I've been LCing since July 15, 2003. So far I've lost 30 lb and my jeans that used to be too tight are now baggy. That's the good part.

The bad part is that I *think* I'm losing my hair. I'm female, 36, always had very thick hair. For the past two weeks, I notice that I'm brushing a *lot* of hair into the sink; it looks like I'm losing 100 hairs every night. This can't be normal!

Now, I have short hair, so I don't need to brush it during the day. Maybe I'm brushing out a normal daily amount all at once every night, and have only just recently noticed it.

On the other hand, maybe the LC WOE has made me deficient in some nutrient. I feel fine, and my complexion is also fine. I'd ask my hairdresser, but I'm not due to see him for another month.

So...has anyone else experienced hair loss? Is this a downside of LCing that the books don't tell you about? Or am I just being "hair"anoid?

BTW, I live in Canada, where you need a referral from your GP to see a specialist like a dermatologist, and those referrals are hard to come by...that's why I thought I'd ask all you experienced LCers first!

a lot of people experience hair loss when they start dieting or lose weight quickly, sometimes taking a multivitamin will help, other times, itll go away once you stop losing weight so fast

if it doest stop though, see your doctor! cant hurt

Same problem--different curcumstances. My hair is very thick, or at least it use to be. I am loosing hair by the handfulls every time I wash it. Thinking it might be the different birthcontrol pills I am taking, I called my dr. I was told that after pregnancy it is normal for you to loose a lot of hair since your body held onto it during pregnancy. I have a hard time believing that I could loose this much. I have had a rapid weight loss of 30 pounds in 4 months(not including the baby weight I lost right away), a large hormonal shift plus different bc pills, and I am still taking prenatals while I am breastfeeding. With all of this going on with my body I have no way of knowing what is causing it. The dr. did say that if it is not coming out in clumps or there are no sores on my head that it is probably natural and could last for up to a year(by then I will be bald!).

I have had the same problem...I lost hair for about 4 months....I was scared because I have long blonde hair and I didnt want to loose it....or have to cut it...

Im happy to say....It has stopped....but so has the weightloss...its very slow now.so I do think it was because of faster than normal weightloss....
hang in there......it will let up....
I can actually see when I part my hair the new hair growing back......

This was also a problem for me. I also thought it was because I didn't brush my hair often during the day, but months have passed and I have felt my hair getting thinner and thinner. My DD who does my color for me asked me a month or so ago what in the heck was going on with my hair. She noticed how thin it was getting on top and this has never been a problem with me. I have always had VERY thick hair. Made a Dr. appt, but she didn't have any answers. I was referred to a dermatologist, but the insurance has decided this is a cosmetic thing and will not pay for it so I cancelled.

Meanwhile, I was reading on the thyroid forum, as I suspected this may be part of the problem, and someone had mentioned in one of the threads about taking coconut oil. I looked into it further on my own, ordered some oil off the internet and have been taking it for nearly 3 weeks (tomorrow). Already new hair is coming in. I am combing/washing out much, much less, and all my white hair is darkening as the new hair is coming in dark.

I know this would take a giant leap of faith, but I took it and am very pleased with the results. There have been many other benefits, but losing my hair was really the one that was bothering me.

If you are interested in learning more about this....tropicaltraditions.com has lots of info. and there is a discussion group with yahoo.

Deb

Here's some info:

Hair Loss

Some people may experience temporary hair loss while on any dieting and weight loss program. There are a variety of reasons.
Lack of protein and vitamin supplements can be the cause. The amount of supplements needed varies for each person. Most find that taking an essential fatty acid supplement or using at least 1 tsp of olive oil each day helps. There are many brands of essential fatty acid supplements on the market.

It's important to drink enough water each day and keep your body hydrated.

Stress and hormonal changes can trigger temporary hair loss. Your body could be showing signs of stress because it has been using food as a coping mechanism. Your body is learning how to deal with new habits and lifestyle changes and has triggered a normal response. There is also a small amount of estrogen produced in fatty tissue, some people experience hormonal changes with weight loss which can lead to hair loss. Both of these problems are temporary and will stop once your body has adjusted.

Getting enough sleep (but not too much) is important not only for your state of mind but for your body. A well rested body will react better to the stress of dieting.

It's normal to "shed" hair at certain times of the year. If you are also dieting during this time it can become quite noticable.

If you're still concerned, or experience any other symptoms besides the hair loss, please consult your physician.

Also, since hair cycles on and off, a shock like losing a lot of weight can make all the hair go into "lose it" mode at once. With more protein and fat in your diet, your hair should settle down and create new hair that's better (that's why it got rid of the old stuff.)

I lost hair"by the handfuls" also for about 3 months. I started taking biotin. The hair loss has stopped. I can see the new hair growth coming in. I sure it was because of the "shock" to my system of losing all the weight so quickly. I don't plan on buying a second bottle of biotin when this one is finished.

Hair loss is a common phenomenon on any diet, I have learned. However, I have not lost any excess hair. As-a-matter-of-fact, my hair has grown. I wish the hair on my legs would fall out. LOL

B57

Thank you very much for your helpful and reassuring comments, everyone. I'll try not to get stressed about the hair loss -- seems like more stress is exactly what *won't* help, lol!

If things get worse I'll check in with the doctor...I just feel dumb making an appointment for something that seems so frivolous.

Meanwhile, I'll look into the coconut oil and biotin suggestions. Coconut oil sounds yummy and I bet you could use it for a moisturizer too!

This is such a great forum. Thanks again, everyone!

Definetly check out your supplements. I was losing it for awhile and I wansnt getting enough nutrients

I´m glad somebody asked about it because I´m also experimenting hair loss and my hair is getting thinner.
I have been low carbing since june 9 and I began to notice the hair loss about one month ago.
I´m taking a multivitamin, EFA, potassium, magnesium calcium and chromium. I guess I;ll add biotin.
Thanks for your suggestions.
Isiar

Hi there!
I did a search in the forum and I found a very good thread about hair loss.
Take a look at
http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthre...light=hair+loss
Isiar

Thanks for the link to the other thread, Isiar. I checked it out and found it very useful. One posting includes a link to a lowcarbluxury newsletter that covers hair loss: http://www.lowcarbluxury.com/newsle...07.html#letters

Seems like "telogen effluvium" hair loss is a fairly common (and thankfully temporary) side effect of weight loss.

I'm going to look at readjusting my supplements. Right now I'm taking a basic one-a-day, vitamin B complex, vitamin C, calcium, and omega 3-6-9. Maybe I'll add some fancy stuff like biotin, CoQ10, L-carnitine, and silica.

My husband is also LCing, and losing weight at the same rate as I am, but he hasn't reported any hair loss. Of course, he was already bald to begin with, lol!

Hi!
Keep posting so we can see how our hair issue is going (specially if we can see improvementes due to supplements)
That is why I love this forum, we can keep in touch and overcome obstacles all together. Union makes the strenght
Cheers, Isiar