Dialysis Support Group

That would be distressing for me. Did you try taking flaxseed oil. Maybe that would make a difference. You could also get a hair analysis from a salon. Last shot---try the site kidneyfun.com a lot of teens they may have some insights too.

HI - been on hemodialysis for two years now. My hair became very dry during the first year. Got so tired of it breaking off, I cut it back short and sassy, use a henna, which keeps my hair conditioned well, and use a shampoo and creme rinse (generously). A lot of women patients tell me it happened to them, but the drs know nothing. One woman said there is a special treatment used in hair salons (mostly for latino women) that works well for pregnant women. But, my method is working for me now, along with eating correctly (no dry skin or scalp). Bye for now! Linda

Thamks everyone for your input!! My poor hair cab use all the help it can get!!! :) Sue

Sue, my hair has started being dry since I started PD in May. This is a new thing as my hair has always been so oily. Changes happen in strange ways, doesn't it? God is still good ALL THE TIME. \o/ ~j~ ~j~

Certain meds, etc. can work a mess on our hair, nails and skin. I have MS and when I first started on some of the meds for that I ended up looking like Don King for a spell:) I can laugh about it now but it was not funny then!

My Mom was a dialysis patient was 4 years before she passed away and when she first started, we had to do a lot of extras with skin and hair care to keep it moisturized. (My Mom was on up in age before she started treatments so do let me scare you off with noting she was on treatments for 4 years.)

Her hair thinned and it was thin anyway. But as wonderful a thing as dialysis is, its not the normal way for your body to rid itself of toxins. It amazes me that its only been around for a short time and before that, there was nothing that could be done for people with kidney failure. I am sure its much better now than even 10 years ago as machines and techniques get better as medical knowledge increases.

Back to hair...sorry for driving off the road there for a bit!

If you color or perm, you need to be careful and maybe even not do it for while. You know I was just looking again at Kayleah's post about the flaxseed oil. If you take it right after a treatment, then your body may get to absorb some of it. Otherwise, it would just be taken out when you have a treatment. I would ask my Dr about that as well.

Pantene puts out a fantastic conditioner in a jar. Its called an intensive moisturizing mask. I have only seen it in the jar though. This stuff is great and it only takes a little bit to make your hair feel so much better.

When you are on dialysis, they remove the good with the bad from your blood so its important to add the moisture back to your hair and skin topically. We found that the Aveena products were good for my Mom's legs and arms too.

I have not heard of the kidneyfun site and will have to check that out. At my husband's clinic they usually have a couple of younger folk but thankfully they have all had transplants and are doing well.

Thank you for the input Gamgam I really appreciate all the help I can get. I just now got done shampooing and conitioning my hair lol I look like a scarecrow!!!
Thanks, :)Sue

You may want to avoid blow drying as well when you can. I know sometimes we have to go out and have to dry our hair, etc. But when you can avoid any products with alcohol because its very drying. Not to mention, you will be suprized at how many gels, mousses, hair stuff of all sorts have alcohol and butane in them.

I hope it will get better for you.

This is my two cents on the subject of hair. For the past 30 years I have been in and out of dialysis and transplantation, and have constantly been faced with dry hair and complete hair loss. It goes with the territory and there's no avoiding it. I agree with gamgam in that dialysis is an unnatural process. It throws our body chemistries off and our hair and nails are usually greatly affected. When I first started dialyzing I can remember going to several hair salons for very expensive hair treatments, and no matter how many times I went and no matter what I did, the dry hair and hair loss persisted. Over the years I've lost all of my hair so many times I stopped counting. But each time it fell out, it faithfully grew back, but a little thinner every time. About 5 years into it, I just gave up and bought a wig. Heck, I went hog wild and bought a lot of wigs because they make them so affordable and they look and feel like the real thing. They looked so good on me that my all my closest friends started wearing wigs too! Then at some point I decided to just be "au naturale" and wear my peach fuzz with pride! That was fun while it lasted, and eventually I grew enough of it out to have it cut and styled "short and sassy" like LindaWill in Reply #2. I guess what I'm saying is that it's just hair. It comes and it goes, and hopefully it comes again but if it doesn't, you have options - wear a wig, or wear whatever hair you have and be proud!

You are right about its only hair but I know that kind of thing affects each of us in a different way. I am so thankful you have such a wonderful attitude!

My granddaughter was at the age of wanting to use the camera during the time of my hair disaster!! So those are the only pics of me during that time. She did not see it and I certainly was not going to damper her creative spirit even if her model was fairly funny looking:)

My daughter (a couple of years later) saw those pictures and said "Momma, what were you thinking letting her take these pictures"!

To be honest, I did not know just how bad it looked!!! I looked like an albino Don King!

Thank God that phase is over but I will say it was difficult to find things that really worked until my new hair came in as the other came out. Mine was due to muliple surgeries and medications for MS and was not due to dialysis but the results can be the same when it comes to how you feel about the loss:)

I hope you find some things that help.

Oh, I may have forgotten to mention this before but check with your Nephrologist to see if its alright to add a zinc supplement to your diet. Its great for hair and skin and should help.

i am glad to see that is not only me. My hair started falling out bad a few months after I started dialysis. I also read that it could be stress from surgeries. I have had many surgeries for dialysis because my ports wouldnt work. My hair isnt dry but it does fall out and is a lot less thick. It used to be very full and thick. Now im waiting for a bald spot to show. lol