Yet Another Scalp Hair Question

[KarynMcD]

Ok,
So, I'm not sure if I'm losing more hair or if I'm just noticing the regular amount falling out more because I've been growing it longer.

My T levels are below the measurable amount for the lab, so I don't think that is an issue and I seem to be regrowing hair in areas that had lost it.

Does anyone here remember what it was like when they first started to grow their hair longer?

[Lady_Oracle]

Yep it's normal we shed like about a hundred hairs on average a day so if you have long hair, it's gonna look like a lot. My hair is past my boobs so when I shed it looks like I could make a wig out of it lol.  Also if you go days without brushing it out the amount of hair that sheds will look like its a lot more than usual since it's been building up.

[.Christy]

Yes that's normal, especially when you have long hair. It's much easier for long hair to shed probably because of all the unconscious tugging we do to it like brushing and styling etc. I've always had long hair, but when it's time for the usual trim, a few inches off would dramatically reduce the shedding. I used to shed quite a bit too, but now since ive started hrt the shedding has been reduced quite noticeably, which is a good thing for me!

[runaway]

What everyone said here. Next time you brush or wash your hair, count the number of strands. Chances are, you're shedding a lot less than what it looks like. My hair is about bra-strap length, and I count an average of 5-10 strands when I wash it every 2-3 days, but it definitely looks like it's a lot more than that!

[Steph34]

Longer hair may get snagged more easily, or in my case form dense knots that tear it out due to extreme natural curls. Not surprisingly, I thought a haircut might help, so I had one in December. After the cut, I noticed a significant increase in shedding for the next month. I am never doing that again. For me personally, spironolactone also increased shedding by causing the scalp to become dry and flaky. My two months on spiro were a failed treatment that my hair did not appreciate.

Is there any scalp irritation in places where the hair is falling out? That could be a sign of a fungal infection or an allergic reaction to a topical product. Even though I lose much less hair now in areas previously thinned by DHT poisoning, I am losing more hair now in the back and along the sides, areas that were less affected by DHT. I think it is because the estrogen makes me vulnerable to yeast infections on the scalp. Stopping oral estradiol and eliminating active yeast from my diet has helped, but I am at a loss as to how to stop the shedding. I have lost half my hair on the sides and back since beginning my transition, despite using dutasteride routinely.

[Lady_Oracle]

The best thing to do if you're on spiro is to be aggressive with how often you deep condition and shampoo. Adding in coconut oil to seal in moisture and having a leave in conditioner, keeps the scalp healthy. At least that's what I do, I still have some flaking but its because I get lazy. Pure argon oil is also great for your skin and scalp. Spiro does make things worst but as long as you're proactive with hydrating your skin then you should be able to curb those side effects. Oh yeah and drink lots and lots of water, become a fish 

[Carrie Liz]

Spring and fall shedding is also a thing...

I wondered the same, having been going partially bald before HRT, so I was REALLY phobic about seeing a bunch of hair come out every time I brushed it...

It turned to just be normal shedding. It's just that I never noticed it before because when it's just short hair falling out, it doesn't coalesce into giant nightmarish 2-inch-wide clumps that take over the floor of your bedroom.

[KarynMcD]

It's just that I never noticed it before because when it's just short hair falling out, it doesn't coalesce into giant nightmarish 2-inch-wide clumps that take over the floor of your bedroom.

Exactly!
It seems to be a little less now than it was previously.

[Steph34]

Yep it's normal we shed like about a hundred hairs on average a day so if you have long hair, it's gonna look like a lot.

The often cited figure of 50-100 strands per day is misleading for several reasons. One is that it assumes a full head of hair. If I only have 20% of my original strands left, then I should only shed 10-20 per day if they are healthy. Also, these numbers refer to total detachment, and the vast majority of detached hairs go unseen. If one is actually seeing even half these numbers, that is cause for concern. I am only seeing 10-20 per day but I am still suffering from continuing hair loss (even with HRT and dutasteride) for this reason.

The best thing to do if you're on spiro is to be aggressive with how often you deep condition and shampoo.

I can't condition because I have so little hair left. If I do, I shed profusely in the shower.

Spring and fall shedding is also a thing...

Really? I have always lost more in the summer, and my therapist said that is common to "anyone who has hair."

I wondered the same, having been going partially bald before HRT, so I was REALLY phobic about seeing a bunch of hair come out every time I brushed it...It turned to just be normal shedding.

It's just that I never noticed it before because when it's just short hair falling out, it doesn't coalesce into giant nightmarish 2-inch-wide clumps that take over the floor of your bedroom.

If you are seeing that, I cannot believe it is just normal shedding, since again, most detached hair is never seen. One way to determine if it is normal shedding is to examine the detached strands, particularly the end where it came off of the scalp. If the strand gets really thin as you approach the end where it was attached, then the hair follicle is unhealthy, most likely due to residual DHT or microbes. Such 'unhealthy' follicles are much less likely to regenerate hair. I was also going partially bald before, and that indicates an incredibly high level of sensitivity to DHT, which is never completely gone.