Category: Hair Loss Causes

Some students at George Washington University in Washington, DC have been experiencing hair loss after swimming in the pool. From the article:

Chemical imbalances in the pool, which began on Oct. 21, were caused by “a glitch in the (chemical) monitoring system,” said Kirk Southworth, service coordinator for Winkler Pool Management, which monitors pool equipment for the University.

One swimmer said his teammates lost about 70 percent of their body hair. The athlete also said he “could hardly taste my breakfast” on Oct. 22 after feeling cotton-mouthed from the previous day’s practice.

Read the full article — Swimmers report hair loss, irritation

We’ve written here a few times that chlorine doesn’t cause hair loss, and I still stand by that. Even in the article, a professor at the school states that “hair loss is inconsistent with chlorine overexposure and high or low pH levels”. There’s obviously something in the water causing many people to lose hair.

Update: I’m open to any and all studies that show hair loss from chlorine are linked. I’ve not seen any, but seeing as how it is a chemical, I wouldn’t be shocked to learn there’s some link.

I am 21 and used Growth Hormone for a little over 2 months i am starting to notice hair loss. Is this temporary or will it grow back once i stop? Or has the GH prematurely started my hair loss and will these lost hairs never grow back? I need to know if it is strictly short term and they will grow back i am very nervous. Thank you Dr

I have to apologize in advance for the strong opinions I have on the subject you introduced in your question. I always want to know why people your age would take growth hormones, and whether they were under the care of a physician or were just experimenting with them. You didn’t state why you were taking them, but growth hormones can be dangerous and I strongly recommend that you follow up with your doctor to make sure there were no other damages to your body.

With respect to hair loss, growth hormones can certainly precipitate genetic male pattern baldness. I cannot say if the hairs would grow back, but if it was hormone/genetic related, the hair that was lost will probably not grow back.

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Hello Rassman

I am 23 yr old male losing hair from 8th months. I went to dermatologist last month and she ordered some tests to find out whether it is hereditary or not. When tests results were back she didn’t find anything genetically, but my testosterone level is high, which is 869 (normal 241-827) she said this was the reason for my hair loss. I am not totally convinced since it is DHT that cause hair loss but not high testosterone. Shall I go for DHT test? If so do I need to have any other tests along with DHT? They suggested me to take Propecia which I am concerned of side effects. Please tell me what to do. It is been so hard for me to concentrate on other things due to this problem.Thanks

If you had the genetic testing (HairDX) and you do not have the balding genes, don’t worry. Testosterone will have no impact on hair loss in those without the genetic predisposition for hair loss, determined from a negative test.

I am trying to understand why I am losing my hair. Where can I send my hair to have it checked?

Analyzing your hair is offered by many trichologists, but I have yet to understand what they are analyzing. If you want to know if your are actually losing your hair (and not just experiencing normal everyday hair loss as new hairs grow in), get your hair mapped out for miniaturization by a good doctor. That will tell you what you need to know. As you are in Los Angeles, call my office to setup an in-office consultation where I will do this mapping.

Hello,

I am suffering from a second degree chemical burn. About 2 months ago, I had highlights done by a professional. First it started scabbing and all of the hair fell out..after a while my doctor informed me that my scalp is not healing right and it is making unhealthy tissues! He has been carving the tissues off my scalp..However after many testings he now knows that the area is infected by a bacteria…I am now on antibiotics(CIPRO)..I really would like to know where I am standing? Is my scalp going to heal? Is my hair going to grow back? and in how long?

These are questions to ask your doctor. It sounds like you have been through hell. If you think that the doctor is doing a good job, bond with him/her more through this difficult period. Infection following burns are no picnic.

I recently went to the trichological clinic in Costa Mesa, CA and had microscopic hair analysis. After examining my hair bulbs and shafts, the trichology specialist, said that I have hyperhidrosis and excessive lactic acid cause the hair to fall out. I have noticed my hair loss since the beginning of this year and lost agressively for last three months. I have receding hairline but I don’t have much thinning on crown or vertex though I can see my scalp due to excessive hair loss. The specialist showed me the hair affected by DHT to compare with my hair affected by lactic acid. The hairs affected by DHT are encapsulated by DHT and my hairs don’t look like them. She said my hair bulbs are healthy but the acid is eating away the hair. I have never heard of this condition and before I start any kind of treatment I like to have second opinion from you.

Hyperhidrosis implies increased sweating and the suggestion that the sweat contains lactic acid which damages the hair makes no sense whatsoever. DHT encapsulating the hair is beyond the science I know, but the storyline might be believable with a good salesman or saleswoman presenting it. Why look to other causes of hair loss if you have genetic hair loss? Not only have you not heard of it, but neither have I… though the Internet does contain references to the concept, so I guess some people are believers. I don’t know that I would trust anyone with that type of sales pitch.

I recently fostered a dog from our local animal shelter. The dog had hair loss on its front shoulder, elbow, and belly. I was told that the dog was loosing hair due to stress. After 7 days of being at my home with me and my cat- both of us began itching. The cat was having the same symptoms as the dog- lots of chewing, liking and biting.

My head is itching like crazy – I have tried lice shampoos and scalpacin and a scabbies cream Permethrin from head to toe. After a month and a half my hair has started falling out in large amounts. My cat was taken to a specialist in pet dermatology – she does not have ringworm, scabies, or fleas. she has gone on a special medication – which has lessened her symptoms but not gotten rid of them-and they had no definitive answers. Maybe we are passing something back and forth? But I cant imagine what this could be?

You need to take both of your animals to a vet and yourself to a doctor. Why would you try lice shampoos or scabies medicine without knowing you have lice or scabies? Those shampoos can do more damage than good if you don’t have lice or scabies. You need a good diagnosis before trying something blindly.