Month: January 2023

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Hair loss from hair treatment (photo)

Some background: I’ve gotten perms 1-2 times a year for the last 9 years to try to increase volume for my thin hair. I got a root perm done in November but my scalp felt like it was burning so I decided to stop them altogether.

Now I noticed my scalp has been pink (thought it was a sunburn at first but it’s been 3 weeks and no flaking or changes) and I have this bald spot around my hair part. The hair around it is so thin and sparse if you look close. I changed my hair part to cover it up but I’m worried the hair loss is irreversible. I’ve been noticing also that I lose a lot of hair in the shower.

I ordered a silk pillowcase after a friend recommended it, and I currently use sulfate and paraben free moisturizing shampoo from Costco, OGX biotin & collagen conditioner and Aveda invati advanced scalp revitalizer spray but I’m not sure if it’s helping.

I thought initially it was from stress but this is way worse than anything I’ve experienced before. Any input or recommendations would be appreciated. I’m wondering if I should go to a dermatologist or change any of my hair products.

Hair treatments used to color hair can cause chemical burns to the scalp and kill off hair. If that happened to you, it will not get better. The best treatment for a permanent loss like is shown here: https://scalpmicropigmentation.com/gallery/smp-for-women/ Permanent burns can happen with a variety of hair treatments, using any bleaching agent in particular.


2021-09-16 10:54:11Hair loss from hair treatment (photo)

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Hair Loss from Hair Coloring

Hello
About 4 months ago I had some red/copper low lights put in my hair. Within about a week I developed several hives/blisters on my head, the worst of which was towards the back of my head where 3/4 seemed clustered together. About 3-4 weeks after this my hair fell out from that particular area (about 3-4 cms across). I’ve been to my GP who wasn’t very helpful and said it may or may not be an allergic reaction, and she did not know why the hair had fallen out. It’s now 4 months later and I appear to have some regrowth but it’s like baby hair, very fine and short. I can feel it with my finger but it doesn’t cover the bald spot as I have very dark brown hair. Will my hair return in time, and what process does it take? Is it normal that the hair appears like baby hair? It may be an impossible one to answer, but roughly how long before the bald spot is covered and looking like my other hair?

I notice that most sites suggests hair grows on average 1/2 inch per month. Is this growth rate the same for hair that has fallen out and is growing back? I’m desperately looking every month for signs of 1/2 inch growth but wondered if the rate was slower/quicker for brand new hair. Thanks

This is a tough hair loss question not only because it is tough for you to go through, but also because it is difficult to diagnose without an exam. You need to see a dermatologist or a hair loss specialist (but definitely an MD) so they can look at the spots with hair loss on your head. The reason is that the hair loss pattern and sequence that you describe could have been caused by many things including 1) a chemical alopecia (reaction to the chemicals used on your head) 2) an allergic reaction, 3) an infection of the skin on the scalp (by anything from a bacterial, fungal, or a viral source), or even 4) Alopecia Areata. Often, only a physical examination by a doctor and testing (sometimes including a scalp biopsy for microscopic analysis) will determine the cause.

The good news is that in most all the cases I have listed, the hair does grow back although it is impossible to predict how long it will take without a definitive diagnosis. In the meantime, see your dermatologist or hair doctor, stay away from the chemicals for hair, and take a photo to document for yourself how the growth is going.


2006-04-14 08:36:22Hair Loss from Hair Coloring

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Hair Loss from Exercise?

Hello Doctor. I’m a 31 year old male with a receding hairline. I’ve been using Propecia for 2 years now and I believe it has stopped the recession. I would like to start exercising again to get back in shape, but I’m afraid the increased Testosterone levels from exercising will put me at risk for further balding. Now, I don’t want to lose any more hair, but I don’t want to remain out of shape either. Are my fears well founded or is hair loss and exercise not related. If my fears are well founded, what can I do to exercise yet not cause any further baldness. Also, since Propecia effectively cuts the levels of DHT in the body, will that inhibit any gains from exercising? Thank you.

Exercise will not cause you to lose hair, so I think you’re safe to start working out again (unless you have some injury or underlying condition that you haven’t mentioned). What I mean to say is — don’t let fears of hair loss stop you from keeping in shape. To my knowledge, there will be no impact on your muscle mass caused by Propecia (finasteride 1mg).


2008-01-08 10:05:05Hair Loss from Exercise?

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Hair Loss from Cancer Drugs

Dr. I am currently in the Star study and taking either tamoxofin or reloxofin and a placebo. I am having ample hair loss every time I brush or wash my hair. One of the questions on the form that I am to answer every year (this is my second in the program) is regarding hair loss. Within the past few months I have also started taking Glucosamine and Condroitin. I think the hair loss has increased in this time. Is this a conincidence or which drug, if any is causing the hair loss and is there anything I can do about it other then stopping the meds?

Many drugs that attack potential cancer cells because of their high metabolism, will also impact other cells with a high metabolism such as hair (one of the highest metabolic organs in the body) and the lining of the intestine (these cells have a high turn-over) with symptoms of loose stools and general ‘stomach’ troubles. Also, some of the other sensitive cells to anti-cancer drugs are the blood cells in our body, some of which live only a short time, even under normal circumstances. That is why many cancer patients have frequent blood tests and are monitored for side effects so closely. Hair loss is not one of the points that have become the focus of anti-cancer drug treatment by doctors, yet hair loss is often the most worrysome side effect from the patient’s perspective.

Unfortunately, there have been no effective medications that have been shown to protect against hair loss. That is the bad news. The good news, however, is that the hair in women that falls out from the impact of these anti-cancer drugs, always comes back within a year or so in most women, that is, unless they have genetic hair loss. Those with female genetic hair loss and hair loss from anti-cancer drugs in combination, find that although the hair usually returns, it does not come back as strong hair. Show patience, and the hair will probably return to its pre-treatment quality, again as long there was not genetic hair loss prior to the commencement of treatment.

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Hair Loss from Cyst?

Can I have lots of hair fall due to a Cyst in my scalp?

A cyst should not cause hair loss unless it becomes infected. Unfortunately, you just did not supply me with enough information to be helpful. A picture would be useful, or even your age, sex, and hair loss history. I would see a dermatologist.


2008-02-25 08:21:18Hair Loss from Cyst?

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Hair Loss from Coronal Brow Lift Scar

I had a coronal brow lift in Feb. 2009. I had a wider than desired scar. I also had a spot the size of a quarter of permanent hair loss. The plastic surgeon who performed the brow lift has tried to do a scar revision by excising the scar. But I am 3 weeks post revision and I see where all along the new revision scar I have hair loss. The line where he cut is pencil thin, but I have hair loss in front of the scar.

Is this going to be permanent like before? I thought that maybe the staples I had in initial surgery were the problem. But he used sutures to do revision and I still had hair loss. Why is it that every time my scalp gets cut I have hair loss in front of the scar? And what can be done to fix this?

Thank you

This is a real problem. You must wait out the course (about 4-6 months) and then you will know if the surgery succeeded. I suspect that you will see that the scar is the same or worse and the hair loss may not go away. I see many female patients with this problem and end up transplanting most of them with good results.


2010-10-01 08:50:50Hair Loss from Coronal Brow Lift Scar

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Hair Loss From Brow Lift

I had a brow lift and and a face lift. I lost a great deal of hair in the few months after the procedure. It is now 1 year since the surgery and I have had no return of the lost hair, and I have a very weakly defined hairline. The scar shows unless I comb my hair down in bangs. I would like wear my hair pulled back and show off the new younger me, as my face lift was very successful. Can you fix this?

Hair loss is a known complication of brow lifts and face lifts. The brow lift may accelerate the aging process with thinning of the hair in front of the scar in those genetically at risk. The skin in front of the ears can be removed in a face lift, wiping out sideburns (more common in the 2nd and 3rd face lift than the first).

Hair transplants are the ideal solution for this problem. This is the most common hair restoration process I perform in women. As men do not have face lift procedures as often, I do not see as many men as women with this problem. But the same complication is still there if there is a brow lift and / or a face lift. It can be done in one procedure in most people, but it takes a great deal of transplanted grafts densly packed to get the results in a single session.

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Hair Loss from Braids?

I washed my hair one day after pulling out braids. I went to my personal hairdresser to get my hair redone only to be told “Honey you know you have a bald patch” then she proceeded to rub it with her finger. It was as smooth as could be. It now has a few strains of hair and i have bought things specifically described for hair loss near to the neck. It itches a the bottom of the spot. Just tell me what exactly to do please cause it really bugs me out.

You describe a condition known as traction alopecia, where hair follicles are permanently damaged with constant traction (in your case braids). That area may never grow hair back. You need to see a hair specialist (a good hair transplant surgeon may help), but you should wait for 6 months to see if it does grows back.


2007-10-01 09:33:08Hair Loss from Braids?

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Hair Loss from Anesthesia?

I am 27 years old and female, and I have always had really thick hair. Around 6 months ago, I started noticing my hair was coming out a lot when I washed, or brushed it. My hairstylist also noticed, and asked me if I had surgey, and if I had anestisia? I did about 10 months ago. I was wondering if that could be linked to it? I have also noticed that my eye on one side feels like it is straining if I look side to side or up or down, and I have expierinced migraines frequently lately. So, maybe it is stress. Either way, your imput would be greatly appreciated.

Yes, the stress from anesthesia and surgery itself can cause hair loss, but it is temporary most of the time, particularly for women. In term of anesthesia, I am not certain if the anesthetic chemical itself causes direct hair loss or just the stress associated with the surgery, although I think that the stress may be a more significant factor in predisposed women. You may have female genetic hair loss and mapping out your scalp and hair for miniaturization might help establish or rule out this diagnosis with objective measurements. Repeating the analysis may have value after 6 months has passed if the first measurements are not definitively able to make the diagnosis.


2006-01-19 12:29:40Hair Loss from Anesthesia?

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Hair Loss From an Aggressive Haircut

Hi,

I have been using Propecia for about 7 years. The results have been satisfactory. However, the other day, an overzealous hair stylist at XXX Sam’s gave me an extremely aggressive haircut. I mean, it felt like she was ripping my hair out by the roots when she would comb it or cut it. Do you think this haircut could have caused permanent hair loss in any potentially damaged areas of my scalp, or, with or without the help of Propecia, the hair will just grow back? Thanks!

I had a patient who got mugged in downtown Los Angeles. The gang that robbed and mugged him, held him by his hair, and when they took all of his money and kicked him, broke his nose and cut his face, they pulled out most of the transplanted hair I had done in the front (1500 grafts). He insisted that the ambulance bring him to my office and he was the only person ever, who came to my office looking like he got out of a war zone. He did not care about his broken nose, his broken ribs, his cut face, or the many bruises on his body. He was crying for his hair that was then all gone.

I told him that he had to go to an emergency room to get himself fixed up and I assured him that his hair would come back. In just a few months, all of the hair came back. I doubt that anything that any person can do with a hair cut can match this story. To conclude, your hair should be fine.

With regard to your stylist, remember her like you remember an old discarded flame, what brought you and what sent you packing.


2006-01-09 09:19:23Hair Loss From an Aggressive Haircut