benefit from MSM supplementation. Self-regulation of blood sugar can occur because MSM allows for proper absorption of blood sugars and insulin, and even repair of a damaged pancreas. When there is an MSM deficiency, cell membranes become less permeable, the pancreas overworks and ultimately fails, while blood sugars saturate the blood stream instead of entering the cells to provide nourishment and energy.

Sore Joints and Muscles: Testimonials of many athletes point to the ability of MSM to increase athletic stamina and eliminate sore muscles. This is because MSM increases the ability of the body to eliminate wastes and toxins at the cellular level, where good health begins.
Actor James Coburn is one person among many who are sold on MSM for arthritis pain.

Candida Yeast: This organism belongs in the large intestine, where it co-exists with acidophilous and prevents the take-over of harmful bacteria. When acidophilous is damaged or eliminated by antibiotic use, Candida can overgrow to the extent that it becomes "systemic", i.e. gets into the blood stream, where it competes for nutrients and emits waste materials that produce myriad symptoms of disease. MSM, by balancing the pH of the blood stream and tissues of the body, prevents Candida from living anywhere outside the intestines, where it belongs.


Ulcers: Can be life-threatening. See a physician. Ulcers caused by too much stomach acid can be reversed by MSM supplementation.


MSM in powdered form is very easy to use. MSM is a white, crystalline powder that is odorless and somewhat bitter tasting. It mixes in water more easily than sugar, and just barely affects the taste. In juice or other beverages, it is undetectable.
More research on MSM and other sulfur-containing compounds is being conducted in clinics and laboratories all over the world.
Many find that the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin with MSM is an even better source of relief from joint pain.

Search the National Library of Medicine:
There are over 23,000 abstracts on sulfur.

[numberonewendy]

Well done, now I got it all :thup:

[ruby]

Hi,
I did Atkins last year and definitely had major hair loss. It was falling out by the handfuls and clogging my sink and bathtub. Alarmed, I immediately called my endocrinologist (I'm being followed for hypothyroidism) which can cause hair loss. He said not a chance it was thyroid related in my case. He suggested stress.

I know now that it was caused by the diet. And it was a delayed reaction that started very suddenly in the 2-3 month.

I can't say I like this side effect. And Atkins doesn't mention it in his book. I know for sure the diet did it. I have very thick hair and by the end of the hair loss I had a tiny little skinny ponytail. I thought of getting my hair cut short it was so thin. I have never had a hair loss problem before.

I'm restarting Atkins and certainly hope this will not repeat itself. I was not supplementing very faithfully last time. This time I am. I hope this will alleviate the problem. If it occurs again, I'd have to say I find it a little troubling.

I wish Atkins mentioned it. That's why this forum is so great, we can find these patterns because we're discussing things.

Thanks to all of you,

Ruby :wave:

[mary71]

I have noticed the last few months that my hair is falling out more easily and it's much thinner on top.. I am glucophage xr and aldactone and have lost weight since being on them. Maybe it's b/c our bodies are being thrown into wack from all these changes...

--mary :eek:

[kristin]

I too started losing hair about 3 months after starting Atkins, and am still losing hair 2 months later. Last month, my hairdresser said I need to quit this LC lifestyle because "thin and bald" is not in. She said it in front of a crowd and I was quite embarrassed. Since then I've used the entire Nioxin shampoo/conditioner/spritz etc line, taken extra doses of multi-vitamins and essential oils, and increased my salads. My hair still seems to be falling out at the same rate, and I'm downright terrified about my hair appointment next week! :-)

I have never been less stressed in my adult life as I am now, and I think that I'm very healthy. So why is this happening? How can I stop it?

Regards,
K.

[Dizz]

Kristin, I lost hair by the handfuls for the first 6 months on Atkins, big handfuls. I was freakin' the hair was coming out clogging up the tub and even more came out when I dried it or combed it, especially on the top.

I don't know for sure it was Atkins because I was under alot of stress at work thus some bad blood pressure problems so I quit my job to stay at home.

My hair was really thick so I wasn't "going bald" but I was freakin' out. I continued to eat Atkins my hair is coming back very thick shiny and healthy looking. If you have enough hair to "wait it out" it will stop. Of course, I quit my job so the stress is gone and the blood pressure is well under control and I have lost 66 lbs. I am washing away perhaps 5-10 hairs down the drain now. Was it Atkins or was it stress and high blood pressure? I don't know.

I wish I could help you or tell you what to do. But no one can tell you what to do. The easiest thing is to listen to your hairdresser and forget losing weight but in the long run which is best for YOU?

[deelight_99]

I, too, was having this problem and started to freak out when I could easily see the scalp at the front!! I searched on this site and it was recommended to take 1000mg of Biotin every day.

I have now been doing that for a month and have new hairs sprouting at the top!!! When I got my hair done last weekend my hairdresser noticed it.

Deanna

[kristin]

Thanks Dizz and Deelight for the advice!

I'm committed to this WOL and haven't thought of quitting it yet, but this has definitely been one of the more difficult challenges! I'm seeing some new hairgrowth along the hairline, but continue to thin out on top---and I have always had thin, fine hair anyhow. Wish I were a guy, where it's at least more acceptable (even "sexy") to go bald. :D

So, I'll stay the course, add the 1000mg biotin, and hope to survive this phase. But, being the chicken that I am, I think I'll cancel next week's hair appointment (don't need it anyhow!) and schedule one for a month or so from now.

Thanks again,
K.

[herodl]

I've been losing hair for over 6 months now since doing the Atkins. I haven't been any more stressed than usual - really the only big change has been LC eating.

I did try the MSM for two months and haven't noticed any slowing. Strangely the only effect I noticed was very vivid dreams (looked on lots of sites about side effects/reactions to MSM, but that wasn't one I ever found so ?).

Perhaps the Biotin would help. Does anyone have any info on it?

Tks,

Lori

[doreen T]

My hair has been thinning alarmingly in the last 6 months too. But it's NOT due to low-carbing .. since I've been LC'ing for nearly two years, and initially my hair was improved, feeling thicker and better condition. However, I had chronic infection in a tooth that went on for months till it was finally pulled in September, and it was in that time frame I noticed that my hair was falling out at the normal rate.. but there's no new growth .. or what little new growth there is, is extremely fragile and even finer than the rest! I started supplementing with biotin in mid-December, and I'll tell you my skin has really improved and less oily scalp .. but it's too soon to tell if there's a lot of new hair growing. I'm taking 300mcg twice a day.

Biotin

Biotin often called vitamin H, is yet another B complex component. Biotin is a proven hair growth vitamin and a preventative to excessive hair loss. It appears to metabolise fatty acids. Fatty acids are a valuable growth factor in numerous processes in the body including the hair. Biotin is also seen as an aid in preventing hair turning grey.

Biotin is found in egg yolks. Raw egg whites actually hinder effectiveness, but when the albumen (egg white) is cooked, the culprit - a substance called avidin is destroyed by heat. Biotin is also present in liver, milk, yeast and kidney

Here's more information about biotin (http://www.bookman.com.au/vitamins/biotin.html), as it relates to hair loss.

Doreen

[suzyjam]

wow, this is quite the thread!! I haven't read all the replies yet but I wanted to say that I too have hair coming out by the fist full and it is rather alarming! My husband has lost so much that his scalp is showing! I am NOT pleased!!! I'll go try to buy some Biotin tomorrow... Also I read that someone else mentioned that when she has her period it is like floodgates opening - I am experiencing this too - does this last forever??? I have to say I have no clue when it is going to happen (the horrible endometriosis like cramps are totally gone) but when it does I fear for my life! Anyone else in the same boat? And me too, I wish this had all been mentioned in the books!!!

[herodl]

Tks for the info Doreen. I went on a search after posting and have start to find some good info. One thing almost all the sites I visited said was that lack of Biotin is definitely related to hair loss, but also that Biotin deficiency is extremely rare. That said, however, I didn't get the impression that a ton of research has been done.

Also, most (medical) sites also recommend between 30-60 mcg daily, although there doesn't seem to be any adverse side effects from taking higher doses. I'm curious if you read about higher doses being beneficial and that's why you're taking 300 mcg?

I know you said it's a bit early to see new hair growth, but have you noticed that your hair loss is slowing at all?

Tks

[irish]

Along with all my other supplements, I'm taking a supplement for women called "Skin-Hair-Nails" that includes 500 mcg of Biotin. How does the measurment "mcg" compare to "mg"? I've been keeping up with this thread since I've had lots of hair loss, but now I'm confused about how much Biotin I'm really taking, since some people have been stating they are taking 1000 mg of Biotin.

[doreen T]

hi herodl,

I never at any time noticed that I was losing MORE hair or losing it faster than one would normally expect .. it's just that I don't seem to be replacing the lost hairs with appreciable new growth. I will also tell you that I have long-standing chronic health problems, including low-thyroid, which I'm sure are contributing factors.

While true deficiency states of most nutrients are rare in our overfed society .. I believe that our individual needs for more of certain nutrients goes far beyond simply staving off a deficiency state. There's plenty of scientific, double-blind research to prove the therapeutic benefit of mega-dosing certain nutrients for specific health concerns for a period of time. So, while the RDA amounts of the nutrient may be sufficient to prevent illness and deficiency, our bodies may actually need much more to correct an existing problem and restore to balance.

Biotin has a wide margin of safety at large doses, over 10,000mcg per day with no reported side effects. The nutrtional reference that I use, "Prescription for Nutritional Healing", by James and Phyllis Balch (an EXCELLENT, and highly recommended reference by the way) recommended an even higher amount than I'm currently taking, and I'm considering upping the dose for a period of time. At the health food store, I can find biotin available in 300mcg, 1000mcg (1mg) and 5mg per tablet.

More info. on the use and safety of biotin can be found here (http://www.healthwell.com/healthnotes/Supp/Biotin.cfm).

For the record, I've also recently added MSM, (information about MSM posted above in this thread, scroll back) ... for other health concerns, but I'm hopeful that the sulfur may prove to benefit my skin and hair as well. I'm patient, and realistically don't expect to see noticeable difference for a few months.

Doreen

[doreen T]

one microgram (mcg ... also symbolically represented as µg ;)) equals one-millionth of a gram, or one-thousandth of a milligram.1,000 g (grams) = 1 kg (kilogram)
1,000 mg (milligrams) = 1 g
1,000 µg (micrograms) = 1 mgOr, expressed as a decimal:1 g = 0.001 kg
1 mg = 0.001 g
1 µg (mcg) = 0.001 mgHope this helps :)

Doreen

[irish]

There's been something I've been meaning to ask people on this thread. Along with the thinning of the hair on my head, my body hair is thinning out everywhere on my body - and I mean everywhere. No one has mentioned this in particular. Is this happening to you, too?

[Dizz]

Irish you must be a man. I don't know of a woman around would mind if all the hair on her legs dropped off :D . I cannot say I have experienced that problem but then when the hair on my head was dropping at such a rate I don't think I was paying attention. Perhaps someone else has.

[ruby]

Hello,
It seems to me Atkins doesn't mention hair loss as a side effect in his book. Or does he? I certainly think he should. Anyone else agree?

Ruby :wave:

[Dizz]

Ruby, I don't recall seeing anything about it in the book but....Yes, he should address it. However, if you are taking the vitamin regime he has set out perhaps your hair doesn't fall out??? I don't know but it should discussed so you know what to do if it starts, I think. :bash:

[doreen T]

Originally posted by irish
There's been something I've been meaning to ask people on this thread. Along with the thinning of the hair on my head, my body hair is thinning out everywhere on my body - and I mean everywhere. No one has mentioned this in particular. Is this happening to you, too? Yes. For me, it's a symptom of my low thyroid, which is something you might want to have checked. Thinning eyebrows is often a tell-tale sign for hypothyroidism.

It is nice that I hardly have to shave my legs though :D

Doreen

[kristin]

Hello Irish---

I've only seen hair loss from my head. I haven't noticed any loss from other places... :)

I'm taking biotin now, though it's too soon to see the results. I have new hair growth along my hair line that seems to be doing fine, though I'm still seeing a high quantity come out in the shower and as I dry and style my hair....

May everyone get a beautiful thick head of hair when this ends for you! :)

Regards,
K.

[cocoabear]

Hi

Have a look at www.nutrihair.co.uk - hair loss can be a symptom of low iron levels. A blood test which tests for serum ferritin levels can determine if hair loss could be due to lack of iron. I took the supplements recommended for three months, my hair is fine now but I am not sure if the supplements were effective or the hair loss just ran it's course. I stopped taking the pill and 8 weeks later had substantial hair loss, either starting the pill or stopping it can cause hair loss, in fact any hormonal changes can, ie after having a baby. I did wonder if it was connected to low carbing but I can't really be sure because of the time scale.

Cocoabear

[MDukes]

Wow!! I am amazed at how long this thread has been running. Here is an update on my hair loss. It has stopped, it stopped approximately 90 days after it had begun. I verified with two doctors that it was the teleogen effluvium talked about earlier (when hairs in the resting phase fall out prematurely). I read somewhere that about 10% of atkin dieters will experience hair loss, but from what I'm reading -appears it may be more than 10%. It is curious that Dr. Atkins doesn't address this, he really should if for no other reason than to alleviate fears.

[ruby]

Hello,
Yes I think he should address. It's frightening for hair to be falling out by the handfuls. Maybe he's reading this thread. Hope so.

Ruby :exclm:

[irish]

Dizz,

No, I'm not a man. I'm a 48 yer old woman. I still have to shave my legs and underarms, but there's not as much there to shave. There's less on my arms (I've always had lots of blond hair on my arms), and there's less "public" hair (my favorite typo; i work in a hospital). :D I just hadn't heard anyone else speak of it.

My thyroid's fine and I take lots of supplements, including biotin.

Irish

[tofi]

Irish - that other thinning could just be an early sign of menopause. Seems I have read about that.

BarB

[Kent]

This thread is so long I didn't read it all to see if the answer to hair loss was posted. If so, I will post it again for all who may have missed Dr. Atkins answer. You can find it on this page:

http://atkinscenter.com/dev/helpatkins/faqs/faqhealth/index.html

"I've noticed some hair loss while I've been doing Atkins. Is this a result of my new eating habits? What can I do?

It is natural to go through periodic phases of shedding hair. But if this is an ongoing problem, make sure you're not restricting calories or skipping meals. Any weight-loss regimen may lower your metabolic rate, which can result in hair loss. Unlike calorie-restricted diets, Atkins is the least likely of any weight-loss program to contribute to hair loss because the higher caloric content keeps the body from behaving as though it is in a starvation mode. When that happens, your metabolism is lowered as a survival mechanism.

Alternatively, you might be low in some specific nutrients that could affect your hair loss. You might try adding biotin, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), glutathione and lecithin to your diet. If excessive hair loss occurs, see your doctor."

[towerprncs]

I have read this entire thread and was wondering if it had to do with eating a lot more meat and poultry that was not organic--I mean do people eating organic meat still lose their hair on this diet?

I posted the question on the Eat Right site and a naturopath answered privately and said it could be a lack of testoserone--like what? I'm a woman here!! I thought men were bald BECAUSE they had testoserone!

No he says, women are supposed to have it too--he says get the book Natural Hormone Balance for WOmen by Uzzi Reiss and read all about it.

My theory might still be right--the stuff they inject into cows is FEMALE hormones, isn't it....this would UNbalance the testoserone already floating about in our blood streams....

Anyway, haven't got the book yet, so if there is anything else, I'll be back.
Regards
Kae

[Kent]

I don't believe meat, either organic or non-organic, has anything to do with temporarily hair loss reported by some women who start the low-carb diet. Some women panic and go off the diet, but I understand the hair will soon grow normally even if one stays on the low-carb diet.

Steers in feed lots do have a "patch" device which release estrogen over time, but the amount is considerably smaller than the normal estrogen found in female cattle. Some female cattle that are barren or have poor milk production are sent to slaughter.

Yes, women have natural testosterone and women who become insulin resistant can have much higher than normal amount of testosterone. One of the signs of insulin resistance is facial hair growth because of this. Sever insulin resistance has been described as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) because the resulting hormone imbalance causes ovarian cysts.

For more on PCOS, visit:

http://www.pcosupport.org/

Kent :wave:

[towerprncs]

Thanks for the info Kent, I can't really afford organic meat but was getting desperate, someone said her hair has started to grow back in 90 days so am hopeful...

I have heard that men in America were growing breasts because of all the hormones in beef.

Maybe it's menopause anyway, and not a LOT to do with the diet--will be able to wait a bit more calmly--

Am getting a bit tired of trying loads of expensive supplements that don't seem to do much--have drawers full

Thanks again for your time, Kent
Have a good weekend!
Kae

[Kent]

Hi Kae,

The following quote is Dr. Atkins' reply about hair loss:

I've noticed some hair loss while I've been doing Atkins. Is this a result of my new eating habits? What can I do?

It is natural to go through periodic phases of shedding hair. But if this is an ongoing problem, make sure you're not restricting calories or skipping meals. Any weight-loss regimen may lower your metabolic rate, which can result in hair loss. Unlike calorie-restricted diets, Atkins is the least likely of any weight-loss program to contribute to hair loss because the higher caloric content keeps the body from behaving as though it is in a starvation mode. When that happens, your metabolism is lowered as a survival mechanism.

Alternatively, you might be low in some specific nutrients that could affect your hair loss. You might try adding biotin, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), glutathione and lecithin to your diet. If excessive hair loss occurs, see your doctor.

The rumor about American men growing breasts because of estrogen given to steers is a MYTH put forth by the animal rights activists. All of the negative comments about beef and other meats are myths, distortions and lies.

Myths, Distortions and Lies About Beef. (http://www.biblelife.org/beef.htm)

Actually, the estrogen problem lies right at the feet of the vegetarians. They push soy products very hard because soy is one of the few vegetable products which is high in protein. Soy is also very high in an estrogen like molecule. The body uses the molecule as if it were estrogen but it cannot perform propertly. Dr. Mercola at www.mercola.com and other strongly suggest that soy products not be eaten by anyone, male or female.

Dr. Mercola - Soy Beans Can Damage Your Health - Part 1 of 3. (http://www.mercola.com/article/soy/avoid_soy.htm)

Also, another of many web pages and sites:

Dr. Mercola - Soy Weakens Your Immune System. (http://www.mercola.com/2002/jun/8/soy.htm)

Marijuana also causes breast growth in men.

High-carbohydrate, low-fat diets disrupt normal hormons in humans. A typical example is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) which causes high testosterone in women with the resulting hair loss, ovarian cysts and infertility.

I don't see any bald women walking around, so I think your hair will come back OK.

Have a great day,

Kent :wave:

[kristin]

Hi all,

I posted to this thread several months back as I was going through my bald stage. I am pleased to confirm that it took about 90 days to start coming back, but now it's back and better than ever. My fingernails, which were always brittle, are now stronger than ever. I also no longer get the mysterious bruises all over my legs I used to get.

So, hang in there----stick it out. I don't believe it was caused by eating LC in itself but rather from the radical change I instantly made from unhealthy junk-food junky to LC'er. This WOL is so much better; there is no doubt.

Best wishes all!
Kristin

[mctrish]

I am relieved to hear that I am not alone! I have thin and fine hair and with the rate of hair falling out, I should be bald by now! I never understood why I am NOT bald because if we lose hair and it takes years to get hair to grow back to the length it was (mine is lower than shoulder), than we all should have short hair!??~! I dunno but I agree that we are all eating lots of hair friendly food and I am taking extra vitamins because I am vegetarian. Go figure.

[irish]

I also posted some messages months ago about my hair loss, and I also am glad to report that my hair is almost back to normal. Going through that phase, for whatever reason, was definitely worth it!

Have a great 4th!

[MDukes]

Take heart everyone!! The hair loss cycle lasts about 90 days and should stop at that point, recovery begins and all turns out well. I know..... I lived it!

[Rhollmer]

This is very interesting to read. It sure has made my us feel better about my wife's hair loss problem. We just noticed it today. My wife came to me this morning after getting out of the shower and she looked like she was about to cry. She was showing me how much hair she's lost JUST TODAY! She is able to run her fingers through her hair and pull out 20 - 30 strands. That's just running one hand through the back of her hair ONCE. So then, after she calmed down a bit, she brought me everything that she pulled out today. About 300 hairs or so.

I have read this thread and I am getting her off this diet right now. I am going to have her continue to take the Atkins Basic #3 vitamins for a few days and she's told me that she's going to get a blood workup done tomorrow. I am not knocking Atkins at all and this might be a normal part of the diet process. Anytime you change your diet this radically, this quickly, you're bound to have strange things happen to your body.

Another contributing factor, say 50 / 50 chance it's this or Atkins is that on March 27th of this year, we had our first child. So, like the thread says, 3 or 4 months after a traumatic event, you might see this phenomenon. So perhaps this is not the right time to start the diet. But I'm staying on. Hell, I'm about bald anyway. haha

Now that I think about it, I have a friend that is or was really getting to be overweight. She started the Atkins diet and she, too, started losing a lot of hair. I never made the correlation until now but I think that's what could have been causing it. I see her about once every two years so I don't really know if it stopped or not. Sure I would have heard if it didn't.

I think that we'll start her back on the diet in a few months after we work this out. Another thing is that she hasn't been taking any vitamins while she's been doing the Atkins diet. And she's been off and on it for the past 3 weeks or so. Only truly on it in the last week. She really doesn't need a diet anyway. She looks great! In 3 months she is already back at her pre-pregnancy weight. :)

Thanks,

Rick

[Kristine]

Hey Rick! I agree with what you're doing: if she's already lost her pregnancy weight in only a few months, she probably shouldn't be drastically changing her diet. IMHO, Atkins (ie induction) is best for people who have a serious carb problem, and/or want fast results. I don't see why a healthy person with no carb issue would do induction. (Again, just MHO.)

I just reread your post and noticed that she wasn't on any vitiamins. :nono: Naughty. ;) I just hope your doctor doesn't start saying to everyone, "one of my other patients tried Atkins and it made her hair fall out."

Good luck to you <strike>both</strike> three! :)

[pre3teach]

I have been noticing my hair brush is full almost every night. I too had read that that happens sometimes when following l.c. esp. the induction phase of Adkins. I have rather thin long hair so I do not relish this at all. But since I feel good and the lbs. are coming off, I guess I will just have to accept that hair loss is a temporary part of my weight loss :(
My fingernails are strong! :p

[Rhollmer]

Be sure you get the Atkins Basic #3 vitamins. They are a MUST for this WOE. You are not getting all of the nutrition that you need. This is specially formulated the keep you healthy, especially during induction.

-Rick

[jaykay]

I've just read all the way through this thread and feel a bit better now.
My hair, which is long, thick, red and my favourite part of me ( and one of my DH's too), has started falling out in brushfuls, to the point where I can feel and see a significant difference in the thickness of my plait/ponytail. Just when everything else was beginning to go so well too.
But it seems it will be temporary, so hopefully it wil stop before my hair becomes too pathetic and thin. If it carries on at its current rate, I'll have none left by the 90 days or so people say it goes on for!
Yours, worriedly, Jay

[fridayeyes]

This is very normal and doesn't represent a loss really at all. During pregnancy, the body holds on to hair follicles and the normal shedding rate is vastly reduced. In fact, many women notice thicker, healtheir hair while pregnant. As the body readjusts after the pregnancy, the 'extra' hair is released.

Comfort the poor dear and look this up in the pregnancy books. It's all there and she'll feel much better.

Cheers,

Friday

Below is a cut-and-paste from babycenter.com, but I know this is covered in the "What to Expect "books, too.

____________________
I had my baby three months ago, and now my hair is starting to fall out. Is this normal?

Sudden postpartum hair loss comes as a surprise to many new moms, but it's perfectly normal for you to start losing your hair several months after giving birth. There's no need to panic, however. You won't go bald and it won't last forever. Here's what's going on: Normally, about 85 percent of your hair is growing, and the other 15 percent is resting. After a resting period, hair falls out and is replaced by new growth. During pregnancy (thanks to hormonal changes), the proportion of growing hairs to resting hairs increases even more, resulting in a luxuriant head of hair. But after giving birth, the ratio is reversed and more hair falls out.


How long will my hair keep falling out?

The hair loss usually starts at around three months postpartum and stops at around six months. During that time, many women feel that they are losing so much hair that there's more on their hairbrush than on their head. But by your baby's first birthday, your hair should be back to normal.

What can I do about it?

You won't be able to stop the hair from falling out, of course, but you can experiment with different hairstyles or hair products (such as hair thickeners or mousse) to give it a fuller look during this transition period. Many moms, tired of scooping hair out of shower drains or sweeping up clumps of long hair, find that this is a good time to go for a short cut. There are other benefits to a short cut: Strands of long hair can sometimes get tightly wrapped around a baby's wrist or finger, causing pain to the baby. Plus, a short, wash-and-go hairstyle is easier to take care of when you have a new baby in the house and you are strapped for time.

[Ziggykats]

:wave: I've been doing so well on this LC WOL now reading some of these forums about High Blood Pressure and losing hair is scary.

Kathy :wave:

[EileenBet]

ve just made an appointment with an Endocrinologist for next week.

For the past 2 months (been on Atkin since June) my hair is coming out in clumps, and it is speeding up it's rate of loss!
I think it may be linked to the CHANGE in diet, and not so much the fast loss, as I have only lost 4lbs in 3 months. I also have in the past , dieted in a way that caused greater weight loss in a shorter amount of time, and never had this happen.

It has gotten so I am afraid to wash my hair and comb it.

I am taking supplements, including a very good Biotin blend called Hair Gain by Therapro.

I am an incredible slow loser. (7 lbs in almost 4 months) if I don't stay on Induction levels, I don't lose. Could this be causing this?

I kid you not, my scalp is showing and I will be bald in the near future at this rate. No exaggerations.

Like you, I love this WOE, I am free of my severe food cravings and severe hypoglycemia, but I don't think it is worth being bald.

[cocoabear]

Hi

Having suffered the same problems I thought I would pass on some info which helped me.

Have a read of www.nutrihair.co.uk. If you don't eat red meat every day you could have a low ferritin level. I had a blood test and mine was 30, Dr Rushton believes to prevent hair loss it should be 70 plus. He recommends Florisene supplements. I took them and they helped me, my hair is back to normal now. I also switched from Atkins (I could only lose on induction levels which personally I don't think are very healthy) and now follow a low glycemic plan which includes more fruit, specific low glycemic breads and pastas and feel much better and less deprived, whilst still losing weight. I also take Essentials a very broad multi vit and mineral supplement.

Having gone from having lovely thick shiny long hair to having to have it cut short because it bacame so thin and fine I know how awful it is. But there are ways to help, using the right shampoo and supplements will get you back into growing rather than losing. If your body is deprived of certain nutrients it will stop providing them to the least essential area of your body - your scalp. Starting and stopping the pill or HRT causes a rapid change in hormone levels and can also cause hair loss (similar to post birth hair loss). If anyone wants to email me personally I would be happy to share my experience.

Cocoabear

[madpiano]

hello

the link isn't working. It links to a commercial advertising of BT web-hosting.

Sabine

[cocoabear]

Hi

Try www.florisene.com - it has a good FAQ and info on the product. Apparently Tesco pharmacy sell it now, although I got mine mail order.

Cocoabear

[jwlindakay]

I have just read through all of these post and want to thank everyone for their input. I thought I would be totally bald by now. I've been doing Atkin's since June. I went to the local GNC store where they informed me that you MUST take vitamin supplements while on this diet. Even though I take a multivitamin daily, apparently it is not enough to prevent the hair loss. I purchased biotin, iron and essential oils - but the store brand, not Atkin's brand. It was so much cheaper. Hopefully the hair loss will begin to turn around soon. And, yes, Dr. Atkin's should emphasize this problem more than he has! If he had said your hair will fall out unless you take the vitamins, I would have done so. Will let everyone know how long it takes before my hair returns, or if it all falls out.

[kdcheck]

I started the Atkins diet a few weeks ago and i am starting to notice my hair falling out too. It's nice to know I not the only one.
:D

[Cheryl R]

eikes :help:
I am so glad I saw this thread tonight. I just called my Dr.s office today, because the last few days I have brushed out hands full of hair. I freaked out...because I've never had this happen before. I was crying and showing my husband how much of my hair fell out.
I still have to go and read that one thing everyone was talking about at the beginning of the thread...but I already feel so much better.
Cheryl

[EileenBet]

I was relieved by that article too, but the shedding is getting worse, 4 months into it, not stopping.
Now you CAN SEE MY SCALP!
I mean really see it.

I was in tears yesterday.

[jaykay]

I've got a bit tearful at times too. I loved my hair, it was the nicest bit about me. Now I only wear it up, as its too thin and pathetic to wear down.
I'm going to try Florisene - it doesnt' sound like it can do any harm and I might benefit - I do have heavy periods and don't eat that much red meat.
Thanks for everyone who's posted after their hair has started to sort out - I appreciate that, it gives me hope!
I hope in a few months I'll be posting too, though presumably its going to take 3 years before my hair is back to pre-LC, as that's how long it took to grow this length :rolleyes:

You know, one of my worst fears is that people will notice my thin hair and say 'its that diet, I told you it was unhealthy'!

I know its not true, but that would be hard to deal with.

Anyway enough rambling, here to everyone growing back thick healthy hair :)
Jay :wave:

[jwlindakay]

Hello All,

Just wanted to let everyone know that the hair loss has gradually decreased since my last post two weeks ago. I've been taking 1200mg biotin, 18 mg chelated iron, and GNC's multi-oil formula for almost two weeks now and it seems to be working. Either that or it was going to stop on it's own now any way. I've also had my hairdresser cut my hair a little shorter and give me a perm so at least the hair I do have looks a little fuller, whether it is or not. She says it will take 3-6 months for it all to come back. This same thing happened to me two years ago. I had a stroke in June, 2000, and my hair started falling out two months later, from the stress. It all came back, but took about 6 months. Apparently any time you stress your system, with illness or diet or whatever, this can happen. I won't give up my diet, though; it's getting the weight off and I find I have lost my taste for sweets and starches. Good luck to all of you with the weight loss and the hair loss as well. We must persevere!

[cherilynn]

Here is what the Atkins Center has to say about hair loss.... Hope this helps!

I've noticed some hair loss while I've been doing Atkins. Is this a result of my new eating habits? What can I do?

It is natural to go through periodic phases of shedding hair. But if this is an ongoing problem, make sure you're not restricting calories or skipping meals. Any weight-loss regimen may lower your metabolic rate, which can result in hair loss. Unlike calorie-restricted diets, Atkins is the least likely of any weight-loss program to contribute to hair loss because the higher caloric content keeps the body from behaving as though it is in a starvation mode. When that happens, your metabolism is lowered as a survival mechanism.

Alternatively, you might be low in some specific nutrients that could affect your hair loss. You might try adding biotin, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), glutathione and lecithin to your diet. If excessive hair loss occurs, see your doctor.

[Karen]

This is from the lowcarbluxury.com newsletter. (http://www.lowcarbluxury.com/newsletter/lclnewsvol03-no06-pg7.html)

Hello,

I have been eating low carb for about 3 months. For the last month or so, I have been noticing extreme hair loss. Have you ever heard of hair loss being associated with a low-carb lifestyle? I am really getting quite worried because I can't figure out what's causing this.

Thank you,

Donna

Dear Donna,

What you describe is called "Telogen Effluvium". The good news is, it's normal in about 10-15% of dieters. The better news is, it's temporary.

Telogen effluvium is when a stress (such as dieting/weight change) causes noticeable shedding of hair after the stressful event. The hair loss is always delayed, usually 3–4 months after the "stressful event".

The event can be a physical stress such as an illness (especially with a fever), sudden weight changes (the most common), or a major surgical procedure. Sudden severe emotional stress can also trigger telogen effluvium, including the death of a loved one, a divorce, or a job termination.

It's all about something called "Transition to Resting Phase". In telogen effluvium, the stressful event causes a high proportion of hair follicles to halt their growth phase prematurely, and to begin a transition to the resting phase at the same time. 3–4 months after the stressful event, a high proportion of follicles shed their hairs all at about the same time, as they prepare for a new cycle of growth.

The confusion comes in here –– What triggers the hair loss begins 3–4 months before the loss of the hair actually occurs. Usually, the person losing hair has recovered from the event (or stabilized from the weight change or dietary change), and then they start shedding their hair in clumps! The condition is almost always temporary, and new hairs soon grow back in. Within a few more months the normal random cycle of hair follicle growth and rest resumes.

Usually telogen effluvium results in random hair loss from all over the scalp. Often the effect is not noticeable to others, although seeing the increased quantities of shed hairs is disturbing to their owner. Treatment for telogen effluvium includes waiting for the new hairs to grow in, and styling to give a fuller look in the meantime.

Rest assured this phenomenon is not restricted to low-carbing, and in fact because our diet is high in protein, we often recover more quickly. Make sure your diet is TRULY TOTALLY sugar free. Sugar greatly exacerbates the condition. It also helps to do the following:
Up your protein by 15% each day over whatever levels you've been eating.
Make SURE you are taking in at least 1500 calories per day.
Drink LOTS of water. 64 ounces is a minimum per day.
Take your supplements! At a minimum, you should be taking:
A good multivitamin with NO iron
CoEnzyme Q10 – 75-150 mg per day.
Acetyl L-Carnitine – 1000 mg per day
A good Essential Fatty Acids supplement if you don't
eat some form of salmon, tuna, or olive oil every day.
Hope all of this is of some help, Donna. I know it feels scary, but it's not as abnormal as it may seem. I've seen people go off their diets because of it and then attest that after going off and eating "normally" their hair came back. Of course it would have come back anyway, but because these cycles are delayed, they draw the wrong conclusion. You'll find posts all over the web about how this or that diet caused their hair to fall out so the diet is DANGEROUS. They scare a lot of people with misinformation. I appreciate that you took the time to come to me and ask.

[joi]

:angel: I am new to the Atkins program (little less than a month). I was relieved to find this hair loss forum as my hair has been falling out like crazy. I was horrified every time I looked at my hairbrush! I will start some vitamins, etc., in hope that the hairloss will stop.

[Watchmenow]

I have been to the Dr. and they ran every test known to man...they were all fine.

So, then he said that maybe it is heriditary....well, now I think it is not....especially after reading all of this. I too was feeling a bit freaked out about the loss. I have NEVER lost hair like this. I noticed it in the shower at the gym and now that I am back on induction it is worse....it is a good thing that I have alot of hair. I am still worried...

Has anyone had this happen and noticed new hair growth or it stopping....?? When ??? How long before it stops...??

:confused:

[MsJinx]

Anybody keep track of calories (fitday.com)?

I find it hard to eat a min. of 1200 cal per day - the ABSOLUTE min. I will go for my height. Just a though.

[zoochef]

I have been low carbing for 5 weeks now, and I wasn't sure at first, thought it might be my imagination, but I've noticed new hair growth this past week. Have no idea how this started, but before I started the Induction Phase, my hair was thining out. So, I don't know if this is a common occurance or not. Hope this is helpful for you.

[mariejoe]

Gee, mine is so thick I could stand to lose a bit. I'd be happy to pass it on to those who need some... hehehe

Actually, I haven't noticed any more of mine coming out.


Shirley
Florida

Never say that, even in jest. I had tons of hair, and it's a good thing, cuz even losing alot, it doesn't look weird except to me. Y
You never know what life brings.

[mariejoe]

I thought that maybe it was also due to my HRTs being changed to estrogen and testosterone (I recently read that testosterone may throw a woman into male pattern baldness). I've been on the new HRT's for 5 months and low carbing for 2-1/2 months. I voiced my concern to my gynecologist and he agreed to take me back to PremPro. Hopefully between the changed HRTs and giving it more time, my hair will come back.

irish
My hair originally started thinning4-5 months AFTER going on HRT. Skip forward a couple of months, starting on Atkins and 2-3 months later, another heavy shed starts.
Synthetic hormones can cause hair to thin. Hormones go way out of balance. It may be a low progesterone, with the ratio of estro/porge being unbalanced. http://www.johnleemd.com/

How is your hair now???

[mariejoe]

hi herodl,

Biotin has a wide margin of safety at large doses, over 10,000mcg per day with no reported side effects. The nutrtional reference that I use, "Prescription for Nutritional Healing", by James and Phyllis Balch (an EXCELLENT, and highly recommended reference by the way) recommended an even higher amount than I'm currently taking, and I'm considering upping the dose for a period of time. At the health food store, I can find biotin available in 300mcg, 1000mcg (1mg) and 5mg per tablet.

More info. on the use and safety of biotin can be found here (http://www.healthwell.com/healthnotes/Supp/Biotin.cfm).
Doreen


I have been taking 5mg. of biotin for a year. No difference in the amount of hair. It is still shedding. It may help some, but it may not...don't get your hopes too high. I have been told, unless you WERE deficient in biotin, it may not help your hair loss.

One the PLUS side, my nails of my hands grow like weeds, thanks to thte biotin. :dazzle:

[mariejoe]

I have read this entire thread and was wondering if it had to do with eating a lot more meat and poultry that was not organic--I mean do people eating organic meat still lose their hair on this diet?

I posted the question on the Eat Right site and a naturopath answered privately and said it could be a lack of testoserone--like what? I'm a woman here!! I thought men were bald BECAUSE they had testoserone!

No he says, women are supposed to have it too--he says get the book Natural Hormone Balance for WOmen by Uzzi Reiss and read all about it.

My theory might still be right--the stuff they inject into cows is FEMALE hormones, isn't it....this would UNbalance the testoserone already floating about in our blood streams....
Anyway, haven't got the book yet, so if there is anything else, I'll be back.
Regards
Kae

Also see http://www.johnleemd.com/, he deals with hormone imbalnce, esp. lack of porgesterone. And yes, there are lots of hormones in the un-organic meats we eat.
Dr. Lee also has two excellents books, mentioned on his sight. One for you 30'-40s gals and one for the menopause crowd. Check him out.
:thup:

Also, folks, there is a hair loss sight that may offer some info. http://www.hairlosstalk.com/ Since this is temporary, it may not help much. But there is good info, like what bloodwork you need checked is suspect it is more than L/C dieting.
Good luck. :thup:

[Javy]

Kent or anyone,

Does Dr. Atkin's say anything about a high fat diet hastening male pattern hair loss? I have heard that high fat diets are bad for the prostate and DHT conversion, therefore does Atkin's cause a man to go bald faster??? Would love to hear as much information as you can supply on this topic.

[Kent]

Javy,

I have been eating high-fat on Atkins since June 1999 and have not seen any hair loss at all. At 64 years of age I still have hair on the crown of my head.

The old pictures of North American Plains Indians show them as having a full head of hair in old age. Never seen a bald one. Yet, their diet of buffalo premmican was 70% fat.

There are report of hair loss in women as they start into the low-carb diet but it doesn't amount to much, stops and grows back in again. This happened to my wife.

Don't believe the myths and lies about saturated fats or high-fat diets increasing the risk of prostate cancer as put forth by the high-carb proponents. It just isn't so. However, there are some dietary steps one should take to reduce their risk of prostate cancer as listed on the following web page.

Prostate Health - News You Can Use. (http://www.biblelife.org/prostate.htm)

Kent :wave:

[Javy]

thanx for the prostate health site Kent,

A few comments: I have never known an Indian to go bald at any age, it is just not in their genes. There is also a lot of research indicating that Japanese men the get westernized into the American diet of high fat go bald at a much quicker rate than those who are still under the traditional Japanese diet. Could this be correlated more with the high glymetric carbohydrates rather than the the fats associated with the American diet? Sorry to be so pushy on this subject but I think this is one topic Atkins does not address for a good reason. Thanx again

[Kent]

[Atkins does not address for a good reason.]

Right, Dr. Atkins did not address any connection between permanent male baldness and the low-carb diet because there isn't any. If there were a connection, you could be sure many men on this site would be complaining about it. They aren't.

Kent :wave:

[C-u-lean]

I have recently been losing my hair too! I am so glad I read that article. I swear I was going to be bald. The last little while it has slowed down some, but I am going to go back to the dermatalogist and get some Rogaine. I had a problem a while back with losing hair while I was pregnant. She wanted to put me on it then, but wanted to wait until I was no longer pregnant and by then it had stopped.

[mariejoe]

We can always use for information on hair loss. Esp. if it isn't just becsue fo low-carbing. This site reaallllly helped me :dazzle:

http://www.hairlosstalk.com/

[C-u-lean]

Okay, I jinxed myself! I just say it is slowing down, and as I sit at the computer, I feel something on my arm. I realize it is a strand of loose hair, so I gently run my hand over my hair to get all the strays. Well, I got the BIGGEST clump of hair ever! I wan ot go cry now!

[mariejoe]

C-u-Lean,

Is your hair loss all over your head? Or does it mimic male pattern baldness, mostly on top and sides?
If you think it may be more than what L/Cing has done, go to http://www.hairlosstalk.com/ and do some research. Another good hair loss site is http://www.keratin.com/siteindex.shtml

Since it seems to be tied to your pregnancy, it could be hormones, not just Atkins.
Learn what you can, keep the have you've got. You don't want it to be a year later, and you didn't research hair loss. Then, you will have more ammo for your derm.

[rishamoon]

I had a real shock while I was at a convention recently.... I was standing in a hallway, waiting for a friend and reached up and ran my hand through my hair and this clump of hairs (like the thickness of yarn) came out. Talk about panic! I've been on Atkins 3 months, so I guess it sort of fits into the pattern of it being due to the initial shock to my system, hopefully it will stop. I've not had one big chunk like that since then, but I am shedding alot more than usual. Luckily I have very thick hair, when I go to get a hair cut they always comment on how much hair I have.

[Bebet]

I read in a magazine today at the Dr's office that it is normal to lose 125-150 strands of hair a day..... at that rate I'm going to be bald real soon. I have a sandwhich bag full of it that I've been keeping since July 7th. Just to see if I'm losing too much. I really only notice it "coming out" when I wash it. I'm really afraid to wash it sometimes. But now it so thin that when it's oily it's pretty bad looking and since I work out everyday, I got to wash it every other day. I talked to my Dr. today, she's going to check my thyroid with my routine labs (yearly physical), but I'm hoping that it soon quits falling out so rapidly... I do see some new growth.... I think, I pray....

[mariejoe]

Don't panic yet. It MAY be the Atkins diet. About 10%-15% of L/C dieters experience hair shedding. I found this link on another thread and bookmarked it for posterity. It should calm some of your fears. Of course, ruling out thyroid, etc. is a good thing.

http://www.lowcarbluxury.com/newsletter/lclnewsvol02-no07.html#letters

PS: Maybe you should stop saving your hair? It might feel better not to see how much you lost. A forum friend says she puts her head upside down and shakes it out to rid herself of loose hair. Makes her feel better than seeing it all in the tub/sink.


Good luck.

[bvtaylor]

The Reader's digest recently had an article on how increased consumption of fish (particularly carnivorous fish) may increase mercury levels in the human body. One side-effect is hair loss.

The ever-popular tuna is one of the suspect fish to contain high mercury levels.

The mercury appears to originate from chemical dumping into bodies of water and is absorbed by the fish which we then subsequently consume.

Since I have started Atkins, I have increased my consumption of fish as well as taking the Atkins Essential Oils which contain fish oil.

At 5 months on induction, I have recently noticed the loss of hair clumps as well as thinner body hair, particulary on my arms.

I was wondering if pharmaceutical grade fish oils have a chance of passing along mercury and whether this might be contributing to the hair loss.

I did read the lowcarbluxury.com article and that was comforting. I have noticed some spiky new hair on top, so I'm hoping that I'm in that recovery window at last.

[bvtaylor]

I'm trying Nioxin brand shampoo and conditioner through my local salon. It seems to be doing a nice job at least helping to make my hair look fluffy and healthy. It's supposed to help minimize hair loss as well.

[Lauren Mil]

[FONT=Arial Black]
Thanks for the info...

[bvtaylor]

As of now I show approximately 1 inch of new hair growth in my hairline--you can't miss it, so I know that I wasn't dreaming about the hair loss.

Whether the recovery is due to the Nioxin or simply that my body has caught up with it's "shock" it certainly didn't hurt. I'm pleased with the product as a whole, particularly since I've been covering grays and it doesn't seem to strip my hair.

[NinaJean]

I also lost a ton of hair about 3 months after I started the Atkins (Thanksgiving last year) and it is all back now. No one noticed but me, because I've always had "big" hair. My sister lost twice as much weight as me and never lost a hair. I guess everyone is different. But the good news is that it does grow back.

Nanci

[altavista]

I'm so glad I found this thread. I've been doing l/c on and off since June. I've been doing it consistently since November.

I first noticed scalp irritation and hair thinning in November. It's getting really bad now and you can see my scalp along my hairline.

I'm a single, 33yo woman, so baldness is not really an option. It is very demoralizing.

I'm going to start taking a mega-vitamin supplement, along with biotin, magnesium and zinc.

I'm encouraged that some of you report hair regrowth. If something doesn't change soon, the entire front hairline will be bald!

Any suggestions are welcome!

Thanks

[Isiar]

Hi there!

Oh yes! I know how stressfull the hair loss issue can be!

I began low carbing last june and I noticed the hair loss on october...The last 2 weeks it has improved noticeable and I'm noticing litlle hairs regrowing.

Any other report out there?

[irene1703]

Hi All

Am I glad to have found this thread!

I noticed last night that my hair has fallen out at the crown. I have a bald spot about the size of your index finger curled to the first joint of your thumb. The place where it has fallen out is difficult to hide to cos it's right where the natural parting of your hair is at the top of your head.

I have only read page one of this thread but I shall go and read the rest. I am loathe to think it's Atkins related because I have been doing it since August last year (on and off but mostly on).

The worst part of it is feeling like a freak. I am also considering putting fake tan on my scalp there because it is chalk white and much more noticable with dark hair. Well, it's either that or my DS will be let loose on me with felt tip pens.

[ItaliaGirl]

Yes happening to me and sometimes i feel so stressed over it i cant cope.

hope it stops soon.

[Quest]

I started low carbing almost ten months ago and only now am I noticing hair loss! I have let my hair grow a little (it was quite short) so perhaps I didn't notice previous loss when the hair was shorter.

[bvtaylor]

It comes back, but it takes a while.

Hair only grows about a half-inch per month, I think, and hair sheds daily under normal circumstances anyway--it's just more pronounced after the metabolic switch (for me it was 4 or 5 months that I noticed severe thinning). See the article posted in this thread. I think it's right on the money.

Good news, I've got even more hair coming in now right around my hairline and have to spray it to keep my long hair smoothed out.

I did find that Nioxin helped me. It's a good shampoo and conditioner, but rather expensive--still you don't need to use very much. One large $25-30 bottle of shampoo has lasted me from August till now (I'm still using it) and I replenished the conditioner recently.

[mskllsws]

So glad to read all these posts and realize it isnt just me losing hair. My hair is very long and thick. I have always been aware of daily hair loss because my hair is long, but the increase has been so worrisome.

I talked to my hairdresser who reassured me that this is normal with any stress and any diet change with rapid weight loss and usually starts three or so months after the stress and stops on its own after about three months.

This agrees with what I have read in the thread so I am going to relax and just wait it out.

I have lost 51.5 pounds so far, and the weight loss offsets the hair loss.
thanks to everyone for sharing .

Karen :wave:

[Xku]

Wow! I must say I am relieved to find a support group concerning this particular issue of hair loss!

Before I gained all the weight, I had very long hair on top, and a completely shaved undercut and my hair was very thick.

Now, it's long again, but without the undercut, and it looked thicker before! THAT SHOULD NOT BE. LOL I also see bald spots around the temples and top of the head.

Come on, now...I'm a man, and I just turned 25 not too long ago. I think this is a little premature. Hair has been coming out like mad to the point where I am also afraid to wash and brush.

I've been taking a multivitamin, but it is low in biotin, calcium, magnesium and pretty much all the other things people have listed in this thread.

I'm going to make some purchases ASAP. I see this thread has been dead for a while, but I would love to hear some updates. I have aspirations of being a model/musician/actor, and my hair is probably my most defining characteristic.

[Bizzy_Mom]

Hi Guys,

I too have long, shiny healthy hair. However, about 2 months into Atkins my hair started falling out everywhere. I went through 2 vacuums, really! It became so lifeless and dull and very very thin. This was such a shock to me because I had always thought that the dairy was good for that type of thing. Well, I started taking a sublingual total B vitamin. The most potent stuff I could find, plus a strong multivitamin. Still no change. I didn't see a change until I switched eating plans in September. I had been on Atkins for 8 months at the time. Now my hair is back to its old self. My hairdresser noticed the difference and so has my family. It's even obvious in photos. My hair is visibly shiny. Not sure what the cause, these were just my observations.

Bizzy

[Xku]

Bizzy Mom...you said you changed your eating plan and your hair has gone back to normal.

But what is your eating plan, now??? lol :D

[Bizzy_Mom]

X

I changed over to the Fat Flush Plan. I'm loving it. It cleanses from the inside out. There's a website if you're curious www.fatflush.com. There is some information there and testimonials. There is also a forum. I went back thru the photos after my post last night and my hair is downright glossy!

Biz

[Tracey71]

I'm just curious, ladies, are any of you that experienced massive hair loss on the pill?

[Bizzy_Mom]

Tracey,

I took the pill for 10 years off and on and experienced two things: weight gain and hair loss. What a combination! :agree:

Bizzy

[Xku]

A VERRRRRRRRY long time has passed since I resurrected this thread.

I'm DYING to hear updates from the original posters.

I have just started taking supplements for this hair loss problem, and I would like to hear some encouraging stories. lol

Kent says that Atkins isn't to blame, and I guess it isn't since apparently any kind of drastic weight loss (or "body shocking" event) can spur on this telogen effluvium thing. I lost about 60lbs in less than a year. I guess that's "drastic" enough?

Regardless, whether it be Atkins or another "quick weight loss" diet creator, I think this hair loss problem should be stressed a lot more than it has.

And as someone previously said...it seems to be a lot more than "10-15%" of dieters who are having this problem. And this is taking into consideration the fact that many guys have short hair to begin with, or are not hair-conscious enough to care or notice.

[Bizzy_Mom]

X,

I don't blame Atkins either, it just didn't happen to me until then. I really think it had the most to do with a vitamin deficiency. The one thing missing from my diet during Atkins was the regular amount of fruit I used to take in. Atkins was the ONLY thing that successfully helped me lose a significant amount of weight. It was the best thing that's happened in my life for a while.

Have you had blood work done to see if you're deficient in some type of vitamin?

Bizzy

[Xku]

No bloodwork done as of this moment. I only just discovered this thread, and the possibility (now likelihood) that the diet is responsible for the hair loss.

I purchased some supplements today, and will have my fingers crossed that my hair will go back to the way it was.

I keep very good track of what goes into my body, whether it be food or supplements. I think my recent purchase will balance everything out.

Good luck.

[bvtaylor]

Just thought I'd drop by again and make a note that my hair is all back to normal. It was definitely a temporary thing--and I firmly believe in the body shock as the cause, but it did take a while to turn around. Hair grows slowly after all. I stayed on induction level carbs for a long time and during that time, the hair did regrow just fine. It took a few months to really notice the loss and a few more months to notice the regrowth, but it all does pass.

[Xku]

Bvtaylor...congratulations on going back to normal with the hair thing. Thanks for your update.

I have been taking new supplements for about 20 days now, and I recently felt some "stubble" across the front of my hairline. I was a little perplexed, because I couldn't find any new hairs. I guess it's new hair pushing out the old hair.

This is definitely a step forward, but can I expect new hair to grow as well? The shedding I've experienced has been pretty pronounced.

Thanks, in advance.

[dina1957]

I too esperienced hair loss, which I never had experienced on any diet before LC. After a year of farely strict (<50g) LC diet I've noticed unusual hair loss. I've treid different vitamins and supplements, even Viviscal, nothing helped. Then I've found Hair Essentials and decided to give it a try.
http://www.naturalwellbeing.com/nwbproducts/product_info.cfm/prod/34 I've finished my 1st bottle and I see lots of new hair: on the top and along my hair line. I also use Daragen shampoo, and I've upted my carbs to about 75g and take flax oil and cold liver oil. I used to have very long (below my butt) and very thick hair. I've cut them down to my shoulders and they are not as thick anymore as they used to be, but I at least, I don't have bold spots. I got really scared with the hair loss. I also see less and less hair in the bath tub drain when I wash them. I've stopped diying my hair with chemicals dyes and bleach, and just use henna mix. Henna makes my hair shiny and strong.
HTH
Dina

[bvtaylor]

I have been taking new supplements for about 20 days now, and I recently felt some "stubble" across the front of my hairline. I was a little perplexed, because I couldn't find any new hairs. I guess it's new hair pushing out the old hair.

This is definitely a step forward, but can I expect new hair to grow as well? The shedding I've experienced has been pretty pronounced.

Thanks, in advance.
Somewhere at the beginning of the thread there's a really good link to an article that talks about the "shock" of changing our metabolism. Keeping good supplements I think is mandatory on any healthy diet plan and certainly the protein and fat in this diet encourages nice healthy hair and nails. I think you will notice down the road that the quality of your fingernails will also improve.

But hair growth is slow to see. Hair grows about half an inch a month, if I'm not mistaken, so it may take a while to feel noticeable hair coming back in. I think it's toughest for those of us with long hair, because long hair takes forever to grow anyway. The good thing is that when the hair does come back in even though it starts short, it fills in the rough spots and adds a little textured lift to the longer hair that is still there.

I'm sure that everyone experiences hair loss differently some more severely than others (and probably some not at all), but I am convinced that what you see with the hair loss will reverse itself on it's own, whether or not you use special shampoos. I used Nioxin, and I was very pleased overall with the results, but I stopped using it after a while and I did