Category: Hair Diseases

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Diseases Causing Women’s Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

What are the diseases that you previously discussed that women must look for that can cause balding or thinning? I am 30 years old and have some hair loss that is scaring me quite a bit.

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Thyroid disease is one of the more common diseases that can precipitate hair loss. Anemia is also high on the list. Genetically induced diseases such as Alopecia Areata can cause both localized hair loss in patches (the more common form) and a diffuse pattern that can cover large areas of the scalp. The diffuse pattern of Alopecia Areata is hard to diagnose and when transplants are placed into areas of active disease, they fail as the disease attacks the hair follicles and kills them. Trichotillomania is also common as a cause of hair loss as a result of compulsive pulling on the hair. Traction Alopecia is caused by consistantly wearing hair styles that use a pulling force on the hair, such as ponytails, pig tails, or a tight bun, and is also seen when extentions or other hair systems use the tension of existing hair as an anchor. Short term hair loss is often caused by pregnancy and this may last for up to 2 years before returning to normal. I can go on and on and write a text book here, so I will stop at this point hoping that I gave you a flavor on the subject and urge you to seek out a good dermatologist or family doctor who would look into these possibilities.

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Telogen Effluvium & Propecia – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello, Dr.Rassman.
I have been on finasteride and minoxidil for eight months. In the first five months, they worked fine for me with shedding about ten hairs in my hand while shampooing. But after five months, shedding increased apparently and the situation seemed to suit for the Telogen Effluvium. Someone told me it was induced by finasteride and rode it out. Is it a good sign to indicate the possibility to reverse MPB? And if I experienced a Telogen Effluvium and rode it out, does it have the possibility to reoccur again?
Thanks.

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What you are describing is the acceleration of the hair loss process that normally comes in spurts. Propecia does not cause this; it generally slows it down or stops the loss. Unfortunately, the genetics in some men has a stronger influence than the DHT blocking ability of Propecia. On the other extreme end, we have had some patients completely reverse the male pattern baldness, even in the frontal area where it rarely works to reverse it.

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Alopecia Areata in Women – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I had alopecia areata 7 yrs back. i am female -30. i had alopecia again after 2 and a half years. both the times it got cured by the use of minoxidil 2%. This time i have developed a bald patch at the hairline in the front and am having excessive hairfall all over my scalp. I count the strands. They vary fom 60 strands to 130 strands a day.There is excessive hairfall on the days i wash my hair. Also my eyebrow hair falls. What i have realized is that over these 7 years my hair has been becoming less dense and is not as thick as it used to be. My doctor has advised me to use minoxidil 2% all over the scalp [1 ml in the morning and 1 ml at night]. Also am applying Mintop on the bald patch at the hairline.

Will my hair ever be the way it was and will i ever get thickness in my hair? What do i do to arrest my current hairfall? Can my alopecia be cured permanently? India is not really that advanced. If i need to come to you i have no problem. Please help.

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Alopecia Areata in some people comes and goes. After the first attack, if you are lucky enough to get the hair back, you get excited and think that it is over. In some people, one episode is all they get. In others, like you, repeated episodes are the pattern and then when the hair does come back, it is often a finer hair and often not all of it returns. The use of Minoxidil may have value and has little down side, as long as you do not develop any intolerable side effects.

Unfortunately, we do not really understand this disease, but there is a great deal of research going on that may point to better solutions in the future. I wish I could help you more.

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Hair Loss InformationPrednisone and Hair Loss in Women – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have crohns disease and I went to the hospital and stayed for about 3 wks. I was given mega doses of prednisone intravenously. Shortly after I got out of the hospital, my hair started gradually falling out. (I am a 53 yr.old african american female) I eventually cut it all off. Will it ever grow back or is it doubtful?

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Hair loss is not a published side effect of prednisone except in men with male pattern balding. You need to have a full evaluation for the presence of other diseases. Assuming you are healthy and do not have the female version of genetic hair loss, you styand a good chance to grow back your hair in one to two years. If there is a disease process that is causing the hair loss (e.g. thyroid problems), then the cause must be addressed first. For example, women may get hair loss with pregnancy and these women almost always grow the hair back, usually in less than one year (can take up to two years) after the baby is born.

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Hair Loss InformationAlopecia Areata Universalis – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Im suffering with alopecia areata universalis. due to it i lost my hair totally on my scalp, eyebrows & eyelashes. Is hair transplantation possible for me? please give me a reply. thank you.

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A hair transplant requires a sufficient amount of donor hair taken from the back of the scalp, to be moved to the balding area. Unfortunately if you do not have the donor hair to accomplish your goal, then hair transplantation is not an option. You can discuss your choices with a good dermatologist, and the National Alopecia Areata Foundation has a very extensive and informative website for those suffering with your condition.

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Revising Non-Transplant Scars – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman,

This is a bit of a tangent. I had 3 surgeries with you folks between 97 and 2000, and I continue to be pleased with the results. It appears it will be quite some time before I need more work done. When I researched different groups, you folks stood head and shoulders above the rest in terms of professionalism and especially how much research you had done. It was clear you were at least as interested in advancing the art as being successful from the business end.

Thus I am interested in your opinion on scar revision. I have two 6-7 inch scars – one on my elbow from nerve transposition surgery, another one that is horseshoe shaped above my armpit from reattaching a torn pec from a snowboarding mishap. Both scars spread kind of badly, such that at spots they are about as thick as my index finger. Apparently both those spots tend to be high tension, which causes the spreading. Both incisions were sutured with plain stitches or staples, not any interior stitches.

I’ve been doing web research on and off for several years, but I haven’t been able to convince myself that there is any group or technique that has a good chance of making a big improvement. What are your thoughts about the state of the art of scar revision? Perhaps this is a new area of study to apply your innovation. 🙂

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When a person has stretched scars on many parts of their body, I often think of diseases that produce this problem. You should first be sure that you do not have any of these diseases such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome which is a connective tissue disorder. You are correct that some scars that come from wounds which are located in areas where the skin is stressed, can stretch in any person, even those without a connective tissue disorder. Plastic surgeons are often good at dealing with changing the way forces are applied to these stretched areas. One common procedure for managing scars is a process called a Z-plasty, where a linear scar is change to a Z type scar so that the forces do not oppose each other to stretch the scar. In the scalp, there are other factors far too complex for me to cover in a blog response here.

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Hair Loss InformationAlopecia Areata – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear sir
i have alopecia areata for the last 2 years. for that reason all of my body hair is slowly being lost. last month i consulted a skin dr. he advised me Minoxin 2% topical solution and finasteride tab. but hair loss is not stopping. would you like to advise me for stopping hair loss. please help me. thanks

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Alopecia Areata is a genetically related disorder. It will not respond to Propecia or Minoxidil. There are experts, generally dermatologists, who specialize on the treatment of this disease and some people may be helped. You need to find someone who is an expert in your country.

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Nizoral and Fungus – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello,
I was wondering about a couple of things: first about Nizorol? I believe I have a fungal problem and have flakes that sometimes become hardened and also bloody. Sometimes I can pull out a little hard bloody or red piece of I guess dandruff or skin?? I am not sure what that is. I guess my scalp is not in a good condition. Can Nizorol help this?

I guess this would be my first concern, If you can answer about this that would be great.

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It sounds like you have a dermatological condition of your scalp skin. I do not like blindly treating something that I have not examined, but a good dermatologist can make a diagnosis and then recommend the appropriate treatment. If, for example, you have psoriasis, then your solution of using Nizoral will probably not be effective. It becomes a hit or miss game to try and treat on your own, not a scientific one where the skills and years of experience of an appropriate doctor are brought to bear in making the diagnosis.

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Hair Loss InformationAnemia and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I started researching on the web what I can do to prevent additional hair loss and ways to restore hair loss and found your website.

I was wondering if you could answer a question for me. Here’s a little history – I have had a medical condition which involved being on non-inflammatory steroids (prednisone) for 4 years and have had 3 surgeries. During each surgery I have noticed that my hair had gotten thinner. I also have a problem with being anemic due to the result of my prior medical problem and surgeries. I am supposed to be cured now, however, I have hair loss which is visible on the top of my head (easily to see my scalp). I’m only 34 years old and am very discouraged. Can my hair loss be restored by taking vitamins and/or iron pills? If not, what would I be facing to restore it? Can it even be restored at this point? Help!

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You need to be examined to be sure that there is no other medical problem that is producing hair loss at this time. Anemia is just one of the causes of hair loss. Generally, vitamins and / or iron pills will have no effect. I am not sure if you are a man or woman from this question and this would be an important factor for men with hair loss that is genetic and precipitated by a medical condition will usually not get the hair back. You need to make an appointment with a competent doctor, who is familiar with hair loss.

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Hair Loss InformationBald Spots in African American Women – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I and my daughter have severe bald spots. My other daughter has a bald spot also. Not as severe as ours. My daughter is devasted. I think she can be saved from what I am experiencing. I personally feel that there is something in our system. No other family members have this disorder. We have been unsuccessful in locating a doctor who is familiar with Black Hair care or disorders. Can you help us. I now wear a wig. My daughters do various things from sew-ins to wigs. If you provide address I will mail pictures. Thank you.

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If there are spots of hair loss in you and your daughters, you should start off by seeing a dermatologist. There are genetic conditions that fit the description of what you are talking about. Please see a good dermatologist.