CD and Hair Loss

MN Grannie · Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 67 Location: Minnesota

I have always had fairly thick hair and since my CD diagnosis I have noticed a definitely thinning on top. My hairdresser said that it is common with the onset of a disease, new medication or diet. Has anyone else had this experience? If so, did you hair grow back?

Jane in Osakis MN

mrsppmrxky · Joined: 09 Oct 2004 Posts: 1612 Location: GF Kitchen

I started having hair loss, but my dr. did a blood test (I didn't want to end up with as thin hair as my mom has) My thyroid was low and we immediantly started synthroid and I haven't lost anymore than usual.
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MN Grannie · Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 67 Location: Minnesota

I was treated for hypothyroidism for years before discovering the CD so I already have that monitored regularly. Seems that the hairloss started soon after I started the strict gluten-free diet. . .

mrsppmrxky · Joined: 09 Oct 2004 Posts: 1612 Location: GF Kitchen

Are you noticing hair loss all over your body, or just your head? The reason that I bring up the thought, alopecia (sp) is one of the auto immune problems that can run with CD. (So, I guess just on the head could be a side effect) Crying or Very sad

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Deb · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 6:05 am Post subject:

The only change I have noticed with my hair is it grows faster now that I am gluten free. The gray comes in somuch faster now Shocked

BE NICE AL!!!! My hair used to very, very straight and now that it is down pass my waist, I have lots of wave--I am afraid if I cut it, it would curl like a corkscrew!!! Also my hair is very thick and I haven't lost any of that either.
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You can't discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore!

cruelshoes · Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 3359 Location: Washington State

After I was diagnosed, I started to lose lots of hair. I was really freaked out by it. I went to the doctor about it, and she said that any time you have a serious illness (I was literally near death when I was diagnosed), it disturbs the hair cycle. Hair lives a certain amount of time, and then it is programmed to fall out. The number of hairs growing and falling out is supposed to be balanced. But if your body goes through something major, the cycle gets out of whack. It can also happen from periods of stress, diet change, etc. It did stop after about 3 months. Hope this helps.
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-Colleen

Where are we going, and what am I doing in this handcart?

nancw · Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 1172 Location: Denver, CO

Cruelshoes = correct. Same thing here.
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Nance

gluten, dairy, soy, rice, yeast and 99% grain-free

operater · Joined: 06 Apr 2006 Posts: 83 Location: Northern Illinois

I have been on Synthroid for over two years never had hair lost. But the last year I have so much hair lost my husband noticed it and family to. Iam getting worried about it but feel silly to ask the Dr. about it.
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Jan

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 10520 Location: WI, USA

gluten-free-mike · Joined: 07 Sep 2006 Posts: 349 Location: Cleveland, OH

All this talk of hair loss... I sure hope CD doesn't lead to accellerated hair loss, since I'll probably lose it soon enough otherwise.

I have not noticed any particular increasing rate of loss aside from what I assume is normal with age. I read somewhere that on average men's hair thins 10% per decade. Got me. I doubt the stress of dealing with CD helps hairloss matters, and the Thyroid connection surely could make a difference.
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Mike
GF Since 2003
Severe weakness for Desserts

suzie · Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Posts: 48 Location: Kansas

The top of my hair has been thinning for the past 15 years. I can actually see scalp. I have been GF for almost 2 years now. In the past year I have noticed there is less hair falling out. Has anyone's hair actually grown back in or am I doomed with what little hair I have.

John · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 70

From what I understand, hair loss associated with malnutrition has a pretty good chance of growing back. If the hair loss is because of say, scratching from dermatitus related to CD, its possible for the follicles to be damaged and not able to repair.

My personal hair loss definately slowed down a lot since I went GF.

wykie722 · Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Eagle, CO

I almost lost all of my hair about 6 years ago. I would take a shower and hair would just fall out while washing it. I saw a dermatologist and they did injections for Alopecia. I was also losing hair everywhere. I lost my right eyebrow, my left eyelashes, I could not grow facial hair. Anyway, it seems that it was due to about 15 years of malnutritian after being diagnosed with Addison's Disease and HypoThyroidism in 1990. I'm almost 99% positive that I have Celiac but not diagnosed. Have been as much GF as possible with the learning curve. My hair seems to be returning as well as my eyelashes, facial hair, and eyebrows. I have to shave my face daily now which is ok I guess. Anyone else experience hair loss to this extent?

mrsppmrxky · Joined: 09 Oct 2004 Posts: 1612 Location: GF Kitchen

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 10520 Location: WI, USA