Comment

Comment by Sarah on August 2, 2019 at 3:33pm

Thanks Minter!

It's just a guess and worth trying I think... anti-androgenic. It'll be months till I see a dermatologist (NHS) so I'm on my own for a while and I've decided to work out a regime of herbs, diet &c, with relaxing/stress avoidance the number one priority! I'll report back with any other ideas... Maybe I should move this to a discussion thread? Not sure how it works yet.

Comment by Minter on August 2, 2019 at 9:00am

Hi Sarah, I'm so sorry you have to be here, but happy you have beat cancer!  The rest of it though, the hair stuff- does suck.  I am interested in your herbal approach, I didn't know about palmetto instead of finasteride ( which has what sound like horrific side effects) which is one of the reasons why I ended up not taking any meds at all for this.  I am going now to google palmetto!

Comment by Sarah on August 1, 2019 at 12:29pm

 

Hello everyone – it sucks a bit, this, doesn't it? I really didn't know how much I liked my hair and eyebrows until they started going. I was diagnosed yesterday, but I had the inkling 3 months ago, lost my eyebrows about 4 years ago, noticed the weird hairline loss (white hairs all fall out, leaving wispy black hairs) about a year and a half ago. I want my white hair back!!) and have been studying the hair and eyebrows of other women of my age (and older) for some time now. No, they don't look like mine! I'm annoyed it's taken so long. Maybe I could have saved some of it?

 

The treatments look rather horrid – and not necessarily effective :-(. I'm very much in favour of medicinal herbs and diet ­– so hints along those lines would be helpful. Herbal equivalents for the drugs – calming anti-inflammatory herbs – calendula, chamomile, say?, saw palmetto instead of finasteride... and I want to stop whatever I do that causes it.

 

This is a list of stuff I've used/done/had that might have caused it. I'm wondering why it's on the rise, and what we all have in common. Please let me know if anyone relates to any of it? I'm thinking about going for acceptance and a wig, but I'm still getting away with what I've got left, as long as I don't tie it back, and thought I'd have a bash at saving the rest....

 

7 years breast cancer survivor (but no chemo or radio), SPF 15 moisturiser (now stopped, but the loss continues. For a while after cancer I was careful what I put on my face, but relaxed when I realised I was going to live), used to dye it (but this only began after I'd stopped), massive stress, progesterone cream, very occasional oestriol cream (naughty, I was supposed to put it elsewhere), enteroviruses - Epstein Barr and cold sores, chronic lack of sunlight, lowish Vit D levels (not considered worthy of attention by docs), 5 days out of 7 swimming in low chlorine pool (lazy about washing it out – but loss seems worse since I started trying to protect it), latex swim cap, goggles, regular sauna/steam room, concomitant chronic fatigue (no ME diagnosis), allergies to pollen, cats, dust, mould (dampish flat), wax earplugs, eyemask, sleep difficulties, low temperature is normal, feel the cold badly, incredibly good organic diet (!) – reduced dairy, chocolate habit – addicted really tbh – but it's good stuff (85% organic), red wine (in my time I've really put this away, but I've had a more reasonable relationship with alcohol since the cancer dose), not much make-up – occasional lipstick and lipcote, very little use of hair products, and even then I tend to use nice organic things... can't think of anything else. Oh yes, I'm sensitive to wifi, and stopped using it for a while but started again, because the wire pissed people off. I do spend too much time on screen. Now for example. Other symptoms are patches of mottled skin, vertical ridged fingernails, nails falling out.

I'm 61. Unwillingly partnerless. Having a problem accepting the ageing process, given that I'm still hoping to attract some sort of male companion and bedfellow (except for sleeping). Maybe this is the point? I wish I didn't mind so much how I looked – which used to be the case.

 

It's a shock to find out how significant a loss hair loss is. I think it's about identity more than attractiveness. It's one of the things that gives us visual individuality, and is taken away in some institutions – along with clothes and possessions – and in situations where status is lost and abuse fairly normal. But I suppose in the outside world it marks you as different, and could become your identity.

Hoping for answers! Or even just responses!

Comment by illustr8r on July 29, 2019 at 12:32pm

Here’s something I’ve found to be a big help with these odd red rashes around my eyes that might be Blepharitis. I haven’t been to the dr yet as after doing lots of online research (!) the symptoms seems to match.

I bought a box of OCuSOFT Lid Scrub Plus. It’s cleared up my red eyes fast and I don’t have the itchy scratchy feel of dry eye either. So, another product to add to the pile to feel normal! Bonus, my bottom eyelashes seem to be making a comeback. I haven’t used Latisse or RapidLash in quite a while.

Comment by Minter on July 22, 2019 at 9:11am

illustr8r, yes been there done that as well!  If it's not broke don't fix it, don't upset the apple cart, etc... unfortunately I always seem to forget those wise old sayings when I'm entering my credit card info  for something different or new and improved! 

CurlyK, thanks for the info on CARF- & I agree with 2Dachshunds, you look awesome in your new profile pic!

Comment by 2Dachshunds on July 21, 2019 at 10:47pm

@CurlyK. Thanks for the heads up on the conference & I hope you post again on what you find out! It was really helpful.  Your picture is beautiful, love your hairstyle!!!

Comment by CurlyK on July 21, 2019 at 7:57pm

Hi everyone! The CARF Patient-Doctor Conference will be in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, April 24-26, 2020. I'll be there again and hope many of you can join me. It's SO worth the money to hear and speak directly with doctors and researchers, get your questions answered, and meet and make new friends with people walking this same journey. Mark your calendars and start planning. :)

Comment by illustr8r on July 21, 2019 at 6:24pm

@Minter Yeah, I’m not sure what it could be. I’ll continue using the UdderMilk on my arms and hands till it’s gone but I’ve stopped using the AntiAging cream on my face. Someone on the FFA FB page asked if anyone spends too much money on hair/skin miracle products looking for that one thing that will save them. Been there-done that! I think this last purchase has taught me to just stick with what has been working successfully for about a year now. I seem to be stable...don’t upset the Apple cart!

Comment by Minter on July 21, 2019 at 8:10am

Oh man illustr8r I'm sorry!! That is not good at all, I wonder which one of the (or combination there of) ingredients that made your skin react so horribly to it?  That is too bad as they do seem to really make an effort to make good products so that stuff like this doesn't happen :-( 

I use Ponds cold cream as well as Moo Goo, I love the way it makes my skin feel and yes, it is tried and true!

Comment by illustr8r on July 21, 2019 at 3:09am

Well, MooGoo is not for me. It makes my skin break out! The kind of blemishes that are deep and painful and forever red. My chin area is the worst and my cheeks. So, back to Ponds I guess. Ponds is probably not great on the Healthy product charts but for now I have to do the tried and true...dang it!

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 14
• 15
• 16
• 17
• 18
• …
• 507
• Next ›
• Page