Bioiden. HRT/Hair Loss

• By Dogbone
• Reply 3489687
• October 25, 2012 at 8:49 pm
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I've had thinning hair for a long time and it is getting thinner but I am doing some bio-identical hormone replacement including 10 mg. of DHEA which I guess theoretically could convert to DHT the supposed culprit in hairloss. I have not done it because I take so many pills already but the recommendation is to take Saw Palmetto which is supposed to block the DHT (that comes from testosterone ) . Maybe you could also do this with some sort of topical that includes Saw Palmetto. I'm only using estrogen and progesterone creams. Are you sure you need testosterone? I think you need to block DHT.

• By gizmo99
• Reply 3490994
• October 26, 2012 at 9:53 am
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Hi Dogbone: Thanks for your advice. I've heard of using Saw Palmetto, I'm gonna talk to my doc about it in the next couple of weeks. I already take so many pills what with prescriptions and supplements. I haven't really noticed any benefit yet from using the testosterone. I don't know if I needed it or not, but one of the reasons for it was to help with the osteopenia (which would not produce noticeable benefits at this point). Right now, I've stopped using it. My hair which, like yours, has been thin for a long time, but for it to get thinner and to the point where I am seeing more noticeable scalp, is really alarming. It's been such a problem, and it really affects ones self-esteem. When I first talked to my gyno about hormone replacement, I remember him telling me that estrogen would make my hair nicer, but I have yet to see that, although maybe the testosterone has been the problem. Maybe without it, the hair would grow back in some. Such a dilemna!

• By BW
• Reply 3494064
• October 27, 2012 at 1:25 pm
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I am 56 and started menopause early at 42. I took hormone replacement for a few months, but didn't like the way I felt and started grwoing hair on my chin. I stopped immediately. I think it was the testosterone. Not doing that agai! I experienced hair loss from Reclast. Do you really need all those hormones pumped into your system? If you are using the hormone replacement as treatment for osteopenia, it sounds like overkill. Talk to your physician again. I am on calcium, vitamin D, folic acid, D&E, tumeric and sea buckthorn oil. My hair has grown back. Now, I think twice about anything stronger than aspirin. I just started using the new Aveda system for thinning hair and really like it. Expensive, but to me, it is worth it. It is good for hair you want to keep healthy after hair loss.

• By gizmo99
• Reply 3494500
• October 27, 2012 at 4:46 pm
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Hi BW. Thanks for your comments. I am of the same mind as you, I don't like taking any more drugs than I have to. However, over the past few years, I have just felt so bad with the menopause symptoms, chronic fatigue, hot flashes, etc. I have been taking calcium, vit. d, among others for many years and, even with that, my dexa scans revealed worsening bone density. I heard so much about how hormone replacement had helped people in a similar boat, and also that it could help the osteopenia. So, I saw a doc who deals in the bioidentical hrt because that's where I thought I should start. Anyways, I have stopped the testosterone, but will continue with the estrogen and progesterone. I don't know what the answers are, you're darned if you do and darned if you don't. I will look into the Aveda products you mentioned, maybe that could help me. Thanks again.

• By BW
• Reply 3494628 · In reply to 3494500 by gizmo99
• October 27, 2012 at 5:52 pm
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Let me know what happens. My osteoporosis is bad - 4.5 in the hips and spine. However, I am vain - I have very thick Farrah Fawcett hair, and since one doesn't see my bones, but sees my hair, vanity wins. I will not take any more meds for the osteoporosis. I try not to let it rule my life. Good luck...let me know how you like the Aveda.

• By JustaLady
• Reply 3495873 · In reply to 3494064 by BW
• October 28, 2012 at 9:48 am
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hi,
Just wondering if your hair grw back from areas where you could see scalp or thinning ?

• By 22curious
• Reply 3498322
• October 29, 2012 at 8:44 am
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Just a reply that doesn't involve getting to the root cause - Try one of the new texture powders. They are surprisingly effective. One I haven't tried is the Joan Rivers product which comes in three different hair colors. In addition to texture, the color is supposed to mask the scalp bareness. Regular texture powder is colorless. I mention the JR product because I have seen a lot of favorable comments on various web sites. I do use Got2b texture powder (colorless) and I like it a lot. I buy it at Ulta but I assume it's available at other places.

• By gizmo99
• Reply 3498454
• October 29, 2012 at 9:29 am
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Hi 22curious. I have used toppix and another one whose name I can't think of at this moment. Sometimes they work okay, but mostly it just seems to make it look like I've got dirt on my scalp. I guess I just need to practice more at applying it. I will look into the Joan Rivers product and also the Got2b powder. Thanks for the tip.

• By BW
• Reply 3499034 · In reply to 3495873 by JustaLady
• October 29, 2012 at 12:49 pm
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It grew back in the thinning places. One side is not quite as thick as it once was, but I am happy with the way it looks. One of my friends says now it looks like a "normal" person's head. I was just so used to having huge amounts.