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If you have fibromyalgia, you may notice that your hair hurts. Loss of hair is just one symptom of fibromyalgia out of many. Several common symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, digestive issues, depression, muscle and joint issues, and chronic pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition in which people experience widespread chronic pain throughout the body. Widespread pain caused by fibromyalgia occurs on both sides of the body and both above and below the waist. The brain processes abnormal pain signals, which creates the widespread pain and makes it heightened.
Hair loss and hair pain are possible if you have fibromyalgia. Before reading the following article, make sure to contact your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. This article is simply discussing why your hair hurts in relation to fibromyalgia.
Hair Loss
Many people who have fibromyalgia experience hair loss. Hair loss or thinning can be one symptom of fibromyalgia. Hair pain may also arise, which is discussed further in this article.
Why am I losing so much hair?
So, why are you experiencing hair loss? Here are a few possible reasons:
Medication: One reason why you may have hair loss is due to medications for fibromyalgia. If you start a new medication and notice you are losing more hair, make sure to speak to your doctor.
High Stress: Another reason may be due to times of high stress. During times of high stress or symptom flares, individuals with fibromyalgia can experience unusual hair loss or widespread thinning. The good news is that stress-induced hair loss is reversible and can be treated.
Thyroid Dysfunction: Hair loss may be due to thyroid dysfunction. Thyroid dysfunction is thought to be more common in people who have fibromyalgia. Check your thyroid hormone levels and speak to your doctor for more information concerning thyroid dysfunction.
Autoimmune Issues: If you are experiencing hair loss in multiple spots, you may be experiencing autoimmune issues. Hair loss occurs as several coin-shaped bald spots, which is also known as alopecia.
Treating Hair Loss
Although there is no proven treatment for preventing hair loss before it falls out, there is good news. Luckily, hair grows back, and there are several steps you can take to help treat hair loss. It is important to not allow yourself to get more stressed. Instead, stay calm and look into the different approaches to treatment.
To treat hair thinning and hair loss, one option is to optimize overall nutritional support. This is especially good for stress-induced hair loss cases. Low iron negatively affects hair growth. Try taking an iron tablet. Another resource to try is Energy Revitalization System vitamin powder. However, keep in mind too much of anything is never a good thing. Too much iron can result in dangerous levels of excess iron in the body.
Another way to treat hair loss that is caused by high levels of stress is to optimize thyroid function. As mentioned earlier, thyroid dysfunction is more common in people who have fibromyalgia. In order to check your thyroid hormone levels, speak to your doctor.
Hair Pain
Several people who have fibromyalgia also experience the symptom of hair pain. In fact, several accounts say that the head gets so sensitive that it is difficult to touch the hair. There are many stories online that include people from the fibromyalgia community who report a burning sensation. The painful sensation comes and goes but makes it hard for people to touch their hair, much less wash or brush it.
People who have fibromyalgia ask whether or not there are steps to take to ease the pain. There are recommendations, such as leaving your hair down. Putting hair up in a ponytail or bun may create even more pain. If you need to put your hair up, it is recommended to use hair elastic scrunchies. Another possibility is to cut or shave your hair.
Why does my scalp hurt?
When hair loss or hair thinning occurs pain may arise from the scalp muscles being too tight. Allodynia, or pain caused by touching the skin, is a nuisance, which is why treatment is important.
Treatment
Certain medications can help ease the scalp pain caused by fibromyalgia. According to Dr. Teitelbaum, there are steps you can take to address the hair pain symptom. Ultram and Neurontin are low-cost generics that can be used. Additionally, there is End Pain by Enzymatic Therapy and Curamin by EuroPharma. If you are experiencing other symptoms or have questions and concerns, it is important to contact your doctor.
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