Thinning Hair -
Comments
-
Greetings! Looking for any updates on combatting hair loss. Exemestane has me continuing to thin. It’s really bad. I bought a Hairmax laser band before Xmas. Using it every other day per directions. I’m told not to expect results until 4 -6 months. Can’t wait. Fingers crossed
0 -
Avetad has a new shampoo and conditioner, which I just starting using. I really like it, it adds body to my hair. They also have a spray to stimulate the scalp, but I have not tried that yet.
The line is called Invati Advanced.
0 -
Aveda has a new shampoo and conditioner, which I just starting using. I really like it, it adds body to my hair. They also have a spray to stimulate the scalp, but I have not tried that yet.
The line is called Invati Advanced.
0 -
Have you tired the supplement Biotin? It is safe to take 10 mg. a day. I believe it made a big difference in helping my hair grow back after it got so thin with letrozole and also maybe Ibrance.
0 -
Yes - I have been taking Biotin for a couple years - since end of chemo. I sure noticed how it helped my fingernails grow, but not so sure about my hair. I will look at the Aveda products. I also use a Bumble and Brown spray on my scalp that REALLY helps hide the thinning. It is my life saver. I used to use it only on my part, but now I need it at the top of my head as well. Its comes out like a powder.
Best to all!
0 -
My dermatologist recommended two dietary supplements:
Anacaps by a company called Ducray
Viviscal
I started taking the Anacaps, and am quite certain that it has stopped my hair from falling out. When I ran my fingers through my hair previously, many strands were released. When I do it now, no hair comes out.
0 -
thank you everyone for keeping this thread going.
update on me -m still shedding - I tried a new system called Monat and to be honest I think it made the shedding worse so I stopped (I should have read the on line reviews there are a lot of women shedding hair on this system)
I am in touch with a derm about the Plasma therapy that was recommended here - I am just not certain if it is contradicted with tamox or having had BC etc so I will be speaking to my onc
stephincanada (I'm in Canada too!) I will check those out
0 -
and I took Biotin faithfully for months and it didn't really help me but I understand it really does help a lot of women
the only other thing that does work is Rogaine but I cant commit, plus the possible heart issues I read about are scary
, especially to women like me who have already put their hearts through so much with chemo, Herceptin in my case 0 -
rozem, - I, too, think the biotin isn't helping my hair, although I am reluctant to stop it to find out. I also have a congenital heart murmur and the chemo was risky enough for my heart. My cardiologist does not want me to try rogaine. I have an appt to meet with a derm who specializes in hair loss. He was suggested by my oncologist. You and I should compare notes after we each hear what our derms say! I hope they have some suggestions for us! In the mean time, I am wearing a top piece as I type this
0 -
ha! I actually got a hair halo which looks great but I’m so thin it doesn’t stay in place 😩
I will report back once I get more info on PRP therapy
0 -
I work for a renowned Hair specialist in NYC and we do PRP treatments daily. It works in about 83% of the cases. That with vitamin treatment and a topical spray that we sell can be very effective. If anyone wants to PM me I can give you more info.
Bab
0 -
Hi All, I have my own thread on my saga with thinning hair. I am jumping on here to save this one as well. I've been taking iron, and tons of supplements. Biotin doesn't seem to really work. I honestly think my previously huge head of hair is just gone for good and now I have about 1/2 the hair I had in my non-Tamoxifen days. my scalp is always itchy.. and I think it's the tamoxifen coming through my pores and reacting. I NEVER had an itchy scalp prior to this mess... and the dermatologist said she saw some dermitis (inflamation) but nothing to cause it. I'm ready to insist on a scalp biopsy to see if Tamoxifen residue is causing the issue. I figure I have 3 more years on Tamoxifen, then I'll only be 45 and hopefully my hair will come back... I'm just trying to get through the next 3 years.
0 -
Hi Bab. Has your clinic had success with women taking AI meds?
Where can I get topper info and are you happy with how they look?
Thanks
0 -
Babs I have a similar question to Shelly - is the therapy effective even on women like us who are on hormone therapy? these drugs are so potent....
also - any contradiction with hormone positive BC?
0 -
Hi Rozem. Doing some research on toppers and Halos. I’m close to needing them. The powder spray has saved me thus far. Have you tried a topper and may I ask where and what brand of halo you like? Thanks
0 -
My topper is called Sonata by Raquel Welch. It is terrific! (check prices and watch for sales!)
0 -
Shelly I ordered mine from my hairdresser - its human hair but honestly think its too heavy....
0 -
Has anyone tried micro points? They are artificial hairs that are tied into your own hair. I’ve been using them for about a year. Get them put in every six weeks. They fall out gradually but really help hide the thing areas. I pay $300 each application.
The salon I go to also specializes in wigs and other hair loss options. I discussed a topper today. Cost will be approximately $1400. Yikes! She estimates it will last about a year so would be cheaper than the micropoints. It is humans hair and they will color it to match my hair.
I found myself choking back tears during the appt and flashing back to when I got fitted for my wig at the start of chemo. Sigh...Some poor me moments today for sure.
Thanks for the info on the toppers. I’m sure I will get one soon. Did insurance cover any of your cost?
0 -
good news. My insurance will cover 80% of a wig. I went ahead and ordered the topper. I really hope it looks natural. I’m running out of options here.
0 -
Shelly that’s great. Hair and the way we look is soimportant for self esteem. Check in after you wear it!
0 -
my dermatologist at Sloan said tamoxifen causes varying degrees of hair loss after a few years. He told me to start using rogaine and gave me a prescription for latisse. Luckily minoxidil costs just $45 for a 6mo supply, I use the men's version twice a day. After a year my hair is almost back to wha it was pre tamoxifen. The depressing part is that it immediately stops working if you miss more than one dose. The pharmacist said the men's solution was not tested on women which is why the label says women shouldn't use it, but my dermatologist said it would be fine
0 -
Eng, how do you keep your hair from feeling rough or oily after application? My issue with rogaine is I have dry hair and usually only wash it twice a week. After one application of the Rogaine foam it looks and feels like crap.
0 -
Lisey, try the drops. I think they are much easier to apply and get into the roots.
I will share what little I know about this. I too went to a dermatologist and she recommended the men's Rogaine once per day. She said it was double the dose of the women's and so a money saver since it would only need to be applied once as opposed to twice a day. She told me once the follicles die there is nothing that can bring them back so best to start treatment as soon as the first sign of hair loss starts. She also prescribed Spirolactone and after running it by my MOs they thought it was ok but then later when I did my own research and brought the literature to their attention it was decided that anything that interferes with antigens and hormones was likely a bad idea so that was discontinued. Yes, I hate the thought of being on Rogaine forever but two thoughts on that. First, perhaps at some point the thinning hair will not bother me as much as it does now and so at that point I may wish to discontinue but also it is my hope that I can keep the follicles alive until I go off the blockers and perhaps may no longer need it. I will caution you what someone shared on another forum for hair loss. This woman said that Rogaine will penetrate the skin and get into the blood stream and therefore has the potential to cause the growth of hair on the face. Because I had been experiencing facial hair and had always been very careful not to get the drug on my face I did discontinue the Rogaine for several months but because I saw no improvement so I have recently started back on treatment. It is true that all the new hair growth fell out during the time I was not using the Rogaine, but what was odd is that the new growth was always white. Now I don't have a single white hair on my head but back then I had numerous sprigs of new white hairs. I will take the white vs hair loss. One last thought, my hair was very long, 3/4 down my back. I recently got my hair cut to the shoulder and that has helped considerably as it does not tangle and much less hair in now in my brush.
Oh... one last and final thought. I was on Arimidex and the hair loss was quite extreme. My MO at that time said that if I had that reaction to Arimidex I would react to all the Als the same way but that is not true. When I switched MOs my new MO immediately switched me to Femara and the hair loss is far more manageable.
I know this is difficult and no matter how I fuss with my hair I know it will never be what it was pre chemo and the blockers have just exasperated it. It saddens me when I look in the mirror but having started with such a thick head of hair I have held up better than most I guess, but I believe to date I have half the volume. If anyone can recommend a thickening or volumizer product please post. I have tried several and I have found nothing of merit.
0 -
Not Broken, thanks for the advice. I'll look into the men's drops instead.. the foam just gets everywhere! I've lost at least half the thickness, and like you, came from really thick hair - so people don't understand why I'm freaking out. My hair looks normal to them, it's just so much thinner to me. I have at least 3 more years to go on Tamoxifen and then who knows what.. so there's that. I'm trying to remind myself that having thin hair isn't something I should die over... But when you don't have boobs and rely on your huge hair to compensate, having the thinner hair does suck.
0 -
Lisey, my hair, my breasts and my legs were my best features. While I still have my legs I have neuropathy so they too have been compromised. Triple whammy here but yes, there are worst things. Oh, and my eyelashes are very thin. When I wear mascara it only brings me back to where I use to be without makeup. I would try the latisse but think that could get expensive so for now I am going the mascara route or wearing my goofy glasses as opposed to contacts. My heart goes out to the women who have permanent alopecia as a result of their treatments. That is a cruel blow and I would not fare well.
And yes Lisey, definitely try the liquid. It comes with a dropper so easy to get right into the roots. I have overall thinning and apply throughout but I concentrate on my temples, the part, and the frontal hairline. GL!
0 -
hi All
I haven’t updated in quite some time. 7 years on Tam has done a number in my hair. Very very fine and not getting better
I did a treatment of PRP therapy about 3 weeks ago. You need 3 treatments one month apart and IF you see results it will be 4-6 months after the final treatment.
I will report back
0 -
HI All, I've been posting in a different thread my journey, but I did find a solution and tested it too to verify it was the solution. In March, I bought an irestore Laser Helmet. I used it every other day per the directions and by August, my hair was 90% back to where it was a year ago and all the itching stopped too. I then wondered if maybe my body was just recovering from all the surgeries and getting back to normal, so I returned the irestore helmet for a full refund and continued on with my life. In September, the itching came back and my hair starting falling out again in clumps. It took about 4 weeks of stopping the irestore for it to happen. I just purchased another irestore and plan on using it the rest of my life - the results were amazing and now I attribute it to the helmet, not my body recovering.
I highly suggest people try the irestore for the full 6 months - if you aren't happy with the results, they give you a full refund and even pay for shipping back to them. (I got the full check within 2 weeks of return). It couldn't hurt you and like me, may save the day.
0 -
Hi ladies, just reading through this forum for ideas on preventing hair loss from AIs. Stopped anastrazole because of hair loss, have had a wonderful break before and after my reconstruction revision surgery, and now have a bottle of letrozole sitting on my counter. Like many of you, I am terrified/horrified by the prospect of thinning hair. I have been taking biotin, topical Vitamin C, Vitamin D and Omega supplements, and am considering some of the treatments and methods suggested in this thread. I also decided to stop dyeing my hair, and am in an awkward stage of gray grow-out.
May I just say --so tired of thinking and worrying about cancer!
0 -
For those of you experiencing loss of hair and thinning from ALs, how long from the start of taking the blocker did it begin?
Miranda2060- Where did you get the topical C? Can you share your experience with it?
0 -
CBK, it was a few months before the hair thinning was noticed. I didn't notice it -- wasn't coming out in clumps or anything -- but I got severely sunburned on my scalp one day at the pool, and that had never happened before. Then when I went in for my usual hair trim, my hairdresser was alarmed by the thinning. (I think she could have been a little more subtle in her reaction, but hey. Time for a new hairdresser.) That's when I got emotional about it -- hair loss is an emotional trigger for me.
I got topical Vitamin C from OZ Naturals. It comes in a dropper bottle, and I put some on my scalp, as well as my face (it's really a skin care serum). I have no idea if it's helpful, but I don't think it can hurt, and it smells kind of pleasant.
I printed out this study to show my MO, who didn't seem to get the hair-thinning SE. A doctor who came in to examine me before my regular MO (and also sort of cross-examined me about my resistance to taking AIs, grrrr) asked me, "Where did you get this?" -- as though mere patients cannot master the art of Google.
Anyway, it's a study addressing the HL (hair loss) issue from endocrine therapy. I got the Vitamin C idea from this.0
