Female Hair Loss – Page 33

June 24, 2009

Hair Loss InformationHair Loss and Lupus of the Skin? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’m a 43 year old African American female. I’ve used hair products all my adult life. In addition, I wore weaves from braiding and sewing tracks on my hair to gluing tracks on my hair. To braiding my hair as well. I used extensive heat from flat irons to hair dryers. Everything has come to a halt. The top portion of my hair is bald in the crown area of my head in many large spots. I had a small spot for years smack dead in the middle of my crown area and never thought anything of it. Well a month ago my hairstylist noticed the small spot is no longer there. There are huge spots now that is red and is tender. For years my scalp always felt irritated very strange… Even when I brushed my hair my scalp would hurt. I recently got rid of all the hair products that contain Sodium Laurel Sulfate and Sodium Laurel Lereth Sulfate. I purchased all natural shampoos and conditioners.

Well I went to see a Dermatologist. He kept saying something about a band…? Dead hair follicles that will not grow back. Well they did the Biopsy and now I wait. He thinks it might be Lupus of the skin…. WHAT !@&^*()(*_( What is that… My first cousin has Lupus (enternal). I’m stumped…. I am wearing wigs because my hair is not long enough to cover the bald spots… What a mess…. Your thoughts Doctor?

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You will know more when the biopsy comes back. If you don’t have Lupus, you have many causes for hair loss all listed in your first paragraph of your email to me. This is a complicated problem that will have to be evaluated with you sitting right in front of me and my obtaining the biopsy from your dermatologist. For more info, look to the Lupus Foundation of America‘s Lupus of the Skin page.

June 17, 2009

Benicar and Minoxidil – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am a 62 yr. old woman who has been using Minoxydil for about 15 years since I had always had very thin hair and its usage really helped prevent fallout and even made my hair a bit thicker.

About 3 months ago, my doctor prescribed a blood pressure medication (Benicar) and it appears to be causing terrible hair loss (even though I am still using the Minoxydil). I will speak to the dr. about the hair loss but is it harmful to continue using the Minoxydil if I am taking BP medications? I am hoping to find a medication that will not have this side effect. I look forward to your answer as this is very depressing and worrisome

Benicar Benicar causes hair loss in 1% of patients… so it is quite rare. Speak with your doctors and see if there is an alternative medication that he/she would consider. The blood pressure impact of topical minoxidil should not be enough to impact your blood pressure management, but again, discuss this with the physician that is already treating your blood pressure.

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June 17, 2009

Female Hair Loss After Appendectomy? – Balding Blog

Dear sir,

about 3 months ago, my girlfriend (33 years old) was submitted to a surgery in order to remove a benign uterine myoma, treat an inguinal hernia and remove the appendix. Now she is having some hair loss localized at the top of her head where we can see about 3 cm of her scalp (there is no hair loss at the sides or front). she went to a dermatologist and he asked for a blood test to see if she is anaemic (the test is ok, she isn’t anaemic) and says that this situation is temporary due to the surgery, but I’m a little sceptical after what I have read in this blog and in other web sites as well.

Her mother, father and sister don’t have hair loss, but on the other hand a few years ago she started to have a few hairs in her chin.

So my questions are: what kind of tests do you suggest her to do , and is this a case for a dermatologist or an endocrinologist?

thank you

I would start with a primary care doctor who can do some basic tests to rule out anemia and thyroid causes. You said she’s been tested for anemia though and was OK there… but the primary care doctor will then be able to refer your girlfriend to the appropriate specialist if other basic tests are done. In other words, my advice is to start with the primary care doctor and take it one step at a time.

Generally, major surgeries or general anesthesia can sometimes precipitate hair loss (called telogen effluvium) in some men and women, but some of the autoimmune alopecias can be stimulated from the stress of a surgery as well. The hair loss is generally temporary and can take as long as a year to normalize. It is thought that such surgery or general anesthesia is a “triggering” factor in a genetic predisposition to hair loss. If this is the case, you won’t know for a year or so.

June 15, 2009

Will I Have Hair Loss After My Hysterectomy? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am having a hysterectomy July 31st and was instructed to stop taking my birth control pills which I did as of March. In the meantime, I ruptured both of my achilles tendons and had major surgery. I started losing my hair not too long after the surgery and thought the hair loss was due to the surgery. After reading some comments online, I realized that the hair loss is probably due to having stopped taking the pill. Now I’m concerned that with this major surgery and another coming up soon, I will continue to lose more and more hair. Is there anything I can do to stop the hair loss? I am terrified of going bald!

I doubt that you will become bald. Reactive hair loss after a major surgery is often cyclical and often will return if you are one of the unlucky people to experience. There is no way to prevent this in those that have experienced it in the past.

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June 1, 2009

Inflammation and Female Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I recently saw this on the local news here in LA. It seems to be a finding/treatment for women. I was wondering if you knew any more information about this and if so, would these topical steroids work for men? NBC Los Angeles

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Treating hair loss with steroids for “inflammation” is nothing new. People have tried applying steroid cream and doctors have tried INJECTING steroids to the scalp to encourage hair growth. In my opinion, these treatments do not work as I have seen patients who actually LOST hair from such treatment. Hair loss is genetic in most women and men. There are of course medical issues such as anemia, thyroid issues, etc… particularly more in female cases.

May 29, 2009

Hair Loss InformationOral Antiandrogens for Female Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi
I was wondering what your opinion is of this study? Thank you!

Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss with Oral Antiandrogens

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I referenced this article before — Treatments Available for Female Hair Loss

The conclusion of the authors suggest that there is merit in the use of antiandrogens, but the study is not statistically significant. Since my earlier reference 2 and a half years ago, our ability to separate women into two classes (those who are sensitive or not sensitive to antiandrogens) through the use of new genetic tests holds great promise for the future management of women’s hair loss. It is possible that in those women who had the best response to antiandrogens are women who have a high sensitivity to the antiandrogens as determined by genetic test (see HairDX). The study should be repeated with the genetic groups separated.

May 27, 2009

Hair Loss InformationHair Transplant in 21 Year Old Woman is Criminal – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I had a transplant in August, 2007. Needless to say it has been over a year and a half, and to my sadness and distress, I have yet to see ANY results. I had a full head of hair going into the surgery, and I went to Mexico with the doctors of a medical institute there, maybe that was my first mistake.. I was 21, and I am a female, and now I find I might not even have been a good candidate to begin with. The doctor just looked at me and told me that I was a good candidate. My hair had a diffuse thinning, but still there was quite a bit of hair stil left, something I wish I would have appreciated before. After the surgery, my hair fell out. I was patient, thinking it was shock loss and it would be temporary, but it has been more than a YEAR and the hair never came back. Fortunately I can use powders like Topikk all over my head to fake a full head of hair, something not necessary before, and my hair is much thinner than before. Does this seem like shock loss and is it permanent? I am upset over this and stressed out, but I would like to know what the future holds for me. Any help given would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

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This is quite unfortunate. Hair transplantation on a 21 year old woman is usually performed by doctors who want the money and do not care about the patient’s welfare. Indeed, about 80% of women with hair loss are not candidates for hair transplants and may suffer the same outcome that you did. You should have had a full medical work-up to include many blood tests for medical conditions that could cause female hair loss. There is even a genetic test for the inherited form of genetic hair loss. This remains a buyer beware market.

It might be worthwhile visiting me in my Los Angeles office. I could then confirm for you what may be going on and possibly give you some insights into what may happen to you in the future. I may even be able to suggest treatments for your hair loss. As your surgery was over 20 months ago, you should’ve seen some growth by now if the surgery was successful.

May 27, 2009

Common Age for Female Hair Loss to Start? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rassman,
Searching the internet and various websites I always seem to hear/read about women who have severe diffuse hair loss and have developed female pattern baldness when they are around 20-years-old. Is this very common? Some information I’ve come across says it’s very very common while other says it rarely happens. Do you have any statistics on it?

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I am not aware of statistics, but from my experience, women often follow the females in the family that have genetic balding in the time of onset and the pattern. There is a strong one-to-one link between mother and daughter in this condition and it is not infrequent to see it in your mother’s mother or aunts. Female genetic hair loss is not common in very young women, but in each decade, the frequency rises until menopause when almost 50% of women experience the problem. We see hair loss after pregnancy in many of these women as well.

May 22, 2009

Female Hair Loss in the Back of Neck – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

(female)
Dear Dr. Rassman,

The hair on the back of my neck is disappearing and I have no idea why. It started in the end of January 2009. It’s getting thinner from the middle and outwards and creates a parting in the shape of a crooked L (down and off to the side. The hair at the very base is short and thinner and doesn’t seem to grow (at least not very long terminal) I’m not sure if this description is enough for you, but I am at a loss of what to do! Do you think this will subside with time and then the hair will grow back again? I know neck hair tends to grow slower.

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Neck hair genetics are different than scalp hair genetics and unfortunately there is little that can be done other than the possible use of minoxidil. I do not believe that I have seen anything written in the medical literature on the loss of female neck hair, but there are many men who show it so why not women? Send me a series of photos and maybe I will understand more of your problem.

What is your age and state of health?
Are you taking birth control pills or other medications that can cause hair loss?
Could it be that you had a tight hair style that pulled on the hairs at the base of the skull, causing traction alopecia?

You get the idea here — a single description of a problem without my ability to ask questions with a good medical history leaves me in a difficult position to help. Consider a visit to my office and then at the least, I can perform my usual extensive examination of your scalp and neck.

May 22, 2009

Predisone Caused Giant Clumps of Hair Loss in Woman – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

(female)
I had an allergic reaction about a year ago and they put me on prednisone 50mg. I had to take 8 of those for 3 days and then every 3 days I go down 1 pill. It took about 3 weeks to get off of them and then as soon as I started taking them my hair started to thin. Then eventually it was coming out in giant clumps. It took about 2 months for me to lose all of my hair. Is that normal for that amount of meds I was given? To lose that much hair in that little of time?

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Steroids (like prednisone) are a cause for hair loss. You need a good doctor to analyze you, your general health, and your overall hormone balance. This can not be done over the internet.