Category: Hair Diseases

I had curly very thick hair all my 56 years. now out of the blue i got seborrheic and it is in my scalp. my hair is falling out. I’m going to the dr. but not much you could do but creams and hard shampoo. it’s not getting better. what can I do? it has been over five weeks. The dr. said this is something I have to live with. I’m not upset. I’m very blessed then other people. thank you if you can give me some feedback. God Bless

Please read the many entries on this blog for female hair loss. First and foremost, you need to have yourself and your health checked out. There are many diseases that can cause hair loss in women and you have to make sure that you do not have one of them. Women, like many men, can get genetic hair loss. In women, it usually is diffuse and not in one of the typical patterns that men show. Women generally thin out, but do not get bald. Some develop a pattern of thinning that can be treated more successfully with Minoxidil and possibly even hair transplants under certain conditions. First, get your self checked out medically and then find a good dermatologist or hair expert physician.

My daughter is 21 and has had thinning hair for the past 3-4 years. She was diagnosed 18 months ago with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and was placed on a daily dose of Actos to help control her insulin levels. Her hair loss seems to have accelerated since being on the medication. This is very alarming for her. Is her POS causing this or her Actos? Is there anything she can do to reverse it, slow it down or stop it?

PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) is a well known cause of hair loss. It reflects some extra male hormone production (all women make testosterone and androgens) which tends to grow hair on the face and take it off of the head in those with the gene that produces genetic hair loss, like male patterned balding. Your daughter needs to be evaluated by a good doctor in the hair loss field (like me or a good dermatologist) who can evaluate the type of hair loss she is experiencing. First, her scalp needs to be diagnosed with the form of hair loss (for miniaturization) and then her endocrinologist should get involved. There may be a role for 5 alpha reductase blockers, but I would want her doctor to work with the hair expert on this management process. I’ve posted previously about PCOS on this blog; see Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

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Hi
At 40 I got hypothyroidism.The 4 last the labs have come out normal. At 46 I got Parkinsons. Both my neurologist and endocrinologist say my hair fallout is not a result of the health issues I describe. It is getting really thin unlike any of the women in my family we all have thick hair.
Do you think the MD’s are being frank or easing me into the tuffer problems of the Parkinsons. Does your hair product work on women.

I believe that your physicians are being honest and open with you. There has been no published data that associates hair loss to Parkinson’s Disease. As stress is one of the factors that can accelerate genetic hair loss, it is possible that stress can be a participating cause if you are genetically prone. I would think that Parkinson’s Disease must certainly be a significant cause of stress in anyone who has it.

With that said, thyroid disease may cause hair loss, especially hypothyroidism more than hyperthyroidism, but either one has reported hair loss. It might be worthwhile to rule out other causes for hair loss such as alopecia areata, androgenic alopecia, stress associated with female genetic hair loss, some of the drugs you were or are on, eczema, seborrhea, scleroderma, lupus, hormonal imbalance, psoriasis, fungal, autoimmnune disorders, poor diet, poor nutrients, etc. The common medications which may cause hair loss are beta-blocker, coumadin, oral contraceptive pill, antibiotics and chemo-medications. For female patients, Women’s Rogaine is the best option. Male patients may use Rogaine and/or Propecia.

Hey Dr. Rassman, I just found out this bald patch in my head and wondering if there’s anything i can do to prevent it from getting worst? I’m 27f and there’s no bald history in my family that I know of. My hair is thinning as well, and have not tried any products at all… what kind of re-grow hair products would you recommend?

Thanks.

If you have a bald patch that appeared on your head, I would be concerned that you might have Alopecia Areata (search this site). First, get to see a good dermatologist. This can be a serious problem and it should not be washed away with topical solutions and hair care products.

Dear Dr William Rassman,

I’m a woman and I’m 30 years old. I’ve been losing my hair for 13 months, 150 hairs per day and a lot of them when I wash my hair. They have informed me that I have the telogen effluvium and a miniaturization of my hair. I have no problem with my health and hormones. Only a problem (Hashimoto thyroid), but the TSH is normal. What can I do for that? Can I expect that with the time, the hair loss will be stopped? Have I a risk to become bald? I have a lot of hairs, and 10 years ago I have had the same problem and the hair loss had been stopped 2 years later.

Thanks for your help.

The connection between Chronic thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s disease) and hair loss has been known for some time. Clearly, your thyroid needs to be under good management, then pulling back and looking at the hair loss under the guidance of a good dermatologist would probably be the best way to command what is going on with your hair. I doubt that you will go bald, and you probably will find that control of the hair loss will be like your last episode years earlier. Women almost never go bald, but they can push thinning at times. If it had reversed before, then you might safely assume that it will reverse to some degree again. The focus, as you so rightly concluded, is to stop/contain the hair loss. Like a chicken and an egg scenario, what came first? Chronic thyroiditis may have layered on top of the female balding genetics in your family line.