Woman with Corner Balding — Two Weeks After Hair Transplant (with Photos)

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

This patient has 1235 grafts placed into the corners of her hairline. The After photo was taken when she was 2 weeks post surgery. She showed many people and most people did not believe she had a transplant. None of the hairs have fallen out yet, although I would expect that the shedding of the transplanted hair would occur at between 2-3 weeks.

One of the most frequent requests we get are about how you can expect to look after a hair transplant, and many people imagine a deformed, scabby area. But our post surgical patients usually have no scabbing if they wash their hair diligently as we’ve defined it.

I’m sorry about the slightly different angles on the before and after photos. I messed up when taking the after photo so this is the best I’ve got until I see this patient again… but this still gives a good idea of what one can expect just a couple weeks after surgery. Click the photos below to enlarge.

Before on the left; After 1235 grafts on the right:

 

Tags: hair transplant, hairloss, hair loss, women, woman, female, photos

I Cut Off My Dreadlocks After Seeing a Bald Spot

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

I’m a black female and two years ago I wrote to you guys about dreadlocs and hair loss. I cut them off and kept my hair almost to the bone most of 2007. Last year, after growing my hair back for a few months I cut them off after experiencing very localized alopecia at the back of my head along my ears (about an inch inside my hairline). I thought that maybe it was reaction to the hair dyes I used so I cut it all off and started over and was all growing in nicely. Well now a year later I’m having the alopecia problem again.

I’d been growing my hair since I trimmed it in June. But when it started getting cold here it started to get the itchies behind my ears, something I remembered from the previous time I lost my hair and whenever I’d wash it, it would have lots of hair coming out. I thought maybe it was because I did my hair in styles that I kept for a week (and therefore losing on in day a weeks work of shed hair)but deep down I knew it was much more then that.

So I looked in the mirror yesterday and saw the bald patch, much larger then what I had last year. I just don’t understand what’s going on. If you drew a line from ear to ear, my hair is much denser from the front to that line, I get thick braids when I style that part of my head. At the back it’s much finer. I’m really at a loss as to what could be going on.

I don’t use relaxers, artificial hair dyes (only pure henna), I don’t use heat to straighten my hair and I’m as gentle as possible when combing my hair. Can you shed (no pun) some light?

What I tell black women is that anything they do to their hair can cause hair loss if it is done often enough. It’s a general statement, but I see it almost every day. Hair straightening with relaxers does it, pigtails do it, dreads do it. Perhaps you are best served with a good afro, but if you’ve already lost a considerable amount of hair, that might not be an answer. Wigs work, but the attachment mechanisms can cause hair loss. It’s a huge catch 22. I really can’t give you any kind of solution without at least seeing what the problem is for myself.

If you’d like to visit my office for a consultation, I may be able to come up with something. I might suggest hair transplants (I’d need to see you first), but then again, that is an expensive solution and it still may not help 100%. Just don’t let any doctor recommend a hair transplant unless he/she is honest and straightforward with you. Good luck.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, african american, african, dreadlocks, dreads, traction

Estradiol and Hair Loss

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

I can find no information about hair recovery after stopping use of divigel(esrodiol) Have you found any information on time frames or how to facilitate recovery? Thank you.

The use of minoxidil may help. I do not have much information on it from personal experience, but you can read the following links to hopefully gain a better insight into the problems with estradiol use.

Tags: estradiol, divigel, hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss

Female Hair Loss from Birth Control — Should I Switch Pills?

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

I have been on birth control pills (Orthotricyclen Low, Loestrin FE, and now Yaz) since 2004. I’ve noticed what seems to be androgenetic alopecia on my scalp since about 2005. Since starting on Yaz a year ago, it has increased and become VERY noticable. Would it be safe to get off birth control pills altogher or would that make my thinning worse? Should I try a different pill? I started taking BC because I had severe menstrual cramps to the point of fainting and am very scared to discontinue the pill.

This is a medical issue which needs to be discussed with your doctor. I am not your doctor and can not make recommendations on medication options for you. You’ve got a prescribing physician — talk with him/her, please.

Tags: bcp, birth control, female hair loss, hairloss, hair loss

My 9 Year Old Daughter’s Hair Isn’t Growing and Falls Out!

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

My daughter is nine years old and is of the african american origin. Her hair is not growing and is falling out at the nap and temples. Yes I have gone to a doctor and still nothing works. I relax her hair about every six months with a PCJ just for me kids relaxer. Please help me I am at my wits end! What do I need to do to fix her problem?

It is highly probable that you are doing something (without realizing it) to cause hair loss, unless your daughter has some genetic disease. A good doctor should be able to tell with an examination. Make an appointment with a good dermatologist.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, child

Woman Lost 50% of Her Hair in Under a Month!

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

I have lost a good 50% of my hair in the past 3 weeks. I have been weaned off Metoprolol recently and stopped Pravastatin on Christmas Day in an effort to see which, if either, are causing the massive loss. How long might it take for the Pravastatin to clear my system and if Pravastatin is the culprit, how long before my hair stops falling out. I am a 60 year old female who previous to this had a very good head of hair. I had a triple bypass in September and e-coli sepsis a few weeks later. I was hospitalized for 5 days of intravenous Avelox but not very sick with the sepsis so I’m assuming it was caught early. If my hair loss was caused by the sepsis would it fall out in such large amounts and so quickly. Thank you!

I highly doubt any drug is the culprit of your hair loss, but to lose 50% of your hair in only one month is definitely not normal. There may be medical issues that you are not aware of. You need to see your physician and discuss your issues with him/her. It seems you have gone through some serious illness and surgeries in recent months. Acute telogen effluviums can cause this problem, but the real question is what caused that? I would strongly urge you to be followed by your physician regarding your medication regimen, as I trust your physician is aware of you stopping or weaning off certain medications.

Tags: female hair loss, hairloss, hair loss, metoprolol, pravastatin, avelox

Scared About Possible Extra Unwanted Hair Growth from Women’s Rogaine

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

Dear Drs.

I am 55 and have been on Womens Rogaine for 5 weeks but the possible side effects have freaked me out! The crown and sides of my head are thinning. My doctor has prescribed Rogaine for Women. As of yet, I have not seen any side effects. Please tell me how I should be handling the application of the solution and all possible ways that the extra unwanted hair growth can occur. I wash my hands immediately after each application. If any drips on my face I wash. Once the solution has dried and I touch my hair do I need to wash my hands again? My hair seems to get so wet during applications and takes so long to dry. Am I applying the solution wrong? Also, after I wash my hair and it is still wet can I use styling gell, dry my hair, and then use the solution? Do I need to wash my hair before each application(morning and night)? I really want this medication to work because it is so embarrassing to have such thin hair. Thanks for your time and help.

Women's RogaineThere are some people who don’t bother to read instructions/labels on over the counter medication, and then there are others that read everything and every warning label. It seems you are the latter. Just go to your medicine cabinet and read all the side effects associated with aspirin, etc. If you use the medication as directed, you should have no problem. Also keep in mind that while Rogaine is a good medication and it works, it does not grow so much hair where you have to worry about growth on your palms just from touching it, though the absorption can cause hair growth elsewhere. Extra unwanted hair in women is a side effect of Rogaine, but as long as you use it as directed, you should be fine. If you let the Rogaine dry, applying product to your hair shouldn’t be a problem.

Perhaps if you are absorbing the drug and it is causing hair to grow where you do not want it, then you may have to stop the medication. Check with your doctor if that is the case.

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

In the News – More Women than Men Suffering Hair Loss in Taiwan?

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

Snippet from the article:

Job loss stress and anxiety seem to be causing an increasing number of people in Taiwan to lose their hair, with a higher incidence of the condition occurring among females, medical doctors in northern Taiwan said Wednesday.

Li Cheng-hung, a dermatologist at the Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital in Taipei, told reporters that among his patients, more women than men are suffering from alopecia areata, a skin disorder that causes the hair to fall out in round or oval patches.

Read the full article at Taiwan News.

Stress can trigger hair loss… that has been known. Alleviate the stress and you might see your hair regrow, particularly in women where MPB isn’t a factor. For men, stress may just trigger the genetic hair loss you would’ve experienced down the line anyway. The article doesn’t get into any actual studies though, and just says that some doctors say female hair loss rates are on the rise. I’d like to see more proof, but the article is what it is.

Tags: women, men, hairloss, hair loss, taiwan, stress

Genetic Hair Loss in Teen Daughter or Hair Loss from Stress?

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

Dear Doctor, I’m desperate, please answer. What are the chances that my 17 yr. old female has androgenetic alopecia. I’m 42 and was told 10 years ago that I had genetic alopecia and I believe that my hair is thicker now then my daughters. She used to have very thick hair and now it is thinning all over, but her corners of her forehead and sides are the worst. Her forehead seems to have receded. She parts her hair on the side and I have noticed this getting wider. She was sick with viral infections a lot last school year and suffered severe bullying last school year. She is taking BCP. All blood work was normal except for ferritin serum of 19. One doctor said TE due to stress and give it a year and another said the sides were to thin and possibly early androgenetic. I have had several people say “wait and see”, but that is so difficult. She has lost about 40-50% volume in 10 months. She hair is dull and lifeless and I’m not sure if I see breakage or new growth. Thanks for your reply.

The causes of hair loss in young women include birth control pills, stress, genetic hair loss. This is something that needs to be managed by a doctor, not via the Internet without a medical history or examination. Find a caring, competent dermatologist and get her evaluated for the various causes of hair loss in young women.

Tags: bcp, birth control pills, birth control, stress, female hair loss, hair loss, hairloss

Woman with Premature Menopause Stopped Growing Leg Hair Weeks Ago

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

i have been diagnosed with premature menopause but it is so insignificant in chemical changes that it isn’t serious. i am a smoker and have been diagnosed with rapid cycle bipolarism as well…..my leg hair hasn’t grown in three weeks and i am worried it may be due to some other problem. i have always been a yeti when it comes to leg hair. when i shave i get five o’clock shadow within hours afterwards….. any suggestions?

Sorry, I don’t really have suggestions, as you are outside my field of expertise. You might want to see if your doctor has any insight. I wrote briefly about this type of issue before, but there’s not much else I can offer.

Tags: leg hair, female hair loss, hair loss, hairloss, menopause

Would Minoxidil Help If I’m Supplementing Many Hormones?

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

Dear Drs., thank you for all the info on this site. I am a 59 y/o female. During menopause, I experienced quite a bit of generalized hair thinning which concerned me. However, it tapered off, and I’ve lived with it. However, six months ago, my drs. found a pituitary adenoma which had shut down many hormones. I am now supplementing thyroid, prednisone (5mg/day), desmopressin, and, starting 6 weeks ago, hgh (nordutropin). I am not taking any other meds. My hair is again thinning pretty dramatically. I realize I need these supplements to maintain my endocrine system. However, my question is: do you think minoxidil might be helpful in my situation?

Thanks for your opinion.

Minoxidil may help, as it works independent of hormone supplements. It is available over the counter for women, so be sure to read the directions on the packaging for proper dosing.

Tags: minoxidil, rogaine, women, female, hairloss, hair loss, supplement, hormone

Is My Vegetarian Diet Causing Female Hair Loss?

/by William Rassman, M.D./2 /

(female) I am 23 years old and a vegetarian and recently i have noticed my hair has been getting much thinner, everytime i run my fingers through my hair, several strands fall out and it has been feeling much thinner since it used to be pretty thick. I have been growing my hair out for Lock of Love the past two years, I am 5’8″ and my hair length rests at my butt so it i very long. Could the thinness be because of my vegetarian diet, could it be from the length and how long i’ve been growing it out, or could i be balding already? Please let me know. Thanks.

If you are losing hair, the other things that you mentioned probably has nothing to do with it, providing you are getting the full vitamins you need and are not anemic. We often try to connect two facts or events that are not related, because our intelligent nature requires close examination of our health and our lives. So no, you being vegetarian or growing your hair long have nothing to do with losing hair.

Tags: female hair loss, hair loss, hairloss, vegetarian

Why Would My Hair Not Grow Longer than 5 Inches?

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

(female) I am an east indian, 22 years of age and my hair has not grown from childhood. The length vary from 2-5 inches long,very thin, dry and lifeless. Doctors don’t have any idea about my problem. Can you help me by suggesting what steps can i take and what could the cause and Is there any possibility that my hair can ever grow?

The length of your hair is genetically and age determined. It is unusual for a young woman to have limited growth length, but it does happen. There’s nothing you can do for it.

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

In the News – Spironolactone Clinical Trial in Australia for Treating Female Hair Loss

/by William Rassman, M.D./2 /,

Snippet from the article:


Around 80 women suffering hair loss are being recruited to trial the drug Spironolactone. While there is some evidence the drug is effective in arresting the progress of female baldness, the trial will be the first in the world to provide medical proof of its efficacy. Half of the women will take a placebo; the rest will take the drug.

Read the full text — Drug trial to end bad hair days for bald women

In theory, Spironolactone is anti-androgenic and some doctors have been using it for years. Thus, if hair loss is from androgenic causes (such as male pattern baldness) the belief is that it may help… but women generally do not have androgenic alopecia (men do). The results from what has been reported so far in past literature has been “iffy”, and not enough to drive me to recommend this drug or others like it.

We’ll see what the test concludes.

Tags: spironolactone, hairloss, hair loss, female hai rloss, alopecia, female, women, woman

I Used Oxidized Vitamin C on My Forehead, Green Tea on My Scalp — Now I’m Losing Hair

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

(female) Hi About 4 weeks ago used oxodized vit c serum on my forehead. I see major wrinkles just from one application. I started reading about damage to skin cells due to free radicals which I understand travels quickly which lead me to worry about my already thin hair. I read online that green tea mixed with isopropyl alcohol will neutralize free radicals so i mixed it up and applied it so scalp using spray bottle. About two weeks later my hair is falling out big time and it ia getting me really down. it seems to have happened suddenly not gradually. what could have caused this and do you think it will be permanent?? Thanks for your time

I do not know if and what damage could have been caused by your treatments. I can not tell if this was just a possible coincidence or not. It’s just too vague to possibly know without an examination. The causes for female hair loss are numerous, and you can find a good starting point here.

Tags: green tea, vitamin c, hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss, women, woman