Female Teenager with White Bulb on Falling Hairs

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /,

(female) I’m a teen experiencing hair loss with a thick white bulb at the end. What can be the causes of this? I do NOT pull my hair. It comes off by itself. So why is it that the bulb is present on EVERY piece of fallen hair? Will it grow back? How long will it take for it to grow back? I’ve been losing hair when I comb it, in the shower. It’s an all around hair loss and I’ve noticed that my hair has thinned a lot. Any advice, something I should tell my doctor other than “I’m losing hair?”. Should I mention this hair bulb thing?

I don’t know if it’ll grow back, but the white bulb isn’t anything to worry about. It is likely sebum. See this post for a similar question.

Be open with your doctor and tell him/her anything that you think could contribute. He’ll likely have questions of his own and should run tests. Female hair loss is different from male hair loss. Most men experience hair loss from genetics — with women, it could be genetics, hormonal imbalance, low iron, etc, etc. Learn more about that here.

Tags: teenage, hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss, sebum

Alopecia Areata and Cyclical Hair Loss

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /,

(female)
i have alopecia areata and my hormone levels are up the creek . i am growing new hair , however why does it get so far and then fall out again ?

I do not know what you mean by your hormones being up a creek. Which hormones and what creek?

I am glad to read that you are growing new hair, which is to be expected for those who have alopecia areata. But it also may fall out again, also to be expected for those who have alopecia areata. This is something that happens with this disease, where it may spontaneously reverse and at times recur. For more info about alopecia areata, see the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.

Tags: alopecia areata, hairloss, hair loss

I Developed Dandruff After a Chemical Burn

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /,

(female)
I was burnt by hair chemical 26 months ago. I visited the doctor who advised me to use Clobex shampoo and gave me some pills. This was just for 10 days. I healed immediately. However, 6 months later, I developed scales of dandruff. I wash with Head and Shoulders shampoo for sensitive scalp but it doesnt seem to help me. I have some patches all over my head, the scalp is very itchy. Please help me. What should I do?

Thank you

It’s been over 2 years since your chemical burn, but I do not know even if there is a connection between that and the dandruff. The timing of the dandruff onset could be coincidental, or perhaps you’re seeing something like psoriasis. Clobex is a psoriasis treatment. Maybe it’s time to see your doctor again.

Tags: dandruff, chemical burn, hair loss, hairloss

My Hair is Brittle and Thin — Is It Because of Weaves?

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /, ,

I am a 35 year aged female who has been wearing weaves for 2 1/2 years. I decided to grow out my perm so I can eventually have only chemical free hair. I have taken out my weave recently and have flat-ironed it to see how long it was and to get an idea on the health of my hair. My hair was not only brittle but very thin.

Is this a result of the sew in weaves? If so, is there anything I can do and/or products I can use to bring the health back to my hear and to a normal thickness? Please advise.

Sew-in weaves can cause traction hair loss. Constant traction on your hair can cause thinning as it is being progressively damaged. This does not happen 100% of the time, but it is a common problem for women who wear their weaves tight or have a tightly braided hairstyle. If you lose the hair, it may never grow back.

Flat ironing your hair can also cause damage, particularly if it is already weakened from the weave. I would give your hair a full year to see if it recovers. At this point, patience is really the only thing I can recommend.

Tags: traction alopecia, hairloss, hair loss, weaves, braids, perm, chemicals

Can a Straightening Iron Permanently Damage Hair?

/by William Rassman, M.D./1 /, ,

Hi, would just like to say firstly that I have found your site really helpful and informative, thanks! I’m an 18 year old female, currently straighten my fringe every day and I’m really concerned that this will cause permanent damage. I know that straightening can make hair brittle, causing it to fall out until a new one grows, but I read somewhere that heat from straightening irons can travel up the hair shaft and burn the follicle, meaning the hair will never grow back. Is it possible to damage the follicles like this? I have had a look through the site but can’t find a definite answer. Thanks.

Straightening your hair everyday will make the hair brittle, as you already know. However, it will not kill your hair follicles, which are below the skin and not impacted by hot irons and the like. On the other hand, chemical straighteners could kill the hair roots if used improperly.

Tags: straightener, chemical, iron, hairloss, hair loss

My Hair Loss Stops and Regrows Whenever I’m Pregnant

/by William Rassman, M.D./1 /,

I am a 48 year-old mother of four who has all-over gradual hair thinning that began when I began menstruating at 12. I recently went through menopause, and although I have not experienced any chance in thinning since then, I do remember that when I was pregnant, I did not have hair loss, and my hair grew in again to a normal thickness. Each time, over the course of the pregnancy, the hair would grow thicker, until about three months after the baby was born, at which time it would fall out rapidly (over a few weeks). Is it possible that that regrowth during pregnancy indicates that I have some underlying hormonal issue?

I do not have hursitism, and twice in my life I have been checked for low iron and for thyroid problems, neither of which showed any problem. My periods were severe early in life but became easier over time and were roughly regular. The hairs that do grow are very soft and somewhat easily damaged but not severely.

I would be interested to know if you think some underlying hormonal problem could be the cause, given the regrowth during pregnancy.

Thank you.

Many women lose hair with child birth/pregnancy, menopause, etc. It is well described and known and you are not alone! But the hair growth during pregnancy, isn’t something I’m familiar with. I can only assume along with you that it is hormonally related, as there are a number of hormone increases during pregnancy.

Here are a couple of links I found via Google that might explain more — Pregnancy-Info.net and PregnancyEtc.com.

Tags: pregnancy, pregnant, childbirth, hairloss, hair loss, hair growth

My Doctors Aren’t Eager to Diagnose My Female Hair Loss

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /

(female)
Hi Doctor,
I am a 21 year old college student who lives in San Diego. Over the last couple of months I’ve noticed a excessive amount of my hair falling out (especially in the shower). I have always had beyond a full head of hair but lately, it just feels thinner and I have hair all over my carpet to prove it. My friends always make fun of me because i’m constantly shedding everywhere but lately its beyond too much. I have done some research and almost want to diagnose myself with iron deficiency anemia.

Recently, I am constantly tired, dizzy, have headaches, have shortness of breath (lately), don’t eat very much meat, don’t take vitamins, and last time I went to the doctor, they told me that my heart rate was way too high. Not to mention, live a stressful life, go out drinking way too often with friends and smoke cigarettes. I just made myself sound so TERRIBLE but i’m beginning to worry and no one at Kaiser seems to be losing sleep over what could possibly be wrong with me.

What do you think doctor?

Most doctors are trained to treat medical issues and bill the insurance company to make their living. It seems that hair loss is generally not a priority from a purely medical perspective. My cynicism aside, there really is no definitive cure for hair loss in women, but you need a diagnosis by a doctor who has experience in this field. In addition, there are many causes of hair loss in women and you need to understand where you stand with these causes. There is only one FDA approved hair loss medication for women… Rogaine (minoxidil).

Things that come to my mind as I read your post as possible contributing sources of hair loss:

  1. You go “out drinking way too often”
  2. You “smoke cigarettes”
  3. You don’t eat well
  4. You have too much stress
  5. You say your heart rate is too high? Why?
  6. You think you have iron deficiency anemia? Why?
  7. You are constantly tired, dizzy, have headaches? Why?

Aside from hair loss issues, you do not sound too healthy. You need to go back to your doctors at Kaiser and get to the bottom of this!

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss

Hair Loss After Partial Hysterectomy and Stresses of Life

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /, ,

In 2006 I had a partial hysterectomy (uterus only). This past July my doctor put me on 1 mg. of Divigel. I’ve noticed the past couple of months that my hair is falling out. I don’t know if it is the hormone replacement therapy or not. I should note that when I’ve had surgery or a stressful time in my life, I tend to shed, but the hair comes back. I’m wondering if my “empty nest” this fall or the Divigel is causing the hair loss. Any ideas?

DivigelStresses (emotional, surgical, medical, etc) can all cause some degree of hair loss. It usually takes about one year or so before you notice the hairs regrow once the stress is under control. Or, it could be the medication you’re on. Divigel (estradiol gel) does list mild hair loss as a common side effect.

It is best to discuss your concerns with your doctor that is treating you. On top of the stress and medication, there may be other medical issues that you are not aware of as well. In the end, hair loss for women is very frustrating for doctors and patients alike. There is no one magic bullet or a defining cause. And worse yet, there is no definitive treatment (let alone, a cure). Good luck.

Tags: divigel, estradiol, gel, hairloss, hair loss, stress, hysterectomy, female hair loss

NSAIDs and Female Hair Loss

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /,

(female) I have been experiencing hair loss for about 2 months now. It is just beginning to be noticable when I lift up sections of my hair. The hair loss is now accompanied by an itchy scalp but that may be due to the fact that I have had a problem with winter dandruff my whole life. I am wondering if the hair loss could be due to NSAID use.

I have been taking 4-8 200 mg ibuprofen almost every day for the past few months. There has been no major stresses in my life but I was told that I had low iron after giving birth to my son 2.5 yrs ago. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

IbuprofenJust to clarify for those readers that may not be familiar with “NSAIDS”, it stands for “Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs” and you likely have them in your medicine cabinet. Some common NSAIDs are aspirin and ibuprofen.

Back to your question — as I am not your doctor, it is difficult to answer this. Low iron can cause hair loss, and even ibuprofen has been reported as a cause of hair loss in some. As I’ve said many times before, causes for female hair loss are difficult to nail down and could be from a variety of possible issues. I’d run some tests with your doctor.

Tags: nsaids, aspirin, ibuprofen, hairloss, hair loss, iron, female hair loss

Vitamin D Caused My Female Hair Loss to Stop!

/by William Rassman, M.D./6 /

(female)
Hi – two weeks ago my Md told me I was really deficient in vitamin d. I started taking 5000 units a day and to my astonishment – when I washed my hair- almost NONE came out… ( usually its handfuls) … also muscle spasms stopped and i feel great…

Vitamin D is a miracle… really!

Now that your vitamin D deficiency is cleared up, so is your hair loss. That’s great news! Congratulations!

I’m posting this to show that female hair loss has so many potential causes (a partial list can be found here), and some solutions are as simple as adding vitamins to your diet. Talk to your doctor!

Tags: vitamin, supplement, female hair loss, hairloss, hair loss

Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /,

What is frontal fibrosing alopecia? I haven’t heard of this before and I just read an advertorial that mentions that it is a cause of hair loss in women.

Link here

Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) requires a microscopic diagnosis made in the hands of a good dermatopathologist. To quote the link you sent, FFA “can cause women to lose up to five inches from their hairline. If FFA goes undiagnosed, women can even lose hair at the sides and back of their head.” For more info and some photos, see DermNet NZ.

In general, there are two types of hair loss — scarring alopecia and non-scarring alopecia. Genetic (male pattern) hair loss is the non-scarring type. We usually do not perform surgery for those with the scarring alopecia, because as the name implies there is scarring and inflammation underneath that is causing the hair loss. So a hair transplant would not likely work because your own immune system can still attack the transplanted hair.

Tags: frontal fibrosing alopecia, ffa, autoimmune, disease, hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss, scarring alopecia

My Iron Levels Are Normal Now, But I’m Still Losing Hair!

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /

A few of months ago I started see that my hair was thinning all through out my head. Then I got scared so I am a 32 year old female and I went to see a doctor for my hair loss. They said I had low ferritan levels. So they gave me iron pills and by my next blood test they said my levels were fine. But now I’m still losing hair and now my scalp itches and burns. I take seizure medication, but I’ve been taking it for a long time and I’ve never had this type of reaction and I’m not pregnant. I don’t have pattern baldness that runs in my family either. I don’t know what to do :( What do you think it is? Is it fixable? Will my hair grow back? Should I do something different? Should I use certain hair products? HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You need a doctor who will take charge of your problem, rule out all of the metabolic causes of hair loss and scalp itching, and give you a diagnosis. Seizure medications can contribute to hair loss, so discuss this with your doctor. Diagnosis comes before treatment, but unfortunately this is not something I can do over the Internet.

Tags: iron, ferritin, hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss

I’ve Seen a Dozen Doctors for My Female Hair Loss with No Diagnosis

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /

I am a 31 year old female, experiencing hair loss for approximately four years. I have lost approximately 75% of my hair. The loss is diffuse throughout my scalp. My hair falls out everywhere even after I wash and brush it; sometimes as many as 500 strands in the shower. I’ve see at lease twelve doctors (generalist, internist, dermatologist, endocrinologist and nature pathetic) and I’ve never been give a diagnosis. Medications such as Spiornlcatone/Aldactone 200mg, Yasmin and Metformin (I have no glucose intolerance) have not worked. I’ve had every blood test performed and the only borderline low level (16 then, 56 now) was feritin. Testosterone was completely normal.

I’m completely depressed and feel so ugly. My hair is so thin I can no longer wear it down. I’m a hopeless case or is there something else I can do or a doctor that can help?. I’ll do anything…

I wouldn’t say you’re a hopeless case. Your problem is common (I have heard this from many women) and doctors often do not do justice for you by sitting you down to talk after all appropriate tests are in. With hair loss in women, the problem isn’t always so easy to spot and it certainly isn’t something I should attempt to do online.

Since you indicated you’re in the LA area, call my office at 800-NEW-HAIR (or 310-553-9113) to setup a free, private consultation with me in my Los Angeles office. I would be happy to see you. Or you can fill out your info here and someone on my staff will get back to you to schedule the appointment. You will get straight answers.

Tags: female hair loss, hairloss, hair loss, consultation, diagnosis

I’ve Got My Numbers and My Severe Female Hair Loss

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /

I have blood dht levels of 4. My tsh is 2.71 I have been having severe hair loss for about a year. My hair which was once very thick is now thin and falling out. My testosterone is 33, estrogen 24 and progesterone is .5. Do any of these numbers tell you a possible reason for my hair loss? Does the dht level of 4 mean low levels of dht on the follicles also and if not, how can I test for dht on follicle? Please give me some insight and suggestions. I am a 53 yr old female.Thank you!

I would have to know the normal values for the lab you used. Female hair loss is a very difficult evaluation, and doing it without you in front of me will not be valuable. I do not read lab tests without the patient involved in the process.

Tags: female hair loss, hair loss, hairloss, blood tests

Using a Concealer for a Hair Loss Miracle (with Photos)

/by William Rassman, M.D./1 /, ,

This is a young woman with very bad see-through hair loss that recently visited my office for a consultation. She told me that it has had a devastating impact on everything about her life. In one visit to the office, we fixed up her hair with DermMatch with the result as shown below.

There was no surgery done here. Applying the DermMatch took just a few minutes. She felt reborn with what appeared to her as a full head of hair. Click the photos to enlarge:

 

Tags: hair loss, hairloss, hair transplant, concealer, balding, dermmatch, female hair loss