Category: Hair Loss Causes

What happens EXACTLY to your hair when you are stressed?

Although hair loss can be stress induced, simply having stress will not (in most people) impact your hair unless there is a balding process going on at the time of a prolonged stress. We do not know the mechanism for it in those that are impacted. Men rarely see it, women frequently will see it if they have a hair loss problem.

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I have seen 3 dermatologists with 3 different views.

The first derm i go to does the pull test and says the ease of hair coming out might make it seem like a non genetic thing. The second derm wants to give me corti shots…which i received, we were to meet for 2 more sessions, but he suddenly quit the office. The 3rd derm , in replacement of the 2nd, says it is genetic and prescribes me Propecia. I feel like these docs aren’t taking the time to study things case by case so I come to YOU for some experiences advice.

HISTORY:
Started to notice hair loss in senior year of college. It has been many months since start of serious hair loss. Mother’s side all good…father’s side, hair loss beginning in 40’s and 50’s.

MY CONDITION:
Itchy scalp, most noticeable when in contact with a brush. Flaking, now very few, prob due to few uses of Nizorol. Oily…in fact, my pillow smells and in the morning it is oily and a mess. Back, side and front very good condition, the hair loss is diffused amongst the top portion of my scalp.

HAIR CONDITION:
When examining the fallen hairs, they usually have a bulb but it is small and dark. Sometimes there is a oily/flaky substance attached to it. Also, some hair I notice have a wave to them and the tip is very thin and pointed.

I have thought the possibility of a seborrhea condition, is my case something a scalp biopsy can figure out? A blood test has already revealed normal ranges in all except some hard to decipher words in the hermatology report which my physician did not deem notable.

Thank you very much in advance.

I do not agree with cortisone shots in the scalp for treating genetic hair loss. Seborrhea should be treated by any good dermatologist or family doctor. The use of topical steroids are often overkill. Pull tests are part of the work-up of a patient with hair loss. Mapping out your hair for miniaturization gives me a great deal of knowledge on what is going on in the hair of a person with balding or thinning.

Doctors don’t all agree and that is a fact of life. When you are caught up in the middle between doctor’s advice, make a judgment on who you like, who treats you with respect and who has a caring manner, then stick to that doctor. A good doctor/patient relationship is important, and trust in your doctor is significant. I can be the 4th doctor to look at you, but I’m in Los Angeles and you indicated you’re in New York — so if you don’t mind the travel, I’d certainly invite you to my office for a consultation. Or more convenient for you, my colleague Dr Robert Bernstein has an office in New York.

Hi, I have a cowlick on the top back part of my head. I know there is absolutely no way one can predict male pattern baldness in a person. My maternal grandfather still has his hair at 70, but his son (my uncle is bald). My uncle said he started going bald at the age of 28. My father at 50 has a full head of hair, and my brother at 28 still has a full head of hair. I am 21, and have shown no signs (or at least the typical signs) of male pattern baldness yet. I was just wondering if it is more common in men with cowlicks, or if there have been any studies to determine a relationship?

Cowlicks are genetic. Male pattern hair loss is genetic. The two are not related.

There are no studies that I am aware of that link the two or the relationship of cowlick prevalence in men and women. If you want to find out if you are actually balding (possibly in the early stage when it is starting out), get your hair mapped out for miniaturization every year and when/if it starts to appear, you will be ahead of the game.

Is it possible that a particular acne treatment (benzoyl peroxide) can cause hair loss at the temples and receding of the hair line if applied too close or on to the hair? This has occured over the last 6-8 months and i’m not sure whether the cause is male pattern baldness or the acne medication.

Benzoyl peroxide is a weak acid sometimes used for acne. It can irritate the skin, but it should not cause hair loss since the effects are probably superficial. The most common cause of hair loss in men is genetic balding and a good doctor should be able to point to the diagnosis.

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Can I have lots of hair fall due to a Cyst in my scalp?

A cyst should not cause hair loss unless it becomes infected. Unfortunately, you just did not supply me with enough information to be helpful. A picture would be useful, or even your age, sex, and hair loss history. I would see a dermatologist.

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You said in en earlier archive, “You can have very high levels of DHT, but as long as your hair is not sensitive to DHT, Propecia will have little effect on the normal hairs.” My question is what causes hairs to thin where its not male pattern like a mustache, sideburns or a beard. Both my doctor and dermatologist, prescribed for me to take propecia or Rogaine but I haven’t any signs of male pattern baldness. The hairs on my mustache have become very thin, brown and a little white. 4 years ago the hairs were denser and black. I am a 26 year old male with African/Caucasian decent.

You are correct that MPB and DHT do not impact the facial hair. We see changes with age in many people, although you are young for thinning of facial hair. At this point, I do not have the answer to your problem. I would love to examine your beard and measure the thickness of different hairs from different parts of the face. That would give me more insights into your problem.