Female Hair Loss – Page 37

December 22, 2008

Why Would My Hair Not Grow Longer than 5 Inches? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

(female) I am an east indian, 22 years of age and my hair has not grown from childhood. The length vary from 2-5 inches long,very thin, dry and lifeless. Doctors don’t have any idea about my problem. Can you help me by suggesting what steps can i take and what could the cause and Is there any possibility that my hair can ever grow?

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The length of your hair is genetically and age determined. It is unusual for a young woman to have limited growth length, but it does happen. There’s nothing you can do for it.

December 10, 2008

In the News – Spironolactone Clinical Trial in Australia for Treating Female Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

Around 80 women suffering hair loss are being recruited to trial the drug Spironolactone. While there is some evidence the drug is effective in arresting the progress of female baldness, the trial will be the first in the world to provide medical proof of its efficacy. Half of the women will take a placebo; the rest will take the drug.

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Read the full text — Drug trial to end bad hair days for bald women

In theory, Spironolactone is anti-androgenic and some doctors have been using it for years. Thus, if hair loss is from androgenic causes (such as male pattern baldness) the belief is that it may help… but women generally do not have androgenic alopecia (men do). The results from what has been reported so far in past literature has been “iffy”, and not enough to drive me to recommend this drug or others like it.

We’ll see what the test concludes.

December 9, 2008

I Used Oxidized Vitamin C on My Forehead, Green Tea on My Scalp — Now I’m Losing Hair – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

(female) Hi About 4 weeks ago used oxodized vit c serum on my forehead. I see major wrinkles just from one application. I started reading about damage to skin cells due to free radicals which I understand travels quickly which lead me to worry about my already thin hair. I read online that green tea mixed with isopropyl alcohol will neutralize free radicals so i mixed it up and applied it so scalp using spray bottle. About two weeks later my hair is falling out big time and it ia getting me really down. it seems to have happened suddenly not gradually. what could have caused this and do you think it will be permanent?? Thanks for your time

I do not know if and what damage could have been caused by your treatments. I can not tell if this was just a possible coincidence or not. It’s just too vague to possibly know without an examination. The causes for female hair loss are numerous, and you can find a good starting point here.

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December 5, 2008

Seeing Hair Growth After Finishing Chemotherapy – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

(female) i have finished chemo four weeks and i can see signs of hair growth. is it true that my hair may change colour and texture?

Many women with chemotherapy will have hair loss during the treatment, and the hair is pushed into its telogen cycle which usually lasts 3-8 months after the chemotherapy insult. When the hair comes back, it may not return to its full density, but the type of chemotherapy and the full recovery is poorly documented.

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November 24, 2008

Hair Loss InformationStopped Diane 35 (Cyproterone) After 10 Years – Now I’m Losing Hair! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr
My hair started shedding very badly 4 weeks ago. I shed 200-300 visible strands after a shower, and 5-6 strands every time I run my fingers gently through my hair. My scalp has also become very oily and scalp pimples have formed.

The only change that has happened to my lifestyle in the last two months was the discontinuation of Diane 35 (after 10 years) just 2 weeks before I noticed the shedding. I have done all the necessary blood work two weeks ago. I am perfectly healthy, with the exception of a low LSH and low ferritin (at 27). I do not have a stressful lifestyle. Do you think the sudden massive shedding was triggered by the discontinuation of Diane 35? If yes, in your experience, how long will this last and will my hair grow back?

Big thanks in advance. Your advice will be very much appreciated.

Cheers!

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I am not an expert on hormone manipulation, but by stopping the Diane 35 (cyproterone) you obviously have made a change and your scalp hair has been impacted in some way by the withdrawal of the birth control pills. The blood work needs to be presented to your gynecologist with the questions you asked. Hair transplant surgeons do not have the patient population with women taking hormonal therapy or birth control pills.

November 14, 2008

Do Birth Control Pills Treat or Cause Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Bottom Line with hair loss and birth control pills?

I read conflicting information about the birth control pills and hair loss. It can trigger hair loss yet is also a treatment for androgenic alopecia.

I experienced heavy shedding after discontinuing Ovcon 35 several years ago. I became pregnant shortly after stopping the pill, and the hair loss ceased. I had moderate TE after all three of my subsequent pregnancies. I am now finished childbearing (at 32)and looking for contraception. My mother has severe androgenic alopecia and I’m quite sure I’m destined for the same fate.

So, for my case (there are no other known health problems in myself or my family) should I take BCP’s to prevent the alopecia? I was thinking of trying Yaz or Yasmin because of the drospironone that is derived from spironolactone and has anti-androgenic properties. But is it the estrogen or the progesterone in the pills that cause the hair loss? Should I stay away from BCP’s completely due to my history?

You should have this conversation with your OB/GYN doctor. I do not prescribe or recommend birth control pills (BCP) in my practice, but more importantly you should not be taking BCP for hair loss. All medications have risks and benefits and potential side effects. As such, these matters are highly specific to each and every individual.

I wish I can give you a blanket answer saying one birth control pill is better than the other at hair loss or hair growth, but I do not know of any firm proof of what is good/bad for what. From a theoretical perspective (as you seem to have done your research), spironolactone does have anti-androgenic properties. From a practical and real world perspective, spironolactone does not stop or help with androgenic alopecia, which is why I do not prescribe spironolactone for hair loss either.

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November 11, 2008

Giving Birth a Year Ago or NuvaRing Causing Female Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello Dr,

I am writing to you today because I am desperate. I am a 26 yr old woman. For as long as I can remember i have had thin hair. It runs in my family. I had a baby oct 1st of 2007 and noticed that my hair started falling out more than usual a couple of months ago. I don’t know if it is because of giving birth or because i started using the birth control NUVARING. I believe one of the side effects is hair loss but i am not quite sure. I am going crzy because as days progress my hair keeps falling and i don’t know what to do. I have not taken anything because i don’t know what to take or what shampoos or treatments are good for you. I don’t have insurance and i don’t have a lot of money where I can afford a visit to a dermatologist or even a doctor. I have been doing research and I came across alopecia areata (i think) and I actually think i might sufffer from that or maybe it’s the childbirth or even the birth control or even a combnination of all! Please advice me in what i should do. Thank you so much

We have discussed the NuvaRing birth control causing hair loss (see NuvaRing and Hair Loss). I can not advise you on what you should with with your birth control treatment, because if I tell you to stop using something which may be the cause of your hair loss, I would be taking on the role of your doctor (which I am not). Alopecia areata is probably not what you have here, unless you have distinct bald spots. There is no substitute to seeing a good, caring doctor.

We are both in California and you indicated that you live about 50 miles from my office. I see women for hair loss, and still do this free of charge (I do not expect to charge for these visits at least for the remainder of the year). I’d be happy to examine your hair to see if it is alopecia areata, at the very least.

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November 11, 2008

Sea Kelp for Female Hair Loss? – Balding Blog

(female) I am 51 yrs. old. In the past 6 months I have lost 33 pounds in a healthy slow pace. In the last 3 months I have had alot of hair loss along with scalp itching. It has clogged my bath drain in 3 months and feels about 1/2 the thickness it use to. The weight loss, a new shampoo and conditioner and having my hair streaked with blond every month ( I have had it colored for years and streaked but only every 3 months rather than streaked every month. These are the only 3 new things that have happened. I have started taking sea kelp with no help for 2 months. I have had all the normal medical tests done to make sure there isn’t any health issue here. The results were all normal.

Weight loss can cause hair loss although the slow weight loss you had should not be a cause. You could perhaps have an allergy to something in your new shampoo or conditioner, or even a reaction to the chemicals used with your hair coloring. It’s difficult to tell for sure, so I’m just left to guess. Sea kelp probably has little value to you for regrowing your hair.

November 10, 2008

Why Does More Hair Come Out in the Shower? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi

I searched your blog and read that it’s alright to wash my hair every day and washing gently does not increase hair loss. I’m in a hairloss support group for women and so many of us are afraid to wash our hair because we see so much shedding with each hair wash. It’s depressing and can really get to us.

Would you kindly explain why there is so much more visible shedding during hair wash and the gentle managing/drying of it after the wash?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

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The washing action will bring out those hairs that would have probably fallen out on their own in the wind or when you do other things throughout the day. Washing will not bring out any more hair than the normal cycling would have brought out on their own.

November 10, 2008

Sinus Medication Entex PSE and Female Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

(female)
I have been taking Guaifenesin and Pseudoephedrine (EntexPSE,Pseudovent400 etc.) daily for more than three years. I have noticed a drastic change in my hair’s texture and fullness. My hair has always been extremely thick and healthy. Recently, it has been thinning and now has the texture of brillo. I am definitely losing large amounts of hair, additionally, each hair seems thinner and more fragile and “wiry” but no bald spots. Could either of the components of my sinus medication be causing these disturbing symptoms?

I’ve read reports that guaifenesin can be associated with hair loss in some patients, though it is not listed in the official list of side effects. I am afraid I can not render you an opinion on your observations, but I suggest you see a dermatologist (or more importantly, your prescribing physician) for a proper evaluation.

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