I’ve never written about fibromyalgia hair. At least not specifically. That’s pretty surprising since I’ve got over 700 articles on this site as well as 4 books under my belt. Is there such a thing as fibro hair? I bet if you asked a smattering of fibro peeps, they’d say, “yes.”
So, let’s start with what most people probably think of if they hear, fibro hair.
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Do You Have Fibro Hair?
Statistically speaking, more women are diagnosed with fibromyalgia than men. And, while men probably have the same or similar issues, today’s post will mainly focus on women.
And, because thyroid dysfunction is part of the collective concerns with fibromyalgia, resulting skin and hair issues make sense. So, fibro hair IS a fibro thing AND a thyroid thing.
There are probably two main issues regarding hair that people with fibromyalgia tend to suffer from. Thoughts of fibro hair probably bring to mind – thinning and loss.
Keep in mind that while hair grows body-wide, we’re mainly referring to the hair on your head and your eyebrows. These locations are the most obvious when thinning and/or loss occurs.
Thinning of the hair (or disappearance) of the outer third of the eyebrows is common for fibro peeps. This is one instance where being a female has its benefits. Women tend to pluck and shape their eyebrows anyway, so as the hair there wisps away, we just fill it in with a brow pencil or whatever method is popular at the moment (tinting, tattoos, microblading, extensions, etc.).
Thinning hair on the head is a bit more challenging. There are creative ways to style, part, and reposition hair to conceal thinning in general and even patches of missing hair. Similar to the brows, many products and treatments are available including powders, extensions, and hairpieces.
What About Fibro Hair Concerns You Most?
What is it about your hair issue that concerns you most? Thinning hair, while unpleasant, may not be the biggest deal at hand. For you, greater issues may be pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, digestive imbalances, and more.
While those issues are likely more pervasive, there’s no question that hair loss can be more obvious. Thinning and missing hair can feel like a tangible representation of being sick. It may feel like a physical representation of your body’s dysfunction. Just look in a mirror, and what do you see?
What does hair loss feel like to you?
One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that while my eyebrows thinned more than a decade ago and haven’t changed much since then, the hair on my head seems to follow more of a thinning and growing back cycle. I think it’s like fibro flares. During times of significant stress, I find more detached hair on my pillowcases, sweaters, and on my comb. As the stress abates, I notice less hair loss (and sometimes my hairdresser even tells me she sees new hair growth).
Does your hair loss seem to follow a cyclical or flare pattern, too?
What Remedies Are There for Hair Loss?
As mentioned above, there are simple things we can do to disguise and even camouflage hair loss. Prices range from just a few dollars to hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Additionally, for general hair growth, a macronutrient-balanced diet (a foundational ratio of healthy proteins, healthy fats, and veggies) can go a long way toward a healthy inside which results in a healthy outside. Good intestinal health stimulates healthy hair, skin, nails, teeth, etc.
When it comes to scalp health, massages and moisturizing treatments can help. Massaging the scalp with coconut, argan, olive, and/or jojoba oils can bring back shine to the hair as well as help to heal an itchy or flaking scalp. Massaging in essential oils can help too. Some essential oils mentioned in connection to hair growth are peppermint, rosemary, and lavender. As always, try a small skin test first before any general application.
Oils and/or essential oils can be added to your regular shampoo or conditioners. Or, add moisturizing oils to the ends of your hair or apply directly to the scalp and leave in for a few minutes for deep conditioning before washing and rinsing.
Besides these ideas (who couldn’t use a good head massage?) there are other remedies such as specialty massage brushes, heat treatments, and laser therapies. Do you have any suggestions of your own? I’d love to hear. Simply reply to any of my emails, leave a comment on this blog, or comment on my social media posts.
What’s your biggest frustration with hair loss? What do you plan to do about it?
As always, I’m here to help you along the way toward your health goals. Contact me on my site and let’s get a conversation going!
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