So last week I was housesitting for my parents, so I stayed at their house for most of the week. I felt like I was losing more hair than usual in the shower; at first I wondered if it was something in the water (I think my water is harder than theirs; we tend to get an orange buildup in our shower that my parents don't get). I've been home now since Sunday but I still feel like I'm pulling out more hair than normal. Hoping it's just my imagination, but I don't think so. So tonight I did some googling and I'm hoping this is the reason:
(from here).
I was really sick a couple months ago (the flu followed by "borderline pneumonia"). It started in mid-February; I missed almost 2 weeks of work - 7 full sick days and left early 3 or 4 other days - and it was a good 6 weeks before I was really better (as in, had my voice back and was able to climb the two flights of stairs at work without wanting to die). I was on several medicines over a couple weeks (two different antibiotics, stuff for congestion and coughing, and an albuterol inhaler to help me breathe better). Also lost 10-15 pounds in a couple weeks. So going by this little explanation, the timing is certainly right (though I wouldn't exactly call it "coming out in handfuls").
Hopefully this will stop soon but if not I guess I'll have to see the doctor. (Don't know if regular doc or dermatologist would be better...)
A shock to your system -- surgery, giving birth, some medications, crash diets, severe stress, thyroid problems -- can push hair into its resting, or telogen, state. About 2 months later, you may see hair falling out -- a condition called telogen effluvium, sometimes described as hair “coming out in handfuls.” In most cases, new hair starts growing right away. Your doctor should determine if your telogen effluvium needs treatment.
I was really sick a couple months ago (the flu followed by "borderline pneumonia"). It started in mid-February; I missed almost 2 weeks of work - 7 full sick days and left early 3 or 4 other days - and it was a good 6 weeks before I was really better (as in, had my voice back and was able to climb the two flights of stairs at work without wanting to die). I was on several medicines over a couple weeks (two different antibiotics, stuff for congestion and coughing, and an albuterol inhaler to help me breathe better). Also lost 10-15 pounds in a couple weeks. So going by this little explanation, the timing is certainly right (though I wouldn't exactly call it "coming out in handfuls").
Hopefully this will stop soon but if not I guess I'll have to see the doctor. (Don't know if regular doc or dermatologist would be better...)
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