Category: Female Hair Loss

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Hair Loss InformationNew Finasteride for Women Study – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

Molecular dermatology research and development innovator HairDX today announced the results of a six month pilot study that presents, for the first time, evidence that genetic mechanisms may predict treatment response to Finasteride for postmenopausal female Androgenetic Alopecia (female hair loss).

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Read the full article: Study indicates Finasteride therapy may benefit women suffering from hair loss

This is a very positive early study from HairDX and the first I’ve seen which targets the post-menopausal women who have a high sensitivity to the effects of Propecia (finasteride). With that type of information, I would be willing to treat post-menopausal women with Propecia after they get the testing which predicts response.

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Hair Loss InformationI’ve Seen 3 Different Types of Doctors for My Female Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am a 47 year old african american female. I have been losing massive amounts of hair for the last three weeks. I have consulted with my family doctor, dermatologist and even a gynecologist. My scalp is very itchy and I also have external genital itching. Where else can I go for help?

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Female hair loss can be tricky in determining the source (see here). I don’t know that the scalp hair loss and itching in the pubic area are related, though.

If you are on the east coast, see Dr. Bernstein in New York and if you are on the west coast, you can see me. Alternatively, go to ISHRS.org and look up a doctor in your area.

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In the News – 12 Year Old Girl’s Battle with Alopecia – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

Sophie NixonWhen football fanatic Sophie Nixon started losing clumps of her hair, no one in her family knew that bullying at school was making the youngster ill. Now the 12-year-old from Lowestoft has spoken out about her alopecia to encourage other young people to seek help if they are being bullied.

Sophie’s hair started falling out two years ago and she soon lost her eyebrows and eyelashes. It was only when her parents took her to see a doctor that she told them she was being teased at school and she was diagnosed with the condition, which causes sudden hair loss.

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Read the full article at the UK’s East Anglian Daily Times.

She’s quite brave to speak out about her condition and I wish her well. This story reminded me of an article from a couple years ago, where a young girl’s hair loss was triggered by bullying (see here).

There are genetic disorders that cause hair loss at the young age, starting at 2-4 years old. This can be alopecia totalis or a form of ectodermal dysplasia, which are often genetic in origin.

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Why is My Hair Loss from Alopecia Areata Cyclical? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

(female) About 1 year ago, I found out I had Alopecia Areata. I went to the doctor right away and got the steroid injections to the bald spot I had. Well, in about 5 month, i got all my hair back, but it starting thinning out. Now after full 10 months, I noticed a very small bald spot on my scalp again. So, my question is why am I loosing hair after almost 1 year again. Please suggest something.

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Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease and based upon your history, it sounds like it is active. It has been known to return after disappearing spontaneously or with treatment. Read up about the disease at the National Alopecia Areata Foundation site.

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Hair Loss InformationCan I Strengthen My Hair to Prevent Hair Loss from Relaxer Chemicals? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am an African American female and experiencing hair loss. I currently use home relaxers on my hair because it’s easier to manage. What can I do to strengthen my hair to help prevent the hair loss? Thanks

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Keep in mind that I am a hair transplant doctor. With that said, from my point of view there is not much you can do to strengthen hair. Despite all the hype, there really is no secret formula. Use what works for you. Eat a healthy diet. Minimize chemical exposure to your hair. I generally will not name supplements and shampoos to give credibility on how to make one’s hair stronger. If this isn’t satisfactory, a hair stylist might be able to recommend some products he/she is likely ready to sell you.

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Female Teenager with White Bulb on Falling Hairs – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

(female) I’m a teen experiencing hair loss with a thick white bulb at the end. What can be the causes of this? I do NOT pull my hair. It comes off by itself. So why is it that the bulb is present on EVERY piece of fallen hair? Will it grow back? How long will it take for it to grow back? I’ve been losing hair when I comb it, in the shower. It’s an all around hair loss and I’ve noticed that my hair has thinned a lot. Any advice, something I should tell my doctor other than “I’m losing hair?”. Should I mention this hair bulb thing?

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I don’t know if it’ll grow back, but the white bulb isn’t anything to worry about. It is likely sebum. See this post for a similar question.

Be open with your doctor and tell him/her anything that you think could contribute. He’ll likely have questions of his own and should run tests. Female hair loss is different from male hair loss. Most men experience hair loss from genetics — with women, it could be genetics, hormonal imbalance, low iron, etc, etc. Learn more about that here.

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Hair Loss InformationAlopecia Areata and Cyclical Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

(female)
i have alopecia areata and my hormone levels are up the creek . i am growing new hair , however why does it get so far and then fall out again ?

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I do not know what you mean by your hormones being up a creek. Which hormones and what creek?

I am glad to read that you are growing new hair, which is to be expected for those who have alopecia areata. But it also may fall out again, also to be expected for those who have alopecia areata. This is something that happens with this disease, where it may spontaneously reverse and at times recur. For more info about alopecia areata, see the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.

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I Developed Dandruff After a Chemical Burn – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

(female)
I was burnt by hair chemical 26 months ago. I visited the doctor who advised me to use Clobex shampoo and gave me some pills. This was just for 10 days. I healed immediately. However, 6 months later, I developed scales of dandruff. I wash with Head and Shoulders shampoo for sensitive scalp but it doesnt seem to help me. I have some patches all over my head, the scalp is very itchy. Please help me. What should I do?

Thank you

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It’s been over 2 years since your chemical burn, but I do not know even if there is a connection between that and the dandruff. The timing of the dandruff onset could be coincidental, or perhaps you’re seeing something like psoriasis. Clobex is a psoriasis treatment. Maybe it’s time to see your doctor again.

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Hair Loss InformationMy Hair is Brittle and Thin – Is It Because of Weaves? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am a 35 year aged female who has been wearing weaves for 2 1/2 years. I decided to grow out my perm so I can eventually have only chemical free hair. I have taken out my weave recently and have flat-ironed it to see how long it was and to get an idea on the health of my hair. My hair was not only brittle but very thin.

Is this a result of the sew in weaves? If so, is there anything I can do and/or products I can use to bring the health back to my hear and to a normal thickness? Please advise.

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Sew-in weaves can cause traction hair loss. Constant traction on your hair can cause thinning as it is being progressively damaged. This does not happen 100% of the time, but it is a common problem for women who wear their weaves tight or have a tightly braided hairstyle. If you lose the hair, it may never grow back.

Flat ironing your hair can also cause damage, particularly if it is already weakened from the weave. I would give your hair a full year to see if it recovers. At this point, patience is really the only thing I can recommend.

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Hair Loss InformationCan a Straightening Iron Permanently Damage Hair? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi, would just like to say firstly that I have found your site really helpful and informative, thanks! I’m an 18 year old female, currently straighten my fringe every day and I’m really concerned that this will cause permanent damage. I know that straightening can make hair brittle, causing it to fall out until a new one grows, but I read somewhere that heat from straightening irons can travel up the hair shaft and burn the follicle, meaning the hair will never grow back. Is it possible to damage the follicles like this? I have had a look through the site but can’t find a definite answer. Thanks.

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Straightening your hair everyday will make the hair brittle, as you already know. However, it will not kill your hair follicles, which are below the skin and not impacted by hot irons and the like. On the other hand, chemical straighteners could kill the hair roots if used improperly.