Author: Dr. William Rassman

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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 Mono?

Our Dr did a blood test on our 15 year old and it came back that she had mono. I had taken her to the Dr because of severe hair loss. She said the loss was from the mono and it could last up to 6 months. Have you heard of this before?

Illness is a cause of hair loss. Telogen effluvium (see eMedicine article) is what occurs in some people, though it is more common in women than men, and can occur after a bout with mononucleosis. It should pass with time, but this is something she should discuss with her doctor.


2009-02-24 14:46:18Hair Loss from Mono?

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Hair Loss from Hair Twirling?

Does twirling the hair at the front of the head cause extra hairloss? I am 37 and have had male pattern baldness.

Only if you pull on it while you are twirling it. If you have not seen hair loss in the area you are ‘working’ I would not worry much about it.


2007-06-08 09:35:37Hair Loss from Hair Twirling?

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Hair Loss From Poor Nutrition?

my hair is falling out dramatically. i have suffered very poor nutrition and stress along with some drug use. what should i eat, take, and/or do to stop the loss?

The reason that we do not see hair loss from dietary causes in the United States is because we are well nourished and generally without vitamin deficiencies. In your situation, with a history of poor nutrition and stress, these alone can cause hair loss. To correct this, a proper diet should be followed with a professional dietician. If your hair loss has a pattern to it (front, top, or crown), it may be genetic — in which case, Propecia combined with a good diet correction might be your best bet. If the loss is generalized, the malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies (as well as other causes of this) must be properly investigated and professionally treated.


2005-10-04 14:50:24Hair Loss From Poor Nutrition?

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Hair Loss from Pony Tail?

Does wearing your hair pulled back in a pony tail cause your hair line above forehead to recede???

Wearing your hair pulled back in a pony tail rarely causes your frontal hair line to recede, unless you pull tightly on the hair most (or all) of the time. Traction alopecia is a common form of hair loss in the African-American community as the ‘pig-tails’ that are created by tightly braiding hair grows out, causing continuous pulling pressure to eventually produce loss of hair in the frontal and temple areas. Men who wear turbans all of the time suffer from the same type of hair loss as the African-American women, because the turbans pull on the entire frontal area creating permanent hair loss in the areas where the constant pull is.


2006-02-01 09:25:27Hair Loss from Pony Tail?

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Hair Loss from Propecia

Hey. I’m 20 years old and I have also had a further back hairline, but only on the side. it looked fine. A year ago i asked my doctor about it because it was a little thin on the right side and he prescribe propecia. Well i had been taking propecia for about 8 months every other day, when all of the sudden my hair was coming out like 15 hairs at a time. when i ran my fingers through my hair tons came out. I lost about an inch and a half on my hairline in 2 to 3 months. My hairline was fine before but it was just thin on the right side. It crazy its bother me alot. So i quit taking the propecia a little less then a month ago. I mean i cant even grow facial hair. so it feels weird that im losing my hair. PLease help. Could this be temporary?

Dealing with someone like you over the internet is very difficult or almost impossible. As I have said many times on this blog, you first need a working diagnosis. Getting your hair and scalp mapped out of miniaturization should at the least establish a proper diagnosis. Having someone with my experience, for example, is critical in making the judgments you need. Questions that stand out for me include:

  1. Are you going through accelerated hair loss?
  2. Do you have other causes of hair loss?

I would want to go through an extensive history on your overall health and the family tree in terms of balding, hair growth (when and where), etc. Get a good doctor and do not treat yourself. It has been said that “A person who treats himself, has a fool for a doctor”.

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Hair Loss From Root Canal Obturation Paste?

Hello! I’m from France and I saw something about the composition of the root canal obturation’s paste. It contains corticosteroids, and i want to know if that thing can cause a hair loss.

Thank you.

Corticosteroids in excess can potentially cause some general hair loss, but I am not familiar with root canal paste.

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Hair Loss From Stopping Minoxidil

No question this time, but I wanted to share a quick story…

A 58 year old patient of ours was transplanted in the corners of his frontal hairline. He had used minoxidil for years with what he thought was no effect. After his corners were transplanted, he stopped the minoxidil and in time, lost hair behind the transplanted corner on his right side. In hindsight, this complication could have been avoided had he gone back on the minoxidil, but neither he nor I realized the dependence of the minoxidil over the previous years.

As a rule, men in his age range do not suffer from shock hair loss (very, very rare), but in this case, minoxidil was far more effective than we thought. He is now only 2 months post surgery and was immediately restarted on the minoxidil. I am hopeful that the drug will regrow the hair he lost behind the transplants on his right side, but only time will tell us. The lesson here is that when you are a long term user of minoxidil, you really do need to stay on the drug for life.

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Hair Loss from Seborrheic Dermatitis in My Eyebrow?

Hello Dr Rassman,
I have recently been diagnosed with seborrheic derm in my right eyebrow by a dermatologist. I have read in previous Balding Blog posts that you don’t believe seb derm causes hair loss as it is primarily a skin condition, and that loss could result only if there is manipulation of the hair follicles and I agree with you! But, my case is such that I am losing anywhere from 3-6 hairs a day in my right brow (which is the only place I have this issue…white flakes that adhere to the follicle and cause weakening of the hair and then soon loss) so I was wondering if you think this means I might not have seb derm?

Afterall the doc just listened to my symptoms and as I was still speaking wrote out a prescription without even looking at my brow! I am thinking it is a condition which mimics seb derm what do you think? I am planning on eventually getting a transplant when the loss subsides but I can’t seem to control the problem first! He put me on desonide and ketoconazole cream which did nothing for the hair loss of flaking and just exacerbated the condition. Any insight you can give I would greatly appreciate. Thank you Doctor.

If you weren’t happy with your dermatologist’s review of your eyebrow (you said he didn’t even look at it before prescribing medication), you should consider seeing another dermatologist that will examine the hair loss.

As for me, I honestly do not know. It is strange that you are losing eyebrow hair on only one side. Perhaps it is temporary and the hair will grow back? Give it time. Don’t jump on the surgery solution. Follow up with your doctor. If this is of any comfort, I have yet to see someone with one good eyebrow and the other bald, unless, they are pluckers or pickers.