Thinning/balding Hair?

[Guest ajlauer]

Does anyone have a problem with premature thinning/balding of the hair? I'm 27. Trying to figure out what course of treatment to try and get my hair back. Here's the thing.... My hairdresser friend recommended Nioxin vitamins. Do vitamins even work for celiacs that aren't gluten free?????? I probably won't know for awhile whether or not I have celiac disease. I know it takes a few weeks for the tests, and I don't even have an appointment with the GI yet. So assuming I can get in immediately, and he isn't a jerk, and would be willing to test.... I'm still 2 weeks away.

Anyways, is hair problems a symptom? And what is anyone else's experience with treating it?

[SueD]

Several years before I figured out that I was sensitive to wheat, I noticed that my hair was thinning (dramatically). I could pick up handfulls of hair after I shampooed. I tried multiple shampoos, no improvement. Then I started using just a bath soap (which I have since found is gluten-free) to wash my hair, and the problem quickly resolved. Now I'm using a gluten-free shampoo, and my hair is thicker and shinier than it has been in years. I think vitamins could help, but I'd suggest a gluten-free shampoo, too.

[Guest Viola]

Hair loss is also a common thing with low vitamin B12, which is also a possible symptom of Celiac.

[Guest ajlauer]

Thanks for the replies! Sue, what is the name of the shampoo you use? Are there some "over the counter" types found at Walmart? Or do you have to go to a salon? My hair is very dry and frizzy, but scalp gets oily very quickly. Color treated also, but it's pretty much faded by now. Thanks.

[hthorvald]

Yes, my hair is falling out, too. I complained to my doctor, who immediately tested my thyroid and my hormone levels (I'm at that age). All were normal, so I'm thinking my shampoo my be the culprit.

A gluten free shampoo was mentioned. Can you post the name of this shampoo and how to get it? Conditioner, too. I use Neutrogena, and as I found out today, it's wheat free, but the company doesn't guarantee that others grains aren't used. So, maybe I've solved the problem of my hair falling out.

Thanks,

Helen.

[SueD]

I've been using products from the Gluten-Free Savonnerie (www.gfsoap.com). They're gluten, casein, soy, nut, fragrance, and colorant -free, but make wonderful lather. The owners of the company are very responsive to requests and can ship you a travel pack (sample sizes) if you want to try it before buying bigger sizes. It is a little expensive, but it's been worth it for me (since I'm still new at this) not to have to try to decipher the labels.

[hthorvald]

Sue, thanks for the URL. Can you recommend one of these shampoos that leaves your hair shiney? My hair is a little dry, but can get oily by the end of the day.

Thanks,

Helen.

[KaitiUSA]

I use Dove shampoo and conditioner...Dove will not hide anything.It really is good for my hair even though I have not had a problem with my hair dry or thinning if fact my hair is thick. It does help after it goes through processing like coloring and my hair used to get oily with certain shampoos. I really like Dove brand so just check the labels.

[SueD]

The GFSoap folks have 3 kinds of bar soap, one liquid soap, one shampoo and a conditioner, and a lotion -- all gluten-free. I think some folks also use Garnier fructis (available at the local grocery and drug stores).

[Guest gfinnebraska]

I use Pantene, which is also gluten-free. They have several varieties for different hair types. I have also read that Suave products are gluten-free.

[KaitiUSA]

I have read that Suave does not add any gluten containing ingredients but they do not test...

[cdford]

Not all the Pantene ones are gluten-free. I checked on the brunette one last week and it was not. Neither are any of the others of those type that I have checked so far. Bummer...I don't want to color my gray, just help it not look so obvious. Anybody else noticed that upon going gluten-free their gray hair began to look less gray?

[Binks]

I too have had problems with my hair ever since the onset of celiac disease. It has been about ten years now of progressive thinning, with my hair getting weaker, more brittle, dry, dull, lusterless, flakey scalp....Nioxin is terrible and contains wheat. I have tried many shampoos but am sensitive to the sodium laureth and larutyl sulfates which make my scalp intolerbly itchy.

What I have come to discover helps is using Shen Min Activator scalp treatment twice daily, and taking lots of B-vitamins, essential fatty acids, enzymes to absorb and digest it all. It seems that poor nutrition and hormone imbalance are involved. Avoding foods that I am sensitve to and taking DIM (diinolymethane) to modualte hormones like DHT and estrogen has helped the most. I am actually regrowing hair.

I guess it's tough to say whether it's from celiac disease or the other dozen aiments I seem to have which all seem to be a result of having celiac disease....Hope this helps.