any proven cases of herbs/supplements helping?
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moptop
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Supplements.
I am taking oral zinc and have found it has improved my hair development rate. Although I attribute my hair regrowth to Proscar/Finast, I think that I was low on zinc. If you drink alcohol and/or smoke you are likely to be low on zinc.
I have just started taking B6 supplements for the same reasons but cannot report any improvement at this stage.
I stress that I am not saying that either of these will fix the condition but they could help if you were deficient in either.
I am taking oral zinc and have found it has improved my hair development rate. Although I attribute my hair regrowth to Proscar/Finast, I think that I was low on zinc. If you drink alcohol and/or smoke you are likely to be low on zinc.
I have just started taking B6 supplements for the same reasons but cannot report any improvement at this stage.
I stress that I am not saying that either of these will fix the condition but they could help if you were deficient in either.
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Renee',
The straightforward answer to your question is an unequivocal "No".
They may exist, but no successful studies have been performed whatsoever. Focus on the proven treatments.
HairLossTalk.com
The straightforward answer to your question is an unequivocal "No".
They may exist, but no successful studies have been performed whatsoever. Focus on the proven treatments.
HairLossTalk.com
I sure hope I'm replying in the right spot. I have zinc in my vitamins I take every day, so dont know if that will help. Thank you for the thought. I will see if I'm taking enough tho.
I hear that some people are helped by evening primrose capsules is why I asked. Also, some are helped I hear by Saw Palmette. Trying to learn always.
Thanks for replying to me.
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="Renee"]Does anyone know if there are any tried and true herbs or supplements to help hairloss? Androgenetic alopecia. Any Anti-androgen? Thanks[/quote]
I hear that some people are helped by evening primrose capsules is why I asked. Also, some are helped I hear by Saw Palmette. Trying to learn always.
Thanks for replying to me.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
="Renee"]Does anyone know if there are any tried and true herbs or supplements to help hairloss? Androgenetic alopecia. Any Anti-androgen? Thanks[/quote]
HairlossTalk
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Renee said:I sure hope I'm replying in the right spot. I have zinc in my vitamins I take every day, so dont know if that will help. Thank you for the thought. I will see if I'm taking enough tho.
I hear that some people are helped by evening primrose capsules is why I asked. Also, some are helped I hear by Saw Palmette. Trying to learn always.
Renee, make sure you get all the appropriate bloodwork done to determine if you have any deficiencies. The standard bloodwork for women losing hair includes a zinc test. Primrose and Saw Palmetto will not help you with treating your hair loss. Most women's hair loss is cured by treating the imbalance in the system, if there is any. Aside from this, proven growth stimulants are the only helpful other options.
Please review our new Guide to Treating Women's Hair loss here:
http://www.hairlosstalk.com/research/women
HairLossTalk.com
Hi Renee,
I have also been trying vitamins.(zinc, vitamin E and will soon start a B complex).
One other thing I am doing is eating less processed foods. I noticed that when this started for me I had been eating a lot of them. There may be no connection but I don't want to leave any stone unturned.
If nothing else it will make me healthier, and if it is connecting with preservatives in foods then it may clear up.
Oh well... the good thing about vitamins is the side effects are not like those of prescription drugs.
Keep on keeping on, Daylight :wink:
I have also been trying vitamins.(zinc, vitamin E and will soon start a B complex).
One other thing I am doing is eating less processed foods. I noticed that when this started for me I had been eating a lot of them. There may be no connection but I don't want to leave any stone unturned.
If nothing else it will make me healthier, and if it is connecting with preservatives in foods then it may clear up.
Oh well... the good thing about vitamins is the side effects are not like those of prescription drugs.
Keep on keeping on, Daylight :wink:
HairlossTalk
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Daylight said:
Keep in mind that many natural treatments (not necessarily vitamins as much) can cause strong side effects, and one of them is absolutely Saw Palmetto. It is a very strong hormonal modulator, and side effects can be very apparent on it.
Renee - a lady by the name of Jean is dealing with the exact same situation you have, and she has recently done a lot of research on thyroid medications that can cause hair loss. You may wish to review the discussion we're having with her in this thread:
http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&hair loss= ... google.com
You can email her at the addy you see on the post if you like. Maybe the two of you can get together and figure something out.
Hope this helps
HairLossTalk.com
:lol:
Thank everyone again for the help. I will ask for a zinc bloodtest next time at drs. My thyroid is in normal range too. My estogen/testosterone are in the normal range, but when dx'd, I assumed that androGENETIC was from a hereditory factor. I can't remember what exactly the dr. told me, but she is very renowned for her work in alopecia in S.F. Cal. I have tried Rogaine 2 and 5%, and a VERY high estrogen birth control pill. Currently I'm not doing anything but researching other options. I am afraid to take meds that haven't been used for a long period of time, bec. of cancer risks, etc. I don't eat meat, drink milk, etc. and don't eat much meat. (protien and iron levels are also normal.) Very frustrating to me. Again, thank all of you for you help with me. Have a great week.
Thank everyone again for the help. I will ask for a zinc bloodtest next time at drs. My thyroid is in normal range too. My estogen/testosterone are in the normal range, but when dx'd, I assumed that androGENETIC was from a hereditory factor. I can't remember what exactly the dr. told me, but she is very renowned for her work in alopecia in S.F. Cal. I have tried Rogaine 2 and 5%, and a VERY high estrogen birth control pill. Currently I'm not doing anything but researching other options. I am afraid to take meds that haven't been used for a long period of time, bec. of cancer risks, etc. I don't eat meat, drink milk, etc. and don't eat much meat. (protien and iron levels are also normal.) Very frustrating to me. Again, thank all of you for you help with me. Have a great week.
saw palmetto
I am 46 and have been losing hair for a couple of years. I was also diagnosed with type2 diabetes and my doctor said my hair would come back when my blood sugar was controlled. It didn't. I used rogaine 2% for women for one year with really no results and presently use rogaine 5%. My derm said to use it up to a year before I give it up. It has been 3 months now without results. I also started to take saw palmetto supplements about 3 months ago because of something positive I'd read. Now I read that it will not provide results. It does have an effect of some kind because my periods did become somewhat heavier. My doctor said going back on birth control will not help and all my tests come back within normal range. I can still hide my hairloss fairly well but I am so afraid of waking up in a few months and realizing I can no longer "fake" it. It seems like doctors really don't know what to do. :roll:
I am 46 and have been losing hair for a couple of years. I was also diagnosed with type2 diabetes and my doctor said my hair would come back when my blood sugar was controlled. It didn't. I used rogaine 2% for women for one year with really no results and presently use rogaine 5%. My derm said to use it up to a year before I give it up. It has been 3 months now without results. I also started to take saw palmetto supplements about 3 months ago because of something positive I'd read. Now I read that it will not provide results. It does have an effect of some kind because my periods did become somewhat heavier. My doctor said going back on birth control will not help and all my tests come back within normal range. I can still hide my hairloss fairly well but I am so afraid of waking up in a few months and realizing I can no longer "fake" it. It seems like doctors really don't know what to do. :roll:
HairlossTalk
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Re: saw palmetto
http://www.hairlosstalk.com/research/women/step2wom.htm
http://www.hairlosstalk.com/progs/produ ... ucts_id=36
It stimulates hair growth in both men and women in a different way than Minoxidil does. It shortens the resting phase of the follicles, which is exactly what your follicles are doing right now.
There are also good concealer products like Toppik (http://www.regrow.com/toppik.asp) which women can make use of in the meantime, if your hair ever gets too thin. A friend of mine had extensions done for her hair when she lost a good 60% of it after giving birth to her son. She wore them for a couple years until her hair really had a chance to grow back out.
Good luck Connie, hope this helps a bit.
HairLossTalk.com
Welcome to our Forums ConnieConnie said:
Something important to note about almost all forms of women's hair loss that is caused by a diagnosed condition like diabetes or thyroid problems... is that it can take a minimum of a year to two years before your hair even begins to really recover. You said you used Rogaine 2% for women for a year, but didn't place it chronologically in relation to your complete recovery blood-sugar-wise so it's difficult to tell exactly where you are right now in the timeline.Connie said:
Your doctor is correct that it may take some time. 1 year may be more than necessary to wait for results with Rogaine however. People who resopnd to Rogaine typically respond within the first 6 to 8 months maximum. 3 Months is probably still too soon though.Connie said:
This is correct. Saw Palmetto has not been shown to help with Male hair loss, which is a direct result of the DHT - very thing Saw Palmetto alters in the hormonal system. For some reason it just doesn't work. It is even more useless for women with hair loss, as their hair loss is rarely caused by DHT related issues.Connie said:
As in men, Saw Palmetto will definitely do a number on your endocrine/hormonal system and many related functions, but unfortunately it doesn't help with hair loss as far as we know right now in men or women.Connie said:
Connie can you list exactly which tests you had done here for us, and also for yourself, please compare them to the list of tests we present in the Women's Guide to Hair loss on the following page to ensure that you've had them all done:Connie said:
http://www.hairlosstalk.com/research/women/step2wom.htm
Amen to that. If you've got the cash and want to try adding an extra kick with a treatment that has shown very good results in partial FDA trials (in other words, real trials, not mysterious 3 person trials done in Isreal completely undocumented), I would suggest getting some Tricomin Therapy Spray and adding that to your regimen. I believe even as a woman you'll need to apply the Rogaine 2x a day, but see if you can work the Tricomin into the mix as well.Connie said:
http://www.hairlosstalk.com/progs/produ ... ucts_id=36
It stimulates hair growth in both men and women in a different way than Minoxidil does. It shortens the resting phase of the follicles, which is exactly what your follicles are doing right now.
There are also good concealer products like Toppik (http://www.regrow.com/toppik.asp) which women can make use of in the meantime, if your hair ever gets too thin. A friend of mine had extensions done for her hair when she lost a good 60% of it after giving birth to her son. She wore them for a couple years until her hair really had a chance to grow back out.
Good luck Connie, hope this helps a bit.
HairLossTalk.com
hers and supplements
I am a firm believer in taking supplements like selenium, biotin and vitamin E. And I sure don't think getting the FDA involved will keep us safe from side effects.
But,I'd be REAL careful about trying unregulated supplements, esp. the "new", "miracle" stuff coming out. I took 5mg. to 10 mg. of DHEA daily early last year. After taking it for a few months, I noticed my hair thinning. Now, I'm not sure that DHEA caused my hair loss, but it sure didn't help! I was also self-diagnosing and using a very mild testosterone cream to improve my libido.
I no longer use either product, but the damage is done.
My blood work came up with a high reading of DHEA for my age.
I use folligen (for almost a month), Nizoral, and re-starting Rogaine 5%. So far, no regrowth, but the shedding is almost completely vanished.
Good luck---and be careful.
I am a firm believer in taking supplements like selenium, biotin and vitamin E. And I sure don't think getting the FDA involved will keep us safe from side effects.
But,I'd be REAL careful about trying unregulated supplements, esp. the "new", "miracle" stuff coming out. I took 5mg. to 10 mg. of DHEA daily early last year. After taking it for a few months, I noticed my hair thinning. Now, I'm not sure that DHEA caused my hair loss, but it sure didn't help! I was also self-diagnosing and using a very mild testosterone cream to improve my libido.
I no longer use either product, but the damage is done.
My blood work came up with a high reading of DHEA for my age.
I use folligen (for almost a month), Nizoral, and re-starting Rogaine 5%. So far, no regrowth, but the shedding is almost completely vanished.
Good luck---and be careful.
I hear that some people are helped by evening primrose capsules is why I asked. Also, some are helped I hear by Saw Palmette. Trying to learn always.
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Actually, my dermatologist, who believes in taking supplements, says it would be helpful to take evening primrose oil (GLA) and EPA/DHA (which is fish oil supplements).
I know a couple of elderly women who have had luck regrowing hair taking biotin; their system was lacking this nutrient. This didn't work for me--I already take regular vitamins, hence not deficient. What works for one person, may not help (and might hurt) you.
If you are losing hair, there is a good chance your system is out of whack. Hormones are hormones, whether you take estrogen from you MD, or black cohosh or saw palmetto. Taking ANYTHING that mimics hormones (saw palmetto, DHEA, black cohosh, whatever) could cause your system to be further out-of-whack!!
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