Hair Growth After Going Gluten Free?

[MarsupialMama]

Is there any link between hair growth and going gluten free? I've noticed that after 3 months of being gluten-free my 2 year old suddenly has a lot of hair, and she has been bald since birth. Could just be her timing, but I was wondering if anybody else experienced this?

[ShayFL]

My eyebrows are thicker.

[Juliebove]

My daughter had very fine, almost clear hair until she was 2. Had her first haircut at about age 3. Her hair was still very fine, thin, and straight.

She went gluten-free at 6. Soon new hair was growing in like crazy.

Now at age 10, the new hair is still coming in like mad and it is curly! Which is kind of weird. She does dance and I have to put her hair back into a ponytail or bun, depending on which class she is doing. I can not get it all back and smooth because of all the new little curlies popping up all over.

[Green Eyes]

I say the new hair growth is due to adequate nutrition not received prior to gluten free diet!!!

Jennifer

[Yellow Rose]

I thought it was just me. Nice to know I am not going crazy. My hair completely changed about 6 months after going gluten free. It is very wavy now and was straight before. My hair stylist was the first to notice this and asked what was up with my hair. She had been cutting it the same way for years and suddenly I had places that would not lay down at all. At first it was just in one spot and now the waves are all over.

[WW340]

My hair definitely started growing after going gluten free. So did my nails. I also had almost entirely silvery white hair when I was diagnosed, now my hair has grown back in darker than it has ever been in my life. I get accused now of coloring my hair.

My nails are also thicker. I hope my skin will get thicker with time, too. I have see-through skin. I feel like the old anatomy model, the invisible woman.

I think it is definitely due to finally absorbing nutrients.

[hawaiimama]

Kids hair often changes as puberty starts arriving. I know a lot of kids who went from straight to curly hair at that age.

My arms were almost completely blad and they now have some hair on them.

And wow on the grey. I hope my skunk patch disappears!

[Jacqui S]

I took my 16 year old daughter to the doctor two weeks ago for conjunctivitis. After giving her some eye drops he noticed how thin and tall she was and weighed her and asked about her diet. I explained to him that she has always had a small appetite and that I had taken her to a dietitian to try to get her to eat more, with some success. I asked if there was anything he could give her like a vitamin supplement or something to build her up - he said no, but we could run a blood test for coeliacs disease - because if she has that then she wont be absorbing the nutrients out of food and hence low weight gain. I agreed for the test, thinking maybe that's it, all these years I've been putting eggs in milkshakes, nagging her to eat. Anyway, the thing is that she is well, No diahorrea, bloating, sickness anything. Well he rang me last week and said that the blood tests came back positive and that she most probably has coeliacs disease. My husband and I were shocked! Now she has to have a gastroscopy to have a look at her intestines to see if they have been damaged. We have to continue a normal diet until after the procedure and then if its positive then she'll have to go on a gluten free diet forever!!! I don't know how I'm going to get her to do that? The doctor said that we all should get tested as it is hereditary. My youngest daughter Emma is 8 and has a really fine hair. When you put her hair in a pony tail you can see her head as she has such a fine covering.... I always wondered how this was as my other two daughters and my husband and I all have thick hair.. I 'm thinking now that maybe she also has coeliacs? I couldnt get her into the doctors until October so I'll have to wait... but I'm going to need lots of help and advice on this one? Is it better to make the whole family eat gluten free ?

[Juliebove]

Kids hair often changes as puberty starts arriving. I know a lot of kids who went from straight to curly hair at that age.

My arms were almost completely blad and they now have some hair on them.

And wow on the grey. I hope my skunk patch disappears!

I didn't know that. Interesting.

[ShayFL]

Is it better to make the whole family eat gluten free ?

Yes it is. It is a healthy diet for everyone Celiac or Not and if your daughters are both POS. they got it from either you or your husband (or both). Try not to look at it as a negative. Look at the positives. Being dxd early means both of your girls can avoid, type 1 diabetes, auto-immune diseases, lymphoma, infertility (and miscarrages) and all of the other things associated with undiagnosed Celiac. This is the BIGGEST BLESSING your family could have ever gotten.

Some docs and laymen will say POS blood is enough. If the biopsy comes back negative, you have 2 choices: let her keep eating gluten (and if the blood tests are right and she actually has Celiac) then she risks all of those nasty things listed. OR try the diet anyway. In her case, you will likely see things like her filling out and other things you didnt think were a symptom also go away.

You can also go gluten-free and then challenge after a few months. Most will have a dramatic reaction after re-introduction. So be prepared if you opt to do this.

[jerseyangel]

My hair and nails are all in much better shape since going gluten-free.

My hair was falling out previously--I actually had a couple slight bald spots. My nails now grow quickly--the discoloration on my two big toenails has completely gone away. I used to have to wear toenail polish--now I still do because I like the look, but I do a lot of lighter, more opaque shades.

My skin is less itchy and not as easily irritated. A patch of eczema that I had for over 12 years cleared up completely and has not returned in well over 2 years.

[lobita]

I have had alopecia areata (spot balding), which is an autoimmune disease, since I was 17. I lost it all almost completely for about two years before I went gluten-free. Then I found out about celiac disease went on a gluten-free diet and after a period of healing, it almost all came back. I still struggle with the alopecia (I'm 30 now) even though I'm still on a gluten-free diet, but its effects are limited.

[Jacqui S]

Yes it is. It is a healthy diet for everyone Celiac or Not and if your daughters are both POS. they got it from either you or your husband (or both). Try not to look at it as a negative. Look at the positives. Being dxd early means both of your girls can avoid, type 1 diabetes, auto-immune diseases, lymphoma, infertility (and miscarrages) and all of the other things associated with undiagnosed Celiac. This is the BIGGEST BLESSING your family could have ever gotten.

Some docs and laymen will say POS blood is enough. If the biopsy comes back negative, you have 2 choices: let her keep eating gluten (and if the blood tests are right and she actually has Celiac) then she risks all of those nasty things listed. OR try the diet anyway. In her case, you will likely see things like her filling out and other things you didnt think were a symptom also go away.

You can also go gluten-free and then challenge after a few months. Most will have a dramatic reaction after re-introduction. So be prepared if you opt to do this.

Thanks for your reply ShayFL - I will try to be positive!

[mftnchn]

I've also had improvement in my hair, nails and skin. I had a very significant hair loss in 2005, and it did grow back and also grew back curly. I didn't go gluten-free until 2007, but seems like it has continued to improve since then.

Jacqui, glad you are posting. You have a very significant story--I'd encourage you to start a new thread with your story and questions if you haven't already. Here on the "hair" topic thread a lot of people might miss your story and questions.

There's a nice group of teens on this forum who will welcome your daughter and be a great support for her. Don't underestimate your daughter. Once she knows how much better she feels, I'll bet she will take hold. Try to be her supporter and partner in this, rather than her boss.

It does sound like your family could benefit from gluten-free, at least as a trial. For a fair trial, you'll need to be as strict as possible. Also from everything I've read, if I were you, I'd consider your daughter's blood test as conclusive that she needs to be off gluten.