Just a bit of a moan really, but wondered if anyone can advise ...I have always had times where my hair thins out a bit, but normally it grows back thick and healthy. Since the Afib started last year it seems to have continued thinning and has lost its bounce. Aside from buying a new super styling hair dryer, has anyone got any suggestions? And I wondered if and how it relates to Afib?
Thanks in advance
Jo
I have the same problem Jo, a snowstorm of broken hair, brush full and clothes liberally sprinkled with the stuff. I blame anticoagulants - in my case Apixaban - and I don't have a solution, other than a shorter cut. I will be interested in any suggestions that others have . . .
Yes, it’s broken hair rather than falling out so treat gently, maybe hairdresser can suggest product?
it is said to be an effect from Apixaban, snd mine thinned considerably. I toke vit E, Iron and Biotin, It is now nearly back to full thickness and shiny, and I am 79 years old.
Good to hear your hair has recovered but are you still on Apixaban? Mine has thinned a lot and I'm 67. How much of the suppliments do you take. 😊
i take 2 Biotin ,Zinc and selenium gummies, one vit E and one multi vit with Iron daily, and yes I am still taking Apixaban, I have also found that I should be sparing with my p.v Oestrogen cream. as this too causes hairloss., good luck.
Thank you Tudee. 👩🦱
From the answers here it definitely seems to be a brittle hair problem rather than coming out at the roots, so that's some kind of relief! I shall be exploring some kind to me and kind to nature products.
try a dose of biotin daily. Or brewers yeast!
My wife is also using Biotin. Great for the nails but less sure if it's improving the hair.
Usually blamed on anticoagulation. My hair doesn't but my nails are very brittle and split easily.
It kind of suggests that the anticoagulant creates some kind of depletion in the diet. Have you any idea what that might be Bob?
Very interesting, Bob -- I wondered why my nails are so weak brittle and peeling. Thanks.
Hi Rainfern, you asked for this so here’s extra long the explanatory essay thesis so apologies - (much easier to talk it 😂)
I have a similar issue, used to be fragile breaking & splitting as I conditioned following shampoo and if shower water was too hot well it filled the plug hole ugh.
Next step (by the way my hair was naturally curly years ago but if not dried and straightened it’s dark brown candy floss fuzz (delightful) but wait for it I can now get sleek shine straight gloss whoo.
Wash with a keratin protein shampoo an SLS free one I use is OGX beauty. Then if you want use any conditioner you fancy don’t leave on skin of scalp as this seems to open the pores soften the skin and the hair is lost. Don’t rub the towel on the hair just turban wrap. After 10 mins use a de tangling come gently (I use an Afro comb with two parallel edges - the combs one edges are offset (in between the other row) so it untangled but just comb gently don’t yank.
Now here is the bit that might be too heavy for some folks hair if it’s limp this flyaway - mine is very light but porous and a little course so this is what I do - I spray HASK Argon oil all over & comb, then spray HASK Keratin Protein and do the same (both are leave in product. My hair is long so I use the hairdryer with a flat paddle brush first so I’m not pulling the hair too much and can dry the hole length as the brush moves slowly down the hair to the end. When just dry use a huge round brush that has extremely vented centre and is coated in some ion ceramic stuff that’s supposed to st flyaway static. See Amazon search Nano Thermic Brushes and I use the largest NT-82 but lots of sizes (just not to small as that seems to pull the hair or tangle again but these bristles are off set like comb so not bad at all. This I do to get May hair so it’s big waves and then use Tresemme Keratin Smooth heat defence so I can straighten with straighteners. Finally, the very tiniest amount spread all over fingers and palms of OGX Coconut Miracle Oil and very lightly hardly touch the hair to put the finest coating all over,under & through hair (doesn’t take much to make heavy & greasy look so need to practice to get right amount) - a last skim of straightener followed by quick big brush blow dry makes it look natural and not poker straight which is not right for me so mine after this lot just flows sways and no one would know all the products cost & time 😂
If your hair is coloured and your scalp shows through - get Schwarzkopf Root touch up spray that matches your colour eg dark brown - lightly spray over the scalp/hair area that shows through - BUT don’t get dressed first as it will stain clothes and don’t put makeup on first either as it stains skin (not permanent will wash of but so will your makeup 😂) Well done if you got to the end Hope it was worth it and it works (off for a brew ☕️ now after all that.
Flipper you must look lovely with your hair so cared for. Thank you for taking time to explain your routine. I haven't used "products" for years as normally my hair doesn't need much doing, but from the replies I've had it seems the problem is brittle hair rather than coming out at the roots! That makes sense as I don't have bald patches on the scalp. So I'm going to give my hair the TLC it deserves and try some of those protein products and Hask oil. And look out my old afro comb. Oh, and the miracle oil - I think I need one! 😂 Thanks again, thats really helpful, and hope all well with you xx
Ok if it’s brittle I hope they help, mine is in much better condition, obviously it’s not an overnight remedy but I’m sure you’ll notice a difference quickly 🤞
Well done! Sometimes it's quite a palaver to get the hair 'right'! I have quite a ritual but nothing compared to yours😁 I would agree with you on the use of a root touch up cream/ spray. These make a big difference. I used one when my hair was dark but now that I'm blonde/grey highlights its no longer needed.
I dye it dark brown now, I’m quite fair skinned with pink cheeks, my natural colour is very dark brown, if I go lighter (since my natural hair turned white) against my scalp & face I look bald, if I go blonde some colours turn fox red - can’t win 😂
Hmm so you leave the argon spray on while drying. Might try that. I've plenty of hair but it's always been fine.
I leave all of them in yes - if your hair is fine it may appear heavy or greasy, my hair is quite porous, dry & brittle but I’ve persevered and now it’s it’s pretty good. The Argon is thicker than the Keratin but both are good for conditioning - maybe if they are too heavy looking you could maybe towel dry and spray in at night and just a quick rinse in the morning so a lot is absorbed or coated the hair over night. Trial & error - I’ve had all sorts of stuff but happy at the moment - good luck x
Brilliant Afibflipper......that's a marathon that your hair goes through. Bet it looks fab though! 😊
It’s better than before I did this marathon! We all have bad hair days don’t we, just wish I was maybe 40yrs younger (don’t we all) maybe easier to get a wig - probably also cheaper in the long run 🏃♀️ - it’s the only marathon I can do though 😂 x
Hmmm not sure a wig would be cheaper..... I don't have to worry too much re my hair anymore, chemo took it away & what useless bit that it left behind the apixiban is finishing off. 🙄 life's telling me to be hairless so be it! 🤣 Funny I saw my dermatologist on Friday & asked he what could be causing further hair loss. She never mentioned Apixiban. Mind you looking at my notes these days is a marathon for the consultant. Not been through all the depts but a fair few. Lol...
You will still be just as beautiful 😍 - hair doesn’t maketh the man or the woman - only in a glossy magazine where they make everyone think they’re abnormal if they do have hair anywhere other than the head!!!!. My uncle used to called my aunt his GI Jayne - she fought the C and won 💪 & my kids when little walked in on her one day when she hadn’t put her wig on, they ran to me saying she lost her hair - before we had time to explain - she walked in with her wig on - they thought she was magic - wow how did she do that? We did have to say they didn’t have the power to do that before they went to the scissor drawer!! Some 20 yrs + she’s still here so hold your head high gorgeous 😘
Awww thanks Afibflipper. What a lovely tale.... & am glad she still fine 20yrs later. Im 8yrs still in remission. Miracle. I do say that at least I dont have to go through the coloured to white hair issue that most women of my age have had to face. 🤣 I can wear any colour if I want!!
If your finances allow I would recommend Philip Kingsley hair products as a treat! Worth looking into all the products under this banner . Alternatively the caffeine based shampoos and conditioners may help.....available in supermarkets and high street chemists.
Not heard of him, will check it out thanks 😊
When I was on Warfarin I noticed my hair got brittle, and also my hair got real fine. Normally I have thick hair. Soon after I got off the Warfarin I no longer had thin hair and it stopped being brittle. That, and no longer walking up with a stomach ache.
My hair was always thick I use to thin it with thinning scissors UNTIL anticoagulants. In fact any medication affects hair as its the fingers toes and head that are the extremeties that need nourishment. My hairdresser said massage your scalp cuticles and feet daily to stimulate the follicles in scalp stop feet drying nails and toes edges of feet and nails cuticles.A good quality biotin with the b complex you need these together (thinning has slowed since I've done this but not completely). Also was told not to intermittent fast as nutritional foods need to be coming through your body three meals a day of the highest nutrition possible ...you really need to look after yourself. It's helped me but always learning on new things from others. I do think you need to work on what you put inside you to build the immune system its outside and inside holistically
Thank you Meg this is very helpful advise. I have wondered if circulation was involved in hair loss problem and will try a daily scalp massage. Several people have mentioned vitamin B, and you're right about the need for balance with B complex. I do eat a healthy diet but shall get a b supplement or brewers yeast. I tend to work from the inside out, holistically, but just lately leaning towards a bit of external beauty help!
Like I had mentiopne in my post, meg4u, as soon as I got off the Warfarin my hair went back to being nice and thick. No problems now. That was way back in 2015-2016. Thanks for reacing out.
If you're not on Warfarin are you on another type of anticoagulant Linda? Hope your hair keeps growing healthily!
Thank you for replying and no, once they fixed my digestive problems etc. , had no more episodes. They are monitoring me ever so often.== for now I am not on any. I hope you continue to do well. Have a great day.
Don’t think my hair is as brittle now, less breakage just comes out every brush (it’s thinner but my husband doesn’t believe me, he says I’m always saying it’s falling out in handfuls but obviously not or I’d be bald!! 🙄 men 😂
LOL!
We are all different. When I was on Xarelto, I often brushed out a lot of hair (I have quite long, fine thin hair) not broken and split, just shed from the roots old age thinning I suppose! Now I'm on Eliquis, the amount of hair I brush out has reduced considerably. I do not believe in over frequent harsh washing, just a gentle shampoo every week (baby shampoo)helps keep the natural oils in (my trichodermist friend is vehemently against over washing and and overuse of hair dyers and stylers). My nails always have been 'hard as nails' and I have to cut them every week or they get far too long and I like short easy to keep clean nails, they have never split or flaked, so anti coagulants have had no effect on them at all. I wear a shower cap so my hair does not get wet every day in the shower.
Thank you pusillanimous, although I'm not on either of these specific meds I've made a note of them for future ref in case my hair loss progresses.
You’re right - all different
Others have talked about this and I think it might be anticoagulants. Also, my hairdresser told me, shock and distress can do it. I bought myself some good quality marine collagen and it seemed to help. Or you can make chicken bone broth, which also contains collagen.
I have the same problem. It is definitely the anticoagulants causing it. The hair comes out from the roots. It is not a brittle hair problem. I don’t colour my hair, my hairdresser advises strongly against it because of the hair loss,. In my case, I have tried all of the anticoagulants including warfarin and they all cause hair loss.
I haven’t tolerated anti coagulants at all well. After a few months, I seem to get a build up and get severe nausea. Hence, I have been through them all! For a while I was alternating between Apixaban and dabigatran. Touch wood I have been taking dabigatran for nearly two years now.
However, I do find dabigatran is the worst for hair loss. I would rather have the hair loss than risk a stroke!
I have tried every product out there and spent a small fortune in the process. My hairdresser tells me that none of these will stop the hair loss, it has to come from within.
I do use volumising shampoo and conditioner, and although it doesn’t thicken the hair it does give it more body and make it look a bit thicker.
There are no easy answers to this.
Sorry to hear you have a bad reaction to anticoagulants. I guess we're all on a sliding scale with side effects. I thought I was doing OK until hearing about the link to hair loss! Thanks for suggestion of volumising shampoo. I don't normally use products but that sounds nice and simple.
I was diagnosed with AF in October last year , I’m in meds but not anticoagulants. My hair is dreadful, very thin , brittle and gone very fine 😫
So maybe the problem is partly having worse circulation due to AF, in which case massage of hair follicles might help? Incidentally, are you on any kind of meds to reduce risk of stroke?
Nope , no stroke reduction meds. It’s an ongoing source of anxiety for me. Nice guideline say risk currently outweighs the benefits as I’m 55, not overweight, never smoked , healthy life style & CT angio shows no coronary artery disease. I score 1 on CHADS score for being female. So every medical person I’ve discussed this at length with says no not yet 🥹….
Hi, I have the same problem thinning hair again down to the anticoagulants also brittle nails. Mine seems to come out at the roots and grows back very fine, like baby's hair, that my hairdresser sees better than me. She recommended nioxin bodyfying foam, which helps. They have a whole range of products x
As others in the thread likely have said, beta-blockers are said to be a known cause of hair thinning in some individuals. I recall when I first was prescribed one, my hair thinned a little but I was never sure whether it was the drug or just me getting older.
Steve
I was put on Edoxaban 11 months ago and lost half my hair and also developed hair loss patches. My GP said it was not the anticoagulants. 7 months after taking them I walked into an appointment and placed a large bag of hair on his desk and said I wanted to at least try a different brand. I was fobbed off again. Fortunately for me this GP was then off sick and I saw a female GP this time who thoroughly went over my case and after consulting with cardiologist, I had been given the wrong chads vasc score and shouldn't have been put on anticoagulants. So now I'm off them my hair has now stopped falling out..!! I had long thick waist length hair which is now very fine. I actually went online and bought 2 wigs to experiment with and what a difference it made. I was pleasantly surprised at how real they looked for no more than 20 pounds each. I tried lots of supplements etc etc which had no effect on the hair loss but the cover up spray as mentioned has been a big help.
Thank you Mermaid this is really helpful. Edoxaban is the anticoagulant I'm on so it may be if hair loss goes on I can try something else. But I can't come off them. I do hope your hair fully thickens up again.
So much info on this thread, I need to take notes! Obvs ‘wash and go’ not sufficient - my hair already told me that 😒
I do not believe in using a lot of toiletries of any kind. They are full of chemicals which pass through the skin into the body. It's bad enough having to take chemicals into the body as meds. I wash my hair very rarely and do not use conditioner . I use old fashioned bar soap not shower gel. I never use sunscreen - rely on a sunhat to protect my face . Absolute minimum of daily moisturiser and handcream. I believe skin and hair health comes from the inside and are partly genetically determined. I haven't dyed my hair since 2010 and have never owned a hairdryer! I have saved a lot of time and money!
A very interesting and informative thread. My hair was always one of my best features and it depressed me so much when it started to thin, and fall out. Lots of tips here that I may follow. I have also started to use shampoo and mousse with volume and it seems to have helped. Loving the Aussie products at the moment.
Hi Dance, our hair is SO important to us and yes it is depressing to see it go. It will be good to catch up at a later date and see how we've all got on with the advice on this thread! 😊
Treat yourself to a pure silk pillow case. I wash in the machine normally. Started on the Champo hair care system, expensive but excellent results
Now that sounds treaty!
I think I bought from Amazon, Lilysilk. You need a high MM score ( a silk version of thread count) Cotton, even beautiful Egyptian cotton pillow cases can dry out hair, especially fragile hair. Silk is much kinder on facial skin as well. A cheaper way to try is to buy a cheaper version with silk only if n one side.
Yes I have that too. I told my gP and he did blood tests and found I was extremely low in Zinc. I had a course of that and had my hair cut shorter and not nearly so bad. Good luck
I'm just a tad bit past menopausal change, plus had healthy thick hair til just before 70th birthday....
My brush was full of hair while I was on apixaban, it made me ill too so I've changed to riveroxaban, plus I've stopped using shampoo, just a really good conditioner, or just water, mostly natural drying too, and my hair is much improved.
Never thought of that as hair thins as we age ...seems like thinned last few years as older but maybe some relationship..if u find out let me knowSkins thinned
Crepe paper too.
My understanding to this problem is a lack of sulfur so if you can find that supplement it’s a must. It has to be taken with vit C to be absorbed. If I forget to take it I have issues with thinning hair myself and my nail splitting. When taken regularly, I have no problem with either. But do a search and ask your dr. Even though most don’t know anything about vitamins and minerals.
I don’t know what medications you are on, but the difference in my hair even the past year is drastic. I don’t know if it was the metropolol or? I am sure that is part of it. Also my hairstylist told me anesthesia also does damage more than people would realize. I always had thick healthy hair now it is like someone else’s hair on my head. I know it has to be medication. A fib is so unkind in so many ways.
I took amlodipine for my high blood pressure for years without any side effects, When its effect on controlling my blood pressure waned, my GP added Lisinopril to the mix. My blood pressure went down & stabilized but my hair was coming out. I was instructed to take my blood pressure regularly. The app I was using with my blood pressure monitor detected an abnormal heartbeat. I reported this to my GP who had me wear Zio patch which led to a paroxysmal AFib dx. I was referred to a cardiologist, had numerous tests done & was put on Eliquis. My hair loss increased. I went to my dermatologist who took a bunch biopsy of my scalp & had blood work done. He determined that I had telogen effluvium. He said the good news was that it wasn't permanent but the bad news is that there was no cure. The condition is usually caused by stress. It can also be caused by medications. (My only "cure" would be to stop taking the medication causing it.) Rainfern, you might want to consult with a dermatologist in order to rule other possible reasons for you loss hair and determine what's going on.
"At any given time, about 85% to 90% of the hairs on the average person's head are actively growing (the anagen phase) and the others are resting (the telogen phase). Typically, a hair is in the anagen phase for two to four years, then enters the telogen phase, rests for about two to four months, and then falls out and is replaced by a new, growing hair. The average person naturally loses about 100 hairs a day."
"In a person with telogen effluvium, some body change or shock pushes more hairs into the telogen phase. Typically in this condition, about 30% of the hairs stop growing and go into the resting phase before falling out. So if you have telogen effluvium, you may lose an average of 300 hairs a day instead of 100."
Telogen effluvium can be a side effect of both anticoagulants & high blood pressure meds. I have to take them both. I realize that not all people experience hair loss on these meds. But for me, I'm pretty much screwed. I'm 72 & want the remainder of my life to be healthy & stroke free but I have to admit the quality of my life has deteriorated. It's not easy living with hair loss & I usually decline social outings.
Thank you Happybeat for information about telogen effluvium and I'm sorry to hear you've been hit with double whammy side effects. I used to be told my hair was my beauty, so understand how that can be. But it's a real shame if it keeps you from a social life. I just read one of Afibflippers comments above about the pressure we're under as women to have perfect hair and features, and how her aunt dealt with hair loss through chemo, so strong! And maybe that's the way forward, to let adversity make us stronger, or at least make us more strongly who we are! I'm thinking that one day I may need a pacemaker if they don't offer me a cardioversion or ablation soon. And the idea that one day I may need a wig fills me with no less dismay! But giving up a social life for me would be worse than those 2 put together. Walk tall Happybeat, a woman phenomenally! 😊
it doesn't seem to affect everyone 🤞
Hi I use the HASK oil as someone mentioned earlier. I have been taking biotin for years. It has got a bit better.. not worse anyway. I think, although I take Apixaban it is a recent addition and I think it was menopause that made me lose some hair. I use the WOW powder to hide thinning area on my scalp. I tired the B&B crayon and it was a bit obvious. The wow powder is not perfect.. if you scratch it then it can end up on your nose but overall I use it every day and it helps. 😀
hi Ella, I hope you’re doing ok. Thanks for adding to this thread, I think people have found it helpful. I’ve got a bit lazy as for a while my hair began to thicken again. But past few hair washes far too much hair has appeared around the plug hole and my hair seems very dry. I must try the Hask oil. Thanks for a reminder!
And yes, thank you for asking, I am doing OK. How are you? Had a bad start to the day and accidentally took 2 Apixaban within 15 mins of each other.. I was half asleep and not thinking clearly obv. Waited for the brain bleed and knockout headache after googling and now it is the end of the day it looks like out of the woods but that was not good for stress. I have just missed the night time one. I imagine this is something you only do once! 😬
Omg you poor thing - what a worry! I’m going to get one of those daily meds boxes to avoid that mistake!
Now that is a good idea! 🤗
The HASK oil is often on offer in boots and tesco. 😀
Paroxysmal AF symptoms 
Being shocked out of AF?
Stroke Risk in or out of AF
AF symptoms worsen in the afternoon 
