how common is hair Loss on the Interferon Traetment

[sally123684]

Hey I start my shots this friday and was reading alot of the post here.  I know that this may sound very weak but I am so scared of losing my hair.  How common is this side affect?

[taniajar]

People don't use lorazap.  And many meds that might induce hair loss. I was on hep c due treatment shot a week and þpills a day for a year my hair started falling a bit before me starting those medications and I do think I took lorzapam at that time and I also took it through the whole year of hep treatment been of hep treatment for around 6months if not more. And did quit lorzapam around a couple of months ago. Hair hasnot grown back yet not even baby hair. I feel so sad lost my confidence.  It is visbile to me and everyone who really knew my hair and who didn't will notice I have thing hair and it is dry brittle and fragile easy to break or hurt as u play with your hair. Anyone used lorzapam for a year and had hair loss? Anyone who did that have hair regrowth success stories? Please help. All I can help with is donot take lorzapam it actually makes ue spirit and body feel worse dont ket the few hours it reliefs you trick you into thinking it would help. It doesnot! Try not to take any anti anxiety or anti depressants through hep treatment. Just go healthy eat excersize abd have fun. Please if anyone has anything to help me with. I started taking minoxidil less than a month ago. And I did take hair vitamins through the last 6months of treatment and after it till recently.

[squirlle]

my dr. said it was ok to dye it so i did during treatment. i never lost any hair during the 4 months i was on interferon, but i was so sick they had to take me off it at 4 months (i had melanoma). after i stopped, it started falling out in bunches, 51/2 years later, it never grew back...what can i do?

[hepc4Sandi]

You might try Ovation Hair Therapy like chemo patients use.

[DarYoung]

I lost 100% of my hair... Head, eyebrows, eyelashes, eyebrows, legs... The works. I have been off for 3 months now and I have a little stubble in just a few places. Anyone else have this problem. It seems like I lost way more than is normal and it should definitely be coming back by now. My doctors are a bit stumped and say to just wait it out, but I'm freaking out an little. Maybe I'm not the only one???

[timothy141]

I  didnt wait, my head itched so much by week four I shaved it. LOL...I dont know if it would of thinned, changed colors, gotten brittle or fallen out. But I was so uncomfortable with the itch I had to break out the Bic, razor that is.

[mzkity]

Welcome!! Try to start a new thread with anymore questions. The older ones have the little hour glass. You will get more responses with a new thread. I don't think everyone's hair falls out. But that said I don't think you can prevent it. There are some suggestion, like not washing it so often. But mine didn't start falling out until the 4th month of treatment. Its thick enough (I guess) that I probably won't loose all. I'm also only treating for 24 weeks, that helps. But don't worry about it. Yes get other things in order!! Best of luck to you!!:):).      

[dontworry_behappy1]

I think most people have thinning hair.  Mine thinned out but didn't all
fall out.  I had that happen in cancer chemotherapy.  It thickens back up
not long after finishing treatment.  A hair piece would help with hiding the
thinning hair.  I hate stuff like that so didn't bother.  Remember that not everyone's hair thins out.  Bottom line is its just a bit of a hairdo challenge.
You can do it.

[nat_]

iv
recently found out i hav hep c and will be recieving treatment in 4
weeks, im worried about hair loss, (i no it sounds shallow) and was
wondering if there was anything i can do to prevent it, i no i have
along way to go and i need to prioritise, i just have so much going
through my mind, losing my hair aswell just seems like and added stress,

[kaleigh89]

wow that is the 1st time ive heard that hair grew in straighter than before.10 10 10 i was admitted to a hospital..my stay was four months long..when i was released..my hair had been falling out for these 4 months..i was too hopped up onthe morphine to notice..when the hair grew back....well it was not straingt any longer...now i have kinky hair....lol...i start my treatment in dec 2012...imaybe when my hair falls out again...it will be straight again....wouldnt that be some thing....lol good luck to every one.....smile

[JasmineT]

My scalp itched and burned like crazy on incivek.  I took a large scoop of coconut oil (found at your grocer near the shortening), microwaved it for 10 seconds, let it cool to the touch but stay liquid, wrapped a towel around my shoulders and poured this over my scalp and throughout my hair.  I would put a towel on my pillow and sleep with it or try to leave it on for at least an hour.  This eliminated the itching for me for 3 days at a time.  Guess it moisturizes my scalp.

When incivek was over the burning stopped and the itch reduced to a nuisance so I switched to olive oil.  I put this on half an hour before I showered.  I had to continue this for a couple months post tx.

I did not lose too much hair. Others could not notice, although I did.  Think keeping my scalp moist and itch free helped.  It certainly helped my sanity because it itched and burned like crazy on incivek.  You may wish to try the olive oil, it's simple to do and may help.

[momof2jewels]

I know exactly what you mean about the scalp itching!  I've had my daughter check my head for lice, too!!  I find that if I end my shower with cool water on my head it gives a little relief.  My hair is thinning a little but I'm only on shot #12/28.  I sure hope the itching goes away in a timely manner once treatment is over.  It's like watching an episode of Infested every day!  Hang in there.
robbijo

[orphanedhawk]

Treatment does weird things to our skin including our scalp. Itching can be part of it being super dry. Try some coconut or olive oil.

When I joined this forum, I was caring for an orphaned hawk, hence the name.
She is pictured in my avatar.

[TCisClear]

LOL i was just trippin because my head NEVER itches !   Thank you. Why are you orphaned?

[orphanedhawk]

Irritation is a major side effect of hep c treatment as is hair loss.
Its three months since I stopped treatment. It took about 8 weeks for my hair to stop falling out. It just slowly fell out out less and less. I got a short cut which looks good and makes me feel like my hair is thick again. You can see little hairs about 2-3 inches long, growing back in.

It does take some time for the meds to clear out of our system. Three weeks is nothing. The best thing to do is eat well, continue to drink lots of water and be patient.
And BTW: lice don't make your hair fall out !

[TCisClear]

My story is the same as all of you. It started falling out a few months into it and Im off TX's now, 3 weeks, and yes, its still coming out alittle. I trimmed my dead ends and it seemed to help. Someone up there said it best: your LIVER.......or your HAIR ?????   Its a very easy choice. BUT, I know how you all feel, I am a gospel singer (not that it matters) (vanity) and I have always had THICK THICK stay however you put it hair, and I have  NEVER been able to see through my hair to my scalp before, until now. I can feel the little hairs coming in.
But do or did any of  you have a very itchy scalp ? I keep making my daughter check my head for lice LOL and she says "MOM, THERE IS NOTHING THERE ! ! ! !" ........I get so irratated.
Anyway, Im glad to have found this board and Im happy everyone is ok. Im clear also and very grateful to God.
:-)

[karinleem1960]

Keep one thing in your mind ,You are on treatment ,like me i am on a 3 drug regimen witch mean lots more posion in the  body i am at week 19 and have not noticed any hair lost from my head but when cooking be careful not to get hair in food the posion could hurt  kids or babies,I have  no hair under my arms since week 8 ,And i only shave my lower legs maybe once every month because a very tiny stubbes.I have no more hair on the top part of my legs Love that ,Even tho i have noticed not any of my  hair on my head falling out but it is so very itchy.Weather it will fall out or not i have not noticed  .Does not matter to me at all.I love the shave less area's and less body part not being hairy .Just pray to god after treatment i dont turn in to a hairy monster with hair growing every where,Oh i have lost most of my eyebrow since 8 week but no a sole has notice.I have very light colored hair and was not that hairy to start with .But bottom line is I will take door number 2 the good liver you can keep my hair if you like .I dont need it.I need a liver more.Best wishes to all .Hope you all  make it to SVR am on my way there.I will meet ya there.

[Dee1956]

Well, I just looked at this post and it started in 2009, just goes to show you

[Dee1956]

Hi while I was told by my first Hep Doc that it was rare, I think it is much more common.  Everyone is different, some have a little thinning, some have a lot of thinning and like Gracie-Lue, some have bald spots, (so sorry Gracie-Lue).  If anyone has found a "trick" for it would love to hear.  Most people can not tell I am losing my hair, however my hair is all over our apt clogging showers and sinks, all over clothing, yeah, great idea that I mainly wear black.
I wear it up so I don't have to watch it fall as I can get obsessed with it.  Of course there are some days I have to leave it down due to head aches
Welcome to the forum, there are some awesome people here with lots of knowledge who give their time here even though they are not on tx and/or have SVR'd.  They are wonderful, I hope to do the same when I am SVR
Dee.  

[pjhep80]

my hair is thinning alot, do  my shot on fri nite and on monday-tues-wed i have alot of hair coming out in the shower, no bald spots or anything but ya losing alot of hair

[Gracie_Lue]

It can be very common. It is a scarey thaught to have your hair falling out and is very off putting when it actualy does but It's such a good trade off when trying to get to the goal of SVR! This is all a taugh process but at least it grows back : )  
Good luck you will be in my prayers!

[marylynn3227]

Im 44 and I have to start soon.  Im more scared of the depression and feeling sick and lathargic all the time.  Im scared really bad

[flcyclist]

I started with a thick head (no pun intended) of very wavy hair that went straight and much thinner now.  In some ways it a nice change and more time between haircuts.  

I've experienced some recent hair growth in other regions however: :-) http://www.medhelp.org/user_photos/show/242574?personal_page_id=2143363

[suezeeque]

Oh, it falls out.  It definitely falls out.  That's how it thins!

But pros/cons, who cares?  I have long hair and it pains me to see it falling out...  But what's the alternative?  

[robo229]

Agree with NYgirl first reply.  Liver >>>>Hair.  I'm at week 23/48, noticeable thinning, but a minor price to pay.  Dr. said it'll come back after tx.  Grew a beard to end 2011 on a net positive hair gain.

Think big picture here.  Hair will do you no good w/o a functioning liver.

Robo

[sejmiig]

i had the same concern.  i have fantastic hair and I hate to see it go, I know that sounds vain.  I've read, and it appears to be true, that it's temporary just during treatment for it to thin out, not fall out, just got thinner.  I talked to a few friends that said after a couple months it went back to normal.  mine thinned a little. wil let you know in a few months.

[johnny679]

not many guys answering this ,
i will start treatment next year , i am already applying rogain as i have some thining , male pattern and i was taking propecia for 6 years but I have decided to stop recently as my liver is at stage 2 when it was stage 1  , 6 years ago , I think most people worry about hair loss