Thyroid and Hair Loss

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I had hair loss due to thyroid problems.

I used to think I had pretty good hair.  But, in order to keep my hair “healthy”, I never used hot tools of any kind.  I always let my hair air dry and I never used hot irons.  So technically, even though I was protecting my hair from damage, it never really looked great because it was never really styled in any way.

Then I had my first (and only) child.  After having her and nursing for about 10 months, my hair started falling out.  I expected this because it’s normal after we have children.   

But after a couple of years, I still felt like I was shedding.  I expected my hair loss should have stopped by then and I was hoping to see some hair grow back.  But that just wasn’t happening.  Strangely enough, it wasn’t only my hair.  My nails also became brittle, would chip and I just couldn’t get them to grow any longer.  This was so depressing for me!  I’d always been blessed with healthy strong finger nails.

Then, my doctor discovered the problem: Hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto’s Disease. 

I still struggle with getting my medication exactly right because, as anyone who has thyroid problems knows, your dosage will work for a while but then may need adjusting.  But at least, I’d gotten to where my hair stopped falling out.  Unfortunately, it still was not coming back but I still felt like my hair looked pretty good.  I just wore bangs so no one could see that my hair line was thin.

There are so many hair care options out there that claim to regrow hair but I have found that those that contain keratin or human growth hormones only work when using that product and they can still cause long term damage if they contain sulfates, parabens, harsh silicones, or harsh chemicals.

I wanted a product which would give me beautiful, healthy hair again. 

I started with changing my multi-vitamins to a multi-vitamin which contains biotin for both my nails and my hair.  But do your research on your vitamins and check with your doctor before you start.  All vitamins and vitamin makers are not the same.  If you are like me and must have your thyroid checked on a regular basis, biotin may influence your TSH results.  So, I always go off my vitamins about 2 weeks prior to having my blood drawn. 

 

I was also introduced to a line of hair care products which gave me amazing results, growing back healthy, strong hair. 

Contact me if you’d like to hear how I got my beautiful hair back.

STRESSED OUT! And now I seem to be LOSING MY HAIR!!

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We all know of the negative effects stress can have on us: overeating or not eating enough, laying awake all night long, feeling agitated and so many others! 

But did you know that stress can actually cause your hair to fall out?

It’s true, if you have severe stress in your life and seem to be losing a lot of hair they can be related.

And then you start to worry about your hair.  Guess what?  That is contributing to MORE hair loss. 

According to Dr. Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D., there are three types of hair loss which can be directly related to how our bodies deal with high stress.

When you go through significant stress, the stress pushes large numbers of hair follicles in the resting phase. This is called Telogen Effluvium.  Within a few months, affected hairs might fall out suddenly when simply combing or washing your hair.

Many of us have play with our hair as a nervous habit.  I not only twirl my hair, I tie it in a knot while thinking.  But there are some instances where our nervous habit may go a bit further, leading to Trichotillomania.  Trichotillomania is an irresistible urge to pull out hair from your scalp, eyebrows or other areas of your body. Hair pulling can be a way of dealing with negative or uncomfortable feelings, such as stress, tension, loneliness, boredom or frustration.

Finally, the third type is Alopecia areata. This is a condition which presents as bald spots on the scalp. A variety of factors are thought to cause alopecia areata, possibly including severe stress. With alopecia areata, the body’s immune system attacks the hair follicles — causing hair loss.

If you experience sudden hair loss, you should always be checked by a physician.

But if your hair loss is caused by stress or anxiety, it does not have to be permanent!  Once you are able to get your stress under control, your hair could grow back.

The lovely lady above had some really significant hair loss but it was not permanent for her and she found a wonderful solution to give her new growth and give her some great confidence back!

If you would love to hear more about ways to help regrow your hair after loss from anxiety or stress, please touch base with me.  I would love to talk to you about it.  

The BEST Harbor town in the South? Yep, Chucktown!

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If you’ve never been the Charleston, this town really should be on your list.  Charleston, South Carolina is a port city which was founded in 1670.   It is a city known for its history, well-preserved architecture, distinguished restaurants and southern hospitality!

There are so many unbelievable restaurants.  Even the “bad” restaurants are better than the good ones in other towns. 

This is, by no means, an exhaustive list!  But here are some of my favorite restaurants you have to hit are:

The Ordinary for fantastic seafood and for oysters, make sure you hit either The Darling Oyster Bar .  

Leon’s has great oysters too but they really have the best fried chicken in the south!

Make sure you grab a drink in one of the cool rooftop bars in town.  You absolutely can NOT beat these views.  A couple of my favorites are:

The Vendue and Market Pavilion Hotel Rooftop Pavilion Bar

Also grab a drink at The Griffon and Blind Tiger.  

 

Again, so many very cool bars to choose from, just have a drink and walk to the next.  You can’t go wrong!

Here is a very cool Charleston Guide if you are headed that way.  Gal Meets Glam will never steer you wrong!  She’ll even make sure you wear Charleston appropriate attire while taking a leisurely stroll down East Bay.

Bottom line, the streets, the buildings, the history and the people are all so full of southern charm that you will undoubtedly, go home feeling friendlier.  Their kindness is infectious.

Add Charleston to your list of places to visit and you will not be disappointed.