Taboo Topic Alert!

I hope this doesn't get me kicked off the sight, but I believe it is a legitimate topic and possibly an important one. I used to smoke marijuana pretty regularly and enjoy a glass of wine or two. When I decided to quit a few years ago (just to see how I would feel without it) I only had one very concealable bald spot. This initial spot developed after the most stressful time in my life. When I quit drinking and smoking pot I subsequently developed more and more spots until I was almost completely bad and needed to resort to wigs. I also had chronic upper back pain after quitting my previous forms of relaxation. About 6 months ago or something I decided to do an experiment. I began enjoying some good red wine which I adore and smoking marijuana in moderation. Since then my hair loss has just about completely stopped and I have had some promising regrowth in a lot of my spots, also my back pain has greatly improved.

I still need to wear a wig for now, as baldness is not for me. I don't know if this remission will continue and if all or most of my hair will eventually grow back but it did lead me to wonder if anyone else has noticed whether drinking alcohol or smoking marijuana have affected their condition for better or worse.

I did some research on my own and scientists have been investigating a link between marijuana and reducing the effects of auto-immune disease. My Dr. has also suggested going on sulfasalazine after I brought it to his attention (he didn't even know it was used to treat alopecia) I learned about it on this site. It just goes to show that often the patient is their own best advocate. I am not sure about going on sulfasalazine. I may continue with more ah "natural" remedies for a while and see if my extensive AA continues to improve.

Any thoughts?

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Permalink Reply by Dominique Cleopatra on July 29, 2009 at 3:52am
Thanks for sharing your story Lori, Very interesting. Perhaps, I was onto something with my hypothesis. Although, some people have not noticed that their smoking or drinking habits made any difference to the course of their alopecia. I'm glad you made the choice that was best for you. God Bless you as well! For me I have been drinking (mostly red wine) and smoking marijuana in moderation and no cigarettes. I am able to keep it under control and it does not adversely affect my life, and I continue to have some regrowth with no noticable fallout. (knock on wood!)
Permalink Reply by Bud on August 1, 2009 at 12:15am
lori -
thanks for the info and blessings. I wonder too about all the things we put in our systems. I am half way through the book "breaking the vicious cycle intestinal health through diet" It is complicated and meant for people with more serious health problems than hair loss. BUT it seems to show that we get what we ask for (so to speak) in terms of "I do (eat, consume) this and then x happens" But what about aging, how does that figure into the equation?
It sounds like you are doing well. good.
Permalink Reply by Al on September 11, 2009 at 8:32pm
I personally think smoking has always helped me. I smoke on a daily basis and it makes me forget about stressful things.
Permalink Reply by Dominique Cleopatra on September 11, 2009 at 8:59pm
Thanks Allison, Do you notice any changes in your AA from smoking?
Permalink Reply by Melissa Francis on September 12, 2009 at 6:27am
Hi Dominique,

Whilst using cannabis may grow your hair back (due to depleting your immune system by making your body stress out instead of your mind) there is overwhelming scientific and medical evidence suggesting a link between drug-induced psychosis, schitzophrenia, and also depression, not to mention lung, mouth and throat cancers.

I can personally testify to this from both angles, having had a typically rebellious teenage experience (and seeing quite a few friends in hospital for several of the previously mentioned conditions), to now, where I work in the police force and regularly come across the negative mental and physical side effects that people experience from using marijuana, and other 'sedative' substances.

I realise, and acknowledge that this is your personal choice, but given an option between those potential mental and health issues, compared to otherwise being bald, but healthy enough to run 10kms every second day, and mentally 100% straight, I know what I would choose every time.

Good luck, and be careful - take care of yourself, you only have one body in this life :)
Liss
Permalink Reply by linda carraway on September 12, 2009 at 9:55am
Smoking has not helped me ,I've smoked for almost 40 yrs and the only thing I see is it helps me relax .I believe its the stress that keeps it falling out also hormone changes.Lost it all after both my babies and now I've had surgery and its gone again. If I didn't smoke I would have had a major breakdown along time ago!!!!
Permalink Reply by Kara on March 23, 2013 at 10:22am

Any update?

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