Does Eltroxin used for hypothyroidism cause hair loss. I am 47 yrs old and have menopause. Does low estrogen level cause hair loss. Will I need to take some preparation of Estrogen to prevent hair loss?
Eltroxin (levothyroxine) is known to cause hair loss in some, though it is usually temporary (see side effects).
Low estrogen can also cause hair loss. You should talk to your doctor about these issues.
I recently had loc extensions placed into my hair because my hair is very fine and soft and refuses to lock on its own. In the process of it one of the locs on the back of my head was done to tight and eventually came out pulling my own hair with it there is some what of a bald spot there and the hair growing is very very very fine thin and small. I recently shaved my head to get everything on the same level while the rest of my hair is growing at a normal rate this patch is still very slow is this permanent or will it grow back if not is there anything i can do to help it
Hair extensions can produce traction alopecia, leading to permanent hair loss. Since you just shaved your head, I hope that means you’re going to discontinue using extensions. At this point, you’ll just have to see what happens over the next few months.
If there is permanent loss from the tight pulling, you’ll know within a year or so. Hopefully it isn’t the case, though.
My 13 year old daughter annually starts complaining about the area over her right eye hurting. Within about 2-3 weeks the eyebrow hair will fall out while sleeping, or I just have to rub my finger over it and it comes off. This has happened 3 years in a row. Her pediatrician thought she may have used a razor the first time but now I KNOW thats not happening. I personally see it rub off at the root. What is happening?
It sounds like she might have a medical condition known as trichotillomania, which is a compulsion to pull hair out (which could also explain pain felt in the area). This can occur while your daughter is sleeping, and she is probably unaware that she’s doing it. If a doctor looks at it with magnification, he will see “Exclamation point” hairs and broken hairs at different levels in the eyebrow hair.
You could treat it by putting a head band around her head securing the eyebrows within it. Keep this for 3 months or so and see if the hair grows back. That would confirm the diagnosis. Often, a doctor can look at the eyebrows and see changes in the hair that point to this diagnosis.
I have been put on minoxidil 5% a week ago. Broke out with rash and now my whole face is swollen and I have a lymphanode at the back of my head that popped out. Prior to this I had been using minoxidil 2%. l am a 34 year old female.
You should see a doctor. You could have had a reaction to the higher strength drug and may have to stop it. This is a known severe allergic reaction of minoxidil (see here for more).
I am a 57 year old female. I have five sisters and five brothers. All were born with full heads of hair. Both my father and mother had a lot of hair. Especially my mother. For some reason I was born with little hair. I always felt I was cheated. I started wearing a hair piece at 22yrs. What would have caused me in my mothers womb not to have had as much hair as my siblings. Thank you
There are genetic conditions that are present that give very little hair to a normal scalp. You need to be evaluated. Genetic testing (probably expensive) might be a place to look, but first a good examination by a competent doctor should be where you start.
(female)
I recently had Open Heart Surgery (4/25/11) which lasted 2 days, I now have a mechanical aortic valve and have notice hair loss over the past few months. Is this common, especially since surgery lasted 2 days? I was sedated thru the night and surgery continued the following day.
Stress from a surgery can induce hair loss in predisposed people. Is the hair loss all over (telogen effluvium) or is it localized in a pattern? This is what a good doctor can tell you and then, after a proper diagnosis is in hand, treat it appropriately.
I am a 51 year old female who had a complete hysterectomy 10 years ago. My scalp has been itching ever since and I find hair on my pillow every morning. Fortunately, I also began with very thick hair. The itching is intense. I was diagnosed with a fragrance allergy, but using fragrance free products (everything) does not help at all. Dandruff shampoo made no difference. Prescription shampoo did not help. I hate to think I will have this condition for the rest of my life. I’ve tried cutting back on my hormone replacement hoping it would help, but it didn’t.
If I examined your scalp I might make sense of what you are telling me here, but there’s not much help I can offer you without seeing you and knowing more about your history. Just note that scratching your scalp harshly will eventually cause hair loss from traction alopecia.
Since treating a fragrance allergy didn’t resolve the itchy scalp, you should go back to your dermatologist for a follow-up. It’s possible the HRT is leading to the scalp itch, but this is something you should also be discussing with your doctor.
My mom is 82 years old and has always had a full head of hair with no scalp issues. About 1 and a half years ago she experienced burning, itching scalp, loss of hair and weight. This ended in about November, and started again in February till current. What could possibly be cause? She has had all blood work done, however has been under stress for quite sometime. She has stopped getting perms and coloring her hair. She sets own hair with rollers and uses a setting gel. Any suggestions?
You just listed many of the causes of hair loss in women over 80. Stress can cause hair loss as well. She should see a good, caring doctor. I couldn’t tell you why she’s having scalp issues or weight loss.
Snippet from the article:
Lady Gaga is reportedly taking an anti-baldness drug.
The 25-year-old singer – who has experienced hair loss because of how often she has dyed her tresses – has started using Rogaine in order to reverse the years of damage she has subjected her locks to in the name of fashion.
A source is quoted by The Sun newspaper as saying: “Over the years Lady Gaga has put her locks under a lot of stress. She’s poured so much chemicals over them that it’s damaged her follicles.
“She’s hoping by using Rogaine, she can repair some of the harm.”
Read the rest — Lady Gaga Taking Anti-Baldness Drug
Judging by photos, it appears that singer Lady Gaga not only has her hair bleached, but that she also wears wigs. Rogaine (minoxidil) is the only FDA approved treatment for female hair loss, so if she is losing her hair from chemical damage, this would be a likely treatment path.
Her hair loss was in the news a few months back, but do I know if she’s actually using minoxidil or if this is just tabloid gossip? No clue.
This patient had corner hair loss on one side of the hairline following a brow lift that she had done in 2003. We transplanted that weaker corner with 509 grafts in 2010. This is a unique case since we rarely just do the one corner, but the patient wanted to transplant just the left since the right corner did not show the same severe hair loss. We also treated the scar from the brow lift itself.
The corners of the female hairline often have slower growth than the middle of the hairline, so when one corner is transplanted with donor hair it will likely grow longer, thicker, and faster than the original corner hair. Why? Well, because her native hair in the hairline probably has a hair cycle measured in months rather than years. Now the hair that was transplanted at the left corner will most likely have to get cut frequently to maintain symmetry with the other side. We’re now planning another procedure to balance the sides out.
Anyway, this is a unique case and wanted to share. Click the photos below to enlarge.
AFTER – 9 months post-operation (509 grafts):
BEFORE:
Snippet from the article:
My long, thick red hair – the thing I liked most about my looks – began to fall out 5 years ago, when I was 37. I’d perpetually pick hair off my arms, my back, my car seat, my bathroom counter. My shower drain clogged easily. Running the vacuum meant enduring the smell of burning hair.
At first I thought the shedding was temporary and must be connected to a medical problem. I consulted eight doctors, endured dozens of blood tests and spent thousands of dollars. I secretly hoped I had a thyroid problem, a hormone imbalance, some kind of vitamin deficiency, even lupus. I needed an explanation. But all the tests came back negative.
Read the full story — An agonizing secret: One woman’s story of loss
This article is about a woman who manages to stay strong while she tries to figure out why she’s been losing hair.
I know Rogaine can cause facial hair, but would it cause a large amount of hair to grow on a woman’s stomach, breasts, and sternum? I have already seen a endocrinologist and my testosterone was only at 4 and everything else was fine as well.
I have heard of cases and have occasionally seen a woman who developed body hair on the chest, between the breasts, near the nipples, and throughout the abdomen and back with the use of high dose minoxidil. When the minoxidil is stopped, the hair usually goes away.
This complication occurred most commonly when this medication was administered systemically in the treatment of high blood pressure in the 1960-70’s.
Hello Dr. Rassman,
I wrote you before about 4 yrs. ago I think. I am a 59 year old female.
I’ll try to be brief. After being treated for breast cancer in 1999 (no chemo involved) I began experiencing episodes, usually once a year, of increased shedding that lasts from 2 to 3 months then tampers off and stop. Losing between 80 to 100 hairs a day. I was diagnosed with chronic telogen effuvium but I’m wonder if it is female balding, though none of the women in my family show any signs of balding. I’ve had all the blood work for thyroid, iron levels, hormones etc…they all come back normal.
I had pretty thick hair at one time and I can’t tell you how much I miss it. It depresses me at times. However, I still have pretty good coverage and I think if you just saw me walking into a room you wouldn’t think I had hair loss problems. Of course upon a closer look you would.
My question is…I know you mostly work with men, but if I were your wife, sister, daughter ,etc…what advice would you give me to try and save my hair that seems to get thinner every year. Doctors I’ve seen just say “try rogaine” but I’ve read so many conficting things about rogaine…if doesn’t work well for women, it does work well for woman. And I can’t help wondering if it worked so well, why wouldn’t Rogaine use real success stories in their commercials instead of actors?
Is there anything I can do to save my hair? Please, please help. Thanks so much.
I never like giving advice to women for treating hair loss, as there are so many possible causes of female loss and every woman responds differently to the various therapies available. With men, the great majority of the time it is just genetics.
Rogaine (minoxidil) is the most popular hair loss medication used by women around the world (and the only FDA approved treatment for women)… but you need one doctor who is willing to work with you. Seek out a caring dermatologist and work with him/her on your hair loss problem.
I didn’t know that Rogaine’s commercials use actors. The only commercial I’ve seen lately has been for Rogaine Foam, and features a man with good results who is apparently an actual user of the topical.
Hi, I am a 23yr old black woman, ive been processing my hair all my life and recently opted to keep it ‘natural’ (Afro) i have very thick hair and about a month ago i was washing my hair and noticed a bald spot… My Hair is still thick all around the rest of the head but the area around the bald spot is starting to thin and fall out…
What could be the cause? I am Petrified!!!!
There’s so many possible causes for bald spots producing female hair loss that I dare not list them. It would be impossible for me to pinpoint the cause via email. Here a list of potential blood tests women might have to find a cause for the hair loss if it is more diffuse, but a single balding spot may be simply a fungus effect or a more complex autoimmune disease. Or it could also simply be due to some error or allergy in the chemical process that could have damaged a spot.
I wish I could tell you more, but without an examination it would be too difficult.
My 8 yr old daughter got a bad case of ringworm a year and a half ago. The lesions became a superinfection and eventually cleared. She was left with a quarter size bald area on the top of her head and now has some small amount of hair growth. Is there anything out there could be doing for her to promote hair growth? Are there any specific doctors i should see? She is 9 and I believe it is bothering her a bit socially. Thanks
Hair loss from infection and scarring may be permanent if it has not regrown in over a year. One possible treatment worth using may be Rogaine (with approval from her doctor) topically applied, but you need to apply the medication twice a day everyday for about one year before may see any improvement.
Another option may be a limited hair transplant to the area which we have done on occasion. This may be a better solution, as it is a one-time event for most people. I realize she’s only 8 or 9 years old, but depending on how bothersome the bald spot is, it might be a consideration.