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This isn’t an easy post for me to write but I know that I am not the only person out there to suffer hair loss through illness. I can cope with a lot of things, and I can deal with severe pain 24/7 but losing my hair was the hardest thing I’ve had to deal with.
That may sound stupid and silly to be so upset over losing something as simple as my hair but my hair was such a big part of who I am. I was always complimented on my thick, long healthy hair.
My Hair Before I Fell Ill
At the end of April 2017, I suffered the worst head pain I have ever had and was taken to the hospital where I was diagnosed with Giant Cell Arteritis, aka Temporal Arteritis or Horton’s disease. Painkillers do not help with the pain, the only thing that helps is steroids. They ended up giving me steroids intravenously. Due to that I quickly felt some relief which I was extremely grateful for. The pain I experienced made a really bad migraine feel like a walk in the park!
This condition has to be treated immediately because if not you can suffer from a stroke, blindness and even an aortic aneurysm. So it’s not something to treat lightly. I ended up having to have a temporal artery biopsy. They take a small piece of the artery in your temple to see if it is inflamed. Sadly this is more often than not ineffective at getting a definitive diagnosis.
Unfortunately, I had to have a high dose of steroids, Prednisolone 80mg daily. They started me off on 60mg but I was still experiencing severe head pain, so they upped the dosage to 80mg. This would be gradually tapered down to as low a dosage as possible without the pain returning. Relapses often happen and when they do, I have to up the steroids until the pain stops, then start the process of tapering all over again.
Some of the side effects of steroids are very unpleasant. After about 3 months, I noticed I had developed a ‘buffalo hump’ and the typical ‘moon face’ that people taking steroids can get. Not long after I noticed that my hair was falling out more than usual.
I didn’t think too much of it at first, I mean we all lose a few hairs every day but I soon realised I was losing A LOT of hair, it was coming out in handfuls. My hair was so much thinner and I could see my scalp.
The Supplements I Am Taking
Seeing my hair so thin was upsetting and so I googled about hair loss and steroids to see if there was anything I could do to help slow the loss down and also help regrowth.
Biotin and Folic Acid
After some research I discovered that taking a Biotin supplement was good for hair regrowth as well as making it stronger – an added bonus was that it’s also good for your nails too. The other supplement I discovered that was recommended was Folic Acid. At first, I was like, what? Thinking you only take Folic Acid when pregnant. Then I read that it promotes healthy cell growth, including hair and nails.
I have linked the Biotin and Folic Acid supplements that I take below if you are interested.
Honestly, I was willing to try anything to help with my hair loss. I ordered both supplements around August 2017 off Amazon and started taking them the day after they arrived. Now I wasn’t expecting results overnight obviously, as I had read it could take several months before seeing any benefits.
My Hair Loss
By the beginning of December 2017, most of my hair had fallen out. I was left with a few long strands and it just looked ridiculous. So, I made the decision to just shave my remaining hair off. At this point, I hadn’t really seen any noticeable difference in my hair but I had noticed that my nails were a lot stronger than they were. I wasn’t going to give up on the supplements, so I carried on taking them every day.
Ingenious Beauty Ultimate Collagen+ Second Generation
Early this year I was offered the chance to try some Ingenious Beauty Ultimate Collagen+ Second Generation and I thought they might help with my hair, along with also being very beneficial for my nails and skin. They are clever little capsules that go where needed most.
I started to notice fluffy new growth around my hairline, I could no longer see my scalp either. For the first time, I was hopeful that I would eventually get my hair back to its full glory. Not only that but my skin just looked and felt so smooth and radiant. Even times when I felt too ill to do my skincare routine, my skin was still so good.
Now on my third tub of Ingenious Beauty Ultimate Collagen+ Second Generation and I can’t recommend them enough. You don’t need to be suffering from hair loss to take them. They will make your hair, skin and nails so much healthier! I take three capsules before going to sleep every night.
Ingredients
All ingredients are 100% naturally derived and Ultimate Collagen+ Second Generation includes only ‘active’ ingredients:
Marine Collagen Peptide: the most superior grade available to repair the structure and smooth skin.
Natural Astaxanthin: nature’s most powerful carotenoid to prevent and repair UV damage.
Hyaluronan Complex: a new concept of full-spectrum hyaluronans for targeted biological action on your skin. HA is famed for its ability to hydrate, moisturise, and plump skin.
In an enteric capsule made from pure vegetable cellulose.
Directions
Take one to three Ultimate Collagen+ Second Generation capsules before bed for:
- Smoother and firmer skin
- Stronger nails
- Thicker hair
You can see results in as little as 10-20 days.
Why Not Try A Wig!
Obviously, as a beauty blogger, there are times when I really need to take a photo of my face and I was extremely self-conscious of not only the state of my hair but also my HUGE moon face. The hair I could do something about that; so I ordered a wig.
Yes, a WIG! Not an expensive one, just this one I’ve linked below that I found on Amazon for a mere £13.99.
I was over the moon when it arrived and saw that it was actually really good quality and when it was on, I immediately felt better about myself. I actually posted a photo on my Instagram where I was wearing the wig. Honestly, I don’t think you could tell it was a wig unless you already knew. I only wear it to take photos but that was all I really needed it for.
My Hair Now
I still haven’t had my hair cut since shaving it last December. But I can now get it into a tiny ponytail. The back of my hair is past my neck and onto my back and the sides just touch my shoulders. I seem to have developed a bit of a curl/wave to my hair that I never had before and I’m not mad at it. It’s definitely growing really quickly now and is also very thick. There are no patches or signs of all the hair loss I suffered.
Although I’m still having to take the steroids for the foreseeable future, I have spent the last few months tapering the amount down from 80mg a day to just 10mg. The buffalo hump has all but gone, and I still have some puffiness in my face BUT I think the hair loss is over, apart from the normal hair loss we all have.
Disclosure:
If you are suffering from hair loss, please consult your GP before taking any supplements BUT first and foremost, get yourself checked out by your doctor to make sure there isn’t an underlying issue causing the hair loss!
Have you ever suffered from hair loss or do you have any other tips for keeping your hair healthy and strong? I’d love to know!
