Category: Female Hair Loss

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Hair Keeps Shedding and Breaking After a Perm – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

(female) Bizarre! I have fairly healthy thick hair. The two major times I have had it professionally relaxed; it starts shedding, then breakage, etc. I come out of the perm and go to pressing. Now I am 40, pretty active and like to swim. My hairdresser put a texturizer on it. It looked great for eight weeks and now the pattern is starting all over. I keep it mosturized, I have it professional done weekly,and do apply alot of heat. One side of my hair grows thick and the left side seems to be hurting. What is the trouble? I sleep with a silk scarf, I exercise, etc. HELP!!

Hair care reflects how your manage your hair as it dries in the environment (sun, wind), with blow drying and washing, perms, etc. As hair become dry, it can become fragile. It sounds like something that you are doing is not going well. Sit down with your stylist and see what changes need to be made to address the problem. Hair breakage is a symptom of a hair management problem. Thinning on one side vs the other could be either a hair management problem or a medical problem in which you could be damaging the root of the hair more on one side than the other.

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Woman with Androgenic Alopecia Being Treated with Avodart – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am a 42 year old female with diffuse hair loss diagnosed as androgenic alopecia from a scalp biopsy. I am currently being treated with Yazmin, continuous active pill, spironolactone 200mg and Avodart since May 2006. I have had significant progress but some reaction (dry and itchy) to the spiro. I am considering trying a different protocol because I don’t like being on 3 meds especially when I am not gettin as much improvement as I would like, and some concerns about being on 3 medications. I looked in to a hair loss clinic that uses the following combination – 1. An herbal DHT blocker that includes many supplements I have read about for hair loss, 2. A topical treatment that include minoxidil in a carrier solution to neutralize the negative effects of etoh on the scalp, 3. Regular in clinic laser therapy that has 70 lasers (as opposed to 1 used in the comb) 4 A co-enzyme to stimulate hair growth. Do you think this regime is a viable alternative to the three medications? I know any of these treatments takes months to show effect so I am trying to make as informed a decision as possible since the prospect of counting 250 hairs in the shower again is very scary to me.

You are on several treatments and are considering more. Of those treatments, some are not proven effective for women with male pattern baldness and some have exclusive and limited indications. The DHT blocker finasteride has been studied in women with androgenetic alopecia. Although effective for men, this medication was not proven to be effective for women. Dutasteride (Avodart), another DHT blocker, has never been studied for this purpose in women.

Using lasers for treatment of hair loss has been controversial and although advertised extensively, is not yet (in my opinion) proven to be effective. If it helps at all, the benefit will be new hair growth in the 10% range. Application of spironolactone for treatment of alopecia is limited to some patients with elevated levels of androgen. Topical DHT blockers have a theoretical value in men, but they have not been studied and should be no better in women than systemic DHT blockers like finasteride.

You seem to be determined to fight the baldness, an admirable trait. The best thing you can do is to find a good dermatologist for a thorough evaluation to be assured that you do not have a medical cause of hair loss which is common in women. Using anecdotal modalities for treatment of your condition may be disappointing at the end, let alone the money and time that you lose.

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Woman with Bumps and Hair Loss on Top of Scalp – Balding Blog

I’ve read some of the cases and almost feel that I may have “traction alopecia”. I’m a black female with balding hair for over 20 years, it’s been a very very slow process as you can see. But the top of my head is extremely thin and I have a quarter sized dead spot which has no hair at all. I get tiny bumps, razor bumps, bleeding if massaged on occasions. My hair is very short. It will grow on the sides, but the top front to the crown is stuggling for survival. Any advise? Thank you!

You need to be examined by an expert. Since you indicated you were in New Jersey, Dr. Robert Bernstein in Fort Lee, NJ could help you.


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Woman Losing Hair in the Areas She’s Using Rogaine – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi,
I’ve been using 5% Rogaine (prescribed by my doctor) for 6 weeks now. I was told it might cause more shedding than usual for 1-3 weeks but it’s been 6 weeks and almost all of the hair in the area I’ve been applying the Rogaine has fallen out. I need a hair transplant more than ever now. But I’m wondering….should I stop taking the Rogaine or do I need to be more patient and hope that eventually some of it will grow back? I know Rogaine doesn’t work for everyone but at what point do you know that it doesn’t for you? Is it abnormal to fall out this much week after week? Thanks!

Approximately six percent of the patients using Rogaine experience shedding within the first few months of using this medication. You report that you are experiencing shedding for six weeks after starting the medication. You might consider stopping the medication. Seeing an expert in the field is better than trying to do this over the internet. You should rule out other underlying factors that could have precipitated your hair loss.

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Aldactone and Shock Loss in Women – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello. I am a 30 year old female and have been suffering from hair loss since my early teens. I FINALLY found a compassionate dermatologist who did a scalp biopsy and I was diagnosed with female patterned baldness. I have had a consultation at (name with-held) and I am concerned with Shock Loss. I am currently on Aldactone (prescribed by my dermatologist) and would like to know if this helps prevent shock loss as Propecia does and also what are the chances of shock loss in women.

We don’t know the answer to that, because the medication has never been studied for this purpose, to my knowledge. Hair transplants in women with female genetic hair loss have limited application if the hair around the sides and back of the head is diffusely involved in the process of miniaturization. Be sure that the goals are well defined and that the donor hair that is being used is healthy for if it is not, there may not be value in the surgery.

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African American Female with Bald Crown – Balding Blog

I am an african American female 35 years old. My entire crown is bald. What do I do now? I’ve been using 2% minoxidil and it continues to fall out.

You need to be seen for close examination of your hair and scalp. A diagnosis should be made. You could have a variety of non-genetic hair conditions causing it. You might have genetic female balding limited to the crown as well. I need to know the miniaturization mapping results of your scalp and the pattern of your hair loss before making any diagnosis and treatment plan. You need a good doctor to take charge of your hair loss.


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Roaccutane and Female Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi! I’m a 25 yr-old female and have recently seen a dermatologist who told me that my hair loss is most probably due to my taking of Roaccutane (have stopped since about 2 to 3 months ago).. I understand that Roaccutane is a form of vitamin A, so is it okay for me now to consume health supplements that contain vitamin A 5000IU (daily)? Will hair loss be accentuated? thanks for advising!

Roaccutane is an active anti-acne medication containing the active ingredient isotretinoin. One of the side effects of this medication is hair loss. Although hair loss could also be one of the rare side effects of vitamin A, I am not sure they are acting through the same mechanism. In fact, hair loss is mentioned as a rare side effect in many drugs. If you take supplements containing vitamin A and your hair loss gets worse, then it might be an indication to stop the supplement and consult a doctor.

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Hair Loss from Asacol or Prednisone? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I’m taking prednisone and asacol, my hair is falling out quite a bit and the dr. doesn’t agree that it’s from Asacol. He thinks it may be from the prednisone. Will this subside? I’ve been taking asacol for about 3 months and about a month ago is when my hair started falling out drastically. Its getting very thin, and I’m afraid of going bald and as a female that’s very scary.

Based on the medications you are taking, I assume you have IBD (inflammatory bowel disease). Prednisone is one of the many medications that may cause you to lose hair or have thinning of the hair. It causes many other negative side effects. However, if you need to be on these medications for a medical condition, it is a catch 22 situation. You need to speak to your doctor about your side effects and your concern for hair loss. You should never stop taking any medication on your own without speaking with your doctor.

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Hair Loss Information » Hair Loss After Bout with Bulimia – Balding Blog

hi i’m a 32 year old female. i recently came off a crash diet and i was making my self throw up not every day but enough. needless to say for last past month and a half i’ve been losing hair by the clumps. i started taking vitamins, folic acid multi, and vitamin ped throwing up two months ago. thank you

Hair loss from malnutrition may be reversible, but then again, it may not be if there are underlying genetics that also produce hair loss. Now that you’re back on a better diet, you’ll need to just wait it out.