I have to agree with epiphany.....pay attention to your scalp. I have continued to color my hair and have permed it as well. My goal was to cut down on the amount of daily styling I was having to do to keep my fine, straight hair looking good.
I am now able to go about 4-5 days between shampooing and because my scalp is producing no oil it still looks nice. And because it is producing no oil.....it is a huge help that I don't shampoo often.
My hair dresser tells me that I have 2 patches of really dry scalp, so I do a deep conditioning/scalp moisturizing treatment every 1 to 2 weeks.
Of course everyone reacts different.....just be kind and gentle to it and it may help.
Wish ya the best,
Izzy
thank u all for the advice & comments. that helps alot. i dont think i have lost any more than normal but i had saw something about losing hair with going through tx. so thanks again. u r in my prayers much love to all
irish.
Normally, I have such a full head of hair that a day does not go by with out it being commented on. I t is becoming very thing. I have 44 more weeks of treatment to go. I just hope that I don't loose so much that people catch on that some thing is wrong.
Daniel
I find that the Paul Mitchell shampoo one is the least harsh, it has cocomut oil in it.
I got too tired to come my 2 ft of hair, so now it's just shouldrer length, no dyes, etc, and its still half there at 59 wks tx. I soak in a tub with some olive oil added to keep my skin and hair from being bone dry...and that has helped...no breakage even though it's very fine hair. The natural oils can be taken up by the hair shaft.
I tried the stuff Pro V which is for chemo patients, and it was too harsh....almost every shampoo other than the PM just agravated my scalp.
mb
Hair loss is a very common problem with these meds. I lost about 75% during my 72 weeks. Not only falling out but breaking off, cracking dry dull hair is pretty much what is left.
I can report however that it grows back like a weed. At first mine came back stick straight (although I had heard that it would grow back really curly that was what I started out with so maybe that's why it came back straight) but now finally it's all back to normal
It seemed to grow back MUCh faster than the 1/2 inch amonth that hair usually grows thank God.
If you achieve SVR - that is much more important than hair. Hair does grow back and so does your liver.............so just try to remember WHY you are doing this.
I have very fine (buts lots of) blond hair. My hair was mid way down my back when I started tx but is about 4 inches shorter now and considerably thinner. Wherever I go I leave long blond strands behind me.
I had to cut mine because the ends just get so brittle and dry no matter what shampoo or conditioner I used and they itch me like crazy. And then when I scratch my head more hair comes out! I am also reluctant to brush it vigorously as even more comes out!!
I had been using chemicals on my hair for years ie bleach and highlights and I think that has been the main problem as once I got on the interferon it really exacerbated the dryness and it has snapped as well as thinned.
The good news is it DOES come back. This is my 2nd tx and the same thing happened on my first tx, after about 6 months after stopping the drugs my hair grew back in full force, quickly and seemingly thicker.
I have concluded the main thing is to look after your scalp as much as possible so ensure future hair growth and for your own comfort. All you can do for your hair lengths is cosmetic as the hair is dead anyway.
A lot of people use Coconut Oil to moisturise both scalp and hair lengths and it really does seem to help. Also important to take Coconut Oil internally as well as that will also help with your scalp and hair follicle and general condition of hair.
I have just started using Nioxin hair products and that also seem to help. It has no alcohol and various other drying products in it, and stimulates the scalp. There is a leave in scalp treatment and my scalp feels refreshed after I've used and hair feels clean with no build up in it.
The reason I keep mentioning the scalp is because a dry scalp and damaged follicles are a contributing factor to hair thinning and the lubrication of the skin all over the body is affected by the meds so why would the scalp be any different.
Oh, yes, and I've been using a conditioner with a sun protection factor in it as well, because the meds can make our skin very sun sensitive and there is always the risk of burning the scalp if it is not covered up. Doesn't take long for my skin to burn in the sun here so I also have lots of scarves and hats standing by.
Anyway, hope some of this helps. Coping with changing hair is pretty stressful, it is after all our crowning glory!
My advice ultimately would be to be kind to your hair, wash it gently using cool water, don't use chemicals and remember it will come back!
All the best!!
Epi :)
i didnt lose much hair... just might have gotten a bit thinner ..
its not like cancer chemo dont worry, you wont go bald
Xenigma is right. the texture may not be as great. a lot of my friends didn't notice any difference in my hair. i switched shampoo and bought new brushes for my hair, but still get hair loss. i asked my hepa about thyroid functions and she told me i was fine. so i don't think my hair loss is due to thyroid issues. maybe stress.
I also lost a lot of volume with my long hair. Probably about 40%.
It was as thick as a horses tail pre-tx. I never cut it during tx and no one knew I was losing hair except me. I'm almost 5 months post tx and my hair is growing back in rather good. (New hair is about 3 inches long)
Now everyone can see how much hair I've lost 'cause it sticks out if I don't gel or hairspray it down.
I believe my hair loss was do to hypothyroidism during tx. My recent tests showed my thyroid and Free T4 as normal now. No synthroid.
Your hair will also come back after tx. The texture may not be the same as before but it will come back.
i started losing hair into the 3rd month. everytime i take shower, the drain gets clogged up with hair. i tried to find ways of growing more hair but hepa just told me to wait to grow it out after tx. everyone responds differently to tx and some lose more hair than others at different points of tx. i would sacrifice some hair to be virus free!
good luck!
I am in week 23 of my tx ( total 24 weeks), Uptill week 18-19 of tx, there was no significant effect on my hair, just the quality of hair gone bad ( rough, body less) but from week 19 to week 23 i have lost around 50% of my hair :( especially from the centre portion of my head. I have also noticed that hair growth is very very slow and also the period of nail growth has also extended. Hair all over the body becomes thin and bodyless.
I have heared that these hair grow back and some ppl say even more thicker than before tx. Can anybody tell how long it take to grow back????
My hair is long, thick, waist length and curly as well.
I had a big hair loss and lost all body hair about five months **before**treatment.
Hair grew back and never figured out why I had the problem.
BUT
I am Geno 1A and on week 17 and my hair has not changed at all.
The thing is, My RIBA was inaccurate at the beginning (800 mg instead of the 1000 mg it should have been)
After I increased the the RIBA (to 1400) at week 11, I started developing A LOT of the side effects others comment about.
I know I need to reduce the RIBA but doubt that will lessen the sides - and to be sure-
hair loss is a known very possibility of HCV Meds
--->(is it the Peg or RIBA or both???)
Do yourself a favour and prepare yourself for the possibility of hair loss.
When I lost hair (due to that unrelated event) I cried in the shower: It freaked me out more than you can imagine.
I read every thread related to hair loss and other member's experiences and opinions about hair loss, hair dye, etc... There is a wealth of good information here and if you can't find it in the archives, don't hesitate to ask in a new thread. :D
My hair started falling out, from about week 12. It was a bit freaky initially to see the handfuls of hair, but overall, I'd say I lost a little over 1/3. It doesn't fall out in patches, it's an overall thinning. Most people don't even notice. Some people lose a little less, some a little more. It does grow back. Hope that helps.