My hair has been falling out in shocks every time I wash it for about 3 or 4 months now. I noticed it in May. I finally made an appointment with an OB/reproductive endocrinologist, which I couldn't do in May because I was going to India. The appt is on the 19th. Also, my hair has been taking a longer time to get oily recently, but I think that may be the doxy. (does that happen?) What should I ask/expect from this visit? I think I may have PCOS. Should I bring it up during the visit?

My hair has been falling out in shocks every time I wash it for about 3 or 4 months now. I noticed it in May. I finally made an appointment with an OB/reproductive endocrinologist, which I couldn't do in May because I was going to India. The appt is on the 19th. Also, my hair has been taking a longer time to get oily recently, but I think that may be the doxy. (does that happen?) What should I ask/expect from this visit? I think I may have PCOS. Should I bring it up during the visit?

Yeah definitely tell them the things you're worried about. Tell your doctor you've read that acne and hair loss are associated with PCOS (and any other symptoms you have). They'll probably do a blood test for PCOS. This is exactly what happened with me about a month or so ago. My results came back with nothing of any major concern as far as PCOS goes, but she said to keep an eye on things as there's a possibility I'm on the border of developing it...

I'm not sure about oily hair and doxy - I can't remember if there was any difference when I took it sorry.

Today I finally called the hospital because I had been waking up in the middle of the night with numbness. Lately, it has gotten so bad that I wake up and both my hands & arms are numb. Sometimes my legs too, it happened while I was driving the other day and it freaked me out. It's been happening on and off for about a year, but now it's more frequent and it's moving to my head. The first thing the nurse asked me was if I was on birth control because it could be thrombosis or blood clots. It could also be diabetes or sclerosis, according to my research, but hopefully it's nothing serious. I hope it's not the aftermath of bcp, coming back to haunt me after all these years. Perhaps it's related to my anemia, who knows. Not sure what kind of doctor to go see, my health insurance is minimal at this point and I'm in a new city with probably no coverage. I'm not even sure if doctors can diagnose it. Last time I told a doctor about it, she just told me to eat more protein and drink more water. If I drink any more water, I'll have to relocate to the bathroom lol. Trying to stay positive... I feel as though I'm trying to fix one thing, and something else goes bad.

Today I finally called the hospital because I had been waking up in the middle of the night with numbness. Lately, it has gotten so bad that I wake up and both my hands & arms are numb. Sometimes my legs too, it happened while I was driving the other day and it freaked me out. It's been happening on and off for about a year, but now it's more frequent and it's moving to my head. The first thing the nurse asked me was if I was on birth control because it could be thrombosis or blood clots. It could also be diabetes or sclerosis, according to my research, but hopefully it's nothing serious. I hope it's not the aftermath of bcp, coming back to haunt me after all these years. Perhaps it's related to my anemia, who knows. Not sure what kind of doctor to go see, my health insurance is minimal at this point and I'm in a new city with probably no coverage I'm not even sure if doctors can diagnose it. Last time I told a doctor about it, she just told me to eat more protein and drink more water. If I drink any more water, I'll have to relocate to the bathroom lol. Trying to stay positive... I feel as though I'm trying to fix one thing, and something else goes bad.

If you're able to get to a GP even, that's a good first step. They should be able to run some blood tests and rule out whether it is a deficiency in something or due to anaemia or not. They should also be able to point you in the right direction in terms of who to see next if you have to see a specialist etc

Hope it works out well Good luck

 

Today I finally called the hospital because I had been waking up in the middle of the night with numbness. Lately, it has gotten so bad that I wake up and both my hands & arms are numb. Sometimes my legs too, it happened while I was driving the other day and it freaked me out. It's been happening on and off for about a year, but now it's more frequent and it's moving to my head. The first thing the nurse asked me was if I was on birth control because it could be thrombosis or blood clots. It could also be diabetes or sclerosis, according to my research, but hopefully it's nothing serious. I hope it's not the aftermath of bcp, coming back to haunt me after all these years. Perhaps it's related to my anemia, who knows. Not sure what kind of doctor to go see, my health insurance is minimal at this point and I'm in a new city with probably no coverage I'm not even sure if doctors can diagnose it. Last time I told a doctor about it, she just told me to eat more protein and drink more water. If I drink any more water, I'll have to relocate to the bathroom lol. Trying to stay positive... I feel as though I'm trying to fix one thing, and something else goes bad.

If you're able to get to a GP even, that's a good first step. They should be able to run some blood tests and rule out whether it is a deficiency in something or due to anaemia or not. They should also be able to point you in the right direction in terms of who to see next if you have to see a specialist etc

Hope it works out well Good luck

Thanks lilly! I hope it doesn't take ages to get a referral and then go see a GP, sometimes the process makes it so hard to get an appointment that I just give up.

A complete stranger told me I have very pretty skin today!

I`m much the same as the past few days. Face is clear but neck area is a problem. I could stop shaving until it clears up but I look stupid with a beard. It grows patchily and coz I`m old, there are grey bits in my beard these days. Hopefully it will clear up in the next few days.

A complete stranger told me I have very pretty skin today!

That stranger is totally correct. Hopefully, you can believe it and embrace it.

On 7/12/2013 at 12:37 PM, GUNNKE said:

I`m much the same as the past few days. Face is clear but neck area is a problem. I could stop shaving until it clears up but I look stupid with a beard. It grows patchily and coz I`m old, there are grey bits in my beard these days. Hopefully it will clear up in the next few days.

On 7/12/2013 at 11:28 AM, TheSavyBanana said:

A complete stranger told me I have very pretty skin today!

That stranger is totally correct. Hopefully, you can believe it and embrace it.

Thank you so much!

Loving my life - hating my skin. I'm all over red today and very splotchy. gonna have to make some adjustments to my regimen. I hate that treating my acne takes so much time and that treatment has never gotten me clear. How much more of this shit will I have to take. On top of that, my health is becoming a concern once again. This cycle is truly nver ending....sigh. On days like this, for a moment, I wish I could be someone else

Feeling good. Lots of my spots cleared up in time for this outdoor concert today. I owe it all to running high pressure shower water over my face. I always thought that would just irritate my skin but it's only helped it.

Feeling good. Lots of my spots cleared up in time for this outdoor concert today. I owe it all to running high pressure shower water over my face. I always thought that would just irritate my skin but it's only helped it.

good u found a way.

enjoy!

Today I just feel, awful Along my jaw at my chin is just inflamed everywhere with clogged pores, all clustered together, so it's super red,. It feels dry too and so so itchy, I have to resist the urge to just scratch al it like mad. I'm obsessively tracking my package from Paula's Choice.. I'm really desperate to start using that regimen.. I'm so embarrassed by my skin I can't even find the courage to go out anywhere.

I know this has nothing to do with acne, but I'm losing my hair!!!! :***( I'm down to about a third of the original thickness. Every time I wash my hair, shocks/locks of it fall out. It's more every time. And when I run my hand through my hair, a few strands fall out. It's literally like one strand every five minutes. I made an appointment with a derm in my area today for that purpose. I'll probably cancel my appt with the OB, just because I didn't realize that derms dealt with hair issues as well...

My skin is looking pretty clear, on the bright side. I've decided that I'm going to refrain from make-up as long as I can, even when college starts up again. I'll use it on nights out and special occasions only. I was thinking of buying some MAC foundation, since I used to use that sparingly in high school and loved the way that it looked, but my True Match topped with Alima Pure looked so wonderful today when I tried it on, that I just decided against it for now. I don't want to waste money...

Today I just feel, awful Along my jaw at my chin is just inflamed everywhere with clogged pores, all clustered together, so it's super red,. It feels dry too and so so itchy, I have to resist the urge to just scratch al it like mad. I'm obsessively tracking my package from Paula's Choice.. I'm really desperate to start using that regimen.. I'm so embarrassed by my skin I can't even find the courage to go out anywhere.

Don't scratch it! CeraVe cream is usually pretty good at getting my itchies/inflamed/irritated skin under control when it acts up under my chin. You might wanna consider using it with a mild face wash like Olay for sensitive skin until your paula's choice gets in. I wouldn't use actives on dry and really itchy skin. It's one thing to have dry, red skin and another for it to be itchy and inflamed. I would def. get that under control first!

I feel you with the embarrassment I feel like everyone on this thread has felt that way at some point. You just have to hold your chin up, because the more you let it prevent you from living your life, the worse you are going to feel. Go hangout with some friends or family and get your mind off of it! That's what I do when I feel down about my skin.

Thank you for your kind response I've been moisturizing it throughout the day, it seems to have lost a bit of the redness.

I hope you get your problem with your hair sorted out soon! It's so heartbreaking to think that clear skin can't just be easy to obtain, and that so may people can end up with side effects from trying to treat it.

I'm losing my hair too! Every time I brush my hair, my hair brush is full of my hair, my hair is always all over my clothes, etc. My hair used to be so thick.

I've gone to my doctor many times for it, but he thinks it's normal. It really bothers me. I wonder what it could be.

I know this has nothing to do with acne, but I'm losing my hair!!!! :***( I'm down to about a third of the original thickness. Every time I wash my hair, shocks/locks of it fall out. It's more every time. And when I run my hand through my hair, a few strands fall out. It's literally like one strand every five minutes. I made an appointment with a derm in my area today for that purpose. I'll probably cancel my appt with the OB, just because I didn't realize that derms dealt with hair issues as well...

My skin is looking pretty clear, on the bright side. I've decided that I'm going to refrain from make-up as long as I can, even when college starts up again. I'll use it on nights out and special occasions only. I was thinking of buying some MAC foundation, since I used to use that sparingly in high school and loved the way that it looked, but my True Match topped with Alima Pure looked so wonderful today when I tried it on, that I just decided against it for now. I don't want to waste money...

Today I just feel, awful Along my jaw at my chin is just inflamed everywhere with clogged pores, all clustered together, so it's super red,. It feels dry too and so so itchy, I have to resist the urge to just scratch al it like mad. I'm obsessively tracking my package from Paula's Choice.. I'm really desperate to start using that regimen.. I'm so embarrassed by my skin I can't even find the courage to go out anywhere.

Don't scratch it! CeraVe cream is usually pretty good at getting my itchies/inflamed/irritated skin under control when it acts up under my chin. You might wanna consider using it with a mild face wash like Olay for sensitive skin until your paula's choice gets in. I wouldn't use actives on dry and really itchy skin. It's one thing to have dry, red skin and another for it to be itchy and inflamed. I would def. get that under control first!

I feel you with the embarrassment I feel like everyone on this thread has felt that way at some point. You just have to hold your chin up, because the more you let it prevent you from living your life, the worse you are going to feel. Go hangout with some friends or family and get your mind off of it! That's what I do when I feel down about my skin.

I know this has nothing to do with acne, but I'm losing my hair!!!! :***( I'm down to about a third of the original thickness. Every time I wash my hair, shocks/locks of it fall out. It's more every time. And when I run my hand through my hair, a few strands fall out. It's literally like one strand every five minutes. I made an appointment with a derm in my area today for that purpose. I'll probably cancel my appt with the OB, just because I didn't realize that derms dealt with hair issues as well...

My skin is looking pretty clear, on the bright side. I've decided that I'm going to refrain from make-up as long as I can, even when college starts up again. I'll use it on nights out and special occasions only. I was thinking of buying some MAC foundation, since I used to use that sparingly in high school and loved the way that it looked, but my True Match topped with Alima Pure looked so wonderful today when I tried it on, that I just decided against it for now. I don't want to waste money...

I'm losing my hair too! Every time I brush my hair, my hair brush is full of my hair, my hair is always all over my clothes, etc. My hair used to be so thick.

I've gone to my doctor many times for it, but he thinks it's normal. It really bothers me. I wonder what it could be.

 

Same here! I asked my doctor about it a few months ago when I had a blood test for PCOS and was asking about using birth control or spiro for my acne. She didn't seem worried or concerned about it - but to me it's thinning.

It really scares me at times but I haven't been worrying about it so much lately. It's hard for me to tell if I am actually losing hair or not - I realised I stopped brushing my hair that often because I was worried about that causing more hair loss - but then that makes it look like I'm losing more hair when I do brush my hair because the 'normal' everyday hair loss is just staying 'caught' in my hair and all coming out at once when I brush so it looks like a lot. (I don't know if that makes sense to you but not sure how else to say it). Same for in the shower - I feel I lose a lot more than what's normal in the shower. And throughout the day if I run my fingers in my hair I'll have a few strands in my hand. I was very stressed and had high anxiety a couple of months ago when this was worrying me the most - I think things like high stress and anxiety can cause hair loss too so that could have been contributing to it for me then. For now I'm keeping an eye on it but trying not to stress about it because I think that could make it worse. I think I would much rather have acne than lose my hair if it couldn't grow back.

Depressed

I avoided sulfites at all costs these past few days, after a nasty flare up last week. My skin was doing so well for over a month now, so I needed to figure out what caused this sudden flare up. I took close up pics of my acne and realized it might all be an allergic reaction, except for a few hormonal break outs. My daily regimen -- including diet, supplements, and cosmetics -- is so controlled at this point, that any new addition makes a difference in my skin. After switching up my shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste, and a few other products, as well as avoiding sulfites in food preservatives, my skin is clearing up again. All within a span of 5 days. I will see how it goes this month, and if I am indeed on the right track I will do an extensive post on the diet forum to explain the connections I have found between histamines, intolerances, and acne. I wish I could go back and re-do my PhD in a more useful field, like dermatology. Sigh.

 

I know this has nothing to do with acne, but I'm losing my hair!!!! :***( I'm down to about a third of the original thickness. Every time I wash my hair, shocks/locks of it fall out. It's more every time. And when I run my hand through my hair, a few strands fall out. It's literally like one strand every five minutes. I made an appointment with a derm in my area today for that purpose. I'll probably cancel my appt with the OB, just because I didn't realize that derms dealt with hair issues as well...

My skin is looking pretty clear, on the bright side. I've decided that I'm going to refrain from make-up as long as I can, even when college starts up again. I'll use it on nights out and special occasions only. I was thinking of buying some MAC foundation, since I used to use that sparingly in high school and loved the way that it looked, but my True Match topped with Alima Pure looked so wonderful today when I tried it on, that I just decided against it for now. I don't want to waste money...

>I'm losing my hair too! Every time I brush my hair, my hair brush is full of my hair, my hair is always all over my clothes, etc. My hair used to be so thick.

I've gone to my doctor many times for it, but he thinks it's normal. It really bothers me. I wonder what it could be.

 

Same here! I asked my doctor about it a few months ago when I had a blood test for PCOS and was asking about using birth control or spiro for my acne. She didn't seem worried or concerned about it - but to me it's thinning.

It really scares me at times but I haven't been worrying about it so much lately. It's hard for me to tell if I am actually losing hair or not - I realised I stopped brushing my hair that often because I was worried about that causing more hair loss - but then that makes it look like I'm losing more hair when I do brush my hair because the 'normal' everyday hair loss is just staying 'caught' in my hair and all coming out at once when I brush so it looks like a lot. (I don't know if that makes sense to you but not sure how else to say it). Same for in the shower - I feel I lose a lot more than what's normal in the shower. And throughout the day if I run my fingers in my hair I'll have a few strands in my hand. I was very stressed and had high anxiety a couple of months ago when this was worrying me the most - I think things like high stress and anxiety can cause hair loss too so that could have been contributing to it for me then. For now I'm keeping an eye on it but trying not to stress about it because I think that could make it worse. I think I would much rather have acne than lose my hair if it couldn't grow back.

Oh my goodness, it is scary, isn't it? I totally know what you mean- I can't tell if I'm actually losing my hair either! I've tried brushing it as little as possible, and I only wash my hair every other day now because I also feel like I lose more hair after showering. Yeah probably right that stress makes it worse, but it's hard not to stress out when your hair is falling out! I really feel like it has a hormonal component to it. Right before I took Accutane, when my acne was at it's worst, large painful pimples all over my chin and the oiliest skin in the world, I developed alopecia and I was left with a huge bald spot on the right side of my head. Luckily there was a layer of hair to cover it, and it has since then grown back, but ever since then my hair has been getting thinner, and I have more all-over hair loss. I was just looking at a picture of myself from a couple of years ago, and my hair was so, so thick! I'd say my hair is half the thickness now of what it was. It's driving me crazy. I miss my thick hair.

I get paranoid about my hair too. Some parts of my hair seem different since going on bcps. I try not to think about it much and figure your hair sheds daily so it's best not to worry unless it's really falling out in handfuls. For me, stress definitely plays a part.... @skinnie I hope it gets figured out.

Oh my goodness, it is scary, isn't it? I totally know what you mean- I can't tell if I'm actually losing my hair either! I've tried brushing it as little as possible, and I only wash my hair every other day now because I also feel like I lose more hair after showering. Yeah probably right that stress makes it worse, but it's hard not to stress out when your hair is falling out! I really feel like it has a hormonal component to it. Right before I took Accutane, when my acne was at it's worst, large painful pimples all over my chin and the oiliest skin in the world, I developed alopecia and I was left with a huge bald spot on the right side of my head. Luckily there was a layer of hair to cover it, and it has since then grown back, but ever since then my hair has been getting thinner, and I have more all-over hair loss. I was just looking at a picture of myself from a couple of years ago, and my hair was so, so thick! I'd say my hair is half the thickness now of what it was. It's driving me crazy. I miss my thick hair.

Yeah it is scary! I can only imagine what it would have been like dealing with alopecia. I would have been terrified honestly. Glad to hear things have improved since then though.

In high school people used to tell me they loved my hair. I'm sure it's thinned a fair bit since then.

It's hard to work out the cause. I'm sure there's a hormonal component to it too. Could be some sort of vitamin deficiency also and stress like I said before.

Hopefully we all figure out what the deal is with this thinning hair issue and how to help it. Hope it only improves from here on!!

not combing hair is never a solution.

u're just making it worse actually.u are just giving it more time to stay entangled(if i may call it so) and then the next time u comb.bomb!

so find out the real cause.

could be deficiency or plain hereditary.

also,check for the products u use.

note, rainy season or sometimes colder weather causes comparatively more hair fall than usual.

its pretty common.

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Fed up. I have a really painful lump with a whitehead on top of it near my nose and then a few healing ones. I just want a permanent solution!

No longer have any cetaphil, so I'm using a horrible clean and clear cleanser and jojoba oil wasn't really doing anything fantastic for my skin, so I stopped using that too.

-_-

not combing hair is never a solution.

u're just making it worse actually.u are just giving it more time to stay entangled(if i may call it so) and then the next time u comb.bomb!

That's what I was trying to say a few posts ago but I think you said it in a better / easier to understand way!

I think that's a big part of it for me. Hopefully it means it looks worse than it actually is...

I didn't know that about colder weather - it's winter here at the moment (as it was about a month ago when I was really worried about hair loss) so that could be a factor for me too.

Thanks for the info!