Hair Loss!

[Asshhh]

Hello, this is my first post. I appoligize for the length.

So, my life as a celiac started when I was about 11. However, at that age, there was no way I was giving up my precious gluten. Sure, for the most part, Iwas gluten free. But if the situation arose and I was offered a peice of cake when my mother wasn't around I would never object. Screw health, I loved cake.

That being said a few years later, around 14, the doctors did another test and said, "Oh hey, we lied, she can have gluten." I was in my glory. From that day, up until about 2 weeks ago (I'm now nineteen), wheat was my main source of food! And honestly, I didn't notice anything too bad. Sure, I had stomach aches and headaches all the time, but nothing I really looked into. Up until about 8 months ago I just started feeling like absolute crap. All the time. I was seriously worried for my health. On top of that about 6 months ago my hair has starting thinning drastically. There is no bald patches, however I have lost about half of my hair. I have never been more stressed out and depressed about anything (which may sound dumb, but I'm a 19 year old female who has always been quite fond of my thick hair.) The stress certainly isn't doing any favours, I'm sure, but it's a little difficult when every single day I see more and more falling out and it's becoming terribly noticeable.

So I went to the doctors about three weeks ago, they run me for tests. I asked if they could run a celiac test, as I had been googling like crazy and found some link saying that celiacs could be related to hairloss, and would explain my other issues. The doctor really doubted I had it, and so did I, but I figured if I was getting tests done already I may as well get that.

Sure enough, a week or so later I get the results back and I have celiacs...and very bad apparently. Doesn't surprise me. I work in a sandwhich shop. I had been eating bread (I'm the baker there) every day, all day, since these my health issues started turning up. Should have put the pieces together earlier, but oh well.

So I instantly quit gluten. I haven't had a trace of it in two weeks. I have been extremely careful this time around, I'm taking it so seriously. I feel great, though! I love it. I ate a gluten free sandwhich for lunch (My shop sells gluten free sandwhiches thank goodness.) and it was just so weird. I felt simply satisfied, rather that disgustingly full and exhausted.

So. anyways, sorry for my very long ramble. I just figured I'd give you some info.

My questions are basically: Is it true that having a gluten free diet will improve hairloss in a celiac? I've been goolging all night and I've heard mostly positive feedback, which is lovely. Has anyone had the hairloss issue and it improved? How long did it take?

Also, may be a stupid question but I should really know: Is it safe to touch gluten? As I said, I'm the baker at a sandwhich shop. I'm playing around with bread 8 hours a day, and I'd hate for that the be cancelling out all the work I've been putting into the diet. I would really like to not quit my job, as it's basically my life, however I could take some major precautions as to try to have as little contact as possible. (Gloves, facemasks, frick, I dunno.)

ALSO: Is it a good idea to take a vitamin B pill, or other vitamins, to make up for the lack of wheat and such?

Thanks do much you guys, I'll appreciate any feedback.

[Nadia2009]

Hello, this is my first post. I appoligize for the length.

So, my life as a celiac started when I was about 11. However, at that age, there was no way I was giving up my precious gluten. Sure, for the most part, Iwas gluten free. But if the situation arose and I was offered a peice of cake when my mother wasn't around I would never object. Screw health, I loved cake.

That being said a few years later, around 14, the doctors did another test and said, "Oh hey, we lied, she can have gluten." I was in my glory. From that day, up until about 2 weeks ago (I'm now nineteen), wheat was my main source of food! And honestly, I didn't notice anything too bad. Sure, I had stomach aches and headaches all the time, but nothing I really looked into. Up until about 8 months ago I just started feeling like absolute crap. All the time. I was seriously worried for my health. On top of that about 6 months ago my hair has starting thinning drastically. There is no bald patches, however I have lost about half of my hair. I have never been more stressed out and depressed about anything (which may sound dumb, but I'm a 19 year old female who has always been quite fond of my thick hair.) The stress certainly isn't doing any favours, I'm sure, but it's a little difficult when every single day I see more and more falling out and it's becoming terribly noticeable.

So I went to the doctors about three weeks ago, they run me for tests. I asked if they could run a celiac test, as I had been googling like crazy and found some link saying that celiacs could be related to hairloss, and would explain my other issues. The doctor really doubted I had it, and so did I, but I figured if I was getting tests done already I may as well get that.

Sure enough, a week or so later I get the results back and I have celiacs...and very bad apparently. Doesn't surprise me. I work in a sandwhich shop. I had been eating bread (I'm the baker there) every day, all day, since these my health issues started turning up. Should have put the pieces together earlier, but oh well.

So I instantly quit gluten. I haven't had a trace of it in two weeks. I have been extremely careful this time around, I'm taking it so seriously. I feel great, though! I love it. I ate a gluten free sandwhich for lunch (My shop sells gluten free sandwhiches thank goodness.) and it was just so weird. I felt simply satisfied, rather that disgustingly full and exhausted.

So. anyways, sorry for my very long ramble. I just figured I'd give you some info.

My questions are basically: Is it true that having a gluten free diet will improve hairloss in a celiac? I've been goolging all night and I've heard mostly positive feedback, which is lovely. Has anyone had the hairloss issue and it improved? How long did it take?

Also, may be a stupid question but I should really know: Is it safe to touch gluten? As I said, I'm the baker at a sandwhich shop. I'm playing around with bread 8 hours a day, and I'd hate for that the be cancelling out all the work I've been putting into the diet. I would really like to not quit my job, as it's basically my life, however I could take some major precautions as to try to have as little contact as possible. (Gloves, facemasks, frick, I dunno.)

ALSO: Is it a good idea to take a vitamin B pill, or other vitamins, to make up for the lack of wheat and such?

Thanks do much you guys, I'll appreciate any feedback.

Wellcome to the forum!

Take all the precaution you need as long as you have this job but I'll tell you what I would do if I was a 19 old baker at a sandwich shop, I would start a new career it is very possible at 19 to turn your life around. Or better I would stay in the field but specialize in gluten free. Yup you need you my friend bake for us...anyone will tell you they would enjoy more choice of bread and bakery in their area. I have been eating gluten free less than 3 years and you can't believe all the change I see in grocery stores everyday there are new products, new gluten free sections are created because there is demand for these products.

I know you didn't ask me for a career advice but I gave it to you anyway lol

It is to take vitamins... vit B complexe is a good one. Maybe you should ask your doctor to check for your vitamin and mineral deficiencies...they usually check B12 D but you could ask for more.

I have no idea about the hair loss but maybe it wouldnt be bad to check your hormones...I really don't know. Wait for the other replies.

[cahill]

My suggestion would be to make sure your doctor test your thyroid. One of the symptoms of hypothyroidism is hair loss.

In addition I would also ask him to test you for Hashimoto's thyroid disease . Hashimoto's is an autoimmune thyroid disease that is often linked to celiac disease.

[ciamarie]

Hey, it just so happens there was a thread by someone in the Coping topic area who was happy that her hair is growing back (linked)! As for the B vitamin question, you might want to wait a month or so, to give your digestive system a bit of time for healing, and start taking a good gluten-free multivitamin. I just started taking the Vitamin Code vitamins and really like them so far. Or Country Life has gluten-free vitamins also.

The whole thing about missing out on B vitamins if you stop eating wheat makes me crazy -- because if you have celiac (or probably with other gluten intolerance too) you are probably not absorbing some or many of the nutrients from bread or anything else for that matter. So why try to tell people they're going to miss out on important nutrients they can't absorb, because of the harm done by that product? Ugh. I think it's mostly scare-tactics.

[jeanzdyn]

If celiac's disease or gluten intolerance means that the body does not absorb needed nutrients, vitamins, minerals and such, then I can see where hair loss could be attributed to Celiac's. I was diagnosed about 2-1/2 months ago. For about 5 years my hair has not been very healthy. A lot of 'breakage' of the hair, meaning that I have hair in varying lengths all over my head. My hair became thin and breaks easily. I have been struggling with unhealthy hair, and hair breakage for a couple of years, including using more expensive hair products to 'strengthen' or repair my hair.

I now believe that my hair problems can be attributed to the Celiac's disease and it's effects on absorbtion of vitamins and minerals.

[maximoo]

have ur vit d levels chkd too. Most ppl celiac or not have low levels. Take a gluten-free multivitamin you are most likely suffering from malnutrition. Multivitamins are best taken with food 2x a day. If label says take 1x a day then cut it in 1/2 so you can take 1/2 in the am & 1/2 in the pm. If you take it all at once your body doesn't absorb it all at once like that & the excess turns to waste. If the label says take 2 then take 1 early & 1 late. You'll use more of all the nutrients by taking the vitamins 2x a dy . When your intestines heal & can absorb nutrients again your hair will grow back. My DD's hair (age 13) had a hunk break off & terrible split ends like 2-3 inches worth and seemed to stop growing. It never actually fell out but her hair was not in good condition. She went gluten-free jun 11. Anyway her hair is now growing & we are slowly getting rid of the split ends with trims every other month. She will not cut her hair short. So she has to wait till all those split ends are cut off little by little.

As far as handling gluten all day long take your necessary precautions with gloves, masks, etc. try to chg your clothes b4 u leave work or in the garage or entry room & straight into hamper. Wash hands b4 eating of course.

You will continue to feel better & better

Best of Luck!

[Marlie]

To make a long story short my teen was diagnosed with celiac and then undiagnosed with celiac because her endoscopy was negative for damage and genes but has pos DGP iga and DGP igg. Prior to that she lost a clump of hair at her crown. We were both freaking out about it. I took her to dermatologist and without any testing said it was alopecia. Didnt know the first thing about autoimmune diseases then but they treated her with cortisone shots in the scalp to help grow it back. Fortunately it did and now 2 years later that section is at her shoulders. Can't say if it was due to celiac, a beta blocker she was taking, a delayed stress reaction, or a possible endo problem ( she's sick again and we are thinking its in this realm.). Anyway she keeps growing in more hair, her hair is getting thicker all the time. Itactually seems quite odd how she could lose hair and now have more than before,

[Roda]

Definately get your iron and ferritin checked. Both can be low because of the malabsorption from celiac. Low iron and ferritin can cause hair loss too.

[the.gf.bf.]

I had lots of hair loss when I was using a shampoo that was not gluten free. I've had great success since changing to a new shampoo.

[taylor-]

Hey there! So I was diagnosed when I was really young, then in high school I kind of started sneaking wheat sometimes. (in my defense, I didn't remember the really bad side effects of gluten because I was so young when I was diagnosed...no one judge me (: ). Once I got to college, i stopped sneaking gluten but I also started getting really fatigued and my hair started thinning a lot and I lost a lot of weight. The doctors checked my thyroid and ran lots of tests and eventually decided to do another endoscopy, which I hadnt had since I was 18 months old. They told me I had a little damage to my small intestine, and wanted to make sure I wasnt cheating. I was a little offended by this, since I don't really know any life other than a gluten free one, but decided I had kind of slacked off from how I lived when I was younger.

After that I went through all my personal care items, shampoos, conditioners, makeup...and kind of tested myself by not going out to eat at all and avoiding places that had a lot of gluten in the air (bakeries, the kitchen when my roommates were baking, etc.). Almost all of my symptoms went away after changing that stuff within about a month. The conclusion was that the way I reacted to being glutened had sort of..hmm..morphed? Whether it was the stress of college or the new environment, something triggered a change in me that made me start reacting differently to gluten. When I was younger I would throw up or get diarrhea, and now, I get massive migraines and extremely exhausted.

My hairloss got much better about a month after going through all of my products and watching my food extra carefully, and now I find that I'm much more sensitive to bakeries and just being around places with flour in the air. I really don't think working in a gluten-filled bakery is a good idea,but then I know that some people are ok being in that kind of environment. The suggestion to explore gluten free baking is a great idea...I would definitely enjoy some new baked goods on the market .

Good luck!,