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Loss of hair

by Lisa
(Worcester Mass)

Dear Wray, I am a 47 year old woman in peri-menopause still getting regular periods. I never took hormonal birth control and try to eat organic foods. I took some DHEA about 4 years ago and I lost about 2/3 - 3/4 of my hair in about 2-3 years. I only took the DHEA for abotu 3 months. The shedding just would not stop. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about a year after the shedding started. I feel that even before I took the DHEA my hair was thinning a little bit, I had PMS, irritability and foggy thinking and hypothyroidism runs in my family.

Right now I am on natural dessicated thyroid medication and progesterone. I take about 120-150mg per day for 14 days prior to my period. Can I expect my hair to grow back? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!!

Comments for Loss of hair

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Aug 08, 2011
Hair Loss
by: Wray

Hi Lisa DHEA is not something I ever recommend a woman should take. It can cause an increase risk in cancer and heart disease, as it increases testosterone levels. This was the reason your hair fell out, it would have taken time to return to normal. See here, here and here. I'm pleased you're using that much progesterone, but whether it will help your hair grow or not I can't say. It has helped some, so I would hope it helps you too, particularly as your loss was hormonal in origin. And not due to some other factor like excessive stress for example. You say hypothyroidism runs in your family, then it could well be caused by a lack of vitamin D in all members. A lack impacts greatly on the thyroid, which also needs iodine, tyrosine and selenium to function normally. Iodine is low in the majority of us, see here, and here. Selenium is a vital co-factor too, often low in soils, here. And the amino acid tyrosine is not only the precursor to T3 and T4, but to dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline. So demands on tyrosine are high. Has anyone thought to check your levels of these four vital nutrients? Please have a vitamin D test done, it's also vital for the anagen phase of hair growth. Plus a lack reduces the benefits of progesterone. For more info see the Vitamin D Council, GrassrootsHealth and Birmingham Hospital websites. Take care Wray

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