Category: Hair Loss Causes

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Do Thin Eyebrows Mean a Thyroid Condition? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi doctor, I see that you mention that a thyroid condition may cause balding. I’ve read that one of the symptoms of a thyroid conditions is thin eyebrows. If I’ve always had thin eyebrows since I was a kid (especially on the outer edge), does that mean I have a thyroid condition – or that I just had naturally thin eyebrows?

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Thin eyebrows just means you have thin eyebrows, especially since you report having this as a child. It doesn’t necessarily mean you have a thyroid issue. If you think you have a thyroid condition, then you should see your primary care doctor. It is a simple blood test.

If you want thicker eyebrows, you can always consider an eyebrow transplant, which takes hair from the back of the scalp. We’ve successfully transplanted eyebrows for many patients with great results, but the patient has to remember to trim their new eyebrows regularly since the hairs will continue to grow like it would on the scalp.

There’s some examples of eyebrow transplants here, here, and here.

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Massive Hair Loss After Eustachian Tube Inflammation – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Dr,

Im 31 years old, went ill with an eustachian tube inflammation and had 1 month off work, with severe pain and insomnia. A couple of weeks later, I had a massive shedding with incredibly rapid and notorious miniaturization of all my hair. I even clogged the drain, losing approx 40% of all my hair. The remaining hair changed its architecture, looked curly (my whole life have had straight hair). I assume this is hair degeneration. I started dutasteride 0.5mg/day immediately.

Is it possible for DUPA to behave like a massive TE? It looks like DUPA were stress triggered, and acted on onsets rather than progressive. Thank you.

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This does sound like telogen effluvium, since the shedding started after your stress from the inflammation, pain, and subsequent insomnia. I would hope that if you started dutasteride, you’re already under the care of a doctor that prescribed it to you… but if not, you need to see your doctor for an examination.

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I’m 45 and Just Saw My Hair Started Thinning So I’m Taking Everything I Can Find – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

i am a 45 yr old male in good health but take blood thinner. i noticed that i was thinning so started a vitamin regimen and rogaine plus Nuhair for men. Im not seeing great results but it hasnt been that long. im still shedding not real bad but 20+ hair when i style. is this normal? and i thought propecia had bad side affect?

P.S. just started a new relationship i want it too go rite plus been kinda stressed too :( help

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You really should see a good doctor and find out what is happening. Stress can cause hair loss, but shedding 20 hairs is within the range of the 100 or so hairs anyone might lose per day as new hair grows in (the regular cycling of hair).

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Hair Loss InformationIs There a Way Doctors Can Diagnose If Hair Loss is Permanent or Temporary? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I really need your help. I am a 23 year old male before three months noticed hair shedding and falling .before three month face burn ,and appendix treatment. It’s all I can focus on now. two month I noticed the left part of my hair line and crown is now thinner when seen under bright light. I would like to find out if there is a way to diagnose whether or not this is permanent or temporary hair loss. I’ve been to 1 dermatologists who have done nothing but suggest Propecia. I would almost consider flying out for you to take a look. My question is, is there a definite way for you to say whether its permanent or temporary hair loss?

The shed hairs all appear to be very healthy with a white dot on the end. Is there a way to confirm if this is from telogen effluvium or MPB?

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There are many tests that will confirm the cause of the hair loss. Generally they would include miniaturization analysis, bulk measurements, pattern identification, and most of all the skill and experience of the physician. This is not rocket science.

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Hair Loss InformationMy Hair Loss Starts When I’m Stressed and Reverses When My Stress is Controlled – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I saw Dr. Bessam Farjo in the UK, and I was told i had stress related hair loss. A test was done and lactic acid damage identified. The hair loss reversed completely when my situation improved, and started again when the stress/paranoia got worse. No med helps long term. I have chronic tinnitus, and associated problems as a result.. so thats the reason for it all.

BTW took finasteride 5 mg/day, and now I have penile fibrosis/curvature. Any Ideas? hair on last legs. Thanks.

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I’m not sure what you’re asking me, exactly. You saw a good doctor in your area that told you how your loss was related to stress. So you’ve already identified that stress causes your hair loss, and controlling the stress causes the hair to regrow.

As for you taking 5mg of finasteride per day, I don’t know why you’d be taking that much unless you have prostate issues. That’s 5 times the dose for treating hair loss — and if your loss is indeed from stress, you probably didn’t need finasteride at all. Did you talk to your prescribing doctor about this? Did you diagnose this penile fibrosis yourself?

There’s so much I don’t know about your case. For example, I don’t know how long you took the medication, why you took the medication, your age, your medical history, any possible disease (example – Peyronie’s disease), etc, etc. So no… unfortunately, I don’t have any ideas I can offer.

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Should I Take Anabolic Steroids To Treat My Possible Alopecia Areata? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi, I am 29 and recently noticed (about 2 months ago) some oval bald spots on the back of my head and in my beard. After doing a little bit of research, I am pretty sure that I have alopecia areata. As the spots are getting bigger I’m starring to worry that I might not lose not only my hair but my beard too.

This got me thinking that my brother had his facial hair greatly increased following an anabolic steroids cycle (for bodybuilding purpose). It got me wondering if taking anabolic steroids would help me regrow my beard even if I suffered from AA.

Thanks

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So you diagnosed yourself with alopecia areata and then decided to ask me if anabolic steroids would help regrow your facial hair? First of all, you should get a physician’s diagnosis to see if perhaps it isn’t alopecia areata. Maybe you have an allergy or stress (both of which can also cause spots like that).

Secondly, while some people have reported faster facial hair growth while using anabolic steroids, the steroids are more likely to cause further hair loss if you have the genetics for male pattern baldness. You don’t want to end up doing harm to your scalp hair while chasing down a facial hair loss solution.

And most importantly, there is no cure for alopecia areata (if that is indeed what you have) but there are treatments that can reverse it… and I’m not going to suggest anabolic steroids is something you should try. See the National Alopecia Areata Foundation for more.

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Are Certain Balding Patterns More Genetically Dominant or Recessive? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hey docs, quick question.

Do certain balding patterns follow the dominant/recessive genetic patterns? For example, is a pattern 3 dominant over a pattern 6 when it comes to inheritance? Or is it just chosen by random?

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Genetic male pattern baldness is not a dominant trait. It also does not follow a clear predictable pattern and can even skip generations. It may also be dependent on more than one particular gene. The genetics of balding are not as clear cut as the color of one’s eyes (for example).

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What Type of Doctor Do I See When I Have Early Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rassman,

I really appreciate your blog and the information you provide. My question is what type of doctor should a person see regarding initial hair loss? I do not have a PCP, but I’ve been told to see a dermatologist, endocrinologist, and cosmetic physician.

Ideally, I would like to visit your practice some day but work makes the trek difficult.

Thank you

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You indicated that you live about an hour drive from my office in Los Angeles during non-rush hours. If you are serious about this examination you have to be willing to put in some effort. On Saturday, December 8th we have an Open House (11am-2pm) here in our office where you can meet us, get a consultation, and see a surgery. If you do not want to drive the hour here, you can find a doctor in your city by using the ISHRS site’s physician search.

Hair transplant surgeons generally screen patients for hair loss and should perform miniaturization assessment and bulk measurement analysis which picks up early balding in young men. We establish a Master Plan with every man we meet with and examine.

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In the News – South Carolina Woman Raises Awareness About Alopecia Universalis – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

Faith Spells said it wasn’t always easy to accept her alopecia universalis diagnosis.

The 31-year-old Orangeburg resident has lived with the autoimmune skin disorder since she was 4. Her condition is the most uncommon form of alopecia, and is characterized by hair loss extending beyond the scalp to total body and facial hair loss.

“I remember waking up some days and the hair on one side of my whole head was gone,” Spells said. “It was devastating, but I never really had time to regroup because I was so young. I just knew that my mother and her friends wouldn’t let me go outside if it was too hot because of fear of me getting scarred.”

There is no known cure for the condition, but hair regrowth may occur even without treatment and even after many years, according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.

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Read the rest — Bold and beautiful: Local woman raises awareness about autoimmune skin disease