Am I going to go bald?????

[TeeVee36]

My hair has been very dry and is breaking off and falling out.  I have a short hair cut now.  Please tell me that I am not going to lose all of my hair?  I have 6 more months of TX to complete.  I am genotype 1.

[GrandmaA]

I lost half my hair during tx. It will grow back later. There are cute headcovers you can get. scarves, turbans, etc. I forget the website. You can google it.  

[hairtamer]

By massaging my scalp everyday I have stop it from falling out.  Stress and medications cause a lack of circulation to the scalp.  Find a leave in moisturizer and lock it in with Biosilk silk therapy, or Matrix's Biolage Smoothing Serum before you dry your hair.  I have curly hair, which tends to be dry any way.  Hopefully you have a friend or family member that can pick it up at cost for you.  I hope this helps.
God Bless,
Rose

[TeeVee36]

Thank you!  My Doc told me to take vitamin E which I do.  I will by the products you suggested...Ulta should have a deal on one or the other.

[mikesimon]

From: http://www.janis7hepc.com/hair_loss.htm

ALOPECIA
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

Interferon affects the hair follicles and changes the texture of the hair, thereby making it more sensitive to breakage. Hair loss, which has been described as a possible side effect of treatment with interferons,1 occurs by one of two mechanisms. First, loss via a shearing or friction effect at the scalp level (often during sleep as the hair moves across a pillow) is caused by the weak, brittle nature of hair changes. Second, loss can occur via a spontaneous release of the hair from the follicle, leaving the follicle empty, which is usually seen with vigorous shampooing or brushing. Alopecia is frequently observed when therapy is continued for longer than 3 to 4 months, and is characterized by thinning and slight-to-mild hair loss. It appears to be the most common cutaneous reaction associated with interferon alfa treatment.2 Alopecia may become more pronounced when interferon is discontinued and may continue for 1 to 3 months.3 In general, alopecia associated with interferon is reversible. In some patients, hair regrowth occurs during treatment continuation.

Total revealed alopecia is seen more often with high-dose interferon or long-term
interferon maintenance therapy. Thinning, often unnoticeable to others, is usually seen during combination therapy with ribavirin or low-dose, short-course interferon. Patches of loss occur unpredictably in some patients.

PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES

Providers should:

1. Educate patients regarding the risk of alopecia, its causes, and management. Inform patients that hair usually regrows, although the new growth may be a different
texture; however, in rare cases, hair loss may be permanent.
2. Rule out other etiologies, including a history of alopecia areata, thyroid dysfunction, and other medical conditions, treatment, or medications (eg, chemotherapy, radiation therapy) that may predispose the patient to alopecia.

Patients should be instructed to:

1. Use a wide-toothed comb and/or natural bristle brush; gently comb/brush only once
or twice daily.
2. Shampoo less frequently (1–3 times/wk); use conditioner or detangler.
3. Use Nioxin™ or selenium sulfide (Selsun Blue®) shampoo, or Centrum® Complete multivitamin with zinc and selenium.
4. Use vegetable-based henna or vegetable-based hair color (eg, Aveda™, Matrix™) if intent on coloring hair. Avoid use of peroxide-based hair dye or permanent wave solutions while on therapy; their use is not contraindicated, but can accelerate hair loss and hair damage.
5. Pin a silk scarf on pillowcase or buy a satin pillowcase to avoid hair loss through
friction or shearing effect.
6. Avoid pressure-based hair items: caps, barrettes, ponytail clips, hair bands.
7. Avoid pulsating showerheads (eg, Waterpik™); these exert too high a PSI and
facilitate loss.
8. Avoid/limit use of gels, freezing sprays, mousse; these make hair difficult to comb
through.

TREATMENT STRATEGIES

Symptomatic patients should be advised to:

1. Cut hair length to decrease hair weight and rate of loss (for progressive thinning in
longer, heavier hair).
2. Purchase scarves, wigs, turbans, or caps when total revealed alopecia is anticipated.
3. Complete any hair transplant procedures prior to therapy or continue them after
completion of treatment to avoid delayed healing and risk of infection (for patients
with pre-existing male pattern baldness).

Providers should, as needed:
1. Provide a prescription for scalp prosthesis or cranial prosthesis (wig) due to
treatment-induced alopecia to facilitate insurance/Medicare reimbursement.
2. Refer patients for psychosocial support, such as support groups, and recommend
consultation with a cosmetologist or dermatologist (if appropriate) for changed body
image issues.
3. Note that drug therapy (minoxidil [Rogaine®]) for hair loss is not efficacious for
interferon-related hair loss.

[TeeVee36]

TMI...just kidding lol !!!  Thanks a bunch will definitely get the silk pillow case.  

[hairtamer]

Ulta should be able to help you find those products and they have a salon right there, a licensed hair dresser will be able to recommend good products for you.  I find that tx has made my muscles tense up so bad and that is the same thing that happens when you are stressed and have hair loss.  I have had clients in the passed that I could barely move their scalp during shampooing their hair.  My scalp was doing the same thing since I started tx.  Since I have been massaging it has promoted circulation and my scalp moves more freely.  
God Bless,
Rose

[nygirl7]

I lost about 75% of my hair.  Then I got smart and went out and bought a couple of wigs (I got them on ebay and they are GREAT).  Wow it made me feel SO SO MUCH BETTER!'

Now I'm 10 months post 72 weeks treatment and I STILL wear these beautiful long flowing wigs...in truth they look better than my hair EVER did and boy it's so EASY to maintain them!  No more curlers or flat irons or anything!

I ever have different tones and shades and colors!  I can match my hair to my outfit LOL it's GREAT (and I'm serious).

By the way the Conair Corporation's RUSK brand products makes some excellent smoothers and a line call Thickr.  Wonderful stuff.  

[gizmoesgirl]

I am an educator for Nioxin...Which mikesimon mentioned above.  Nioxin is a wonderful product and is focused on the health of the scalp skin and health of the follicles.  If you are going to use it make sure you get the right system ( there are 8 different ones) and make sure you use it regularly.  I am currently on treatment and I am using all part of the system including the recharging complex which is a vitamin.  It seems to be working for me!  If you need any help figuring out the correct system to use Let me know and I'll help you.  Good Luck!

[hairtamer]

I had a client in the late '80's that I ordered Nixon for, he loved it.  Are you a hairdresser also?  
God Bless,
Rose

[Robin_Fla]

I got the typical hair loss starting at 4 months and I thinned all over considerably. The slightest brushing or washing would pull lots of hair out. Fortunately, it thinned all over instead of in spots so it wasn't that noticable, and when I got a shorter, better haircut, it also helped to camo it. It got much better after 2-3 months, and it's starting to fill back in now (I have 6 weeks left on 48 week tx).

I found that switching to baby shampoo really helped with the riba itch on scalp and made hair soft and manageable also. I also use a leave-in spray conditioner/detangler on top of regular conditioner when I need it. Tried the Nioxin but didn't notice much benefit. I may not have given it enough of a chance though but it dried my scalp and hair so I didn't use it that much after a while.

There are a lot of posts about taking biotin supplement so you might want to look at those.

Good luck!

Robin

[JRenquist]

I used Nioxin when I was on therapy , too, and it helped a lot.  My hair did go from being thick to being medium - thin, but when it grew back in it was wavy!  Still is. It was stick straight before.  S.

[IAmTheWalrus]

Hey maybe I could donate my eyelashe;)   Besides the fact that they itch incessantly, the lower lashes have frown quite long. Of course I also have bags under my eyes like Deputy Dawg, but the unnatural eyelash growth has always perplexed me. Anyone else get this? Particularily with the itchy eyelids? If so, any suggestions about what to do would be appreciated. I am taking Benadryl fir the itch and putting on a moisturizing cream.

[gizmoesgirl]

Yes I am a hair stylist as well.  I have been in the industry for about 10 years and love it but unfortunately i can't stand on my feet all day so I  am not working currently.  I take ot you are a hair stylist too!?  
Best wishes to all

[cottoncandy99]

I have lost my hair 3 times during one treatment it's no big deal just try to get it as short as possible and then I order 2 dozen turbans that went with no matter what I wore as well as my ex-boyfriend sent me some really nice velour  ones from the north & they keep my head really warm.  I know that now is not the time to loose hair but if you use hair dryer that increases it as well as the heat in the house.  I just do without the heat and then I am not going to face this again.  Aveeno is great as I have used that and avioded all hairsprays or anything that can be harsh, also a wide  tooth comb to fix your hair works great also.  With my pillows I have 2 soft I guess silk like pillow covers and that also has helped because I know that first time when I put towel on the pillow to catch the hair then the more that came out.  I have 5 more shots to go,  I am so glad and hope and pray to God this is the last time, as I can't take this again.  I heard that there is something else that is to come out for all Hep-C non responsers, which is what I have been.  My whole life has been in the hands of the Lord.  May God bless you as you as all the Hep-C patients are in my prayers as I know the people around us think that we are walk plauges as I was told that I had to wear a mask if I was in public which is incorrect and right now I am fighting to get my drivers license back. Just be strong!

[hairtamer]

Yes,  25 years.  Had a shop in the '80's at 24th St and Indian School.  I love doing hair also, but it is to competitive with no benefits.  So I drive truck instead.  I am a Jill of all trades, and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.  You and all with this horrible disease are in my prayers!!!
God Bless,
Rose

[APKhaos]

The end game good news is that the hair you are loosing will come right back after tx. Might take a few months, but you will be as good as new. I though I was in real trouble, with something like 30% loss and significant thinning. All good now. No need to fret, jsut get a hat or borrow one of nygirl's wigs :-).