Prescription Rogaine for Women?

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

Is there a different prescription strength Rogaine for women? If so, is it by prescription only?

RogaineThe 2% and 5% Rogaine (minoxidil) solutions are available without a prescription, but some doctors might prescribe a 12 or 15% generic minoxidil that is formulated by pharmacists. Rogaine (name brand minoxidil) does not come in a prescription strength.

Since this drug is known to drop blood pressure in some people, high concentrations of it can cause fainting, chest pain and general weakness… and if you get these higher concentrations be careful to titrate your dose with any side effects as discussed above. Generally, the higher the concentration, the greater the impact on hair loss so some doctors recommend the high dosages to maximize benefits.

Tags: female hair loss, minoxidil, rogaine, hairloss, hair loss

Female Hair Loss in Crown — Is It from Antidepressants?

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

My hair started to thin around the crown (on the left side) about a year and a half ago. I think it is because of the Antidepressants Lexapro & Celexa that I have been on for the past two years. Prior to that I had no problem. It is only in one area. I do wear braids but have been for the better part of 20 years with absolutely no problem. Can the thinning be resolved if I go off the medication and will my hair grow back? Thank you!

This is a discussion you should clearly be having with your prescribing doctor. These medications can cause hair loss, but that does not mean that the hair loss you are experiencing is from them. You need to be evaluated by a good family doc or dermatologist for finding out the cause for your hair loss.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, lexapro, celexa, antidepressant, female hair loss

My Hair Is Thinned from Traction Alopecia

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

(female) I hope you can give me the answer to a very easy question. I have traction alopecia. My hair has thinned on the top and sides. I don’t have bald spots –it’s just thin. I’m wondering if my hair will continue to thin if I do nothing, or will it just remain thin on top as it is today.

It might be easy to ask, but it’s not that easy to answer. I don’t know what your traction alopecia was caused by or how long you’ve seen the thinning going on for. Without an examination, I couldn’t tell you if the hair loss will progress or not. Sorry.

Tags: traction alopecia, hairloss, hair loss

Woman’s Hair Loss Worsens Even With 2 Years of Laser Comb Use

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

i am using laser comb for about 2 yrs now and my hair loss continues to worsen. am wondering if you have heard of any negatives about its use in women? i cant help but wonder how much worse it would get if i quit using the comb. any comments please????

Sorry, but recent articles and studies show the various laser combs and laser treatments for hair loss are not as good as once thought. The science I have seen is flawed. In other words, lasers do not work as promised. For those of you who spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on this and many other illusive cures for hair loss, remember one thing — “let the buyer beware!”

I’ve written about laser treatments many times before, so please search for LLLT to read more.

Tags: lasercomb, laser, lllt, hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss

Traction Alopecia and Hair Transplants

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

I am 20 years old as of January of this year and I am female. I always had very long very full very beautiful and healthy hair but in my later years of high school i began doing a lot of processing to change the color on numerous occasions, this resulted in, while still long, very damaged stringy hair. One day I made the decision to cut it and it was more healthy than it had been in a very long time and very very full, however I was not confidant with the length and made the incredibly stupid decision to get hair extensions, of course I only know how stupid it was now that the damage is done. The type I had were individual pieces adhered by small metal tubes that were then clamped to stay in place, and I would say I had approximately 200 of them in at one time. I have noticed an incredible loss in the fullness of my hair not just in the ends but in my scalp. I feel that I’ve lost approximately 50-70% of my hair which I hope is me overreacting but I have lost many nights of sleep and it’s taken a toll on my sanity and my life. I am exploring the option of hair transplants since they say that is the only solution for traction alopecia which i’ve diagnosed myself with. I will be seeing a dermatologist in a few days so I will have more details but I was hoping you could tell me a few things about the transplants. From what I’ve read they are said to have good to excellent results in patients with traction alopecia but I would like to know:

  1. Will the transplanted hairs have the capacity to grow to the desired length?
  2. Some transplant doctors practice a method where they are able to put grafts in between existing hairs which is what I will require since the thinning is all over. I am wondering, will it be necessary to cut the existing hairs short? I am hoping this is not the case.
  3. The only hair that has not been touched by the extensions and is healthy enough to be used as donor hair is in the front and is not a very large section. I am wondering, can the same donor area be used more than once if more hair is required to fill the missing spaces than the donor area can create at one time?
  4. This hair is 100% certain to grow back just as full as before, yes?
  5. Is there any scarring that will arise as a result of this? Do the risks for scarring increase if the donor area is used more than once?

I hope that you will reply to this message because I am very distraught and extremely depressed which I’m beginning to fear may lead to further hair loss caused by stress, and am rigidly searching for answers to this problem. Thank you for taking the time to read about my story and I’m hoping to hear from you soon.

You’ve likely seen your dermatologist by now and have a better idea of the degree of your hair loss, but I hope these answers to your questions help a bit.

  1. Yes. Transplanted hair will grow to the same length as the hair in the back of your head, since that is where the hair is being moved from.
  2. No. We routinely leave the recipient area long and do not cut the areas where we are going to do the transplant.
  3. Unlikely. Hair for transplantation is taken from the side and back of the head. I would have to evaluate your alopecia before giving you an opinion.
  4. Almost. Nothing in this world is 100% certain, but I would expect that hair transplants will grow at a 98% confidence factor.
  5. Yes. The donor area does scar and the degree of scarring depends upon many things, including:
    1. the number of surgeries
    2. the size of the donor strip
    3. tissue factors unique to each person
    4. the surgical technique used
Tags: traction alopecia, alopecia, hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss

Is Singer Fergie Balding?

/by William Rassman, M.D./4 /

I just saw this photo of the singer Fergie from Black Eyed Peas and don’t know what to make of it. is she just under bad light or do you think she could be losing her hair? it kinda looks like a female pattern huh.

Examiner.com – Fergie might be balding

FergieIt does appear in the photo that the singer known as Fergie has got some thinning in the female pattern… but to what degree, I couldn’t say. Does she have actual loss or is it just bad lighting or something else entirely? No clue. I’ve never met her and this one photo makes it difficult to form an opinion.

Hair loss in women is not uncommon, particularly if she’s in the entertainment business and relies on wigs and hair extensions to change her look from day to day. Extensions can create traction on the hair, resulting in something like what you’d see in that photo. Also, chemical processing of the hair can lead to this… and she’s certainly changed her hair color and character over the years. Here’s an example patient of mine that can give you an idea of what Fergie might look like if she is suffering from female genetic balding from the top looking down — here.

Tags: fergie, black eyed peas, hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss, singer, celebrity

Female Balding and Steps Taken to Fix It (with Photos)

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

This is a 60 year old woman who had 2700 grafts to fill in the area where she was very thin. She uses a combination of Toppik in the first inch of the hairline only, a good solid perm for the rest of her head and a reddish hair coloring that works to minimize her hair color contrast. Red coloring at times gives wonderful results and this lady was very careful to style her hair to maximize coverage. The curly nature of her hair changes the characteristics of her hair, which is normally straight.

She could have done it all with transplants alone, but it might have taken twice the amount of hair transplants than she got with the three step approach she used. Click the photos to enlarge.

After

 

Before

 

Tags: female hair loss, toppik, hairloss, hair loss, hair transplant, surgery

Bald Spot from Bleaching My Hair?

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

(female)
I usually color my hair and a few weeks ago i did a triple process where i had 3 different colors put in but the process of bleaching. My new roots started growing back so i decided to lighten them. While applying the bleach we noticed a bald spot at the back of my head. It was smooth soft and the same color of my scalp. It has feeling and it does not pain at all. Could the chemical have caused it!? Would it grow back? I am very worried

You should be worried. Bleach can burn the hair root and cause permanent balding. Wait it out for 3-6 months and you will know if it will reverse. Be careful in using too much or too strong bleaches. You can read more about this in my book, Hair Loss and Replacement for Dummies, where this is discussed in considerable detail.

Tags: bleach, chemical burn, hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss

Woman with Bald Strips Above Each Ear

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

I’m a relatively healthy 63 year old woman. My hair began thinning at the frontal hairline about five years ago. Recently, to my horror, I noticed that bald strips about two inches high and three inches long have appeared above each ear. This loss appears to have occurred in the past three or four months. Can you advise me of what might be the cause?

This is where pictures would help, as well as mapping out your hair for miniaturization. What you are describing is clearly not normal. To make a diagnosis of forms of alopecia, I need my eyes to look for patterns and science to tell me about the health of your other hair. With that knowledge I may be able to answer your question, but without it there’s not much I can offer.

Tags: female hair loss, hairloss, hair loss, alopecia

Rogaine Caused Facial Hair Growth for Woman

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

Hello Dr.
I was recommended by a hair specialist to use 2% rogaine to stop my hair loss. However, I have gotten hair growth all over my face and my body, but I am afraid of stopping the rogaine because I really dont want my hair to start falling out again. I am a 26 year old female. Is there anything that I can do, or anything else that I can use? I know that there aren’t many options out there for women. Please help! Thank you.

You are absorbing the minoxidil into your body and in your case, it is a potent hair stimulator. Facial and body hair are known side effects of minoxidil (Rogaine) and if you are so sensitive, this is not the medication for you. With regard to other options, there are not many options for women wanting to treat their hair loss, but it is best to talk this through with your doctor.

Tags: rogaine, minoxidil, hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss

Woman with Handfuls of Hair That Come Out Every Morning

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

(female)
I am 35 years old. My hair has been falling out for 2 years now and has become extremely thin. It comes out in HUGE handfulls every morning. It has pretty much stopped growing as well. Now the hair on my legs stopped growing and some eye lashes have fallen out and will not grow back. My cycles are regualr, dead on every month to be exact. My doctor says he sees no signs of disease in my scalp and my thyroid has come back normal. I am convinced this is not just a “cycle” of hair loss I’m going through. What else could it be? Please help. I am devistated.

Female hair loss is a difficult analysis and requires many tests, not just thyroid testing. I simply can not write a textbook on the subject on this site, but here’s a list of past posts that may help you understand what you’ve got going on:

  1. Female Genetic Hair Loss Is Different From Male Genetic Hair Loss
  2. Birth Control Pills and Hair Loss
  3. Woman With Thinning Hair After Family Tragedy
  4. Diseases Causing Women’s Hair Loss
  5. Female Hair Loss

The first step in evaluating hair loss in women, after a detailed history and physical exam, is to rule out any underlying medical causes of hair loss which can be treated. If clinically appropriate, the following disease processes should be considered: anemia, thyroid disease, connective tissue disease, gynecological conditions and emotional stress. Furthermore, over 50% of women going through change of life hormone fluctuations (menopause) experience significant hair loss. It is also important to review the use of medications that may cause hair loss, such as (but not limited to) oral contraceptives, beta-blockers, Vitamin A, thyroid drugs, coumadin, and prednisone. The following laboratory tests have been recommended to rule out the aforementioned medical conditions:

Some common blood tests for female hair loss:

  • Sex Hormone tests
  • SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin) used to test status of male hormones
  • Estradiol is a sex hormone
  • FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) *not hair follicle but follicle in the ovary*
  • LH (Luteinizing Hormone) is a sex hormone
  • Free Testosterone
  • Total Testosterone
  • ANA (Anti Nuclear Antibody) used to test for Lupus or other autoimmune diseases
  • TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) used to test for hyper or hypo-thyroid disease
  • Test Iron status
  • TIBC (Total Iron Binding Capacity)
  • Ferritin
  • Iron

I also discuss female hair loss in my book, Hair Loss and Replacement for Dummies — available in all good bookstores.

Tags: female hair loss, hairloss, hair loss, women, thinning

Female Hair Loss After a Stroke

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

(female)
I recently started taking alot of new medications after i had a stroke. Can drugs such as plavix and lisinopril cause hair loss? My hair is coming out by the handfuls every time I brush or wash it. I am a severe diabetic and also take medicine for that.

Female hair loss is different from male hair loss. Women rarely develop the typical balding pattern as men do. Moreover, female hair loss can be attributed to many different factors, including stress, hormone imbalance (menopause, thyroid disorders), anemia, autoimmune causes (lupus), etc. While men can certainly have the same issues, the cause of hair loss in men is mostly from genetic male pattern baldness (MPB).

You seem to have many medical issues, including diabetes, stroke, and high blood pressure. They can all contribute to your hair loss and unfortunately there is no specific cure for it. Even if you stop taking the medication you will still lose hair and these very medications can be the cause of the hair loss. The best option to date for women is topical Rogaine (minoxidil), which you can try — and it is available over the counter. Even Rogaine will not solve your problem completely, though. I would discuss your issues with your physician and see if there are other issues (like low thyroid) that can be contributing to your thinning hair.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss, stroke, diabetes, blood pressure, minoxidil, rogaine

Hair Loss from Mono?

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

Our Dr did a blood test on our 15 year old and it came back that she had mono. I had taken her to the Dr because of severe hair loss. She said the loss was from the mono and it could last up to 6 months. Have you heard of this before?

Illness is a cause of hair loss. Telogen effluvium (see eMedicine article) is what occurs in some people, though it is more common in women than men, and can occur after a bout with mononucleosis. It should pass with time, but this is something she should discuss with her doctor.

Tags: telogen effluvium, mono, hairloss, hair loss, illness, female hair loss, mononucleosis

I Stopped Chemically Relaxing My Hair a Year Ago, But Can I Start Again?

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

Dear Balding Blog,

First of all, I just want to say how wonderful and helpful your forum is. The information provided is indeed valuable. I have an enquiry and I was wondering if you can help. Your views and advice would be very much appreciated. Please view the following points:

Important Facts

1. I am a 23 year old black female with a fine hair texture.
2. I chemically relaxed my hair on an 8-10 week average for approximately 10 years (i.e. from age 11 to age 22).
3. Not too long ago, I was stricken with thinning hair/traction alopecia to the frontal parts of my hair (temple areas) – I believe due to constant pulling and excessive brushing. As a result, I stopped chemically relaxing my hair as of April 2008. I also relieved my hair of braids and weaves as of September 2008 and since then, I have been wearing my hair totally natural.
4. To treat the thinning areas/traction alopecia, I started applying Rogaine (also known as Minoxidil) every night to my affected areas while also washing and deep conditioning on a weekly basis as of October 2008.
5. I have been using the Rogaine treatment for just over 4 months now and I am glad to say that it has brought about wonderful results as there is new growth to the affected areas.
6. Furthermore, my hair texture has relatively returned to a more natural state i.e. it is thicker and tightly curled.

Enquiry

By April 2009 which will mark 1 year since I last chemically relaxed my hair and 6 months into the Rogaine treatment programme, I would actually like to return to chemically relaxing my hair.

1. Do you think it would be OK to do this?
2. If so, what Chemical Relaxers do you recommend? I have always used Dark & Lovely Beautiful Beginnings Childrens Relaxer (for fine hair types) due to my fine hair texture. It has always done the job. However, I have been advised to switch from ‘no-lye’ to ‘lye’ relaxers as they are less harsh.

I look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards

I appreciate your specifics in the email. I would stick with your Rogaine treatment since you’re getting great results. Lye is dangerous. Your experience with relaxers has not been great, so why would you expect that a repeat of the process won’t do the same thing? It’s possible that you just had too much chemical damage from treating your hair and your hair is healthier due to stopping the processing, but is it a risk you are willing to take?

Tags: rogaine, minoxidil, chemical, relaxer, lye, hairloss, hair loss

Are Laser Treatments Beneficial for Women?

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

I read your blog daily and I know you are very skeptical about laser treatment of hair loss in men/women. However, it benefits us all to know about new stories and developments so I figured I would send this to you and ask your thoughts about it. I saw a laser procedure on the T.V. show “The Doctors” of a woman receiving a procedure and as I could not find it discussed on your
site, here is the link: thedoctorstv.com

Is this basically the same thinking behind the Lasercomb and other laser treatments or is this something new? Is this something only to be beneficial to women and not men is this is something worthwhile? I am skeptical about it myself. Thank you for your time!

The machine they showed looks to be the same one I had in my office for some time (and got rid of). Each hair laser maker will tell you their product is best because of various reasons, but you’re good to be skeptical. As soon as the FDA clearance (showing that it is safe, not that is effective) happened for the lasers, the flood gates opened. There are very few options for women with genetic hair loss, so it’s not hard to see why someone might try to market a new hair device towards the female group. Plus, it makes for good television.

I’ve written about the various handheld and full sit-down lasers before. Bottom line — there is no solid scientific evidence that the low level light therapy (laser) will positively impact hair growth.

Tags: laser, lllt, hairloss, hair loss, doctors, tv, female, women, woman