Category: Hair Loss Causes

I have been told my a so called hair expert that hair that fell out from iron deficiency could have caused the hair follicle to atrophy and die. What is the chances of this happening. My hairloss lasted about 4 months. Thanks

I would need to know whether you are male or female and if the iron deficiency resolved (you commented that it ‘lasted about 4 months’). Generally, if you are iron deficient, reversing the process should bring the hair back after a hair cycle has occurred. I do not know enough about your history to answer your questions more specifically, though.

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I’ve been reading some of the postings about hair loss on calf. You commented about not knowing age & also about role of DHT & hair being one of the benefits.

With that in mind, here’s another one for you. My fraternal twin & I have both lost the hair on the calves of our legs. Happened in late 30s-early 40s. All the males on father’s side are pretty hirsute, as we are. In my case, I have all the hair I’ve ever had everywhere else, including the tops of my feet and toes! I’m a little thin on top, too, as is my brother. But, I’m also now dealing with rampant eyebrow hair growth & hairy ears needing trimmed. I have pitting edema of lower calves as well, but normal warmth and good pedal pulses. What do you think?

Thanks!

Pedal edema (swelling of the feet) usually reflects some medical problem. With swollen feet, there may be a connection. Does your fraternal twin have pedal edema? Good chance that there is some genetic cause, but I am stumped.

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(female)
Over a period of three months, I’ve received cortisone shots to my scalp for thinning hair. The dermatologist stated it was chemical damage from using relaxers. I’ve now noticed small indentations in my head and also hair loss and redness in the same area of the indentations. Did the corisone shots cause this to happen? Will my hair grow back? How long before I see any improvement, with regards to the dents in my head, will they ever go away?

Cortisone or steroid shots to the scalp for hair loss have been done by doctors if they believe the hair loss is due to an inflammatory type of process. However, I have seen patients that have lost their hair from this type of treatment. Unfortunately if you lost more hair, it may not grow back and the indentations may be permanent! I do not know what your diagnosis was or what your examination showed, including a miniaturization study, so it is difficult to advise you on your specific condition.

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Hey Dr. Rassman I have a genetics question if you can find the time. My dad and brother look alike and have all of thier hair and are 61 and 24 (no widows peak). I’m 22 and during the past year ive developed some recession which your site has allowed me to call a mature hairline. My mom and i have always had widows peaks. Would it be reasonable to assume i’ve developed my mothers family hair genes while my brother inherited my fathers?

It may be reasonable to assume, but I really do not know. Nobody knows for sure! Genetic hair loss does not follow specific predictable patterns that we have recognized. Many have hypothesized and observed that male pattern hair loss is slightly more dependent on the mothers side (51% get the balding genes from the mother’s side).

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I have posted my comments following numerous questions on the new findings on hair regenerative capabilities at University of Pennsylvania on their website’s blog. I also encourage you to read the trend of this post on Nature.com’s blog. Here is what I said on the effect of these new findings on the treatment of hair loss:

The research done at the University of Pennsylvania has brought about a different concept on the regenerative capabilities of hair follicles. Dr. Cotsarelis and his team have proven that Wnt protein can induce an embryonic phenotype, which can resemble adult hair follicle. Although these findings seem promising for future treatment of many disorders of skin and its appendages, it is too early to conclude we have any treatments in hand for hair loss or other skin disorders based on this research. Regarding hair loss treatment, we are facing three major hampers in our way.

Firstly, the characteristics of mouse hair are remarkably different than human hair. Mouse hair is more of a villous hair in comparison to a mature human hair so called terminal hair. The growth cycle of mouse hair does not follow the same for human hair. Secondly, an alteration of Wnts pathway is proven to be associated with carcinogenesis in all mammals as this is a known gene pathway. The fact that this is a known carcinogen, is a major ‘negative’ and will prevent any human research that may involve manipulation of the Wnt gene. Thirdly, even if we can influence the gene to make it safe for producing a human terminal hair; it is likely that the new hair presents proteins on its surface which will still allow the hair to fall out as the original hair does.

I am writing on this matter in response to the numerous questions from our patients in our hair loss question and answer blog, BaldingBlog, asking what to expect within the next few years on this issue in the treatment of hair loss. It is definitely not to undermine the value of the great work that Cotsarelis and his team did. Although the result of this research may not affect the patients’ imminent hair loss and skin problems, it will certainly affect the future of hair related research possibly leading us to find a cure for baldness and similar disorders in the future.

New Hair Institute

A few years ago my boyfriend got a hair cut and a month or so later he begin to get bumps which he assumed were razor bumps. shortly after he lost all the hair along the back of his head.

Now there’s no hair and bumps that at times bleed and cause him pain. What’s going on with his scalp?

This is difficult to answer, because it requires that I guess. One might assume that he got folliculitis from the shave and lost his hair. He needs to see a good doctor first and it should be clear what happened to him at the hands of a good dermatologist.

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When a hairline is maturing, do those hairs in the juvenile area experience miniaturization before falling out? In other words, is miniaturization a certain sign of male pattern baldness, or only if it is occurring beyond the juvenile hairline?

Most of the time I have seen changes in the juvenile hairline, it has occurred without miniaturization, just a slow regression of the leading edge of the hair. With that said: the frontal hairline in every man and women and finer hairs in the first 1/4 inch or so. That appears as miniaturized hair ,so carefully reading of the micoscopic hair must be made taking the degree of normal frontal small hairs are not confused with progressive frontal balind.

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Dr Rassman,
I am 24 years old and have been experiencing hair loss since last Sept. I have been on Propecia since Oct. and have since seen less shedding and some slight improvement. What is the most distressing is that I have diffuse thinning all over the top and crown of my head and, most terrifying, no family history of hair loss. My question is this, I have a lot of material build up in my scalp, what I think is white, dry skin, or it could be i’m just not washing my hair thoroughly enough, whatever it is, it’s very noticable and when i try to brush it out, hair sheds along with it, especially when I try to style hair in the front and on the bangs. I have been using T-Gel and the amount of build-up is less however there is still some on the scalp. Is this affecting my chances of hair regrowth? And do you have any recommendations?
Thanks

Sorry, I cannot diagnose your condition over the internet with just descriptions. You need to see a doctor who specializes in hair (like hair transplant doctor) or a dermatologist if you feel you have a skin problem.