Hair Loss Causes – Page 264

February 5, 2007

Top of Scalp is Thinning, but Hair Still Grows Very Slowly – Balding Blog

Hi Dr., I am a 23 year old black male. My texture of hair is curly (soft). About 5 years ago I was dying my hair alot and putting relaxers in it as well, for different styles. I then cut my hair very low. Now that i’m trying to grow my hair out again, the top of my hair is starting look alot thinner than the rest. I can see the little holes on my head, but the hair grows very slow from them. What do I do?

It is difficult to answer your question without a good physical exam and medical history. While trauma from chemicals may cause some hair loss, it should generally grow back unless the chemicals you used worked their way into the hair follicles below the skin of the scalp. Furthermore, if you have a very short hair cut, the thinning or hair loss is more readily noticeable and any hair that is genetically impacted with miniaturization will see slower hair growth. You may have a component of male pattern hair loss and a miniaturization analysis will show that. If you suspect such a scenario, you should see a doctor to establish a diagnosis and have a miniaturization study of your hair to see the pattern of thinning.

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February 2, 2007

Saw Palmetto, Seborrhoeic Dermatitis – Balding Blog

Hi doctor,

Does Seborrhoeic dermatitis causes thinning of the hair on the frontal and temporal areas or it just causes the hair to fall without thinning? I have noticed an increase in acne production in my scalp in addition to my noise and behind my ears and i am noticing a major thinning of my hair, so i am concerned if Seborrhoeic dermatitis is causes of these side effects. Also does DHT trigger the increase of acne production of the sebum glands, which are similar to the consequences of Seborrhoeic dermatitis? I currently stopped the use of propecia due to a severe sexual dysfunction and I am taking saw-palmetto and monoxidil 5% without any significant positive results but a major thinning all over my head. What is your comment on using saw-palmetto as a DHT inhibitor? Shall i wait till my hair sheds and then transplant some hair instead of taking a risk and play with my hormones? I am in a dilemma please help me. Thanks a Lot Doctors

Young men with genetic balding are best treated with finasteride (Propecia). Saw palmetto does not work for preventing hair loss and contrary to some promotion, there is no evidence that it is a DHT blocker. Minoxidil is less effective in genetic hair loss, but it may work. Seborrhoeic dermatitis does not cause hair loss nor does acne, provided that you do not pick on your hair. Acne medications do cause hair loss. If you get infections, then that could cause localized hair loss unless it is treated by a good doctor.

February 2, 2007

Widow’s Peak and Hair Loss – Balding Blog

Hello doc, I’m a 24 year old white male.

I’ve read a lot of people refer to MPB as starting out with a “widow’s peak” but here’s a question for you sir: all of the females in my family have a natural widow’s peak shaped hairline, they aren’t flat but have that M shaped curve to them. The trait is dominant and I got one as a kid as well. I rarely see any older men out there that have low widow’s peak shaped hairlines, all of the men that have low hairlines as they age seem to have flat hairlines with just some hair loss at the temples.

My question is this: when a boy gets the widow’s peak hairline as opposed to flat, does that more commonly or always lead to a higher mature hairline as an adult? I am currently 24 and my hairline has some definate hair loss at the temples, but it still hasn’t gone back at all in the middle and very slightly on the sides. Does the fact that I have a widow’s peak shape mean I am destined for a high hairline on the front/sides?

Good question. I believe that the frontal juvenile hairline has different genetics than the hair behind it (the mature hairline) and that includes the widow’s peak. I have seen men who maintained the juvenile hairline and lost all of the hair behind it (just 1/2 inch of hair present that is normal for that man). Also, the central forelock has a distinct genetic pattern in some family lines (that forelock will last into old age even if all of the hair around it is lost). Nighttime talk show host David Letterman has a persistent forelock which on close examination looks like a round patch of hair isolated from the hair on the sides and behind it. Sometimes the forelock is connected to a widow’s peak and sometimes it is connected to the surrounding hair.

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February 1, 2007

Mono and Female Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am desperate for information. I have been to dermatologists and M.D.’s and am not sure what to believe any more. The dermatologist told me my hair loss was due to an autoimmune disease and gave me steroid shots in the head and did a biopsy and said the hair follicles where still alive. Went to M.D and had blood test told it was not audio immune. Been told many times it was thyroid then had blood test done and they came back fine. There is nobody else in family with this problem. Please help am desperate. Had mono 1 and a half years ago. Can this cause hair loss? what can I do? I am a female and this is very embarrassing.

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I can not be your doctor over the internet, but the questions you asked are ones that you need to know the answers to. You were told you have auto-immune disease, then had none. Then it was thyroid disease, then not. You need to get a full examination to find out the cause of your hair loss. Any illness (even mono) can trigger hair loss in those people who have the hair loss genetics (women included). Are you one of those women?

You need to bond with a good doctor. Like a good marriage, the partnership between patient and doctor is a partnership where the doctor works for the patient on the presented problem in the patient’s time frame. If you do not have the right partner (doctor), get rid of him/her and find one who respects you as an individual with needs and gives you the service you are paying for.

February 1, 2007

Hair Loss InformationIs My Alopecia Areata Getting Worse? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I first noticed the symptoms of alopecia areata at age 13. I’m 23 years old now. I briefly saw a dermatologist when I was 16 and received steroid injections for about a year. These proved ineffective. My hair regularly grows back, only to be followed by other areas falling out. At any one time I’d guess that about 40% of my head is covered in hair. I’ve learned to deal with the condition, but recently it seems that it’s migrated to my beard and as well I’m experiencing increased pitting in my fingernails, which hasn’t happened for about 8 years.

Is my condition significantly worsening? If so, what can I expect? Also, given it’s been 7 years since I’ve seen a professional about this, what sort of treatments might be effective in a case such as mine?

Thanks for your time

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You need to be managed by a doctor whose specialty and interests are focused on alopecia areata (usually this would be a dermatologist). The disease moves around and sounds like it is active in you. Biopsies of the active area at the border with the normal hair will show inflammatory cells suggestive of auto-immune disease. Look at the case I posted about the other day (Alopecia Areata in a Patient with a Miracle Cure). This type of expertise is what I would want if I had the problem. I am not an expert on alopecia areata, so I am unfortunately not the person to ask.

January 31, 2007

Hair Loss InformationWhy Might Xanax Cause Hair Loss, Rather than Anxiety? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,
First of all I’m a 29 yr old male with extreme anxiety. I’ve read a couple of posts on this site about Xanax & hair loss. In every question asking about whether Xanax can cause hair loss, you mention that it definitely can.

As I stated earlier, I have an anxiety disorder & have just recently started taking the generic version(1mg 3 times a day) of Xanax again. Can you explain to me how & why the Xanax would cause hair loss? I’m just REALLY concerned now after reading about that. I was thinking that extreme anxiety would be more likely to cause hair loss than Xanax?

If you could just give me any kind of explanation, I’d be extremely grateful.

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Occurrence of hair loss can be due to several factors. Although most the common cause of hair loss at your age is male pattern baldness, anxiety could be considered an aggravating factor for your hair loss. Hair loss is not one of the commonly known side effects of Xanax. We hear from our patients who just got started on Xanax that they lose hair, but it is hard to prove that their hair loss is really associated with Xanax or if it has to do with anxiety itself.

January 31, 2007

Hair Loss InformationCould Restrictive Diet Have Caused Rapid Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am a 19 year old male and since August of 06 I have lost a significant amount of hair due to shedding and maybe miniaturization (some hairs that fall out look much thinner than others). From about february 06 till august 06 i was on a very reduced calorie diet and lost about 80 pounds. I can’t help but think there is some connection between the weight loss and hair loss.

My first question is: could that restrictive diet have caused my early and rapid onset of hairloss? Also, I have currently been taking propecia for the last 2 months.

My second question is: will taking vitamins (which ever ones they say promote hair growth. ex.Vitamins B6 and biotin) along with propecia help promote new growth? or are vitamins ultimately uneffective against hairloss (assuming its MPB)?

Thanks for your time, and your site is by far the most informative i’ve found so far.

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Nutritional deficiencies (or as you put it, restrictive diet) can cause hair loss. In addition, this may trigger a stress response and turn on a gene that may kick start your male pattern hair loss. Unfortunately, after the process has started it is difficult to stop the progression of hair loss.

In either case, you should have a balanced healthy diet. And if you are concerned about male pattern (genetic) hair loss, you should see a doctor to get the correct diagnosis. Propecia can only be prescribed by a doctor and even if it is readily available over the internet you should see a doctor for a correct diagnosis and appropriate follow up.

January 31, 2007

Hair Loss InformationMale Using Straighteners, Seeing Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

You’re reading the 3000th post here on BaldingBlog, which is quite remarkable for a site less than 2 years old. Thanks to the readers out there for the continued support!

Hi, I am 22, male and have been using hair straighteners for roughly a full year now. i have seen a decline in hair and hair thinning occur over the past 3 months. I am very concerned as i am soo young and not married and have already experienced hair loss, most likely due to traction alopecia. I am so styling my hair in this way and i hate to change and stop using my straighteners, but if my hair will grow back to its natural healthy and thick form it was in before i began using the straightening irons i will. So, if experienced significant hair lost by using straightening irons for one year, will my hair stop falling out and grow? And, will the hair that has fallen out be replaced? i know you have had similar questions, but most have been from females and i know alot of males that use such products and are having the same hair loss & thinning problem. we need to know if our hair will grow! PLEASE

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Traction alopecia could be reversible if diagnosed early. If you are predisposed to male pattern baldness due to your genetic background, traction or any other type of trauma to your hair may have accelerated your approaching male pattern baldness. Occurrence of hair loss can be hastened by trauma. A visit to a hair specialist can help to determine whether your hair loss is an accelerated male pattern or purely traction alopecia. You should have your scalp mapped out for miniaturization to determine if you actually have genetic patterned hair loss. In either case, you need to stop what you are doing with your hair and let the hair follicles that are still alive grow new hair.

January 31, 2007

Hair Loss InformationHomogeneous Genes and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman,

I understand that hair loss is understood to be a dominant trait. I also understand that men can be homogeneous dominant or heterogeneous. Would it be fair to say that main with homogenous genes are the ones to lose their hair early? say in their 20s and 30s, while men who are only heterogeneous dominant lose their hair later in age? say their 40s and 50s, I was just curious because I figured that maybe men who have a double gene are the ones more likely to have severe hair loss. Or does it not matter either way?

Regards

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Hair loss is not a dominant trait. If so, a bald man’s sons will all be bald — which is not the case. What you are describing is a classic Mendelian type of genetic inheritance. The expression of the genetic factors also often skip generations. The hair loss gene(s) is not so simple to categorize and no one really knows how many genes are involved with hair loss.

January 31, 2007

Hair Loss InformationSigns of DUPA? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr Rassman,

Ive been reading your blog daily for a short while now, and im curious, if you were to look at someone how would you know if they had dupa, what are the symptoms that you would be able to diagnose that with?

Thank you.

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Diffuse unpatterned alopecia (DUPA) is a condition where miniaturization is present all over the head, even in the areas that hair transplant surgeons think is sacred (the back and sides of the head). Thinning in the donor area where there was no thinning before, would make me suspicious of DUPA. You should get your hair mapped out for miniaturization and that would clearly give you the diagnosis.