Help!!! My hair is falling out.

callie · May 11th, 2008, 14:01

Hi

I really hope that someone out there has an answer for me because I am about to go bald.

I got back from Southern India about a month ago and was there for 5 weeks. Great trip. Can't wait to get back but that aside, from almost the moment I got there, my hair started to fall out. Not in clumps or patches but all over. I seemed to remember from my first trip that this happened and from tv ads about shampoo and what not, worked out that it was a pretty normal thing.

But it has not stopped. Luckily I have fairly thick hair so I could handle it for a while, but now I am starting to get really freaked about it. It is no small amount. My doc ran all the normal vitamin and mineral deficiency tests and I am healthy, so it is not from that. My scalp is just fine as well.

Has anyone else experienced this? And if so, any advice. I like my hair.

Thanks.

Radjesh · May 11th, 2008, 14:44

If you were in Chennai, I can say that its down to the water.

Some friends who moved to chennai from other towns have lost hair significantly & they always point out to the water.

Nick-H · May 11th, 2008, 15:03

That's just something people in Chennai do. Even when they move from one part of the city to another. Mrs. N blamed the at my house for all sorts of things when she moved in with me!

Which is not to say that it might not be true, of course!

Could it be the sun? Hair loss can often be an emotional reaction: mine may be age-related male-pattern baldness, but it began when I gave up a long-help, secure, niche job and ventured out into the big, bad world. Have you been really strongly affected by visiting, or leaving, India? Or by anything else?

That's all I can suggest...

mirjamd · May 11th, 2008, 15:10

Sarah MacDonald describes the same experience in her book 'Holy Cow'. As Nick described, coming to India was pretty emotional for her, so that might have been the reason. Her hair stopped falling and came back eventually, but it took some time. The book is a great read anyway, and maybe it will help you with this particular problem...
I have also lost some of my hair's volume after coming to india, but thankfully not so bad.
Good luck, I can imagine how stressful it can be to lose your hair!

Radjesh · May 11th, 2008, 15:35

The high mineral content of the chennai water (which mineral, I dont know)... is the cited reason for the hair loss

callie · May 11th, 2008, 16:14

Yes I started and ended my trip in Chennai. I went all over the southern tip and there was no let up in the great hair fall.

I can't say that I experienced any huge emotional wave on my trip. Just very proud of myself for doing it solo and I don't tend to have an issue with stress. Can't be bothered with it really.

I will ride it out for a little longer before hitting the Rogaine. Thanks for your responses. I knew you guys would know something.

Ta

ebby · May 11th, 2008, 16:35

Try applying pure coconut oil on your scalp and it may stop the hairfall. Anyway it will not harm your hair.

Nick-H · May 11th, 2008, 16:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radjesh

The high mineral content of the chennai water (which mineral, I dont know)... is the cited reason for the hair loss

Yes, true... and it also varies from street to street ---even house to house--- which is another reason it is a talking point with residents.

wonderwomanusa · May 11th, 2008, 23:01

I was very ill (ill enough to be hospitalized) about 18 months ago, and about 3 months after I recovered, my hair started falling out. My doctor said it was from the stress of being ill, and told me to take a daily vitamin. A couple of weeks later, I could see new hair growing in. Maybe that was coincidence, maybe not. So try vitamins; they won't hurt you and might help.

Swe_Mats · May 11th, 2008, 23:19

hmm, I certanly won't been taking any showers in Chennai. Is this happening in other areas in the south?

SitaParityaga · May 11th, 2008, 23:20

Were you taking antimalarial medications? Its a side effect of some of them, and I have heard from friends who've experienced this...one lost his eyebrows

grikoo · May 11th, 2008, 23:37

Yes, malarial prophylactics are the most likely cause if you're on them. If you're on mefloquine, consider switching to doxycycline or malarone.

Swe_Mats · May 12th, 2008, 00:00

I hade som bad experiences of malarone. The side-effects was pretty bad for my, and I wouldn't recommend them myself...

Cardamom · May 12th, 2008, 00:08

I agree with ebby - do a scalp massage of coconut oil (parachute brand perhaps?) once a week and leave it on as long as you can. It's very therapeutic for the scalp. You'll also have nice shiny hair

This same thing happened to my friend when she returned from a 2 month yoga retreat in Bali. I think it was a combination of things (emotional & physical) - the body has amazing ways of responding to its environment

Her hair has stopped falling out now!

C

Nick-H · May 12th, 2008, 00:20

Anti-malarials/other medicines: That's a very good point!

Swe-Mats... don't worry about this... there's plenty of good heads of hair, in fact so far as the ladies are concerned, plenty of utterly amazing heads of hair in Chennai! Take your showers and enjoy.

May 11th, 2008, 14:01	#1
callie Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Aldinga Beach, South Australia Posts: 16	Help!!! My hair is falling out. Hi I really hope that someone out there has an answer for me because I am about to go bald. I got back from Southern India about a month ago and was there for 5 weeks. Great trip. Can't wait to get back but that aside, from almost the moment I got there, my hair started to fall out. Not in clumps or patches but all over. I seemed to remember from my first trip that this happened and from tv ads about shampoo and what not, worked out that it was a pretty normal thing. But it has not stopped. Luckily I have fairly thick hair so I could handle it for a while, but now I am starting to get really freaked about it. It is no small amount. My doc ran all the normal vitamin and mineral deficiency tests and I am healthy, so it is not from that. My scalp is just fine as well. Has anyone else experienced this? And if so, any advice. I like my hair. Thanks.

May 11th, 2008, 15:03	#3
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,647	That's just something people in Chennai do. Even when they move from one part of the city to another. Mrs. N blamed the at my house for all sorts of things when she moved in with me! Which is not to say that it might not be true, of course! Could it be the sun? Hair loss can often be an emotional reaction: mine may be age-related male-pattern baldness, but it began when I gave up a long-help, secure, niche job and ventured out into the big, bad world. Have you been really strongly affected by visiting, or leaving, India? Or by anything else? That's all I can suggest... __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

May 12th, 2008, 00:00	#13
Swe_Mats Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sweden Posts: 58	malarone I hade som bad experiences of malarone. The side-effects was pretty bad for my, and I wouldn't recommend them myself...

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May 11th, 2008, 14:44	#2
Radjesh Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 631	If you were in Chennai, I can say that its down to the water. Some friends who moved to chennai from other towns have lost hair significantly & they always point out to the water.

May 11th, 2008, 15:10	#4
mirjamd Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Zoetermeer, Netherlands Posts: 196	Sarah MacDonald describes the same experience in her book 'Holy Cow'. As Nick described, coming to India was pretty emotional for her, so that might have been the reason. Her hair stopped falling and came back eventually, but it took some time. The book is a great read anyway, and maybe it will help you with this particular problem... I have also lost some of my hair's volume after coming to india, but thankfully not so bad. Good luck, I can imagine how stressful it can be to lose your hair!

May 11th, 2008, 15:35	#5
Radjesh Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 631	The high mineral content of the chennai water (which mineral, I dont know)... is the cited reason for the hair loss

May 11th, 2008, 16:14	#6
callie Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Aldinga Beach, South Australia Posts: 16	Yes I started and ended my trip in Chennai. I went all over the southern tip and there was no let up in the great hair fall. I can't say that I experienced any huge emotional wave on my trip. Just very proud of myself for doing it solo and I don't tend to have an issue with stress. Can't be bothered with it really. I will ride it out for a little longer before hitting the Rogaine. Thanks for your responses. I knew you guys would know something. Ta

May 11th, 2008, 16:35	#7
ebby Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mysore, India Posts: 528	Try applying pure coconut oil on your scalp and it may stop the hairfall. Anyway it will not harm your hair.

May 11th, 2008, 23:01	#9
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 3,002	I was very ill (ill enough to be hospitalized) about 18 months ago, and about 3 months after I recovered, my hair started falling out. My doctor said it was from the stress of being ill, and told me to take a daily vitamin. A couple of weeks later, I could see new hair growing in. Maybe that was coincidence, maybe not. So try vitamins; they won't hurt you and might help.

May 11th, 2008, 23:19	#10
Swe_Mats Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sweden Posts: 58	hmm, I certanly won't been taking any showers in Chennai. Is this happening in other areas in the south?

May 11th, 2008, 23:20	#11
SitaParityaga member in the forest Join Date: May 2003 Location: California Posts: 852	Were you taking antimalarial medications? Its a side effect of some of them, and I have heard from friends who've experienced this...one lost his eyebrows

May 11th, 2008, 23:37	#12
grikoo Disclaimer- He who knows not what he speaks of Join Date: May 2008 Location: Here Posts: 453	Yes, malarial prophylactics are the most likely cause if you're on them. If you're on mefloquine, consider switching to doxycycline or malarone.

May 12th, 2008, 00:08	#14
Cardamom Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New York, NY Posts: 173	I agree with ebby - do a scalp massage of coconut oil (parachute brand perhaps?) once a week and leave it on as long as you can. It's very therapeutic for the scalp. You'll also have nice shiny hair This same thing happened to my friend when she returned from a 2 month yoga retreat in Bali. I think it was a combination of things (emotional & physical) - the body has amazing ways of responding to its environment Her hair has stopped falling out now! C

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May 12th, 2008, 00:20	#15
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,647	Anti-malarials/other medicines: That's a very good point! Swe-Mats... don't worry about this... there's plenty of good heads of hair, in fact so far as the ladies are concerned, plenty of utterly amazing heads of hair in Chennai! Take your showers and enjoy.