Hair regrowth after treatment ends (not happening)

[St. George]

It has been approximately a year since I have ended treatment and I am still having a problem with hair regrowth.  with my previous treatments my hair growth returned fairly quickly 3-4 months but this time around it started to come back in and then in the last few months has started to fall out again.  I know it is blamed on the interferon but I recently read that the Riba causes the hair loss also.  Could it be residual riba in my system my body is still processing causing the delayed hair re-growth?  Any other guys take up to a year or longer to see their thick hair return?  I'm worried.  Could also be due to hyper immunity or auto immunity triggered by the interferon.  Any studies or personal accounts would be so appreciated. Thank you.

[aliroy28]

hi i end my treatment 1 year ago butt i have still face hair loss now i am going bald i am realy worry about it my hairs are very thin and weak i dont know what can do plz give me some advise

[virgocharm]

i take vitamin e. i am almost 5 months eot. my hair has grown back. i dont have to get a perm. i take vitamin e may 3 times a week. also i just started eating raw eggs. works wonders for the hair.

[meakea]

Thanks Newleaf...you've given me another issue to speak to my Endocrinologist about in April!

[newleaf09]

Started looking this up and happened up this information.  Look up Alopecea areata, autoimmune hair loss that can cause loss in patches, generally all over the head or all over the body.  I suspect that this is what's going on with most interferon patients.  An over-stimulated immune system can result in autoimmune issues.  On http://www.medicinenet.com/alopecia_areata/article.htm they listed some solutions that included topical anti-immune therapy with cyclosporin (topical is okay for people like us; oral is not), several shampoos and minoxodil.  

It's supposed to clear up within a year, but since yours hasn't, you might want to investigate some of those things.

[newleaf09]

This discussion is really making me curious.  Maybe low estrogen levels stop masking higher testosterone levels in women?  I have started paying attention to what GSD girl and meakea describe: hair grows back in but then falls back out.  Yup, the hair in the shower drain is the short, new hair.  I'm 9 mos. post TX.

[GSDgirl]

Hi, my hair took a good year.  It would start to grow and then fall out again.  My thyroud was fine an were my hormone levels, it just took time.  Good luck

Denise

Oh BTW, 2 years post it is growing like crazy

[merryBe]

good to see you Sg...and glad to know it's only hair....considering all you were up against, I guess one could take the tack that this at least is not life threatening.

I would suggest minoxidol but its not liver friendly. many issues there.

testosterone, well too little causes probes, but too much testosterone is known for being a main cause of baldness so I think that either end of the spectrum is problematic.
Guys often think T makes them hairy...actually it does put hair on your chest, while subtracting it from the scalp.

Have you considered just trying the sex.y beast approach??  I mean, if ben Kingsley can pull it off anybody can. Half the guys who are baldys aren't the good lookin types you know....telly salvalas, kingsley etc...and yet the look gave them a certain raw magnetism. I guess it depends on how one looks at oneself. You'd have to work on the confidence part of it.  Women have the same issue...like who can wear that little number....well, only those who think they can...half the battle is attitude.
I'm sure you could still be a hunk without the mop or a rug...give it a chance.
but do have your hormones checked.   mb

[newleaf09]

I am wondering if hormone levels play a part; maybe estrogen (men and women have both estrogen and testosterone).   At 9 mos post my hair is growing back in but I in the last few weeks I notice the shower drain is filling back up again with lost hair.  May need to check and see if its the short hair like meakea says.

[Magnum]

Maybe you're just naturally losing hair due to age?

magnum

[St. George]

My thyroid has checked out normal but I feel my testosterone levels may be in the toilet. I need to have them checked but lack of insurance currently makes it difficult to do so.  I have heard low ,low testerone levels may lead to hair loss, fatigue , low sex drive (non-existent for me coming off treatment) all very scary stuff.

[evangelin]

Hypothyroidism is an interesting thought?  Have you had that checked?  It could account for some of your other symptoms too.
It made me feel incredibly slow and tired .
I remember it felt like I couldn't even hold my facial muscles up without a heavy feeling of gravity pulling me down.  Within a month or so on levothyroxin, I felt normal again. My lab numbers weren't even that bad,just borderline but I had very obvious symptoms of hypothyroid and I'm so glad my Dr. recognized it.  I wasn't gaining a lot of weight or anything but I felt like a toy running out of battery power and my hair felt dryer than normal. My mind felt too tired to think and I was having a mentally dead feeling a lot. It would be wonderful if something simple like that could solve your problems. All that interferon could have knocked out your thyroid as I'm sure you already know.  Levothyroxin is on the 4.00 a month list at Walmart.
I was surprised to hear how young you are when you posted it a while back.  I hope and pray for your full recovery.
Don't give up St. George,
Ev

[epiphiny]

TX leaves your body depleted in a lot of essential vits and minerals, especially selenium.  I started using a high quality multi supplement and also fish oil and have found it be very beneficial to my nails and hair.  I still have a lot of dry and damages pieces but the regrowth that is coming in is full and healthy now (9 months post tx).  My nails were incredibly soft and brittle after 48 week but they are very strong now.

Mekea suggestion about checking thyroid is a very good one.

All the best.

[meakea]

I'm 6 months post treatment and my hair has partially returned.  It has returned enough that no one notices the difference but I have noticed that my new regrowth along the forehead hairline will fall out whenever it reaches 1/2 to 1 inch.  I'm hoping it stops giving up the ship so fast.

How are your thyroid levels?  Hypothyroid can account for hair loss.

All in all, try not to worry about your hair...it truly is a minor issue in the scope of life.