Did you have hair loss?

[sella]

Hello,

I have been on a gluten-free diet for 2 years after celiac diagnosis. I have had hair loss in the temple and frontal hairline area. It has still has not grown back. Actually, it is fine baby hairs that do not grow longer than an inch or so. Although my hemoglobin is in the normal range at 13, my iron level is low around 40. I don't know if it's due to my iron level or nutritional deficiencies I may be still experiencing two years on the gluten-free diet. 

Did you have hair loss? If so, how long did it take to grow back?

[manasota]

I've been gluten free for 5 1/2 years.  My hairline has advanced, seriously!  I have more hair, thicker hair, including lots of hair where it never was before.  My hairline has advanced toward my eyes & down my neck.  Wish I had this when I was younger.

Sorry that I can't help you with your hair loss issue.  Maybe you could have your doctor test for nutrient deficiencies?  Maybe it's not even related to the Celiac?  Could it be age-related?  Or genetic?  Other family members with similar issue?

I know whenever I have a new issue, I tend to jump on the Celiac bandwagon even when it has nothing to do with Celiac.

Celiac can be sooooo frustrating!  There is no real authority for us to go to for answers!  :-(

[sella]

How long did it take for your hair to start growing back?

It's interesting that you mentioned hair loss down your neck. I never wear pony tails because I am missing hair on one side down my neck. I don't know if this is called the hairline at back neck.

[cyclinglady]

How is your thyroid?  Running hypothyroid can be one reason for hair loss.  

[sella]

I often get my thyroid levels checked, which show up in the normal range.

[manasota]

Sella, I never really suffered hair loss.  I probably had Celiac ever since infancy & my hair was always thin and slightly sparse.  After going gluten free, I was quite surprised to gain thicker hair that also advanced down my forehead, toward my face, & down the back of my neck.  My ponytails became much thicker.  I think I was probably gluten free for 2-3 years before my hair got thicker.  I wish I had a better answer for you.  One of the most maddening things, for me, is that Celiac is so individualistic in symptoms and in recovery.

[Babygirl6915]

Hi Sella,

I know you said you had your thyroid checked but have you had a full blood panel done? While I don't have Celiac (well, I haven't been tested for it), I do have a severe gluten allergy (IgE) as well as gluten sensitivity (IgA). When I started my gluten-free diet, I did experience pretty serious hair loss that I still struggle with today almost 10 years later. Turns out, the hair loss is a symptom of my PCOS (which is what triggered my gluten issues according to my doctors), not the gluten-free diet or gluten in general. In my efforts to get healthier I replaced old symptoms with new ones. Try talking to your doctor about the hair loss & see if there is anything else going on that could be behind it.

[beachbum]

I had hair loss but it was a secondary response to my Celiac disease.  I was so anemic and malnourished that I had significant hair loss, including on legs, forearms, the fine hairs on the finger and toe joints. I also developed thyroid issues which took significant time to diagnose even though I had been seeing an endocrinologist...I had ALL the symptoms of hypothyroid except the test results kept coming back inconclusive. Once I started thyroid Med hair loss stopped but still didn't have regrow the of loss.  That finally happened once my anemia was under control AND my vitamin D was up.  I swear the balancing of my vitamin D was when my hair started to regrow. I now have hair on my arms and legs though more sparse than before.  I also have fine hairs on my fingers and toes again.  My hair on my head is thicker and grows better.  I am female close to menopause, but my hair is fabulous.  

If you find that you're vitamin D is insufficient, I would suggest Super Daily D drops by Carlson.  I have found that I don't absorb tablets as well as liquids due to irreversible gut damage this product worked for me.

[TeenaMarie]

I would suggest that you iron levels and Vitamin D levels are tested.  Hair loss is one of my issues pertaining to gluten sensitivity. 

[sella]

My iron level is 40, which was noted as low on my blood test. But it is not that low. 

My vitamin D level has alos been low, but fight at the border of normal, which I think is 30. I thought most people have vitamin D deficiency?

 

[TONKA]

I lost SO much hair before I was diagnosed.  It stablized but has tecently started to come out a lot.  I had been eating McDonald's fries with no sign of gluten but guess this was my 'sign'.  ?

[Gelea]

McDonalds fries contain wheat. They aren't real potatoes. They are made of a slush of a mixture of potatoes wheat and other things then extruded to look like fries. 

[Dr. Cheryl Reichert]

I lost SO much hair before I was diagnosed.  It stablized but has tecently started to come out a lot.  I had been eating McDonald's fries with no sign of gluten but guess this was my 'sign'.  ?

Hair loss is quite common with gluten sensitivity. Make sure that your hair products don't contain gluten. Some hair products like Andalou claim to be "gluten free" but actually contain hydrolyzed barley protein and/or wheat germ. This can be especially damaging to someone with non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Also you must avoid anything that has been fried in oil where battered foods are also cooked or your food will be coated with an invisible layer of flour that bubbles up from the bottom of the fryer. In addition, some "reformatted" french fries may contain gluten to hold the fake fry together. If you are going to eat french fries, I suggest making your own with sweet potatoes and coconut oil.

[sella]

Manasota,

Just curious if you are using a gluten-free shampoo?

[manasota]

Sella, all of my personal products are gluten free.  Most of them are Certified Gluten Free.  The shampoo I use is by a company called EO.  It is a gentle daily shampoo French Lavender for normal hair.  I don't put anything else on my hair, except a tiny bit of EO unscented everyone lotion to tame the flyaway hairs.  I try to use gluten free everything--to the best of my ability anyway!

Have you seen a dermatologist?  Your hair issues are much more serious than mine ever were.  I didn't even know I had any hair issues until it started growing in thicker.

The EO products can be purchased by the gallon to save money.  Also, Whole Foods frequently has them on sale.  I buy them online when they're on sale too.