Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rassman, can you explain why people with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism often suffer from hair loss? I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism last summer(TSH of a little over 8.8), and since then my endocrinologist has changed my dosage of thyroid medication twice, most recently in April. I have been experiencing a lot of hair loss since I have started the medication. Could propecia possibly be beneficial to my situation? Thanks for the great website.

Block Quote

Unfortunately, I do not know the exact mechanism of why people with low thyroid can experience hair loss from it. As the saying goes, it is the “practice” of medicine and not the “science” of medicine, and as such, medicine can be a descriptive and observational discipline.

Propecia will not be beneficial for hair loss associated with thyroid conditions unless there is an active genetic component to it. Propecia is a medication for androgenic alopecia.

Putting Retin-A on My Scalp Is Causing Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,
I am using retin A for acne and because my skin is very oily it gives a very good effect. So i decided to use it on my scalp because i also have a problem of very oily hair. So it give me good effect on my oily hair. they are producing less oil now but after four or five days i noticed my hairs are falling a lot. So i dont know if i should carry on retin A or stop it but i really want to get rid of oily hair.

Block Quote

Well, the answer should be obvious. You put retin-A on your scalp and started seeing hair loss… so stop taking it. Retin-A is an acid and is probably burning your scalp. See a good doctor who cares about your problem, will take the time to examine you, and will render you an opinion on what is happening. I wish I could offer more, but the Internet it not the proper venue for this.

Can Propecia Regrow Hair Behind the Hairline? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I know Propecia won’t work to regrow a hairline but can it help regrow hair behind a hairline like 1cm behind it? Since my hairline is still intact but behind it is where the drama lies.

Block Quote

It can, but each person will react slightly different to medication, so regrowing hair there might be rare. It has a better chance of maintaining hair that is left, though regrowth isn’t completely out of the question. The younger you are and the shorter time since the hair is showing the impact of balding and thinning, the better the chance of reversal.

If You Could Block 100% of DHT, Could You Never Have Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman, if more Finasteride blocks more conversion of testosterone to DHT in the 5-alpha-reductase Type II, then why would it not be better for preventing more hairloss? I heard of people who up their dosage if it starts to lose effectiveness and it works for a period of time. Also, what would happen if 100% of DHT is blocked and you had no side effects, in theory could you never have hairloss? Lastly, why cannot Saw Palmetto be used in conjunction with Propecia to block more DHT?

Regards

Block Quote

To make DHT, your body must have the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. We know this because some people are born with this enzyme missing and when that happens:

  1. They do not develop sexual differentiation and become hermaphrodites
  2. They do not become bald
  3. They do not develop prostate cancer

That suggests that DHT is the cause of hair loss when interacting with a person’s genetics. I can not be sure that DHT and 5-alpha-reductase type I or II are totally responsible for genetic male pattern balding, but it is highly suggestive. It may not be as simple as blocking one hormone, so we may not really be sure of the science.

Lastly, I do not believe there is good scientific evidence of saw palmetto blocking DHT the same way Propecia does. I reviewed this subject fairly completely and could find conflicting discussions from good scientific sources that show evidence that saw palmetto may work on blocking DHT… or it may not. Saw palmetto is a herbal medicine that has been traditionally used for prostate (not balding) problems in men, so studies on balding are not very complete or scientifically studied with good double blind clinical research projects. Finasteride is a medication that has been used in high doses (5mg) to treat prostate enlargement in men with a unexpected side effect of growing scalp hair in balding men. The value of both Propecia and saw palmetto will probably give more side effects, particularly the negative impact on libido.

Hair Loss from Thyroid… and Inaccurate Lab Work? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

(female)
This is not so much a question but another thing to think about. I have suffered with hair loss for about the last 6years. I also suffer with itchy scalp and was told that it must be ezama. I have lost so much hair that you could see my scalp. I now am suffering with mood swings, fatige, night sweats and several other symptoms. I have been taking vitamins, iron, rogain 5% drinking pom & mangosteen juice along with expensive hair products,shampoo and so forth, for the last 4 to 5 years. Yet I still have hairloss.

I say all this to give hopefully some hope. After MUCH research I found that your thyroid (overactive & underactive) can cause hairloss alot of the time, also because of my age 49 hormones can also cause hairloss. Now for some that don’t know this, in 2003 the thyroid range has changed from 0.5 – 5.0, to 0.3 – 3.0, my range in 2006 was 2.80. I was told that my thyroid was perfect, but what I found out is on my lab work, the lrange was 0.5 – 5.0. I now believe that my range is high based on the new range. I am going to have my thyroid & hormone checked by a specialist. most lab work does not give very accurate results, that why we are told our blood test are normal. I found out that about 89 to 95 percent of people (both men & women)suffer with an imbalance thyroid, and don’t even know it. Something to think about.

Block Quote

I’m not sure where you are getting your facts, but to say that most lab work is inaccurate sounds… well, inaccurate. Different laboratories have different ranges of values they work with so your levels may have been fine. In other words, you cannot compare your lab results from one laboratory with the standards of another laboratory.

I do not know why you are losing hair. There is probably many factors affecting including thyroid or genetic or hormones, etc. I would follow up with a doctor and discuss your concerns and issues with him/her. Fatigue and night sweats are non-specific signs for possible serious illness.

If Propecia Shedding Occurs, How Noticeable Is It? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I been reading about the shedding that may happen with Propecia in the beginning of treatment in the blogs and on the Propecia site. If it’s gonna happen, will the shedding be noticeable or I’ll just lose a little more hair a day then I should? Also is it a rare or common thing to shed with Propecia? Right now my thinning ain’t visible to people but I know it’s there I would really be upset if Propecia will make my hair thinner in the beginning.

Block Quote

In the many years in practice and being one of the largest Propecia prescribers (according to Merck) in California, I do not remember one case of shedding reported by my patients. I do believe it does happen because of the large number of people who report it to me on this blog, but I suspect it is far less common than the reports you can find on the Internet seems to suggest it is. As I have not seen it in my patients, I really do not know the answer to your question, but I suspect it may vary all over the place from minimal to substantial.

Does Dr Rassman Have MPB? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman

If you were to judge from your own picture (the one shown on the website), would you say you have genetic hairloss? If so, to what degree?

Block Quote

I had a bald crown measuring about 3 inches round. This is classified as a pure vertex balding pattern. I originally made a mistake and had scalp reductions in the early 90s, which left me scarred. Since that time, I have had hair transplants and the scars and balding spot is largely gone. My hairline is natural.

If There’s No Irritation After Coloring Hair, Can I Assume Dye Isn’t Accelerating Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Doc

I dye my hair after a cut, about every 4 or 5 weeks. If there’s no scalp irritation is it safe to assume an accelerated hair loss isn’t from the dye? Can dye increase hair loss if there’s no scalp reaction that I’m aware of? I noticed the increase about the time I started the dye over a year ago. I started Propecia about 2 months ago.

Thanks

Safe dying should not produce or accelerate genetic hair loss. By safe, I mean that the bleach is not driven into the hair follicle below the skin to cause chemical injury.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):


Lack of Leg Hair – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

(male)
Hey guys im hoping you can help me. I’m 18 i have a problem, now i dont know why i dont have hair on my legs, 1 could it be becuase i dont eat the right food, 2 i dont excersie enough or is it just that my DHT level is low, and why would it be low? i have bvery little hair, only around my ankles not alot but a little, over the month of June last week i was on Vacation, i noticd that i had a little more hair growing then it stopped am i imagining this or is there something wrong

This is a maturing process and body hair increases as one ages. At 18, you may be on the left of the bell curve, which means waiting it out. Leg hair increases in the 20s in most men.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):