Hair Loss And Gluten

[elisabet]

Hello everyone,

has any one had hair loss due to be glutend,if so how long does it take for hair to regrow?

my son has some food at school and he was glutened. I find a small bald patch on his head today.I hope it will regrow soon.

elisabet

[Becky6]

I was losing my hair from a shampoo that had wheat ingredients in it. I just lost hair and didn't have bald spots so I have no advice there but just wanted to let you know some else has expirenced this. good luck.

[trents]

I would be skeptical that gluten, either internally or externally applied, would cause hair loss in a Celiac. Remember, Celiac disease is an autoimune condition of the small intestine that attacks the mucosa in that area of the body because the gluten protein isn't being broken down properly. I doubt if it would have a systemic effect and cause haire loss.

[bluelotus]

Hair loss is a very common symptom (read Dangerous Grains). There are several different kinds of hair loss, most of which are linked (except for male pattern baldness, which is genetically based). Nutrional deficencies will cause hair loss (common in celiacs), hypo and hyperthyroidism (linked to celiac) will cause hair loss, alopecia areata (an autoimmune form of hair loss) is also linked b/c it is an autoimmune disorder (not sure how it is linked though). If he has patchy bald spots, it sounds like alopecia areata....see if you can find pics online. Then go to a dermatologist and they can prescribe steroids for your son. I hope he gets better soon.

[ravenwoodglass]

I would be skeptical that gluten, either internally or externally applied, would cause hair loss in a Celiac. Remember, Celiac disease is an autoimune condition of the small intestine that attacks the mucosa in that area of the body because the gluten protein isn't being broken down properly. I doubt if it would have a systemic effect and cause haire loss.

Hair loss is actually pretty common amongst celiacs. Remember celiac disease attacks the entire system effecting brain, blood, lymph and GI systems. Many people suffer non-GI related symptoms for YEARS before the gut symptoms start. It may be more common for those of us with DH also to have hair loss but it does occur. For most regrowth will start within a couple months gluten-free and hair loss will be seen with a severe accidental glutening. I at the moment was severely glutened last week, thats what I get for trusting a candy bar label, and am losing hair and have blisters on the back of my head. I am not too worried about it cause I know it will grow back, I had lost almost half my hair by the time I was diagnosed it took 2 years for it to grow back everywhere except a thin spot by one temple. Now if the gluten related swelling would go down in my joints maybe I won't dislocate my ankles again tonight in my sleep.

[jerseyangel]

I lost hair as a result of my Celiac--I was also severly anemic and that, I'm sure, was a factor. I had been slowly losing hair from all over my head, but during the last 2 years before I was diagnosed, it got to the point where there were visable spots that were mostly on the top, and at the front of my head. I noticed a couple of months after I began the diet, I was not losing hair any more (before, I would get hair between my fingers in the shower when washing it). Now, after 8 months, I no longer have obvious thin spots--I also have had my hair cut to help the new areas blend in better. I will probably never have the amount of hair I had as a teenager, but I'm satisfied with the improvements that I got.

Elisabet--I think a visit to a dermatologist is a good idea. Although Celiac can definately cause hairloss, the sudden, patchy loss that you described may be something else. At the very least, it would rule out any other issues.

[Carriefaith]

I had more than normal hair loss when I was really sick with celiac disease. The hair loss stopped after going gluten-free.

[Guest Robbin]

I have had a huge amt. of hair loss over the past year--always was very thick --people that know me , really noticed it--Also it has always been curly/wavy--now straight--I even have had thinning of eyebrows and eyelashes--it is very comforting to know that it will grow back in somewhat. I have been gluten-free for only a little over 3 wks. A sudden bald patch should probably be looked at by a dermatologist, especially in a youngster. Mine came on gradually over a year.