Those Who Have Experienced Hair Loss...

[e&j0304]

My daughter has been gluten free since August 3, 2005. Along with many other symptoms of celiac a big one was her hair loss. Her hair was falling out and when her baby brother pulled it it would come out in clumps and she would not even feel it. Her dr. said it was likely because of the fact that she wasn't getting enough nutrients due to the gluten intolerance and that it would get better.

Well, two months later we have seen improvement in the fact that Ella now screams when the baby pulls her hair out but it still falls out much easier than I think it normal. Have I not given this enough time? She is actually balding on the top of her head and it makes me feel so sick to my stomach when I see more of her hair has fallen out. I of course try to keep the baby away from her head and tell him "no" but babies pull hair. The thing is that he also pulls my hair really hard and it of course hurts, but it doesn't ever fall out. I can actually pull my hair very hard and it never falls out.

What do you think? Is this a celiac problem (her hair falling out easily) that needs more time to resolve itself? Or is it just that all 2 year-olds hair falls out when their brothers pull at it?? I don't see too many balding older sister walking around town...

Thanks for any advice. This is really disturbing to me and I'm scared that she's going to lose most of her hair. Also, it's kind of strange that the hair loss is mainly on the top of her head and not on the back. Any ideas about that?

Thanks so much!

[bluelotus]

I haven't yet seen much improvement in mine. I have been gluten-free since November, with several mistakes since (even one just about two weeks ago), and these mistakes may be why.....I really don't know. I wish you and your child the best and hope your little girl starts to see improvements soon.

[Rachel--24]

My hair was falling out quite a bit when my symptoms first came on 3 years ago. I don't know if it was excessive back then because I had hyperthyroid going on at the same time or if it was just gluten. I didn't have bald spots but it was pretty close to bald at the temples. Its been off and on since then but never as bad as it was back then. I'm sure if I'd had a baby pulling at it it would have come out in clumps. I remember being afraid to brush it cuz so much would come out. It was just falling off my head..I would find hair everywhere.

It got better at times and now that I'm gluten-free it fell out alot after my first few gluten accidents. Its still not as thick as it was before I got sick. I think if I can avoid accidents it should get better. I'm hoping anyways.

[ryebaby0]

I would give it a few months -- you really haven't been gluten-free very long, and hair is probably the last thing to recover. My son lost a lot, too -- I know it can be really alarming --- but he did recover after about 8 months.

Just as a parenting issue -- I would not allow the baby to pull her hair or yours that hard. When he pulls, I would simply stand up, or put him down, or otherwise remove yourself from him. If you do that every single time he yanks, he'll figure it out. In the meantime, keep him away from his sister's head!

joanna