How to deal with intense hair loss. A story spanning three years

I'm sure my story about hair loss is similar to many other similar stories, but maybe my treatment methods will help someone cope with this ailment. The article turned out to be very long, but I tried not to miss anything and describe everything as simply as possible.

My story began with the fact that just at one point I began to notice that my hair on the comb, when washing, on the pillow and throughout the apartment became much more than before. I will not say that my hair did not fall out before, it fell out, and in autumn and spring this process intensified, but some measures, for example, strengthening shampoo and ampoules from Placenta Formulas helped me. And sometimes I could still make several home masks (which at that time I still did not understand at all).

So much hair fell out after combing, before shampooing:

And so much after shampooing (and how much more hair will simply fall out during the day):

Having bought the Loreal Professionnel hair loss complex, I began to rub it in and wait for the result, I understood that the loss would not stop immediately, the life cycle of the hair had to be taken into account, but more than four months had passed, and the hair was still falling out, although during this period I connected also vitamins (Special dragee Merz).

I did not immediately start taking serious measures, that is, to see a doctor, but time passed and it only got worse and then I started looking for information on the Internet, on the one hand it was good, I realized that I was not the only one, but on the other hand I just had a brain explosion from all the information about different methods of treating hair loss and remedies, I wanted to buy everything at once, I don’t know how I didn’t do it. After studying information about hair loss on the Internet, I nevertheless decided to go to the doctor, perhaps my problem was deeper than just a cosmetic defect.

I came to my therapist complaining of intense hair loss and what should I do about it. She looked at my hair, said that everything is fine with me, everyone's hair is falling out, and in general my hair is like hair, and there is nothing to find fault with, but when she saw that I would not stop there, she directed me to take a general blood test and drink it complex vitamins Vitrum. After the appointment, I realized that I would not find a common language with the therapist, even after my words: that hair loss is a sign of some kind of disease, she looked at me and said that if nothing bothers you, then there is no point in checking the whole body.

The external beauty of the skin and hair directly depends on the internal health of the whole organism! I can say this with 100% certainty.

Why is it important to go to a trichologist

After that, I found a trichologist in our city and went to him, from him I learned a lot of information about my hair and how to properly care for it.

Why is it important to go to a trichologist? A trichologist is a doctor who specializes in the treatment of the scalp and hair, this is a very narrow specialization and it appeared not long ago. Trichologists often attend seminars and various training centers about the latest methods and means of hair treatment, they are taught to look for an individual approach to each patient.

Having come to the trichologist, I filled out a form describing my complaints and answering a few questions. Then I had a conversation with a trichologist. She asked about my recent illnesses, whether they were accompanied by a high fever, whether I had regular periods and whether I was under stress.

Then there was an examination of the hair and scalp, through a special device (trichoscopy), where all the information is displayed on the computer. She examined the scalp from different angles and pulled out another hair to look at the bulb. After that, she concluded that the loss is significant, because there are very few hairs per square centimeter of the scalp (I don’t remember how many) and the hair follicles are very weakened.Also, after examining the length of the hair, it was seen that the hair was weakened and split not only at the ends, but also along the length.

After that, she said that the next will be the most difficult stage of our cooperation - it is to find the cause of hair loss. Finding the cause of your hair loss is half the success of your treatment. Very well written about the causes of hair loss in this article, it describes both internal and external causes of hair loss.

The most necessary tests

It is quite understandable that without certain tests it is impossible to diagnose any disease, including hair loss. The most important diagnostic methods for a complete identification of the picture of the disease and the appointment of appropriate treatment.

Spectral analysis of hair

Spectral analysis of hair is an instrumental diagnostic method aimed at identifying disorders associated with a deficiency of useful and an excess of harmful micro- and macroelements in the hair structure.

To carry out spectral analysis of hair, you need to take a bunch of hair from the back of the head, the hair must be clean without styling products. Then the hair is placed in a special apparatus, a spectrometer, I do not know exactly what happens next, but in the end, with the help of a special program, the results are displayed on a computer in the form of a table, which shows the presence of certain substances in the composition of the hair. Spectral analysis shows the content of about 40 chemical compounds. Based on the results obtained, it is possible to draw a conclusion not only about the condition of the hairline, but also about the general condition of the whole organism.

According to the results of the analysis, I had a lack of iron, zinc, selenium, iodine, calcium and magnesium (I will describe the treatment below).

Hair trichoscopy

This method is one of the simplest and most common in trichology. For the procedure, a special apparatus (trichoscope) is required, which is a scanning device that allows you to take a snapshot of the area being examined. The trichoscope is connected to a computer, whereby the resulting image is transmitted to the monitor.

I underwent this procedure at the first appointment with a trichologist and then about once every two or three months we repeated it in order to see the dynamics, for it you do not need to wash your hair in the morning.

Thanks to trichoscopy, it is determined:

• what phase of growth the hair is in;
• the ratio of hair in different phases of the follicular cycle;
• the total number of hairs on the entire head or a specific area;
• the diameter of the hair shaft and its changes along its entire length;
• the density of hair growth in the selected area;
• the density of functioning hair follicles per unit area;
• the number of pathologically altered hair;
• hair type, skin type of the scalp;
• scalp condition.

General and biochemical blood test

These analyzes are the very first and most necessary, after which you can go further in finding out the cause of hair loss. Also, an analysis can be additionally assigned to ferritin, I can even say that this is a very important analysis, because hemoglobin does not show the whole picture of iron deficiency, and in our modern world, iron deficiency is the most common cause of hair loss in women, it is associated with menstruation, childbirth and poor nutrition.

My ferritin turned out to be 23 at the rate at my age of 70-100, many experienced trichologists prescribe a trial treatment for loss with ferritin below 70.

Consultation with key doctors for intense hair loss

I was also scheduled to consult a gynecologist, endocrinologist, neuropathologist and gastroenterologist.

TO gynecologist I already came with a ready-made ultrasound scan in order to save the number of trips to him (although I already go to him once every half a year). According to the results of the ultrasound and after the examination, no violations were found, she offered to do another ultrasound of the mammary glands to be sure, and she suggested discussing the tests for the main hormones that affect hair loss with an endocrinologist right away.

Accordingly, the next trip was to endocrinologist, I also did an ultrasound of the thyroid gland, and the doctor had already prescribed hormone tests for me. Problems with the thyroid gland and hormones directly affect the condition of the hair. Tests for hormones are not cheap, but from time to time it is worth taking them even if everything looks good. According to the results of an ultrasound scan, I had a grade 1-A goiter, that is, very small and he cannot influence such hair loss, although Iodomarin 200 was prescribed 1 tablet per day for 6 months (and two years ago it was not at all It was).

Consultation neurologist, I also had to. As such, I did not seem to have any stresses, although the doctor said that if there is a husband and two children, then there are stresses, perhaps not so large-scale, but regular. Therefore, a course of B vitamins was prescribed, also to improve blood circulation, massage was prescribed.

Oftentimes, poor circulation to the scalp can be the cause of hair loss. Hair is at a certain depth in the scalp and needs continuous nourishment. If the regulation of the tone of the vessels of the head and neck, which nourish our hair follicles, is disturbed, then this leads to the fact that all vital vitamins, minerals, trace elements for the health and growth of hair are not supplied to the hair.

Reception at gastroenterologist... So many surprises awaited me here that I did not even suspect, I also did an ultrasound before the appointment and took a general blood test and a biochemical test with me. The doctor prescribed me some tests (caprogram and for worms). After all the studies, I was diagnosed with pancreatitis (affects the general condition of the hair), giardia worms - simple worms that live in the small intestine, respectively, all the vitamins that I drink do not reach the blood in the right concentration, because they are eaten by worms ... And the increased acidity of the stomach, food and all the necessary nutrients are also poorly absorbed. All three of my diagnoses affected the condition of the hair, so I started a comprehensive treatment for hair with stomach problems, all the drugs are prescribed by the doctor and monitors the treatment, so there is no point in describing them. But besides the treatment prescribed by the gastroenterologist, I also drank iodomarin 200 and iron supplements, and the intake of B vitamins was postponed.

Comprehensive hair loss treatment

After passing all the necessary tests and consulting doctors, I came to the trichologist for the appointment of treatment.

For the treatment of hair loss, restorative therapy is used, elimination of the causes of hair loss, stress, normalization of nutrition, hormonal correction, and also prescribed medications, ointments, serum injections.

There are several stages of hair treatment

Elimination of possible causes of hair loss. I had this due to a stomach disease, the trichologist said that until the gastrointestinal tract is cured, there is no point in prescribing vitamins and microelements that the hair lacks (after the spectral analysis of the hair). The gastroenterologist prescribed a comprehensive treatment for pancreatitis, increased acidity of the stomach and worms, and also prescribed drugs to restore the intestinal microflora, and then fill it with beneficial bacteria, and of course normalize nutrition. All my treatment lasted for about a month. But the gastroenterologist agreed with the opinion of the trichologist that the preparation of iron and iodine should be used together with the treatment of the gastrointestinal tract.

Taking medications for hair treatment. They are prescribed by the doctor, based on the needs of the hair, after the spectral analysis of the hair. Since the trichologist explained to me that we will drink complex vitamins at the final stage of hair treatment, and now we will drink special preparations of zinc, iron, magnesium and calcium, so they are replenished in the body better than in complex vitamins.

Zinc preparation. Zinkit was prescribed, for the first two weeks - two tablets a day and another two weeks - one tablet a day. Zinc is a very important element for the whole body, including for hair, a lack of zinc directly provokes hair loss, as well as excessive oily hair.

Iron preparations. Everything is very complicated here, iron is very poorly absorbed by the body and this takes time. I had a scheduled appointment first for three months, then a break and again I had to repeat the course, because after three months of taking ferritin rose from 23 to 45. And so, I drank the drug Tardiferon (one tablet a day) and every other day, the first 20 days of taking I drank another half of the ampoule of Totem's drug. After the first week of taking it, I noticed that I gained strength, because before I had constant drowsiness, loss of strength, I did not want to do anything. After three months of taking, I had a break for two weeks, repeated blood tests for ferritin, and then again a course of iron intake, but this time Gynotardiferon (folic acid is also added here, which is needed for hair growth). Vitamin C was also added to the iron preparations, so iron is better absorbed.

Magnesium and zinc preparations. After the end of the zinc drug intake, I was prescribed the German drug Magnesium + Calcium, for a month. They are also important elements for hair, calcium - the main building material for hair, magnesium - gives hair elasticity and elasticity, its lack leads to exhaustion and brittle hair.

Selenium preparations. I was prescribed the drug Selenium (active), one tablet a day, for a month. I learned that selenium is simply vital for our body every day (you can read about it on the Internet), and for hair, a lack of this trace element can lead to weakening of hair, brittleness, and impaired growth.

Together with the selenium preparation, I also pierced the B vitamins, it is in the injections that they are absorbed best, I had ampoules Milgamma and at the same time I still completed the course massageand when you do a massage, ask that you also have a scalp massage, the sensations are super and the benefits are unreal.

General strengthening therapy. I was offered ozone therapy or darsonvalization, after reading reviews on the Internet, I came to the conclusion that I would do a darsonvalization course and for this it was more profitable to buy a Darsonval apparatus and use it twice a year to maintain the result. It is good because it improves blood circulation, reduces the oiliness of the scalp, increases overall tone and promotes deeper penetration of cosmetics (serums, ampoules, tonic), this is exactly what I needed. You can read more about Darsonval here.

After I finished taking all these drugs, I did not take anything at all for three months, and then I was prescribed for six months, complex vitamins for hair -Pantovigar, in a nutshell, the vitamins are good, but the duration of the intake and the cost are embarrassing. After them, the hair strengthened very well and began to grow.

Cosmetics and remedies for hair loss

There are just a huge number of different remedies for hair loss, ranging from shampoos to special serums and ampoules, manufacturers earn fortunes on our problems and it is a shame that these funds do not help in most cases. Hair loss remedies are made by manufacturers of different price categories: mass market, pharmacy, professional, luxury.

I have tried many, I will tell you about those that I liked. Turkish firmBioxsine - perhaps the most effective of all that I have tried, there is a serum (in ampoules) and shampoo, decent products that I buy now to strengthen hair in spring and autumn. Good value for money.

Ampoules of the firm Rinfoltil Espresso - very good ampoules, really the hair stops falling out after several uses, I have not tried their shampoos, but I read from the reviews that they are also good.

Cream-balm Mival - a good tool, in the complex therapy of hair loss treatment, I added it to pepper masks to enhance the effect, you can read more in this article.

The company's products have also proven themselves quite well. Ducray(anaphase), I especially liked the shampoo.

SystemNioxin did not impress me, is expensive, and the result is barely noticeable. Anti Hair Loss Firms SeriesKerastase, L'Oreal Professionnel, Vichy, Paul MitchellI didn’t like it at all, I just threw away the money in vain, but this is the case, they didn’t help me (so I don’t want to recommend them), but they may have helped someone and gave a good result.

Folk remedies in the treatment of hair loss

I will say right away that if you have intense hair loss, then you cannot cope with it with folk remedies alone, but in complex therapy, it is quite possible to use folk remedies. I even prescribed two masks by a trichologist and they are really effective:

Mask number 1

• 1 ampoule of Essentiale (sold at the pharmacy);
• 1 tablet of asparkam;
• 1 teaspoon of Dimexide;
• 1 spoon of sour cream;
• 1 yolk.

Beat the egg, add sour cream, then crush the asparkam tablet and add to the mixture, at the end add the Essentiale and Dimexide ampoule, stir well and immediately apply to the scalp along the partings (1-2 cm). The mask must be insulated (with plastic wrap and a warm hat or towel). We hold the mask for 40-60 minutes and wash my head as usual, you can do it once or twice a week, with a course of 8-10 masks.

Mask No. 2

• 2 tablespoons of capsicum tincture;
• 1 tablespoon castor oil or mustard oil
• 5 drops of bey essential oil.

The mask is applied to dry hair before washing. Heat castor oil in a water bath, add pepper tincture and essential oil to it. Apply the mask to the scalp along the partings (try not to get the mask on the length of the hair, the tincture dries the hair very much), insulate and leave for 40 minutes to 1 hour. Then wash your hair as usual, the mask can be done 1-2 times a week, a course - 10 masks.

There are other masks that can be done for hair loss, you can find different recipes in this article.

I also like an alcoholic infusion of nettle leaves:

Alcoholic infusion of nettle

Pour one glass of chopped nettle leaves with one glass of vodka, leave for 2 weeks in a dark, warm place. Massage into the hair roots every day for a month. It is advisable to store such an infusion in the refrigerator.

I also really like hair growth spraywhich really improves hair growth, reduces hair loss and can be done at home, read more in the articleHow to make a hair growth spray at home?

This is, in principle, all that helped me from folk remedies, I also tried to make mustard masks based on burdock oil and clay, cocoa powder, but I did not like them, and the trichologist did not recommend me to do purely oil masks for hair loss, especially during the period of severe loss.

conclusions

The treatment of hair loss must be approached comprehensively, with folk remedies or cosmetics alone, you cannot cope with this ailment.

An important point in treating hair loss is to find the cause of your hair loss and start treating it right away, so you will save time and lose less hair.

If hair loss lasts more than three months, do not delay and immediately contact a doctor, preferably a trichologist, but if there is no trichologist in your city, you can contact a dermatologist.

Do not forget also about general strengthening therapy, it will help to cope with hair loss faster.

Well, like everything, I tried not to miss anything. I wish you patience in this difficult battle.