Hair Loss And Celiac

[ravenwoodglass]

I have been gluten-free since march '09'. I am taking B-12 and Biotin. My thyroid test came back normal. Nothing is helping my hair loss. It's just the top of my head mainly. I don't even feel comfortable going to a salon anymore because it is so noticable when wet and everyone stares. I don't know anyone who can do it privately. I really need a haircut, bad!!!

I am glad to see that you are taking B12, hopefully the sublingual form, and biotin. You may want to consider adding a B vitamin stress formula. You may be deficient in more of the B's than the two you are taking. Also if you haven't removed gluten, including in the form of vitamin E, from your shampoos and conditioners you should also give that a shot and see if it helps. While in most oral vitamins that are E the vitamin comes from soy (not all the time though so do check the source of the E in your oral vitamins if you take it) many times in hair products it can be from wheat.

There is also a possibility that you might have the female form of male pattern baldness. If things don't improve it wouldn't hurt to consult a dermatologist.

[clarkje20]

Before discovering I had Celiac I found that my hair was brittle and rough. Turns out I was not absorbing iron. My ferritin levels were at 7 when optimal range should be 70. I was not anemic as my crit and other levels were all ok. I've done some research and it turns out that low ferritin levels are a little know cause of hair loss. I went on iron supplements and my hair is back to normal.

I also have low ferritin levels... So I started taking iron supplements as well.... How long were you taking the iron before your hair returned to normal.... are you also on a gluten free diet? What foods do you eat? shampoo, etc....... I need all the info to get my hair back to normal.....

thanks

Jill

[lkwalraven]

I just wanted to say something regarding celiac and hair loss. I was diagnosed almost 10 years ago with celiac and have been on a gluten free diet for that long. Along the way I have eaten gluten mistakingly so many times, I couldn't tell you, but I try to be careful. I am now 43 and my hair started falling out one year ago and it was really very upsetting to me. I tried everything from Dr. Proctor's Thinning Hair Shampoo to Rogaine. Finally, I talked to a naturopath who is also and endocrinologist, who happened to have three celiac family members (his wife's family). He put me on a 2 month regimen and the hair loss seems to have stopped! I wanted to tell everyone out there, to try it. It is only for 2 months, and it might work for you. First let me explain that I hadn't ever done anything to "heal" my lower intestine since being diagnosed. I merely stopped eating gluten. He says that if you have scarring in that area, it needs to be healed, and later on, malnutrition could become a problem again. That seems to have been my case. Everything he put me on, is over the counter and easy to acquire...

Every Day for two months:

4000 mg Well buffered Vitamin C (make sure it is a Buffered C) Once Daily

6000 mg Fish Oil Daily-broken up into two times (3000 mg each)

Two glasses of Aloe Vera Juice once in the am once in the pm (approx 4-6 oz) Make sure you keep it refrigerated

Every time you eat, take a Plant Based Digestive Aid (Papaya Enzyme for example-Gluten free of course) He said that Betaine can cause irritation to the intestines, and did not recommend taking it.

My hair has never been so shiny and soft, in addition to the fact that it isn't falling out!

If anyone tries this, I would love to hear results.

Lisa

My hair also used to be thick, but the past couple of years my hair has been falling out like crazy! I was diagnosed with celiac in August 2009 by biopsy and blood tests. I have bumps only on my arms and neck. I eat ONLY gluten free food. But I think I am getting gluten somewhere else. Make up, shampoo who knows where... I check every stinking label before use. But alot of times gluten, wheat, and every other darn thing we cant have is hiding. This diagnosis sucks. I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired! What do I have to live in a bubble? I have just recently found some great salon products that are 100% gluten free.... Its called surface... Im going to have my aunt who is a sylist order me some. So I will let everyone know how it works out for me... I cant have my hair fall out anymore.... I am too young to have to worry about something else going on with my body.... uggghh this is tough but im sure it will all work out in the end, since I have only been gluten free for 4 months.... I know I cant get better over night.... Can someone tell me how long it could take to look better, feel better, hair stop falling out, no more bumps, etc......

thanks

[bluebonnet]

my hair thinned out and i thought (still maybe think that) its due to hypothyroid but i am holding out hope that it will grow back in nice and full again! i miss my big hair days!!!

[Canadian Girl]

For the first 6 months I also avoided any dairy other than yogert. I added dairy back then and now have no problems with it. My DH has been the hardest to fight, it seems to reactivate very easily, after reading 'Dangerous Grains' I have massively cut my rice intake , I find this harder to do than gluten elimination and haven't cut it totaly, I still consume it in small amounts in Tapioca bread and stuff like that but no longer eat 'whole' grain rice at dinner. It seems to have helped and the DH is now healing nicely. You may want to limit intake of rice for a while just to see if that helps. I also take mega vitamins for my hair and skin called Maxi-Hair by Country Life. I get them from my health food store but they also have a web site - www.country-life.com I think they helped a lot too because I had been undiagnosed for so long I had a lot of vitamin deficencies. Hope this helps.

why would you cut out rice??? just for DH??? there is a 100% link btwn hair loss and celiac disease. my hair thinned out sooo much i was in tears. not that you could see thru it or anything but it was so insanely thick and long 5 years ago and slowly started falling out. i noticed it mostly after a shower when i would gently pass a comb thru my hair, just tons would come out and i was soo upset had no idea what was happening. can't wait for it to grow back! but does it really take an entire year??? i just went gluten free a few weeks ago.

[ravenwoodglass]

why would you cut out rice??? just for DH??? there is a 100% link btwn hair loss and celiac disease. my hair thinned out sooo much i was in tears. not that you could see thru it or anything but it was so insanely thick and long 5 years ago and slowly started falling out. i noticed it mostly after a shower when i would gently pass a comb thru my hair, just tons would come out and i was soo upset had no idea what was happening. can't wait for it to grow back! but does it really take an entire year??? i just went gluten free a few weeks ago.

That was a very old post. I had cut out rice way back then in part because I had been misdiagnosed with diabetes. It was coincidental that my hair starting growing back when the rice was eliminated, I think. The regrowth had more to do with the vitamins and finally going to a more completely whole foods diet. I have also discovered since that I have issues with soy, I have been soy free now for years in addition to the gluten. I will lose hair if I am soyed also so I don't think it is solely related to gluten for me. The DH of course is from only gluten. I dont' get an outbreak from soy and my DH outbreaks are now really mild even when glutened. Of course I have now had 5 more years gluten-free for the antibodies to clear the skin.

I think for most folks including myself it takes about 3 months for the regrowth to become noticable after the loss stops. Be sure to eliminate gluten ingredients from shampoos and such and try some good vitamins and hopefully yours will regrow soon.