For almost 2 years ago now I have been experiencing scalp pain and hair loss and was wondering if anyone could give me some ideas as to what could be causing it. (Since the doctors haven't been able to tell me much.) I was on lamictal for exactly one year and wellbutrin for about 2 months (March 2012-March 2013) but stopped taking both meds due to finding out I was pregnant. I also had a minor concussion and 8 stitches to my forehead right along the hairline from a bad accident I was in (Novemeber 2012). Those are the only two "serious" things that happened to me right before I started losing my hair. I have always had long thick hair to the middle of my back. Never had dandruff or any scalp problems and ESPECIALLY never had hair loss. I cleaned out my hair brush maybe once a year that's how little hair I lost. Then all of a sudden around march of 2013 I started noticing small amounts of hair coming out in the shower.. I had been getting highlights that year so figured I just needed to stop getting them because it was too harsh and damaged some hair. But then by the end of April (when I found out I was 8 weeks pregnant) I was noticing more and more hair in the shower stuck to my clothes on the bathroom floor ect. And it has only gotten worse to this day. I lost hair ALL throughout my pregnancy and in the last six months have developed what I think is sebbhoric dermatitis. (Dry tight itchy scalp with dandruff). I use organic sulfate & chemical free products eat relatively healthy and am always keeping active with my 10 month old. Yet the hair still falls. I went to the doc and my thyroid levels came back high but then exactly a month later was retested and my levels came back normal? Only other health problem I have ever knew myself to have is bipolar depression which I'm not on meds for because I don't want anything else effecting my body and making the hair loss worse. I have terrible allergies and a numb spot on my scalp from where my head trauma and stitched were but the hair loss is all throughout my head not in that specific area. I have also suspected celiac disease but my blood levels showed up negative for that too when I was tested in 2011. So does anyone have any suggestions on what they think my problem is? Also I suffer from terrible migraine headaches fatigue easy bruising head fog racing thoughts lack of ability to focus irritability. Any advice would be great!
2014-12-01 11:19:19
I'm by no means a doctor but I would be happy to offer my opinion. There is no question about it that you have some sort of medical problem what that is is yet to be determined. I have suffered from alopecia which happens when the immune system mistakenly affects the hair follicle. I say mistakenly because the immune system is attacking itself instead of an outside threat. This starts just as you describe. At first large amounts of hair fall out and because we have so much hair on our heads you cant really tell where it is. Alopecia targets a particular area and it usually feels like it is hot patch and needles are poking at it making it itchy. It will fall out to the point where you will have a very smooth round bald patch on your scalp. No one really knows why alopecia occurs it just does. I had a terrible situation in life occur which caused me to stress tremendously and shortly after my hair fell out. The dermatologist told me that stress is the biggest factor for alopecia and considering the birth of your child stress may be a factor in your life. The unfortunate part is that the more you stress the more your hair falls out. It can be treated with cortisone injections directly in the scalp or topical cortisone but not a guaranteed solution. Too much cortisone can be bad so doctors do not give it easily. It sounds like you are doing many exams to figure out what the problem for your hair loss and although you may not have the answer now it will come. My biggest advice is do not stress. Stress can make you feel worse and make your symptoms feel exaggerated. I hope you feel better soon!
2014-12-01 11:19:53
