Category: Female Hair Loss

(female) why would the hair on my legs just stop growing at my age of 58?

Our bodies do change with age. In women, after menopause, there are lots of hormone changes and some of these may impact your leg hair, as would the genetics you inherited. Count your blessings, you don’t have to shave your legs anymore if you are an American (culture pushes shaved legs), but in some European countries, hairy legs are better, so there you would be an unfortunate woman. I think if you could find the cause of your problem, I think that I could sell it in North America and we can make millions together.

Hello, and thanks for the informative site. I am a 35 year old female and losing hair rapidly. I have no children and as far as I know I am not in menopause. I have no idea why I am having hair fall out in clumps, I have been for a year. I have been to my doctor twice he tested me for Lupus which I do not have and when I returned and said my hair is still falling out he said he could not help me. So I am here, I want to find out the root (pardon my pun) cause of this problem so i can solve it. I live in LA and I cannot find a doctor. They all want to talk about transplants etc? Dermatologists seem not to care. Do you know of anyone who can help me and who is willing to do tests on my hair etc. i really would like to figure out the true problem and fix it as I feel if my hair is suffering there is something wrong.

Thanks for your time.

In a society preoccupied with appearance, balding is a cruel and almost random fate for 50% of men and women. It does not discriminate race, ethnicity, or social boundaries. Hair loss is genetic, but it is not readily predictable. There is no scientific reason why we lose hair. What we do know is that there are many options such as hair restoration surgery, oral medications, and topical medications to treat hair loss.

Before you consider any of the treatment options available, you must find the cause for your hair loss and establish a diagnosis. Unlike male pattern hair loss, women’s hair loss is very difficult to treat. Your first step is to look for any curable causes for hair loss such as thyroid disease, iron deficiency, etc. In order to do this, you will need to find a good doctor who can do blood tests. I am sorry to hear that you have had bad experiece with some doctors, but any primary care doctor should be able to do these tests. If clinically appropriate, the following disease processes should be considered or ruled out: anemia, thyroid disease, connective tissue disease, gynecological conditions, and emotional stress. It is also important to review the use of medications that can cause hair loss, such as oral contraceptives, beta-blockers, Vitamin A, thyroid drugs, coumadin and prednisone. The following laboratory tests are often useful if underlying problems are suspected: Estradiol, FSH, LH, SHBG, Prolactin, T4, TSH, ANA, Iron, TIBC, Ferritin, Free and Total Testosterone.

Aside from ruling out any medical cause of hair loss, you can also have your scalp hair examined with a densitometer (special microscope) for signs of miniaturization. Not all doctors conduct miniaturization studies. At NHI, we conduct miniaturization studies on a regular basis as part of a physical exam. It is our goal to standardize the measurement of hair growth and hair health by subjectively recording the state of hair.

If you are in the Los Angeles area (as I believe you indicated), you can always schedule a free consultation by calling 800-NEW-HAIR.

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hello,
i’m a 25 year old female and little over 2 months ago i had a plastic surgery where i was completely asleep. Since then, my hair has been falling out more then it typically does. last month i got bronchitis and was given amoxicillin which did not work…the sickness progressed into pneumonia and now i am taking doxycycline. My hair is falling out much more rapidly now, but not in patches like alopecia typically does. The only visible area is at the front of my forehead. It is not very noticeable to others now, but my husband and I notice it. today i bought prenatal vitamins to help the issue but need some kind of idea whats going on. Is my sickness causing this to happen? will it grow back afterward? your advice is appreciated. thanks.

To understand what you are talking about, I would want to know what type of plastic surgery you had. Was it facial or brow surgery that could impact the hair and scalp on your head? Some people have surgical stress, which may induce genetic hair loss in those who are prone to it. I really need more information and the opportunity to examine you as well. Generally, hair loss may return after being lost in about the time it takes to cycle hair (4-8 months). See a good dermatologist and speak with your plastic surgeon, who is probably the best source of information for you that will be specific to what he did with you.

(female) I have had an extremely itchy and bright red scalp for about 5 months. Now recently, it burns too. My hair is falling out. Looking back on pictures, I have about half the hair volume that I used to 2 years ago. My scalp is extremely oily also. I am a natural red-head, but now my hair is almost blonde in color and very brittle. I haven’t colored my hair at all. What could it be? I had blood tests done and they were all ok. I’m desperate for some answers! Please give me an idea and will my hair grow back?

There is no crystal ball. I can not tell you what is happening to you without examining you. If you are out of the California area, see a good dermatologist for an evaluation. There is no substitute for a good doctor and a one-on-one assessment in person. If you are in California (or are planning a trip out here), I have offices in Los Angeles, San Jose, and Newport Beach, and would be happy to provide a free consultation.