Hair loss?

[theadora]

Hello everyone, I was diagnosed about 6-7 years ago with diabetes. Durning the first year all was well, I tried to control it with diet. I had tried the LC way, but fell off the wagon. Anyways, thats when I started noticing, over the next 2 -3 years that I was lossing a lot of my hair. I saw a specialist at the time and he decided that I might have lost close to 30% of total coverage, up to 30% on the sides and up to 50% on the crown. I was wondering if anyone else has experince hair loss that maybe contributed to not well managed diabetes. And if so, has your Dr. or your diabetic health team suggested any actions? Also, another cause for my hair loss could be the stress my body is in, as I work nights and have been for over 9 years. Also I've had PCOS all my life and I'm now 43 yrs old. Any relation for hair loss there?
Can anyone suggest some ideas that I can bring to my Dr. and health team?
Thank you
thea

[nopie]

Among other things, a high insulin level can cause hair loss. Also, I believe that PCOS can also be a cause.

[Squid]

I have PCOS so I can understand the hair loss thing. In my case I got a bit of a receding hairline and then thankfully it stopped. I'm also 43 by the way. My hair loss happened about 30 and then hasn't been a problem since then.

I would think it's much more likely the PCOS is causing the hair loss. Have you seen an endocrinologist and had your testosterone checked? There are meds you can take if your testosterone is high (which could cause the hair loss). I tried spironolactone for years but it does have side effects that I don't like so I gave it up. The spironolactone blocks binding of androgens (male hormones) in the body) and can help with the PCOS symptoms that are from too much male hormones.

Another thing is that hair loss in women is genetic and it may not be related to either the diabetes or the PCOS. We don't lose as much as men or as young as men, but we definitely can thin out quite a bit as we age. If that's the case, I don't know if rogaine might help, but you could ask your doc.

I'd really encourage you to see an endocrinologist, preferrably one who specializes in PCOS and get a range of hormones checked - estrogen, testosterone, insulin, LH, DHEA etc. etc. Then you'll have a clearer picture of what's going on and what can be done about it.

By the way, about our age (mid 40s) PCOS clears up quite a bit for about 5 years and then as we approach menopause it can get worse again. Strange huh? I'm definitely noticing that.

Squid

[shawnee]

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

Many Diabetics (Including myself) take Biotin regularly as it is a proven supplement that aids in Blood Glucose control & in larger doses is even used to treat Diabetic Nueropathy.

Biotin supplementation is also a known solution for stopping hair loss in women. There are even some small studies that found it promotes hair growth among women as well (sorry guys it is not effective in fighting male pattern baldness)

Interestingly it is used regularly in the horse world to treat patchy & dull coats & as well as promote healthy hooves. The 1st thing a horse owner does if his horse starts to lose hair or has cracking hooves is start an immediate supplementation program w/Biotin.

[cah]

I think the biotin works pretty well. After about 3-4 months on Atkins my hair was falling out by the handfuls (this was about 6 months before I was diagnosed as diabetic, but I probably already was). I read somewhere that losing a considerable amount of weight quickly can cause hair loss. I started taking biotin and using a shampoo and conditioner with jojoba. My hair stopped falling out and new little hairs could be seen growing in. I still use both and haven't had any problems with my hair since then.

[Lisa N]

I read somewhere that losing a considerable amount of weight quickly can cause hair loss.

Actually, any type of physical or emotional stress can cause hair loss. The good thing about that type of hair loss is that once the stress resolves, the hair usually grows back again. :)

A good article about hair loss can be read here (http://healing.about.com/od/aging/a/hairloss.htm).

[Sherrielee]

If you take Biotin for Hair Loss - don't expect results unless you use 10mgs per day...NOT 10MCG's. It is truely a wonder drug!
I had this same problem, but like Lisa said, mine was from the stress of rapid weight loss and "freakinging out" over the fact that I had TII!

Hair fully restored and I had PCOS too!

[shawnee]

I take 1 MG twice a day for BG maintenance. NOW brand packages & sells it in 1MG(1000Mcg) caps

Just as an aside people in the horse world(who use it for coat & hoof maintenance) buy it by the pound, where it costs roughly US$150 a pound.

[Sherrielee]

I take (2) 5mg tabs per day. I get them for about $20 per bottle from iherb.com.

2 mg just isn't enough (honest).

[theadora]

Thankyou everyone about this news.

I guess my one problem is this, is this available for human consumption here in Canada? Our FDA (Food and Drug Adminitration) might not have approved it here, but I'll look into this anyways, and most of you say this also helps in blood sugar control as well as PCOS?. Well?, this almost sounds like a wonder drug...smiles. I'll do some personal research.

thankyou
thea

[shawnee]

Biotin is far from a controversial supplement, I would venture to guess its easily available in Canada

[theadora]

Hello All

Ok, found Bioten in the health food store here in town, but the bottle says the amount is 300mcg per tablet and 90 tabs per bottle. Would this be an ok amount to ease myself into? Especially when first starting?, I also read some info in a book at the store and went online to research more. All I can say is that if according to what I read?, then I have all the symptoms of Bioten definency, and decided that I need to look after myself regardless of hair loss and diabetes.
Thank you for opening my eyes
thea

[Sherrielee]

You need to tak about 20 of those pills per day....

[fressca]

I'm late to this discussion, but I'm in Canada and get Solaray Biotin at the local health food store - 1000 mcg sublingual lozenges. 1000 mcg = 1 mg, right? The bottle says recommended dosage is 1 per day. Sounds like Sherrielee would take 10 of these per day. Are there any toxicity issues? I'd love to thicken up my hair!

[Sherrielee]

I also take 1200mg of Allpha Lipoic Acid per day. The ALA reduces the amount of Biotin in your body...so I am also allowing more Biotin for that.

In Dr Bernstein's revised book, he highly advises:
1800mg ALA (Sustain)
2000mg Evening Primrose oil
10MG Biotin

for helping with insulin sensitivity. There have been many benefits for me from this combo.

BTW...Biotin is the ACTIVE ingredients in most expensive HAIR, SKIN, and NAIL products. My nails used to be brittle and peeling...now they are quite strong...much smoother skin too....but this could also be from better BG control.

I slipped up a little around Christmas...not bad food...just too much good stuff...back to the grindstone! ;)

[fressca]

I also posted this over in General Health, where there's another thread about hair loss: does anyone know WHY low carb causes hair loss? It seems to me that protein and veggies should be good for your hair and nails, especially in conjunction with a good multivitamin.

[Lisa N]

It's not that low carb alone causes hair loss, it's more that the stress of weight loss (using any method) can cause your hair follicles end their cycle early and fall out.
In fact, any type of stress, physical or emotional, can result in temporary hair loss. What makes the cause difficult to pinpoint is that typically the hair loss is noticed 3-4 months after the stressful event. ;)

[Laydebleu]

I have been experiening hair loss for about 4 months now. My doctor did a thyroid function test to see if that was causing the hair loss but it was not. The doctor said it should stop in 3 - 6 months but I have to say I'm getting concerned that other people can now notice the loss. I started taking a healthy hair supplement and cod liver oil to see if that helped. Maybe I should trade in the healthy hair vitamin for just biotin? I am ready to try anything. I'm going to have to doctor check all my levels to see if my hormones are messed up or something.

I am very concerned about this which is probably stressing me out and cause more hair to fall out...Lol.

[Sherrielee]

Biotin - 10MG's per day (not mcg's) Straighten my hair loss right out!

[Laydebleu]

Thank you Sherrilee, I order some biotin from the site you listed. I sure hope it works for me too.

[mnormile]

I have a question I take a 1500mcg of biotin a day and one multivitamin that has 450mcg of biotin how many of the 1500mcgs of biotin do I need to take a day to get 10mgs I'm not very good at math but I figured that I need to take 7 a day is this right
thanks

[dina1957]

I have a question I take a 1500mcg of biotin a day and one multivitamin that has 450mcg of biotin how many of the 1500mcgs of biotin do I need to take a day to get 10mgs I'm not very good at math but I figured that I need to take 7 a day is this right
thanks
You got it right, 6.6 to be exact or 7, but its easier to take 2x5 mg, very small caps BTW.

[mnormile]

Thanks but I couldn't find any 5mg at walmart where do you find them

[Sherrielee]

I get mine at "iherb.com"....very low prices..

[SadLady]

Sherrelie, what Biotin product exactly do you buy at iHerb? I have lost a lot of hair too and I think I would benefit from using it, but I am confuse at the amount of options. Could you be a bit more specific?

Thanks.

[skeeweeaka]

I really appreciate this info, will try it too...

[dina1957]

Thanks but I couldn't find any 5mg at walmart where do you find them
I buy mine in local Health food store but you can order from
http://www.vitacost.com/CountryLifeHighPotencyBiotin.

[Laydebleu]

I was wondering, how long before you noticed less hair loss when taking the Biotin. I am taking 10 mg a day two 5mg tabs in the morning. I have only taken them for about a week, I'm not rushing it... but my hair is so thin now a days I am getting subconscious about it. Lol... lose weight and start looking better and then lose my hair... go figure.

It is interesting that I'm eating healthier than I have in years and my NOW my hair decides to fall out. I think it is because it misses the cookies, cakes and chips...Lol.

[dina1957]

I was wondering, how long before you noticed less hair loss when taking the Biotin. I am taking 10 mg a day two 5mg tabs in the morning. I have only taken them for about a week, I'm not rushing it... but my hair is so thin now a days I am getting subconscious about it. Lol... lose weight and start looking better and then lose my hair... go figure.

It is interesting that I'm eating healthier than I have in years and my NOW my hair decides to fall out. I think it is because it misses the cookies, cakes and chips...Lol.
Hair loss can be due to many reasons, diet is not only cause: stress, vitamins and iron deficinecy, hormonal imbalance, etc. I've started shedding lots of hair 3 months after my mother's death, and decided to try 10mg of biotin daily, now it's been 5 months, and it stopped and my hair are thick and grow very nice. But I also been taking 1tbs flax oil daily and hair vitamins with iron. I continue taking biotin (10mg) and added 15mg iron since my ferritin level was on a lower side. Low ferritin can cause hair loss too. Diet wise, I eat at least 120g protein from animal sources and take B-100.
HTH,
Dina

[ShesGG]

Thank you Sherrilee, I order some biotin from the site you listed. I sure hope it works for me too.

I ordered Biotin from Drugs.com and it is scheduled to arrive on March 2. I really hope it works too, I have been so heartbroken about this hair loss.. I always look at other women's hair and wish mine was thicker on top.

I use clips to pull it back and arrange it so that it looks thicker but I want my own hair back.

Crossing my fingers for all of us.. ;)

[ShesGG]

I got my Biotin today. Is there a time of day that is better than others to take it?

[dina1957]

I got my Biotin today. Is there a time of day that is better than others to take it?
I take mine after BF.

[ShesGG]

I take mine after BF.

Thanks Dina. :)

[ShesGG]

If you take Biotin for Hair Loss - don't expect results unless you use 10mgs per day...NOT 10MCG's. It is truely a wonder drug!
I had this same problem, but like Lisa said, mine was from the stress of rapid weight loss and "freakinging out" over the fact that I had TII!

Hair fully restored and I had PCOS too!

Hi, I've been taking Biotin for more than a month now, I see some restoration but not as much as I would like. I take Metformin and I have read that it may interfere with the success of Biotin.

Should I try 20 mg a day instead of just the 10? Any reason I should worry about upping the dose of Biotin?

[Rsmry]

What great information, thanks all of you! I had beautiful, thick hair BD (before diabetes) and have had thin, limp boring hair ever since. I hope I can find biotin here in Sweden (they *really* like to regulate supplements here).

[Zuleikaa]

In addition to the biotin, also take vitamin D, calcium and magnesium. It's good for diabetes and protects hair.

[fressca]

Hi, I've been taking Biotin for more than a month now, I see some restoration but not as much as I would like. I take Metformin and I have read that it may interfere with the success of Biotin.

Should I try 20 mg a day instead of just the 10? Any reason I should worry about upping the dose of Biotin?

I've hunted around on the Web looking for information on what constitutes a Biotin overdose, but can't find anything. I too would like to know if it's safe to take more than 10 mgs of Biotin daily and, if so, how much more. Anyone? BTW, I'm also taking Vitamin D as per Zule's recommendation, and I think it's working; there's certainly some new growth.

[Sherrielee]

If you are taking ALA, it depletes your body of Biotin....so you darn better be taking atleast 10mgs of it!

[Zuleikaa]

A safe upper limit for biotin has not been determined due to the limited number of studies done. However, some studies have shown it is very safe at even very high doses.

20 mg per day is less than a tolerable limit of 100 mg used in one study.

http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:qBV8gD5u3ccJ:www.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scf/out106_en.pdf+%22biotin%22+%22mg%22+%22%22tolerable+upper+intake+limit%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2