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devillainsarchive · 5 years

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🐾 meta;

Carlos and his mental state and disabilities (this is the best way i could think to phrase it). These are present in all my verses unless stated otherwise (like my mr robot verse where he has dissociative identity disorder).

I want to be very clear, this post will only graze the surface of deeper issues. I am also putting a majority of this post under a read more due to the some of the more sensitive topics, and I don’t desire to trigger anyone.

I want to also say, making this post has made me extremely nervous. As I don’t want to portray things incorrectly, or wrong. I am always learning, and striving to reduce the stigma and glorification of these things.

Additionally, this things are not plot points for Carlos. I will never use them to make his story more sad or more upsetting. I am not here to have them be a shock value. With writing about these things most of my nerves regarding this post that I have put off for months is the backlash I will get. If you want to talk to me about anything I say in this post, I ask you do it off anon.

Finally this post is not going to be addressing Carlos intelligence (ie his IQ score and how he is a prodigy where schooling is concerned). Certainly some of these things can feed into that. But his intelligence is something that deserves its own post.

Short list: things Carlos has (diagnosed and diagnosed)

Asperger’s

PTSD and C-PTSD

Anxiety

Depression

Schizophrenia

OCD

Insomnia

This is the longer list, essentially I go a bit into detail about each thing on the short list, explain my reasoning behind him having each thing, where I pull from canon to get the reasoning, a bit about the manifestations of each thing for Carlos. There will be cross over, so I may repeat myself on occasion.

Asperger’s (Asperger Syndrome)

Carlos’ Asperger’s is evident when you know the signs. Carlos struggles to pick on basic social cues. He certainly gets better and learns more when he is older. But as a young child, and especially all his time on the Isle, and when he first lives in Auradon. One of the most evident signs of this is that he will talk about things he likes typically mechanics and wires and machines without stopping to care about what his listener thinks about it. In Auradon he learns to stop himself from getting to far, and he always feels bad about it after. He cherishes people that let him talk.

Carlos is not loud, but he certainly has a wide vocabulary. While this is not incredibly evident, his annoyance with Reza’s vocabulary could lead to he knows what all those words mean. Carlos just knows how to use them in natural conversation. He does not understand normal jokes or humor, and it takes him a few moments to get a joke. In Auradon he gets better with those social queues, and learns how and when people are trying to be funny. Carlos may laugh but that does not mean he gets the joke. He also may not understand when he is telling a joke. This does not mean that Carlos can’t laugh or doesn’t know when to laugh, he laughs easily with Jay, and probably for a very long time Jay is the only one who can get a genuine laugh out of him.

Carlos’ is very aware of his surroundings. He notices small changes in things, and often changes in thins will bug him, and make him upset. He hyper-fixates this primarily on his desk in Auradon, and his desk in the hideout on the Isle, and the treehouse in the backyard of Hell Hall on the Isle. He knows immediately when things are wrong with it. This applies also to people around him, sudden movements, but for the most part Carlos associates that with always having to be on alert for his mother. His own interactions with people may seem odd, he may ignore them or seem rude, but he doesn’t mean it. This is where part of that callous demeanor comes from, but he is much better at turning that off and on than people realize.

Carlos also has his hobbies that he talks forever about, that he will ignore people for. This hobby is science and mechanics, and computers. He also enjoys binary code, and Morse code. One prime example of this is when he first ignores Evie when she meets him officially for the first time. He is focusing on building the machine that pierces a hole in the barrier. He essentially ignores Evie, until she makes a comment about the machine to help him make it work. Another example of this is from D1 where he is playing the video game. One other example is the fact that he has the period table of elements memorized this comes up as a way to calm himself down, when he is aware enough to calm himself down.

Last but not least Carlos has a serious aversion to touch. This plays into so many other things about him, and many things you will see on the list. Carlos does not like being touched. And touching him when its uninvited could lead to a various range of results.

PTSD

Carlos PTSD mainly manifests itself in the forms of flashbacks, and nightmares, and panic attacks. His PTSD is caused by his mother’s treatment of his as a child. His mother’s treatment of him, wont be discussed in great detail here, but it is traumatic for him. In short he was not loved or cared for. He had to do so much on his own, on top of his mother ordering him about. She burned him with butts of cigarettes, threw things at him, and treated him like a dog to the point of Evie thinking he was a dog because she could hear it. Dog jokes on the isle about him run rampant.

His triggers on the Isle, he doesn’t really care about. He still is in the situation constantly, so he doesn’t really pay attention. In general, and one he has control of, is the various dog nick names. He will get a bit volatile about being called dog names. Other triggers mainly include heals clacking, smoke, dogs (all dogs, and then just big dogs as he gets to know Dude), and touch particularly touch of his hair. These are his biggest triggers, and they are not his only ones. They also don’t always set him off. He has it all much more under control than he thinks he does. He is good at self regulating his panic attacks and knows when they come on. Flashbacks are his rarest form of manifestation. They are not always full on vivid images of things, but he often gets an overwhelming smell of his mother, and Hell Hall. Nightmares are his most common manifestation. He struggles to sleep, but when he does 6 nights out of 7 he will have a nightmare. He does his best to thoroughly exhaust himself before he sleeps in order to not have nightmares (and to not disturb people, namely Jay). They mainly manifest in Auradon.

His PTSD can get very bad, especially when he has a full flashback. His full flashbacks are generally brought about when he thinks he is being threatened. They come mostly from fear of being touched, mainly if he thinks someone is going to strike him, or if someone is yelling at him. He has full flashbacks very very rarely, but he has had them. One of the most prominent times he has had one is on Parents day when Audrey’s grandmother, and Chad yelled at Mal, Evie, and Jay.

Carlos has both PTSD and C-PTSD. There are certain events from Carlos’ childhood that cause PTSD, but the ongoing abuse he suffered is what gives him C-PTSD. PTSD includes reliving the trauma through nightmares ( referenced vividly in book 4 ) and flashbacks both of which Carlos experiences. He avoids situations, and when he can’t he either disassociates or runs such as with Parent’s Day when Queen Leah’s yelling makes him dissociate. His fear of dogs stems from his PTSD, as well as his hyper awareness of the world around him (though this hyper awareness is also brought on for other reasons). Some of his triggers cause somatic symptoms, as shown above.

Carlos’ C-PTSD is evident in both the books and the movies. From lack of emotional regulation (him yelling at his mom in D1), to dissociation his response to Jane in D3 where he forgets seemingly that his mother abused him. Carlos shows many signs for C-PTSD. He has the most control over his emotions almost to the point where he can come of as emotionless ( “they say I’m callous” ). Carlos has a negative view of himself, but don’t expect him to say that. His mother’s comments towards him made it such so that he feels different, not to mention how utterly embarrassed he is of his handwriting because he taught himself how to write. Carlos’ inability to form good relationships with people, especially outside of the Core4 is not only a symptom of C-PTSD but also something that is part of asperger’s. However its a fine line because the type of people he is typically attracted to, tend to have power over him. Its a delicate line that both parties have to walk.

Carlos’ perception of his mother is his biggest sign that he has C-PTSD. He loves her. He loves her to the point that he will defend her. He knows she doesn’t love him, this is his plot of book 1 essentially. But that does not change his feelings towards her. He has a desire to make her proud, even at the cost of his own morals. Carlos loves Cruella unconditionally even though he shouldn’t, and its unhealthy. He also fears her, but that doesn’t mean he can’t love her. His fear of her causes physical reactions in him from shaking, as seen in book one, to nearly becoming a different person, a main reason he doesn’t want Dude on the Isle in D2.

Carlos doesn’t really exhibit loss of systems, mainly because his only real connection with religion is that his dad is Jewish. However, in my writing, he does often think about how stupid it is to have hope, so that would fit in well there.

Overall Carlos has both. There are specific child hood events that give him PTSD, but the abuse over the years is what gives him C-PTSD, and yes one can have both.

This is not diagnosed.

Anxiety

Carlos’ has anxiety, mainly severe social anxiety. Carlos does not do well in big crowds, or social situations. He has the constant thought that he is annoying people or bugging them. He may want to approach someone, but actually doing it is incredibly taxing on him, and he panics.

Social situations in general make his heart rate go up. Carlos has panic attacks from this. These are the ones that he can barely control, if at all. They come on fast, and often Carlos gets no real warning for them mainly because he doesn’t always know what triggers them.

This is also not diagnosed, but it does stem from Cruella’s treatment. He is always on edge around her, and worried and nervous about how she feels about him. This extends to every person he knows and meets. This extends to his friends. He is always worried about them, and how they view him. He is waiting often for their guidance to tell him what to do, even if he knows what he needs to do. He likes orders.

Additionally his mind is constantly going a million miles a minute. He often has different things processing and going on at the same time. But worries are most of those. These worries keep him up at night, and actually add to his insomnia.

His anxiety is potentially the least worrying thing for Carlos though. It has been ingrained in him so long to be on edge, that that is all he views it as.

Depression

Carlos’ depression is the must fuzzy of all the things he is diagnosed with. It is definitely the hardest to pin down. And it is one of the things that Carlos does his best to ignore. He has other things going on his mind, if he wants to lay in bed, he has things going on telling him he can’t. Something needs to be cleaned, something needs to be done, his mother is telling him to get up.

Something that links into his depression is his view of his body. Carlos is incredibly self conscious. He has multiple scars that are from cigarettes, or chemical burns. He has cuts, and scrapes that have scared over. He also has his freckles which are a love hate relationship with. His mother found it the one good thing about him since he was born with spots unlike puppies, but for a while it made him resent them. However due to his unique relationship with his mom, he likes his freckles because he knows that since he has them his mom has the chance to love him.

Carlos’ view of his own body being malnourished, and that his growth is stunted, among other things is skewed. He doesn’t like people seeing his body. Sometimes seeing his body makes him uncomfortable with himself, or he just loses all motivation he had. It can be incredibly debilitating. It is often the thing that gets him down the most, and makes his days the hardest to get through.

Schizophrenia

Carlos’ schizophrenia began to manifest itself when he was around the age of 10. He has no idea what it is. It is gentic, and he did get it from Cruella (this is based primarily on Descendants Cruella, and Disney’s live action and animated Cruella).

Carlos’ main symptoms for this are hallucinations, delusions, unusual ways of thinking, agitated body movements, reduced expression of emotion, reduced speaking, and poor executive function. He may exhibit more, but these are the most common. On the daily he typically experiences auditory or visual hallucinations that are vivid and often seem real to him. It his strongest symptom. He explains as he does in D2 where he hears Cruella’s voice in his head. She often talks to him telling him that he is worthless and useless, or she will give him orders. Disobeying the orders is hard, and sometimes he feels that he has no control over his body as he obeys whatever order his mother told him.

Carlos also often known to have delusions, and when he is having an episode he likely wont make sense. He will behave opposite to how he is commonly known (so how Auradonians view him), but he will also be opposite to how the Core 4, and friends who actually know him are. One way to confirm that he is potentially relapsing is that he will respond to the vivid hallucinations.

Often the best way to get him to come back to reality, and get him past the episode is to initiate contact with him, because that is the best way to ground him. Its not an easy feat since he doesn’t like being touched. And he will likely lash out when people try to touch him.

Aside from hearing his mother’s voice, he may feel her arms around him and she could be stroking his hair. His protection of her is often what makes him lash out at people who come near when this happens. Carlos seems almost relaxed when this happens, in a way he never is, his eyes close and it looks like he is experiencing something euphoric, he has this look in D1 when his mother is petting his hair in Maleficent’s home before they head to Auradon.

However, his most common system is the auditory hallucinations, and he rarely talks about them even with his friends. This is also not diagnosed because of his refusal to admit that he is crazy like his mom. He does not want to be like her, and he knows that having it could potentially get him sent back to the Isle. He doesn’t necessarily like when people say he isn’t like his mother, because he knows its a load of bull.

OCD

Carlos has OCD, it goes beyond his need for things to be perfect and meticulous something that was ingrained into him by his mother. Carlos has a few very small ticks. He does things in 10s, or in 101s. For example Carlos will wash his hands for 101 seconds, or will brush his teeth for 101 seconds. He will eat food in ten bites, not a whole meal but each seperate piece of food he eats will be done in 10 bites. This leads to him being a bit of a messy eater, but don’t worry he has 10 napkins for that issue exactly. If he used a clickable pen he would have to click the pen 10 times before he will use it. Often when panicking he counts to 10 to help him breathe. 101s are meant for longer tasks, his brain automatically sorts things like that. His worst infraction of this is going up stairs, if a stair case does not have 101 steps, which most of them don’t, he will calculate what he needs to get to those steps. If a staircase has more than that, he will start the 101 over, and calculate how to get to that number like he would with a regular stair case. It is the hardest tick to hide, in his opinion.

This is not diagnosed.

Insomnia

Carlos has severe insomnia, it is added to by a few things, such as his anxiety and PTSD. It is not dependent on those things. Carlos’ mind just does not shut off. In order to get a good night’s sleep he has to be pretty much exhausted. It became much more apparent in Auradon than on the Isle. It did exist on the Isle. Often being coaxed into sleep helps too, and that typically includes friends helping him sleep, this can be seen more so in my own writing. However I do pull him having insomnia from the scene in D1 where he is shifting on his bed awake, granted all the kids are awake, but his just feels different to me.

As with everything else on the list this is not diagnosed, but it is one of the few things Carlos is fairly comfortable self diagnosing himself with.

In general, the numerous things he deals with that affect his life day to day, when he is diagnosed and does talk about them, are the reason he is eligible for a service dog, and why he gets a service dog. Granted he has to over come his fear of dogs first, but its the baby steps. Medicine is not exactly an option for Carlos because he is so scared of the side affects of many of them Not to mention he kind of refuses to take it. Agreeing to having a service dog is a good compromise for now. But doctors ideally want him on medication to further improve his life. He does not get a service dog til he is essentially an adult in most of my verses.

#headcanon: he got her brain too #meta: found it in a book #tw: panic attacks #tw: mental health #tw: ptsd #tw: anxiety #tw: depression #tw: schizophrenia

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ocdanxiety018 · 2 years

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Best Online OCD Program

Excessive thoughts that lead to repetitive behaviors and OCD obsessions are repeated, persistent, and unwanted thoughts, urges, or images that are intrusive and cause distress or anxiety. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a pattern of unwanted thoughts and fears that lead you to repeat repetitive behaviors.

Pocd treatment

When you see the symptoms of OCD, the first thing you should do is speak to your doctor. OCD is usually treated with medication such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioural therapy, or a combination of the two.

Many people with OCD find help through CBT because this type of therapy helps the person overcome unwanted thoughts. Obsessive-compulsive thoughts can quickly spiral into a never-ending attempt to figure out how to get rid of the OCD thoughts, even to the extent that the individual’s thoughts become the focus of the compulsion or obsession. The OCD and Anxiety Online programme helps you to stop intrusive thoughts and control your life and OCD.

Contamination ocd treatment is a psychological disorder primarily characterised by the pathological guilt or obsession associated with moral or religious issues that is often accompanied by compulsive moral or religious observance and is highly distressing and maladaptive.

People with scrupulosity use mental or behavioural compulsion to lessen the anxiety they feel. You can experience relief from symptoms of scrupulosity by working with a mental health professional, taking medication, or attending support groups.

There are many methods to stop intrusive religious thoughts and treatments include,

In Exposure Response Prevention therapy, the individual exposes themselves to the fear repeatedly without acting out compulsions.

Mindfulness OCD-based fears are anticipatory.

Cognitive behavioural therapy teaches individuals to pinpoint and understand negative behavior.

HOCD treatment is treated in much the same way as obsessive-compulsive disorder. In general, cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness-based therapy are used to help people reduce their response to their thoughts and help them deal with their obsessions.

ocdandanxietyonline helps you overcome them through a self-directed programme by Nathan Peterson, and OCD treatment is important to recover every day. It includes 42 easy-to-watch videos, step-by-step instructions for treatment of OCD, and provides you with worksheets and journals to help you on your way. This programme is literally a life changer. Join us now on our website at https://www.ocd-anxiety.com/

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devillain · 5 years

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Short list: things Carlos has (diagnosed and diagnosed)

Asperger’s

PTSD and C-PTSD

Anxiety

Depression

Schizophrenia

OCD

Insomnia

Asperger’s (Asperger Syndrome)

PTSD

Overall Carlos has both. There are specific child hood events that give him PTSD, but the abuse over the years is what gives him C-PTSD, and yes one can have both.

This is not diagnosed.

Anxiety

His anxiety is potentially the least worrying thing for Carlos though. It has been ingrained in him so long to be on edge, that that is all he views it as.

Depression

Schizophrenia

OCD

This is not diagnosed.

Insomnia

As with everything else on the list this is not diagnosed, but it is one of the few things Carlos is fairly comfortable self diagnosing himself with.

#headcanon: a smart little boy #tw: ptsd #tw: abuse #tw: child abuse #tw: schizophrenia #tw: depression #tw: anxiety

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laurenbaker553 · 7 years

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Hair Restoration No Surgery Reno Nv

The Hair Restoration Project in Reno Nv

“Give me a head with hair, long beautiful hair

Shining, gleaming, streaming, flaxen, waxen

Give me down to there, hair, shoulder length or longer

Here baby, there, momma, everywhere, daddy, daddy

Hair, flow it, show it

Long as God can grow it, my hair.”(1)

Who doesn’t admire a fine head of hair? We covet, envy, and even worship a colossal head of hair.

My late great mother, (lung cancer, not from cigarettes, but second hand smoke from Atlantic CIty, New Jersey casino air) in hospice, on the day before she passed, woke from her morphine induced “sleep”, looked around, and asked her final words, “How’s my hair?” (True story. To be fair, Mom was always a Jackie Kennedy, never Onassis, wannabe.)

In the United States, by age 60, 65% of men, and 80% of women have noticeable hair loss. In total, 56 million men and women experience hair loss. (2)

youtube

The Life Cycle of Hair (3)

To understand hair loss and what can be done to correct it, we must understand the natural growth, and demise, of a single hair follicle. Hair growth takes place in four phases: (4)

1. ACTIVE GROWTH (ANAGEN) PHASE

The active growth phase lasts two to six years. Hair grows 18 to 24 inches before entering into the transitional phase. 80-90% of all hair follicles are in this growth phase on a healthy head.

2. TRANSITIONAL (CATAGEN) PHASE

The shortest of the hair cycles lasting one to two weeks occurs when the lower third of the hair follicle is cut off from its blood supply. The hair itself shrinks to 1/6 its expected length. Catagen hair accounts for 2-3% of all follicles at any one time.

3. RESTING PHASE (TELOGEN) PHASE

The dormant stage lasts one to four months. 10-15% of all hairs are in the Telogen phase. Telogen hair sheds or is pushed out by new hair follicles as the cycle renews. Ideally, only 10-15% of hairs are telogenic. When more than 20% of hair are in this “resting” phase, noticeable thinning occurs.

SHEDDING PHASE (EXOGEN) PHASE

Hairs in this phase shed easily as the follicles are preparing to return to the Anagen phase.

Types of Hair Loss (5)

TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM

An abnormally high percentage of hair in the Telogen phase results in an overall thinning of hair. Common causes of this type of hair loss include chronic stress, toxins, fungal infections, nutritional deficiencies, and hormonal imbalances.

ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA

“Male-pattern” baldness is not limited to men. In women, the hair thins at the crown or widens in the part. The hair thins revealing a bare scalp.

ALOPECIA AREATA

Pattern presents as patches of lost hair. Alopecia Areata is usually an autoimmune condition with an association of nail issues also.

MISCELLANEOUS TYPES

Traction from braids, weaves or wigs

Chemotherapy-Related Hair Loss

Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia (FFA)

Lichen planopilaris (LPP)

Etiology of Hair Loss (6)

Sub-Optimal Thyroid Function

The thyroid is the body’s “gas pedal,” determining how fast or slow all bodily functions operate. When slowed due to inadequate “fuel,” namely usable thyroid substrate, the oils, fluids, and tissues, especially the hair follicles function inadequately.

The hair follicles spend an abnormal amount of time, and hence an abnormal number of hair follicles are in the Telogen or resting phase, resulting in the form of Telogen Effluvium.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Nutritional deficiencies, specifically silica and zinc lead to hair loss. To determine deficiencies, we perform micronutrient testing.

Stress

In 1881, George Miller Beard, M.D., a neurologist and graduate from the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons, described a condition based on excess “nervous energy.” Constant over stimulation of the nervous system from the fast paced American lifestyle resulted in “neurasthenia,” burnout, or nervous exhaustion.

Symptoms of neurasthenia included nervous dyspepsia, insomnia, hysteria, hypochondria, asthma, sick-headache, skin rashes, hay fever, premature baldness, inebriety, hot and cold flashes, nervous exhaustion, brain-collapse, and forms of ‘Elementary Insanity.” The best educated and most sophisticated Americans were the most afflicted. Theodore Roosevelt and Frederic Remington were two prominent figures of their day suffering from “neurasthenia.”

The “cure” was a withdrawal from the modern life, rest, and a less hectic lifestyle. Critics countered that urban life in the late nineteenth century had produced a “pathetic, pampered, physically and morally enfeebled 97-pound weaklings, unworthy successors to the stalwart Americans who had fought the Civil War and tamed a continent.”. (7)

Physicians pigeonholed patients into this “nervous energy” category, relieving themselves of more vigilant diagnosis. Early signs of tuberculosis, heart failure, and epilepsy were chalked up to neurasthenia and when later discovered to be in error, gave fuel to those who saw this “malady,” as a sham.

The term neurasthenia is no longer used to describe any medical condition, but the conditions that lead to its “discovery,” diagnosis and its’ symptoms are remarkably similar to a hormonal condition with clear diagnostic criteria known as “Adrenal Fatigue.”

The adrenal glands, pea sized organs, sit on top of the kidneys. They produce hormones that regulate blood pressure, electrolytes balance, blood sugar, immune responses, digestion, and stress responses.

In regards to the latter, constant, unremitting stress, as experienced by nearly everyone in today’s society, hijacks normal hormonal responses, redeploying the adrenals’ resources, in the form of the hormone cortisol, to combat the “evil” of the moment. The other adrenal functions, digestion, immune response, and thyroid hormone production, are temporarily put on hold or slowed until the stress has passed.

Cortisol is our protector. It lies in wait, like the lineup of computer programs opened at startup and running in the background, ready at an instant, when needed, to spring into action.

In an ideal world, the stressor passes quickly, and the adrenals resume lurking behind the scene awaiting the next crisis. In our non-ideal world, one stress begets a second stress, which begets a third stress, ad infinitum, putting the adrenal gland into permanent overdrive. Cortisol floods the body, driving the adrenals to handle the stress. Eventually, it cannot keep up. The result is adrenal “burnout” or fatigue.

Exquisitely impacted by the constant flooding and eventual depletion of cortisol is the thyroid. High cortisol levels signal the brain to lower the production of stressor hormones and inadvertently thyroid hormone.

Recall the critical step of converting T4 to the usable thyroid hormone free T3. Stress hormones affect the enzymes that convert T4 to T3 converting T4 into an inert unusable reverse T3.

Chronically elevated cortisol levels release inflammatory cells which desensitize thyroid receptors to thyroid hormone. Like people with diabetes who do not respond to insulin, adequate thyroid hormone may exist, but the result is poor thyroid utilization.

Increased circulatory cortisol increases estrogen in the blood stream. Estrogen increases thyroid binding globulin, tying up T3 and T4, reducing hormone levels to achieve the conversion to free T3.

Elevated cortisol levels with its’ natural state of chronic inflammation trigger “leaky gut syndrome,” latent infections leading and autoimmune diseases.

Hair follicles accumulate in the resting (Telogen) phase.

Sex Hormone Imbalances

Male: Excess testosterone metabolizes into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol. DHT attaches to hair follicles, effectively strangling them causing “organ” death. The key to preventing, slowing, or possibly reversing the effects of DHT is by inhibiting this conversion of Testosterone into DHT. (Essentially the mechanism of action of hair loss products such as Rogaine.)

Found primarily in hair follicles and the prostate gland, Type 2 5alpha reductase is the enzyme that that converts testosterone into DHT. The conversion of too much testosterone to DHT results in androgenetic alopecia. As a man ages, he retains estrogen and converts testosterone into estrogen at a higher rate. The result is 1+1=4, the 4 being excess DHT as a result of excess estrogen.

Women: Estrogen dominance is the culprit in women. Child birth, birth control medications, stress, toxins, along with entrance into the perimenopausal arena, create a dominant estrogen pattern.

Estrogen signals the liver to produce inordinate amounts of Thyroid Binding Globulin (TBG). T4, the “storage unit” of the thyroid must convert to T3, the hormone that the “work.” Excess TBG leads to an inability to convert T4 to T3, resulting in a relative hypothyroidism and Telogen Effluvium.

Estrogen dominance results in excess DHT, leading to a female version of “male pattern” baldness. (8)

Miscellaneous areas to explore if estrogen dominance is ruled out: Heredity, insulin resistance, polycystic ovarian syndrome and a low antioxidant state. (9)

Medications Causing Hair Loss (10)

Antibiotics: gentamicin, chloramphenicol

Anticoagulants: warfarin, heparin

Antidepressants: fluoxetine, desipramine, lithium

Anticonvulsants: valproic acid, phenytoin, carbamazepine

Cardiovascular meds: ACE inhibitors, beta blockers

Chemotherapy drugs: doxorubicin, vincristine, etoposide

Endocrine drugs: bromocriptine, clomiphene, danazol

Gout medications: colchicine, allopurinol

Lipid lowering drugs: gemfibrozil, fenofibrate, cholestyramine, clofibrate

NSAIDS: ibuprofen, indomethacin, naproxen

Reflux/ulcer medications: cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine

Antithyroid drugs: iodine, PTU

Retinoids: vitamin A overdose, isotretinoin

Trichotillomania-Repetitive hair pulling resulting in hair loss. Considered an OCD variant. Treatment usually includes behavioral therapies, SSRI’s or other drugs to treat OCD. Metabolic therapies include NAC, inositol, L-tryptophan, niacin and vitamin B6.

Scarring Alopecia-Results from burns, radiation, or other injuries or diseases.

Scarring alopecia destroys the dermis with permanent hair loss.

Rx: Vitamin A 150,000 IU QD for six weeks stopped disease progression.

Maintenance Rx: 150,000 IU qd for three 6 week periods every year. (11)

Conventional Therapies for Hair Loss (12)

Cyproterone acetate Minoxidil

Flutamide Ketoconazole

Finasteride Hair Transplantation

Dutasteride Light Therapy, Botulinum Toxins

Holistic Resolutions to Hair Loss

Proper Hypothyroidism Diagnosis & Treatment (13-14)

The thyroid functions as the body’s “gas pedal.” Like Goldilocks, we need it to be just right, not too little, not too much. The gland produces two major hormones, triiodothyronine (T3), the active hormone, and thyroxine (T4), the storage hormone. The thyroid also produces calcitonin, a hormone responsible for calcium balance and bone density and magnesium.

98% of all thyroid disorders result in hypothyroidism. Common symptoms include cold intolerance, unexplained weight gain, fatigue, thinning of the hair, the outer third of the eyebrow, the skin and the nails, increased body fat, energy loss, cognitive loss, memory loss, mood disorders, lowered body temperature (never greater than 97.6 F), fluid retention, and a poor sense of well-being.

Treatment is ineffective when the underlying cause of hypothyroidism is the immune system, not the thyroid per se., and not addressed. 25 percent of patients with autoimmune, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis develop polyglandular syndromes (such as pernicious anemia, diabetes, or adrenal insufficiency) or other autoimmune diseases (such as Sjogren’s syndrome).

Key Supplements for Healthy Hair (15)

Biotin

Zinc

N-Acetyl-Cysteine

B Vitamins (Particularly B6 and B12)

Niacin

Arginine

Lysine

Saw Palmetto (for Men)

Acetyl-L-Carnitine

Iron

Vitamin D

Biotin-Water-soluble B-vitamin found in green leafy vegetables. Biotin regulates mitochondrial enzymes in hair follicles. Depleted by cigarette smoking, aging, excess alcohol, strenuous exercise, burn victims, shortened gut syndrome (GI resections), achlorhydria, and raw egg consumption. (16-17)

Use orally or in essential oil mixture. The dose is 30-100 mcg/day.

Zinc-Promotes cell reproduction, tissue growth, and repair. Zinc maintains the oil-secreting glands attached to hair follicles. A study showed that 15 patients with alopecia areata received 45 mg of zinc TID. All had the complete return of hair growth within six months. (18) Maintenance dose is 15 mg per day along with 1 mg copper as a balance.

N-Acetyl-Cysteine-Precursor to glutathione the most powerful antioxidant in the body. Protects DNA from chemical damage, detoxifies heavy metals, and it keeps arteries and airways open. It activates essential functions of the immune system.

B Vitamins (B6, B12)-In the form of Pyridoxal 5-Phosphate (PLP), the B Vitamins act as catalysts to activate the enzymes and chemical reactions to commence the metabolism of keratin and melanin in the hair follicles. B vitamins control hormone release., regulating androgen interaction with hair metabolism. Testosterone breaks down into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Elevated DHT levels diminish hair growth by decreasing the length of the anagen, hair growth phase, and the follicle size. Vitamin B6 binds to the testosterone receptors, stopping DHT formation.

Niacin-Vitamin B3 converts carbohydrates into energy, delivers the energy to cells where needed, and maintains cell integrity. Niacin is a vasodilator, hence the niacin “flush” so common when taken, “washes” carbohydrates through the body, reducing visceral fat and serum cholesterol. The flush can be minimized by taking niacin with a meal or starting (with a) low dose and gradually increasing its potency.

The vasodilator effect of niacin delivers increased oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicle resulting in thicker hair.

Arginine- L-arginine, a precursor to nitrogen oxide, opens the potassium channels of the cell, improving blood supply to the hair root.

Lysine-An essential amino acid, lysine stimulates collagen and is necessary for restoring damaged hair.

Food sources for lysine include fish (especially salmon, sardines, and cod), dairy, poultry, red meat, pork, legumes, nuts, spirulina, and pulses.

Saw Palmetto (for Men)-Prevents conversion of testosterone to DHT

Acetyl-L-Carnitine- Up regulates proliferation and down regulates apoptosis in hair follicle keratinocytes. Turns fat into energy. Acetyl-L Carnitine improves the membrane potential of the hair follicle along with potassium channel function within withering hair follicles.

Iron-A lack of iron results in a decrease in hemoglobin, the ingredient that carries oxygen for growth and repair of all cells including hair follicles. Iron deficiency states move hair follicles into a premature and prolonged telogen (resting) phase.

Hair growth is a “non-essential” bodily function. It is one of the first systems to shut down in a state of iron deficiency. Hence, hair loss is an early warning sign of iron deficiency anemia.

Vitamin D-Essential for calcium homeostasis, immune regulation, and cell growth. A host of autoimmune diseases, including alopecia areata, exhibit low levels of Vitamin D. The severity of serum 25(OH)D deficiency is inversely related to the severity of hair loss.

Gluten-Hair loss is an early sign of gluten intolerance. In all cases of alopecia or extensive hair loss, we recommend a strict gluten free diet for four weeks as a trial. (19)

Vitamin A-Hair loss is a symptom of Vitamin A toxicity, especially in renal failure. Hair recovers when toxicity eliminated. (20)

Emu Oil-Contains linolenic acid a potent 5-alpha reductase inhibitor. Compound with virgin coconut oil to create an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory scalp treatment to DHT.

Adequate Protein

Insufficient protein effects on hair growth. The CDC recommends 46 to 56 grams of protein per day to maintain hair growth. (21) Inadequate protein results in protein rationing by shutting down less important functions.

Iron

When iron levels fall below 30 mg/L hair growth and regeneration are decreased. Iron deficiency commonly causes hair to be brittle and dry with narrowing or splitting of the hair shaft. Iron replacement restored hair growth in those whose sole issue was iron deficiency. (22-23)

GI Evaluation-The 4 R’s

Depleted stomach acid leads to impaired protein digestion and decreased nutrient absorption. Disturbed GI flora leads to poor nutrient utilization. Pancreatic enzyme deficiency leads to malabsorption of essential fatty acids and zinc.

The “4 R’s” include:(24)

“Remove” inflammatory foods such as gluten, dairy, corn, soy, eggs, and sugar. Eliminate gastric irritants like alcohol, caffeine or drugs. Infections, even low-grade infections need to be treated with herbs, antiparasitic and antifungal medication, anti-fungal supplements and antibiotics when appropriate.

“Replace” essential nutrients for proper utilization of foodstuffs. Necessary for proper digestion are digestive enzymes, hydrochloric acid, and bile salts.

“Restore” Probiotics containing bifidobacteria and lactobacillus dosed from 25 to 100 billion units a day along with prebiotics and fiber restores normal GI flora.

“Repair,” L-glutamine along with zinc, omega three fish oil, vitamins A, C, E, slippery elm and aloe vera containing supplements rebuilds the damaged intestinal wall

Addressing Stress & Adrenal Fatigue

Diagnosis: The HPA AXIS Stress Index Panel. A four point saliva test performed in a single day. Normal is high upon awakening and then quickly fall and flatten out by noon.

Normal Saliva Cortisol Pattern

Treatment begins with reducing stress (easier said than). Proper diet, yoga, Pilates, Qi Gong, meditation, massage and infra red sauna are a few techniques used to control stress successfully. For some, a complete lifestyle change may be the only way to better health.

Supplements that enhance the adrenal glands include the adaptogenic herbs Rhodiola, Ginseng, and cordyceps , Pregnenolone, DHEA (cortisol precursors), 5 HTP (for sleep, well-being and mood regulation), adrenal glandulars (to balance cortisol and replenish the catecholamines dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine), and if still no relief Cortef (low dose cortisone).

Male Hormones and Hair Loss: Natural DHT Blockers

Saw Palmetto-Inhibits 5-alpha-reductase. 240-260 mg @ bedtime minimum.(25)

Progesterone-“anti-feminizing in men.” Prevents excess conversion of testosterone to estrogen in males by blocking type 2 5alpha reductase.

Nettle Root-Can be used topically with Coconut or Olive Oil and Rosemary extract as shampoo.

Pygeum-Inhibits DHT. Commonly used in combination with Saw Palmetto

Rosemary Oil-Inhibits DHT. Use as scalp massage

Pumpkin Seed Oil-Inhibits DHT. Can mix with apple cider vinegar as salad dressing.

Female Hormones and Hair Loss

Proper balancing of bioidentical, not synthetic, progesterone to estrogen, will in many cases resolve hair loss. Fix the cause.

Alkalinize the Body

Maximal DHT conversion occurs when the pH of the body is between 5.0 and 5.5. Fed by following the Standard American Diet. (S.A.D.), is an acid body state.

Alkalinizing the body prevents DHT from binding to hair follicles enabling them to thrive.

A liver Detox such as Dr. Clearfield’s Ultimate Paleo Cleanse will restore scalp pH to at least 7 in two weeks. By maintaining an alkaline environment, hair will regrow, stronger and thicker than before.

Below is a food chart comparing the relative acidity or alkalinity of different food groups to one another. It is evident that the “normal” American sets and up for failure by consuming highly acidic foods.

(26)

Delayed Food Allergies

Do’s:

Bone Broth-Helps restore gut barrier (i.e. heals the “leaky gut”)

Fermented Vegetables and Beverages (i.e. sauerkraut, kimchi, beet kvass, coconut water kefir). High in Probiotics

Fish and Shellfish-High in Omega-3 fats. Eat at least one pound of cold-water, fatty fish per week EPA and DHA needs.

Organ Meats-Loaded with micronutrients that promote healthy immune function.

Micronutrients

Vitamins A & D: Immune enhancement.

Vitamin D supports proper T-regulatory cell function.

Cod liver oil is the best source of A & D.

Iodine & Selenium– Crucial for immune health and successful conversion of T4 to T3.

Glutathione: Promotes healthy function of T regulatory cells

Niacin (B3), Pyridoxine (B6), Vitamin C, Magnesium, Iron, Copper, Zinc, and Manganese.

Eliminate

Gluten Soy

Dairy Eggs

Corn Saturated and/or trans fats

Processed foods Sugar

Substitute For:

Salt: Powdered garlic, powdered onion, lemon juice, lime juice, lemon crystals, turmeric, ground cloves, oregano, ground allspice, celery seeds, coriander seeds, ground cardamom seeds

Butter/Fat: Olive oil, coconut oil, flaxseed oil, ghee

Sugar: Obtain sugar primarily from fruits and vegetables, not concentrated sources. Fruit purees flavored with lemon juice and spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, mint leaves, ginger, vanilla), Stevia, Xylitol in limited quantities.

Alcohol: Limited to an occasional glass of wine, beer or spirits. Red wine contains some health promoting phytochemicals and antioxidants.

Cereals: Nut flours

Cheese: Nut cheeses (cashew, dairy, soy free)

Milk: Almond milk, coconut milk

Protein: Ancient Nutrition Protein Bone Broth

Goitrogens (27)

In small amounts goitrogens increase the need for iodine. In large quantities, they can damage the thyroid. Goitrogens should be limited to 3-6 servings per week. Steaming can reduce the danger by ⅓ and thoroughly cook them and discard the water in case of boiling decreases the harm by 90%.

Cruciferous Vegetables C Others

Bok Choy

Broccoli

Brussel Sprouts

Cabbage

Canola

Cauliflower

Chinese Cabbage

Collard Greens

Horseradish

Kale

Kohlrabi

Mustard Greens

Radishes

Rutabaga

Turnips

Soy

Pine Nuts, Peanuts

Millet

Strawberries

Pears, Peaches

Bamboo Shoots

Spinach

Sweet Potatoes

Compounded Formulas

Compounded Caffeine Formula (28)

Caffeine 0.001% to 0.005% in VersaBase shampoo #4 oz (120cc)

Shampoo scalp. Leave for 15 minutes and wash off. Repeat daily.

Zinc pyrithione 1% in topical solution with or without minoxidil 10%. 4oz (29)

Sig: apply to hair follicles qhs. Cover with shower cap and leave on all night. Wash out in the am.

Melatonin 1m/mL in VersaBase Shampoo #4őz. (120cc) (30)

Sig: shampoo daily. Leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse.

Minoxidil 8.5%/Finasteride 0.1% scalp solution #2 oz. (31)

Sig: apply to hair follicles qhs. Cover with shower cap and leave on all night. Wash out in the am.

New Trends

Platelet Rich Plasma

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is created by collecting blood from the patient and separating the platelets from the blood in a centrifuge. Combined with an FDA approved biomatrix (Acell) and nutrients, the PRP is injected or via a micro-needling device, driven into the upper dermal layer of the scalp, eyebrows or beard.

PRP contains many growth factors to stimulate the hair follicle restoration. It stimulates inactive or newly implanted hair follicles into an active growth phase. Following up with progesterone or a melatonin based scalp treatment enhances the process. New hair sprouts as early as 2 months. 4-8 months is the typical time frame for hair to thicken and become noticeable. Additional injections may be necessary every 2 years.

Recovery time is minimal, and pain managed with over the counter ibuprofen or homeopathic remedies such as Arnica Montana and Boswellia.

“Hair loss reduced and at three months it reached normal levels. Hair density reached a peak at three months. At 6 months and at 1 year, it was significantly increased, 156.25 ± 37.75 (P < 0.001) and 153.70 ± 39.92 (P < 0.001) respectively, comparing to baseline. Patients were satisfied with a mean result rating of 7.1 on a scale of 1-10. No remarkable adverse effects were noted.” (32)

“A mean increase of 33.6 hairs in the target area and a mean increase in total hair density of 45.9 hairs per cm² compared with baseline values. There were no side effects noted during treatment. The data highlights the benefits of PRP injections for male pattern hair loss and absence of major side effects.” (33)

“PRP was found to increase hair regrowth significantly and to decrease hair dystrophy and burning or itching sensation compared with TrA or placebo. Ki-67 levels, which served as markers for cell proliferation, were substantially higher with PRP. The authors reported no side-effects during treatment.”(34)

No Stitch Transplant

As advertised, no stitches and no staples. There is little-to-no discomfort (no scalpel involved). Patients resume normal activity after only a few days. The hair line is natural looking with no linear scar. (35)

Low-Level Laser Therapy

Laser light, specifically the red visible wavelengths target tissue molecules. The energy level of the molecules increases and the molecules respond by “working off” the excess energy with adaptive changes. In the case of hair follicles, this adaptive change is the stimulation of new, thicker follicular growth.

Conclusion

Hair loss is as simple as hereditary or an early warning sign of a serious health condition. While, at present, surgical transplant is the only way to overcome Dad’s chrome dome, infections, autoimmune issues, scarring, inadequate protein and essential vitamin deficiencies, medications and stress also plays a role. Proper treatment demands we search for the underlying cause. Call us at 775-359-1222 or email [email protected] to find your answers.

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0 notes

evawilliams3741 · 7 years