| I sometimes get emails that ask for advice on | | | | have to work with your doctor if you're going to |
| "what to take to stop hair shedding." Specifically, | | | | go this route to make sure this is the right |
| people want to know if there's a shampoo, pill, | | | | treatment at the right time. Again, maybe I'm |
| herb, essential oil, or vitamin that can stop or | | | | very conservative, but I prefer topicals first, |
| diminish their hair shedding. The answer is going to | | | | herbs second, and medications last. Saw palmetto |
| depend on the reason for their shedding in the | | | | and beta-sitosterol can be applied topically before |
| first place. I'll elaborate more in the following | | | | it is ingested internally. Making internal changes run |
| article. | | | | the risk of more loss. Sure, sometimes you do |
| Can You Take Or Use Something To Stop TE | | | | have to resort to internal treatments, but I |
| (Telogen Effluvium) Shedding?: That depends on | | | | believe you should try other things first. |
| what is the cause of the TE. I'm sure you know | | | | Scalp / Yeast Issues And Shedding: If you have a |
| this, but telogen effluvium is caused by some | | | | scalp or dermatological issue, then you must treat |
| abrupt changes in the body (changing medications, | | | | the scalp instead of going internally. There are a |
| illness, giving birth, having surgery, new scalp | | | | lot of natural substances that can help with this |
| issues, etc.) In some instances (like pregnancy), | | | | including tea tree oil and herbs that reduce or fight |
| you can take biotin and a multi vitamin to support | | | | candida. Severe dandruff and / or psoriasis can |
| your hair as it is regrowing, but this isn't going to | | | | also cause inflammation followed by loss in some |
| stop the shedding by itself. Time is just needed | | | | instances. Many conventional treatments for this |
| for that. Your body will adjust as your hair follicles | | | | dry the scalp even more and worsen the |
| reset to growing rather than resting - and this will | | | | problem. Often dandruff is tied into sebum which |
| happen in a few weeks or months. | | | | is tied into DHT. So in these cases, it doesn't hurt |
| If the TE is caused by a medication, you can likely | | | | to look both at the scalp and at the androgens. |
| try something new to see if it is more hair | | | | Autoimmune Shedding: When most people think |
| friendly. If you're suffering from a medical issue, | | | | of autoimmune hair loss, they think of AA and |
| you can work with your doctor to come up with | | | | patchy loss. But there are several autoimmune |
| a solution. Very often, effluvium is caused by | | | | conditions that can cause more diffuse patterns. |
| hormonal fluctuations. I realize it can be tempting | | | | Examples are lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and even |
| to try new birth control pills or bio identical | | | | some conditions that are thought to have an |
| hormones or even things like premarin. But | | | | autoimmune component like interstitial cystitis, |
| sometimes this backfires. Women who get TE | | | | Epstein Barr, chronic fatigue, and fibromyalgia. |
| are often hormonally vulnerable, so changing | | | | Sometimes a progressive dermatologist will agree |
| hormones AGAIN may just kick off a new TE. | | | | to give steroids to try to stop the autoimmune |
| Use caution and go slowly. I think that it is | | | | response, but there have been some promising |
| preferable to try topicals or natural herbs first. | | | | results from an overseas study that concentrated |
| Androgen Related Shedding: What Supplements | | | | on essential oils. |
| Or Vitamins Help With This?: Genetic thinning or | | | | I hope this article has shown you that what is |
| shedding that occurs because DHT or androgens | | | | going to help your hair is going to depend on what |
| are choking out healthy hair is another story. You | | | | is causing the hair loss in the first place. It really |
| need to get this substance off of your scalp | | | | does no good to focus on taking biotin if DHT is |
| before the shedding can slow and regrowth can | | | | miniaturizing your follicles in the same way that |
| start. Of course, many people will turn to propecia | | | | taking saw palmetto isn't going to help if you have |
| or spiro because they don't know what else to | | | | TE due to a thyroid problem. You must pinpoint |
| do. Again, though, these cause hormonal changes | | | | the cause first and focus on the treatment |
| that could cause a worsening shed. You really | | | | second. |