Hair loss

So i have had itp since i was 14, i am now 33. I do not remember much from then about things that happen. When i was diagnosed i have levels of 2 and needed 3 blood transfusions. I had a routine blood draw on Monday and my levels were 11. So question is. Will my hair fall out with low levels? Thank you in advance

Hi,
When you are talking about "levels" you are referring to platelet counts, right? Having low platelets should never cause hair loss (not that I have ever heard of) and lots of us have had pretty low counts!

I am also assuming that when you say you got blood transfusions you mean that you got platelet transfusions. Those are only rescue measures that don't treat the problem but that can stop symptoms and bleeding at very low counts. What kind of actual treatments have you done over the years? Or did you have a remission and not have any more problems with your platelets?

At your current count of 11 are you having bleeding or symptoms?

Regardless, don't worry about your hair, at least that's not a problem with ITP

Yes my platelets levels are 11, i have has platelet transfusions also. But not i has to have blood because i only had 5.2 litera of blood in body when diagnosed. I disnt think this would make my hair fall out, but like i said i don’t remember much from when i first got sick. I am having bruises, red dots, and bleeding. I am having to have steroids iv everyday in office rite now, just cant never seem to get the dr to come answer questions. Thank you for replying

It sounds like you must have had lots of bleeding before being diagnosed, perhaps because of excessive monthly blood loss?

Now anemia and hair loss is another matter. Just low platelets and ITP don't cause hair loss, but if you have been bleeding too much and have low ferritin and hemoglobin (hgb), then you can DEFINITELY have hair loss. Because of my ITP, I often get runaway monthly cycles that lead to too much blood loss and then anemia.

If you are anemic, they can do iron infusions or other treatments to deal with the anemia (this is separate from any ITP treatment) and that should help with the symptoms. It is not a quick process, however. When I have had thinning hair from anemia, it is very slow to fill back in, and because it is so gradual of a process I don't always notice it or have a way of measuring hair thickness.

Hopefully you will respond to steroids and get your count up to a safe level (anything above 30 should be enough to help with the bruising and symptoms). If you don't respond to steroids, you can read here about NPlate, Promacta, and all of the other ITP treatments available.

Feel free to ask questions and keep us posted.

Exactly! I have also had hair loss but it is because of anemia. I do have big bald spot, but since I've gotten monthly cycle under control and 2 iron infusions. Hopefully it will grow back soon.

I had a big bald spot on the side of my head two years ago due to Lupus and stress. It was in the summer so I wore hats all the time. I got some cute ones and just did that until the hair grew in. I took Biotin and it seemed to help the hair grow back.