Female Hair Loss – Page 17

July 29, 2011

Female Corner Hairline Loss – An Interesting and Unique Situation (with Photos) – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

This patient had corner hair loss on one side of the hairline following a brow lift that she had done in 2003. We transplanted that weaker corner with 509 grafts in 2010. This is a unique case since we rarely just do the one corner, but the patient wanted to transplant just the left since the right corner did not show the same severe hair loss. We also treated the scar from the brow lift itself.

The corners of the female hairline often have slower growth than the middle of the hairline, so when one corner is transplanted with donor hair it will likely grow longer, thicker, and faster than the original corner hair. Why? Well, because her native hair in the hairline probably has a hair cycle measured in months rather than years. Now the hair that was transplanted at the left corner will most likely have to get cut frequently to maintain symmetry with the other side. We’re now planning another procedure to balance the sides out.

Anyway, this is a unique case and wanted to share. Click the photos below to enlarge.

AFTER – 9 months post-operation (509 grafts):

BEFORE:

July 15, 2011

In the News – One Woman’s Hair Loss Story – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

My long, thick red hair – the thing I liked most about my looks – began to fall out 5 years ago, when I was 37. I’d perpetually pick hair off my arms, my back, my car seat, my bathroom counter. My shower drain clogged easily. Running the vacuum meant enduring the smell of burning hair.

At first I thought the shedding was temporary and must be connected to a medical problem. I consulted eight doctors, endured dozens of blood tests and spent thousands of dollars. I secretly hoped I had a thyroid problem, a hormone imbalance, some kind of vitamin deficiency, even lupus. I needed an explanation. But all the tests came back negative.

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Read the full story — An agonizing secret: One woman’s story of loss

This article is about a woman who manages to stay strong while she tries to figure out why she’s been losing hair.

July 13, 2011

Can Rogaine Cause Female Body Hair Growth? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I know Rogaine can cause facial hair, but would it cause a large amount of hair to grow on a woman’s stomach, breasts, and sternum? I have already seen a endocrinologist and my testosterone was only at 4 and everything else was fine as well.

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I have heard of cases and have occasionally seen a woman who developed body hair on the chest, between the breasts, near the nipples, and throughout the abdomen and back with the use of high dose minoxidil. When the minoxidil is stopped, the hair usually goes away.

This complication occurred most commonly when this medication was administered systemically in the treatment of high blood pressure in the 1960-70’s.

July 12, 2011

I’ve Found a Bald Spot in My Afro – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi, I am a 23yr old black woman, ive been processing my hair all my life and recently opted to keep it ‘natural’ (Afro) i have very thick hair and about a month ago i was washing my hair and noticed a bald spot… My Hair is still thick all around the rest of the head but the area around the bald spot is starting to thin and fall out…
What could be the cause? I am Petrified!!!!

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There’s so many possible causes for bald spots producing female hair loss that I dare not list them. It would be impossible for me to pinpoint the cause via email. Here a list of potential blood tests women might have to find a cause for the hair loss if it is more diffuse, but a single balding spot may be simply a fungus effect or a more complex autoimmune disease. Or it could also simply be due to some error or allergy in the chemical process that could have damaged a spot.

I wish I could tell you more, but without an examination it would be too difficult.

July 11, 2011

My Young Daughter Had Ringworm That Left a Bald Spot – Balding Blog

My 8 yr old daughter got a bad case of ringworm a year and a half ago. The lesions became a superinfection and eventually cleared. She was left with a quarter size bald area on the top of her head and now has some small amount of hair growth. Is there anything out there could be doing for her to promote hair growth? Are there any specific doctors i should see? She is 9 and I believe it is bothering her a bit socially. Thanks

Hair loss from infection and scarring may be permanent if it has not regrown in over a year. One possible treatment worth using may be Rogaine (with approval from her doctor) topically applied, but you need to apply the medication twice a day everyday for about one year before may see any improvement.

Another option may be a limited hair transplant to the area which we have done on occasion. This may be a better solution, as it is a one-time event for most people. I realize she’s only 8 or 9 years old, but depending on how bothersome the bald spot is, it might be a consideration.

June 21, 2011

Hair Transplant for Woman with Polycystic Ovarian Disease? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rassman,
I was wondering about hair transplant in a female with active PCOD. I would really appreciate if you can share your experience in treating hair loss in PCOD both surgical and medical.

thank you

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I do not have much experience treating women with Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD or PCOS). Women with this disease tend to have hair loss that resembles male pattern balding, so I might treat them like men, addressing the pattern and the complaints that are given to me.

I’ve written about this before here.

June 2, 2011

Hair Loss InformationPropecia Test for Women – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’m a 26 year old woman. My friend mentioned there’s a test to see if medication would work for treating my hair loss and said you wrote about it a while ago on balding blog. Can you point me to the article since I can’t seem to find it. Thank you

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Hair DX Sure thing. We wrote about it last October — here.

One of the HairDX genetic tests will screen women for the connection between their hair loss with respect to an androgenic cause and the treatment options available to them. Women who show a high sensitivity to androgens could benefit from drugs like finasteride (Propecia), although this would be prescribed off-label as this drug has not been FDA approved for use in women. The use of these medications in women is dependent upon the doctor who prescribes it, but more and more doctors are now adopting this test.

Women who may be pregnant should never take finasteride, because of the risk associated with sexual malformations in children if the medication is taken during pregnancy.

June 1, 2011

Hair Loss InformationI Had a Hair Transplant and Now My New Doctor Says I Have Alopecia Areata – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am a 58 year old female who had hair restoration done 18 months ago on my receeding hairline (1500 grafts). I have just learned from a derm. who specializes in hair loss and restoration that I now have alopecia areata. (This new derm. was not the doctor who peformed the original hair transplant. I went to this new Derm. b/c I wanted to know why my hair was still thinning. He took 3 scalp biopsies which confirmed areata.

Now in the temple area where I had the transplant every once in a while I get numbness and a burning sensation. Would this be possible nerve damage from the hair transplant. Just want a second option and thoughts. This new derm seems to think it is something to do with the transplant. By the way it took 3 derms to figure out what I had. The last derm. is great and is treating me right now. Your thoughts.

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Second opinions are impossible to do over the internet through this blog. In general, I would want to know the following:

Could you have had alopecia areata when you had your transplant?
Did you lose transplanted hair in the areas of alopecia areata?

Any time a person has recipient sites in the scalp, small cutaneous nerves are injured. I would have to know more about your nerve problem. Good luck!

May 12, 2011

My College-Age Daughter Was Prescribed Finateride – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman, my daughter is presently attending college in Houston Texas and was just diagnosed with Androgenic Alopecia. Her dermatologist came to that conclusion after she did a biopsy. What concerns me is, she prescribed a treatment of Minoxidil and 0.5 mg of Propecia daily. I understand the Minoxidil but I thought Propecia was for men only?

She did inform her of the pregnancy risks associated with taking the drug but it has me concerned and I asked her not to take it until I get more info. I’m not questioning this doctor’s diagnosis of the problem, just her remedy. Would you think an appointment with a proven hair loss professional would render any alternative advice? It seems this sort of hair loss in women is difficult to treat but I would think there are options available other than Propecia. Do you have any colleagues in the Houston area you might recommend? We may just wait a couple weeks and make an appointment at your office when she comes out for the summer. I appreciate your time.

Androgenic alopecia is not diagnosed with a scalp biopsy! More importantly Propecia (finasteride) is not to be taken by young women! It may cause birth defects if they get pregnant. There are a minority of women past their childbearing years who do take finasteride for very specific reasons, but even those women have equivocal results. Unfortunately, minoxidil is the only FDA approved hair loss treatment for women.

Perhaps your daughter should get a second opinion by another doctor. I don’t have any personal recommendations in your area, but you can check for physicians using the doctor search at ISHRS.org… or of course, contact our office for an appointment here in Los Angeles.

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May 6, 2011

Hair Loss Information » I’m 2 Months Into My Fourth Pregnancy and Suddenly Seeing Hair Loss – Balding Blog

I recently found out that i’m pregnant, i’m about two months along now…and I noticed that about two months ago I started having hair loss more than normal. My hair has gotten significantly thinner. I went to the dermatologist and she said it’s most likely from low iron. I’ve been pregnant three times before and have never had this issue. If it is from being anemic, I was wondering what the result would be if I got an abortion, will the hair loss stop or get worse or stay the same?

Hair loss in pregnancy is relatively common and it’s generally a temporary phenomenon, usually changing course a few months after you give birth. Abortion or miscarriage can also cause added stress-induced hair loss. Please follow up with your doctor.