Arimidex and Hair

lizinmontreal

I thought I'd start a new thread specifically how your hair has/has not been affected by Arimidex.

I've been on Arimidex for 3 years - started on July 9,2010.  I have noticed that in the last year, my hair has thinned at the temples. But what I find really strange is that my bangs now have this unusual curve. They are not straight any more and seem to have a will of their own. I can wash my hair and blow dry the bangs nice and straight but within an hour, my bangs look like a crescent shape especially the hair closer to the skin. Not really a big problem, just a little annoyance.

I did not have chemo so I'm blaming this on Arimidex.

flannelette

Can't offer any suggestions re origin of the new curled bangs, but for sure my hair is half as thick as it used to be - 4 7 1/2 yrs on arimidex. and I did not see it fall out. right after chemo my hair grew in thick & curly (had always been poker straight). loved it. after about 6 months it went flat again and into about ayr on arimidex I could see it thinning - never on pillow or falling out, simply not growing - like for every 10 hairs there now were 5. grows just as fast as always.

DC197

I have been taking the generic of Arimidex (anastrozole) since Dec. 2010, and my hair is definitely much thinner than it was before.  But to compensate, the hair on my upper lip and chin seems to multiply!  Go figure!

Diane

Lyncerock

Hello all,

I have not visited in a while due to a busy schedule (aren't we all!). I have been getting really down about the hair side effects. I have the usual side effects too ......fatigue, decreased mental clarity, joint pain, terribly aching feet. Was originally on arimidex and then switched to Femara per my doctor's recommendation to see if it was any better (it is not). I never had the greatest hair to begin with but it has been so bad since being on these drugs. It is so fine and thin...just like a baby's hair and parts of my scalp show. I have to be strategic when I "do" my hair. I used to have bangs and thicker hair...now I have this crazy, frizzy mess. I didnt start taking them until approx six months after chemo ended and as I look bak my hair and eyelashes were definitely growing in thicker. I am so happy to have these meds to provide me another tool in my arsenal to fight, but I am really down about not feeling like my old self....inside and out. I go to acupuncture, take supplements and I am open to alternative medicine. Has anyone had luck with fighting off this side effect with noticeable good results?



Thanks and best wishes to all of you!



L

Raisa

I am on Anastrozole - generic for Arimidex,  for past 7 months and started noticing a hair thinning too among with other bunch of side effects such as joint pain and stiffness, chronic fatique and insomnia, hot flushes, weight gain - all that makes me feel like I am 90-years old (I will be 52 next month)... Right after I lossed my hair during chemo I started taking Hair, skin, and nails vitamin supplements with huge ammount of daily value (1700%) of Biotin, and I used a Nioxin system #2 shampoo and conditioner, and my hair came back nice and thick first, but now that I am on Anastrozle  I know it is very fine and thinning, the only body I have on my head is from my curls...I am considering to quite Anastrozole. It cripples me...

I also want to color my hair, it came back pretty gray, and I feel that I look older now, but again with soft and frain hair should I take a chance of damaging them more with coloring....My hair is about 3-4 inches in length now.

Raisa

I think since Anastrozole blocks estrogen receptors, we end up with hormonal imbalance, so testosterone takes over and therefore -facial hair too

flannelette

Yeah - my head hair began to migrate to my upper lip & chin.arghhhhhhhh! To deal with thinning hair I have my hair stylist do a very choppy - like longer, shorter, longer, shorter all over. First she cuts my hair then does this super-chop thing. AND I use men's grooming clay (I use Aveda. it's terrific) once hair is dry after washing. rub some into both palms, go crazy rubbing it all over my head till hair sticking out everywhere, then style it with my fingers - turns out pretty funky and no longer looks like a Beatle cut. But you need a really good stylist IMHO. sorry, I've found no other solution. Other than at some point (like 4 years in) it actually stops thinning.

I read that an old remedy in Russia for thinning hair is infused Burdock root oil. Got some during chemo - wow did my hair grow! but then stopped using it. so here it sits....I might try an experiment with rubbing it into scalp every day, but first must find out if it stimulates estrogen........not good for us ER+ folks.

Lyncerock

Flannelette:



Where did you get your burdock oil? I read your post and have been surfing the net. It seems as though its hard to be sure of quality? Would you agree? Do you have a brand you would recommend?



L

Pessa

Same problem..............My hair is thinning, especially on the top (where it is most noticable).  I bought this special colored powder to sprinkle on the areas where my scalp shows through (Toppix).  It actually does mask the scalp.  Washes out.  I do hope I stop losing my hair.  If not, I will have to wear a wig, like I did during chemo.....

BrooksideVT

Flannelette, are you saying your hair got thinner and thinner for four years?  If that happens to me, I'm not sure what I'll have left!  It's definitely thinning, but I was kind of hoping it would stabilize real soon,

Nyr4evr

Wha supplements are you taking. I heard biotin is good for hair? Anyone else. Mine is thin but nothing is in the shower drain. Just looks lifeless and thinner???

KayaRose

Hi All, I've been on anastrozole since May 2015. I started it while going through my radiation treatments. I've had some of the usual side effects like joint pain and fatigue issues. Hair and nails both have suffered terribly. My hair came in great after chemo but slowly started falling out again once I started anastrozole. I became really concerned about losing so much hair and just couldn't bear the thought of wearing a wig again. My hair loss is in the typically male pattern baldness areas - top of head and around the sides. My MO gave me the ok to try Rogaine. Much as I hated the idea of using any chemicals, I hated the idea of wearing a wig again more. I can't say that the Rogaine is growing a lot of new hair but I can definitely say the fallout has stopped.

I agree with Flannelette - a good cut really helps. I've kept mine short and layered and use Aussie Instant Freeze to keep it in place. I just hate when the wind blows and exposes my bald spots!

Pessa, I tried Topix but didn't care for it. I had a hard time applying it and it seemed to rub off on pillowcases. I now use Joan Rivers Great Hair Day. It seems to stay on better than the Topix. I apply it close to the scalp but more on the hair than the actual scalp. It comes with a brush but I prefer using a small makeup type sponge to get a neater look.

I am taking Biotin and I think it has helped my nails more than my hair.

Kaya