Hair Diseases – Page 30

March 31, 2008

Hair Loss InformationCeliac Disease and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

doctor,
you answer most topics, however I cannot find any information about CELIAC DISEASE and HAIRLOSS. It is scattered all over the web, however the link, to me, is not clear. I am 20. and have diffuse hairloss, my doctor told me to take omega 369 and jarodophillus. and to not drink beer, or eat wheat. is this good advice, considering the link between cleliac disease and hairloss?

Block Quote

Hair loss associated with celiac disease can be related to its link to alopecia areata, and can also be a result of the nutritional deficiency caused by the disease itself. The treatment for celiac disease is to remove gluten from your diet and to address the malnutrition caused by the disease. It sounds like your primary care physician is right on track with his recommendation for treatment. Once this has been addressed the question will be whether your hair loss was caused by alopecia areata, a nutritional deficiency, or both. A good source of information on this disease is the Celiac Disease Foundation. Good luck.

March 26, 2008

Hair Loss InformationMy Daughter Has Alopecia Universalis – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have a daughter that has had aolpecia universal for the last 10 yrs. Her hair completetly fall out and then regrew back with help of cortizone shots, lasted 2 yrs and than fall out again. Since then her hair has never returned. Now, at the age of 30 and the devasation of no hair and self esteem are at rock bottom. What would you suggest.

Thanks

Block Quote

There are dermatologists that specialize in this condition. There is a doctor here in Los Angeles that might be able to help her — Dr. Richard Strick is at UCLA and I’ve written about him before. He’s done remarkable work with alopecia areata patients (see Alopecia Areata in a Patient with a Miracle Cure), and although your daughter has a different form of alopecia, it is worth perhaps contacting Dr. Strick.

March 18, 2008

Psoriasis – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rassman. When I was younger I had what I think was diagnosed as a form of psoriasis which was mostly on my scalp. I would have quarter size patches of dry flakey skin and if i tried removing the patches large clumps of hair would also come out. Although I’m sure I was experiencing MPB as well, I feel like this was something that increased the amount and rate of hair which was being lost. I had visited the dermotologist and Nizoral was prescribed at the time.

Just wondering if this is a condition you’re familiar with?

Thanks

I am more than just familiar with it, as I have a very aggressive form of psoriasis myself. When I was young, it impacted my scalp along the ears and frontal area and looked awful and felt painful as well. Psoriasis will not cause hair loss unless you pick at it enough to develop traction alopecia. If your dermatologist has his/her hand on it, then there is nothing to do unless you are not in control of it. If you have male pattern loss at this time then probably you should be on Propecia (finasteride 1mg).

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):

March 12, 2008

Hair Loss InformationIn the News – Bexarotene 1% Gel to Treat Alopecia Areata – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

From the article:

Topical bexarotene 1% treatment produced a 30% hair growth response among patients with alopecia areata (AA), according to research presented here at the American Academy of Dermatology 66th Annual Meeting (AAD).

“Currently, there is no cure for alopecia, and it is often refractory to treatment. So new treatment possibilities are especially welcome,” said lead investigator Rakhshandra Talpur, MD, Instructor, Division of Internal Medicine, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.

Block Quote

Full text — Bexarotene 1% Gel Shows Efficacy for Alopecia Areata: Presented at AAD

February 29, 2008

Hair Loss InformationHas Rogaine Caused DUPA? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

After using rogaine and the quitting i discovered a mix between thick and thin hairs. Have I created DUPA because my hair is worse now then before. Also the colour of those hairs are gone..same thing happening to my pubic area and facial hair. Do you think rogaine has created DUPA on me. I used it for a month and haven’t used it for two months now

Block Quote

Having thick and thin hair does not mean you have diffuse unpatterned alopecia (DUPA). You need to be evaluated by a good dermatologist or a hair transplant surgeon to find out if your diagnosis is DUPA. The changes in hair color in different parts of your body indicate that you are undergoing some preprogrammed change, probably not related to Rogaine (minoxidil).

February 25, 2008

What is Chronic Telogen Effluvium? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

hi there! What does chronic telogen effluvium mean? I have ulcerative colitis, and it seems like every time I get sick, about two months later my hair falls out. then after about six months it stops. Then when i get sick again, it will start to fall out again. is this chronic effluvium and will it last forever, or does chronic mean that the hair will always be falling out?

The exact mechanism of this is unclear, but what you are describing does seem to be chronic telogen effluvium. The hair is pushed into a resting phase (telogen) by the activation of your autoimmune system with the ulcerative colitis. You may try 2% Rogaine (minoxidil) for 8 months and see if you can push the hair out of the resting cycle. The good news is that the hair is sill there and probably alive (resting), but the bad news is that treatment results are generally unpredictable.

For more information on TE, see Telogen Effluvium by Elizabeth CW Hughes, MD.

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):

February 22, 2008

Hair Loss InformationI Was Diagnosed with Mild Alopecia Areata After I Was Prescribed Propecia, Follow-Up – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

This is a follow up to “I Was Diagnosed with Mild Alopecia Areata After I Was Prescribed Propecia” The dr never did the biopsy because he said there was strong evidence that I had alopecia areata due to small patches on my face and amount of grey hair present. He wanted to try the simple stuff and since my hair has yet to start falling out again didn\’t feel the need to do one. However I have yet to see regrowth in two months of being told to stop using the topical. It was Fluocinonide .05%

Block Quote

The hair loss from alopecia areata may take months or years to reverse — or it may not reverse at all. You need to have good communication with your doctor on this issue. The diagnosis does not require a biopsy, as a good doctor knows what to look for in most situations. Patience is a virtue in waiting out the course of this disease. Topical steroids have value when used by a knowledgeable doctor and some may use fluocinonide (a prescription item) as one of these steroids. See Wikipedia for more on fluocinonide.

February 22, 2008

Using Minoxidil on Bald Spot from Trichotillomania – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Dr. Rassman,

My question is: might minoxidil work for a bald spot caused be trichotillomania? Is this worth a go? If so, have you heard of the product ‘Kirkland Signature’ who are a cheaper alternative
to Regaine?

Many thanks.

Block Quote

Trichotillomania produces hair loss from traction, which can kill the hair follicles that are under constant attack. Once they die, I would think that the follicles can not be brought back to life, and as such, I would not expect that minoxidil will have a benefit in the areas where balding is produced from trichotillomania. I have heard of the Kirkland brand, which I believe is just a generic minoxidil.

February 14, 2008

Dissecting Cellulitis of the Scalp – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am a family medicine resident finishing up my last year. I unfortunately have a condition which I discovered doing my own research called Dissecting Cellulitis of the Scalp. It is horrible!!! This is a rare condition that usually affects black men in their 20’s. It is a very painful, cosmetically disfiguring disease that I have dealt with for about 4 years now. I have tried all of the antibiotics and medical treatment that you can think of and have seen many dermatologists that in my opinion, are not really aware of how tough this is to treat. I have read some studies that state that Laser therapy has been used with some success and others that state that complete scalp excision is successful. Of course, I don’t want my whole scalp taken off, but I am willing to try Laser therapy if it really has good results. At this point, I am really ready to try anything. If you are familiar with this or can even refer me to someone who is, I would really appreciate it.

Block Quote

This is a rare condition and as you said it is very difficult to treat. Before going as far as having surgical excision of your scalp, I found a case study in which they had success in treating recalcitrant dissecting cellulitis with Nd:YAG laser. The study was published in Dermatologic Surgery in August 2004, Volume 30 Issue 8, and was written by Eric C. Parlette MD, Nathan Kroeger, EVictor Ross MD — Laser Treatment of Recalcitrant Folliculitis Decalvans.

Unfortunately, I can’t post the text here and the publisher charges a fee to view the text, but it may be worth looking into. Good luck.

February 14, 2008

Hypothyroidism and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Good day doctor, I was reading a short article about hypothyroidism, and I was left with a few lingering thoughts. Perhaps you might be able to answer my questions:

a) Would you say that hair loss due to hypothyroidism is a common or a rare incidence among those who suffer from hair loss?
b) Or, among the various symptoms of hypothyroidism, is hair loss a common or rare occurrence?

I understand that there may not be good statistics to answer these questions, but perhaps you might be able to shed some light, based on your experience.

Hair loss is one of many symptoms of hypothyroidism, but the frequency of it is not reported. Patients suffering from hypothyroidism usually have other symptoms along with hair loss, including weight gain, cold intolerance, fatigue, weakness, constipation, and depression. The diagnosis of hypothyroidism is made through blood testing for the level of T4 (the main thyroid hormone) and TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone).

Most of the patients in our practice suffer from male pattern baldness (MPB). Patients concerned about hair loss should have a miniaturization study to determine if the pattern is consistent with MPB or if there is an underlying medical condition causing the hair loss.

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):