Category: Female Hair Loss

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Hair Loss InformationFemale Hair Thinning – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello sir,
I am an Asian female and I am 24 years old.About 3 years ago, I noticed that my hair had started thinning. That was a period of time when I was under a lot of stress and used to hav a bad diet as well. So I thougt that was the reason for my hairloss and also thought it would come back in time. I have lost hair mostly from the front region of my head.But am not loosing much hair now.My hairloss kind of reduced on its own about few months ago and I also see few hair coming.

So does that mean that I am gonna get back my lost hair? Was the damage irreparable? Should I take treatement?

My mom had lost a lot of hair at a young age,my dad is 60 years old ,but still not bald. Could you please let me know more about my hairloss and whether it will come bacK or not.I would be extremely grateful sir.I am undergoing a lot of pain because of my hair.

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You are not alone. Since I started this blog, I have gotten quite a few questions from women about their hair loss problems. Here is a link to the similar questions and answers. The first thing you need to do is to see a physician who can examine you and order tests to make sure that there are no underlying medical reasons for your hair loss. Some of the reasons for female hair loss are: anemia, thyroid disease, connective tissue disease, and various gynecological conditions. These laboratory tests may be useful if underlying medical problems are suspected: CBC, Chem Screen, ANA, T4, TSH, STS, Androstenedione, DHEA-Sulfate, Total and Free Testosterone.

If it is determined that there are no medical reasons for your hair loss, I would suggest that you visit a hair loss specialist. Since you are in New Jersey, I can highly recommend Dr. Robert Bernstein in Fort Lee- his phone number is 866-576-2400.

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Menopausal Female Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am a 47 year old female, who has had thick, coarse hair all of my life. Last year, I had a few hot flashes, my gyn gave me some estradiol to take……..I felt better, discontinued it. *this was in April…I took it for a few months. I had a surgery in August…general anesthestic. In December my friend mentioned my hair looked thin. I got some Rogaine…..used for one month until my hair was falling out by the tons and I had noticable thinning in my temples/hairline. Hair looked much, much worse. Stopped using it Jan 21. Gyn gave me estradiol Feb 21st.,,after I saw him complaining of hair loss….he said I was periomenapausal. My hair shed slowed until two weeks ago and is now shedding again. I still have very thin hair in the bang area/temples….you can see my scalp in the sun or bright light. Blood work showed normal levels in all tests. I do have lots of new hair that can be seen over the back of my head…but I don’t see anything in my bang area. I am suffering anxiety and worrying constantly…which I know doesn’t help. How long does it take for hair to get back to normal if it is going to? Am I expecting results too soon? Have you ever heard of Rogaine making the problem worse and does it make it permanently worse?
I would like to consider a hair transplant if it can give me some density back. I am taking vitamins/EFA supplements….don’t smoke, ….also interestingly my once coarse hair is now soft/finer feeling which seems wierd.
thanks for any insight, help.

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Your email sounds desperate and you need to be sure that there is no underlying medical condition causing your problem. Assuming that you fully check out (see female hair loss Q&A), then it sounds like much of your process is reversing. The reversal time should be less than a year. You should be evaluated by a doctor like me, who can determine your base line today, the full extent of your miniaturization and then follow your progress. A transplant can solve the ‘bang’ problem, but first let’s clear you of a medical problem.

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Hair Loss InformationAlopecia Conditions – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Barring any sort of glaring injury like a burn, how easy is it for a dermatologist to tell if someone has scarring alopecia and their hair follicles have been permanently damaged?

I’m a female in my twenties and have had scalp dermatitis for several years. I tend to scratch it pretty badly in my sleep, resulting in small open spots that then scab over. Just within the last five months or so, I have developed bald patches as well as diffuse hair loss. There are other things it could be, but is scarring alopecia a possibility? Also, could the hair loss be from the dermatitis itself?

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The best way to determine which alopecia condition you have, is to get a dermatologist with considerable experience in diagnosing the various alopecias to give you an opinion. You may then need to get a biopsy of the area of alopecia and get a dermatopathologist to read the biopsy if there is any doubt on cause. Most good dermatologists do this in tandem, although your history seems to suggest that your constant scratching has produced traction alopecia with possibly some scarring. Sometimes, the alopecia will reverse (Alopecia Areata for example) if you completely stop scratching it.

Clearly, the picking of your hair at night can produce trichotelomania, which is a condition where constant picking or scratching causes hair loss. The diagnosis is always clear on microscopic examination of the scalp. If it only happens in your sleep, put on mittens and sleep with them on. Get a good doctor to examine you before you startsleeping with the mittens and after a few months. If the mittens works, then the changes that we can see under magnification will demonstrate that you are on the right path. Ordinary dermatitis without picking or scratching should not cause hair loss, unless is is associated with the genetic forms of hair loss.

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Female Hair Loss and Chest Pain – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am a 33 year old female who visited a dermatologist that specializes in hair loss because of a receding hair line, (frontal hairline thinning). Very much the same why men start receding in the front. I was diagnosed with female patterned baldness and told to take Rogaine. In the past I was told the 2% was not very effective to use the 5% but the nurse has informed me to use the 2% and it will take up to 12 months to see any results. I have used the 5% in the past and have not had any side affects though I am not completely happy with the results. Is there any other medications or options I can take other then the Rogaine? I am feeling a tightness in my chest and shortness of breath which I think is from using Rogaine, but I am not 100% sure. I have had blood work done and everything has come up normal. I take no medications other then the Rogaine. It is just so frustrating to be told to use Rogaine when there has been so many medical advancements for men.

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Bells go off for me when I hear about tightness in the chest. Women with heart disease is far more common than most people realize. You must remember that Rogaine is a hypotensive medication and could induce (under certain conditions) a drop in blood pressure and chest pain from Angina. Please, see a good doctor. If you want an opinion on what to do about hair loss, please take a read through the many Female Hair Loss posts on this blog. If you are on the west coast, please come and see us.

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Hair Loss InformationHair Loss in Autistic Female – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have an autistic 17 year old female whose normally thick and healthy hair is now thinning. I know her diet is not the best secondary to autism but she gets ample amounts of protein and loves all vegetables. There are no medidcations involved and no diet changes or home stress issues that I can pinpoint. She is not verbal so questioning her is not an option. Could you lead me to a resource for information or suggestions. Thank you for your time.

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I have not read any research that indicates a higher instance of hair loss in autistic teens or adults. However, I would think that autistic people have a higher level of emotional stress, which is one of the ‘big four’ causes of hair loss. You should have a good doctor examine her and look for one of the many medical causes of hair loss. The following problems are among those that should be considered: anemia, thyroid disease, connective tissue disease, and various gynecological conditions. These laboratory tests may be useful if underlying medical problems are suspected: CBC, Chem Screen, ANA, T4, TSH, STS, Androstenedione, DHEA-Sulfate, Total and Free Testosterone. Many medications, including vitamins and over the counter drugs, can also contribute to hair loss.

Genetic causes of hair loss in a 17 year old female, is unusual. Look to the family and see if anyone had such a problem at that age or if there is female genetic hair loss in any of the women in your family. It is more likely that a medical condition, rather than genes, may be the cause of the hair loss.

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Hair Loss InformationAfrican American Female, Age 52 – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am an African American female age 52. I have very long sister locks and they are beautiful. trouble is, I had a hysterectomy last summer and noticed that my hair is balding on the sides. I went to a dermatologist who said it was my locks pulling, but I clearly had to get him straight and tell him that I never had braids in that spot, only a hair line that never was long enough to incorporate into the dreads. I am a professional person and am always in the public eye. I am now wearing scarves to cover the sides. I would like to know what I can do. I did notice that before I had surgery, my scalp was itching badly on the sides and the hair at the follicle became crusty at the base, as if it was dead. Any help would be appreciated

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You should be seen by an expert. With a good history like yours, I would worry about a series of localized skin conditions that should be ruled out by a good dermatologist. As you are convinced (and have convinced me) that this is not traction alopecia, then a transplant might be a good solution provided that your dermatologist has determined that there are no skin conditions that would kill off the transplants. Transplants are undetectable in most African American hair types.

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Hair Loss InformationTwo Young Women with Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I receive many questions each day, and because these two are both from young women with hair loss questions, I am posting both questions in this one entry.

I am 21 year old girl. Till now i didnt hav any hair problems . But for the past 4 to > 5 months i am losing my hair like anything. My hairline is gettin broader andn is gettin thin these days.Neither of my parents hav balding problems nor anyone in our whole family.Wat should i do so that i can get my lost hair back? Is this possible to get all the lost hair ?? Which shampoo shd i use?

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I would first have a good doctor see you and look for medical causes of hair loss (there are many). The following problems are amongst those that should be considered: anemia, thyroid disease, connective tissue disease, various 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. Many other medications can also contribute to hair loss so if you are taking any drugs of any type, then that should be looked into as well. The following laboratory tests may be useful if underlying problems are suspected: CBC, Chem Screen, ANA, T4, TSH, STS, Androstenedione, DHEA-Sulfate, Total and Free Testosterone.

It is possible that a medical condition may be the cause of your hair loss, so before you jump to conclusions that you have genetic hair loss, I would have you checked out for these conditions. The shampoo you choose will have no impact on the hair loss so I always tell people to use what they like, what feels good, what smells good and what makes your hair look good. Also, please read my previous blog entries on Female Hair Loss.

I am a 22-yr.-old female and am experiencing thinning hair all over my scalp, with several spots void of any hair. Possibly related elements of my history include irregular periods, dermatitis and eczema (both on-scalp and elsewhere), a family history of thyroid disease, an often-unbalanced diet due to graduate school lifestyle :-), recent emotional stress, and use of 0.1% Tacrolimus ointment (one potential side effect of which is alopecia). I know you cannot diagnose me sight unseen, but I have one question I hope you can answer:

If one’s hair loss is related to use of a medication, stress, or a dietary deficiency, is the hair loss usually only temporary if the behaviors causing it are stopped?

Thank you very much for your time.

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Sometimes the hair loss is temporary and sometimes not. The key is quick and accurate diagnosis and taking the proper action to go after the cause of the hair loss. The outline given to the first question above is appropriate for your medical work-up as well. If there is a genetic component, then the hair loss may be additive to the other contributing factors.

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Hair Loss InformationBioidentical Hormones in Women – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I started using bioidentical hormones in September of 2004. I started noticing hair loss and did some research and found that DHEA and Testosterone can result in hair loss. I removed these but my hair is still not growning back. I am currently taking progesterone and biest in cream form. I tried taking Selenium and thyrostin and that didn’t help either. I am at a loss of what to do, can you help me. I am devastated about this hair loss.

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Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy includes such compounds as progesterone, estrogen, estriol, estradiol, testosterone, dhea, etc. I would assume from your question that you are post-menopausal. If that is correct and you have the genetic form of female hair loss without any medical cause, then it is highly likely that the trigger for the process has been ‘pulled’. Like a bullet from a gun, once the trigger is pulled, you can not call the bullet back. You need a thorough examination with a doctor skilled in quantifying miniaturization and the distribution of miniaturized hairs. Also, you will have to be evaluated with your complaint clearly outlined and understood. With that information, there might be some hope in the transplant arena, limited by the supply quality and quantity, and the size of the areas of need. You also need a good endocrinologist or gynecologist to ascertain hormone balances. I fully appreciate the traumatic impact of hair loss on women, but there is much I do not know about your unique situation. There is no substitute for a good doctor / patient relationship as a starting point. Find a good doctor and establish a trusting relationship with him/her.

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Hair Loss InformationHair Loss From Brow Lift – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I had a brow lift and and a face lift. I lost a great deal of hair in the few months after the procedure. It is now 1 year since the surgery and I have had no return of the lost hair, and I have a very weakly defined hairline. The scar shows unless I comb my hair down in bangs. I would like wear my hair pulled back and show off the new younger me, as my face lift was very successful. Can you fix this?

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Hair loss is a known complication of brow lifts and face lifts. The brow lift may accelerate the aging process with thinning of the hair in front of the scar in those genetically at risk. The skin in front of the ears can be removed in a face lift, wiping out sideburns (more common in the 2nd and 3rd face lift than the first).

Hair transplants are the ideal solution for this problem. This is the most common hair restoration process I perform in women. As men do not have face lift procedures as often, I do not see as many men as women with this problem. But the same complication is still there if there is a brow lift and / or a face lift. It can be done in one procedure in most people, but it takes a great deal of transplanted grafts densly packed to get the results in a single session.

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Hair Loss InformationMature Female Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am a mature woman living in Florida. I have noticed that many of the ladies in the salons who are my age (over mmm.. let’s say 49), have thinning hair. Is there a bug going around that is causing women to lose hair? What can I do about it?

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Female genetic balding affects possibly half of post menopausel women. All you have to do is go to the salons in retirement communities and look at what is going on. The hair stylists have learned that the best way to treat female genetic balding is to lighten the color of the hair (have you noticed how many women over 50 are blonde?) and to style it ‘puffed up’ (this is a man’s description of the process, sorry for my myopic male view). For most women, there are few options. A word of caution may be worthwhile here. Take anything that is offered to you in the solutions arena with a grain of salt. Believe less that what you hear and be skeptical of fixes, particularly those without first hand experience by people you know.