Will Nioxin Regrow Hair Lost from Medication?

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

(female) When hair loss is caused by a medication, in my case Abilify – an antipsychotic I’m using for bipolar disorder – does medication such as nioxin work to prevent the loss or promote growth? I’ve started to notice large amounts of hair loss which began soon after starting Abilify. One of the rare side effects mentioned in Abilify literature is unusual hair thinning, apparently I’m experiencing this rare side effect.

I do not believe that Nioxin will help regrow your hair. Minoxidil might be worth a try, but be sure to read the warnings on the packaging. At this time, minoxidil is the only FDA approved medication for treating female hair loss.

Tags: nioxin, rogaine, minoxidil, women, woman, female, hairloss, hair loss

Difference Between Androgenetic Alopecia and Female Baldness?

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

What is the difference between androgenetic alopecia and female baldness???

Androgenic alopecia is due to androgenic hormones, such as dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Male baldness is predominantly caused by androgenic alopecia and drugs such as finasteride (which block DHT) can help. Drugs like finasteride do not usually help women, because the androgens in a woman are often not responsible for the hair loss. It is worth noting that we all have DHT, and it is just that some men are genetically susceptible to DHT and its affect on hair.

Androgenic alopecia has a distinctive balding pattern, as classified by the Norwood Chart:

Norwood Chart

 

Female alopecia also has a distinctive balding pattern, as classified by the Ludwig Scale:

Ludwig Scale

 

While a minority of females have balding caused by androgenic alopecia, the cause of the majority of female balding is not yet clearly understood. As such, there is no clear medical treatment for the majority of female balding. At best, doctors try to rule out other causes of balding by searching for common medical conditions that may cause balding as its symptoms. This also applies to men when they do not have male pattern baldness. These medical conditions include anemia, thyroid conditions, and many more. What is more frustrating is that even when a medical condition that may contribute to the hair loss is found and corrected hair loss does not completely reverse and patients continue to lose their hair. This suggests that female hair loss is genetic (just as male hair loss is genetic).

Tags: female, women, woman, hairloss, hair loss, dht, mpb, norwood, ludwig, alopecia

Woman Balding All Over Scalp

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

(female) hi doctor, after reading lots of hair loss forums and websites i have found this to be the most reliable and informative for hair loss.

my question today is about my weird pattered hair loss which is identical to my mothers but less advanced, basically my entire scalp is thinning evenly effecting even the hair near my ears and back where you would call the permanent zone in a male. i had had this condition since ive been 18 and now at 23 its more or less the same i think. about one year ago i did something stupid and bought generic propecia from a website, which did nothing for my hairloss after 10 months so i quit, i am now reading into rogaine which sounds promising as it can even stimulate hair growth even in other parts of the body where DHT is not even an issue, since my hair loss I’m guessing is not caused by DHT could rogaine work for me?

Rogaine (minoxidil) is worth a try, but you should get a diagnosis first to rule out any medical causes of hair loss. It is probable that you are following your mother’s pattern. If you can, bring her into a good doctors office with you when you see your physician to get a diagnosis and a treatment protocol.

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

Any Way for Women to Prevent Further Hair Loss?

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

(female) I am 27 years old and have been steadily losing my hair for 4 years. My mom is almost completly bald on the crown of her head and I really don’t want to end up like that. Is there anything I can do now to prevent any more loss. I can already see my scalp and it’s getting harder to do combovers. I’ve done several blood tests and all have come back normal. Any suggestions?

You might see an expert on hair loss (some dermatologists or hair transplant doctors might be helpful). The only FDA approved treatment available for women is topical minoxidil (Rogaine).

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

Why Does Low Estrogen Cause Hair Loss in Women?

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

If DHT causes hair loss, how come women whose estrogen levels drop lose hair? Seems contradictory.

I am not an expert in hormones, but things in medicine are not so binary. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is the cause of hair loss in men (not women) who are genetically predisposed to hair loss. You can have a high level of DHT and still have a full head of hair. Women lose hair in a different way than men. There are many causes of hair loss in women. Estrogen levels may play an important part in supporting hair and preventing hair loss in women and when women reach menopause and their estrogen levels drop, they may become victims of their genetics. It doesn’t correlate with DHT in most women.

Tags: women, woman, female, hairloss, hairloss, estrogen, dht, tesosterone, dihydrotestosterone

Woman Has a Sandwich Bag of Hair Loss Every Day

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

Ever since my second son was born I have had hair loss. I understand that that with the changing hormones that this can happen. I would have thought that it had slowed down some, but it hasn’t. I have had my thyroid checked when I went in for PPD, and was told that’s fine. I am starting to get concerned. My son is now 18 months old. Every day when I brush my hair, it’s gobs of hair. I filled a sandwich sized baggie almost to the top with hair from one day. And, on top of it, my scalp has been tingly at the crown of my head. I am attributing this to a home coloring that I did a month ago though. Any thoughts on my issue?

This unfortunately sounds more complex than I can deal with over the web. The need for a one-on-one consultation is critical. Please meet with a good dermatologist for an exam.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, childbirth, hormones, women, woman, female

In the News – 83% of Surveyed Military Women in Iraq War Have Hair Loss

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

Snippet from the article:

More than 80 percent of a sample of Air Force women deployed in Iraq and other areas around the world report suffering from persistent fatigue, fever, hair loss and difficulty concentrating, according to a University of Michigan study.

The pattern of health problems reported by 1,114 women surveyed in 2006 and 2007 is similar to many symptoms of Gulf War Syndrome, the controversial condition reported by veterans of the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

University of MichiganFull article at University of Michigan — Women and war: The toll of deployment on physical health

Being in a new environment a long way from home, missing loved ones, and certainly war itself can all be extremely stressful, so I can’t say I’m entirely shocked by the high percentages of women that have health issues (and specifically, hair loss).

Tags: military, army, air force, marines, hairloss, hair loss, health, female, women, woman, war, michigan, iraq

Female Hair Loss After Gastric Bypass

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

(female) I had gastric bypass surgery. It will be 4 years in December. I was told that the hair loss was temporary. In my case, apparently not. My hair is less than half as thick as it used to be. You can see my scalp every where. I take the vitamins including extra biotin. I lost 110 lbs. and probably saved my life. I’m even at the point where if I don’t watch myself, I can gain weight. But still, my hair is very unhealthy. Is there anything I can do? Will I eventually be bald? It is not coming back at all.

Thank you. Regards

I’m glad to hear that the surgery helped save your life! You are right in that hair loss can be temporary, especially after things such as major surgery or childbirth. The concerning aspect is that you have continued hair loss even four years after the procedure. Many underlying, reversible, and treatable medical conditions can cause hair loss in women and in your case, it may very well be dietary. Nutritional defects or poor diets are a major cause of hair loss and with gastric bypass, this is a highly probable connection with your hair loss. Best to speak with your nutritionist for an analysis of your total daily intake of foods. Other things to look for would include hypo- or hyperthyroidism, anemia, lupus, and a miniaturization study should be done to assess what pattern of hair loss you are having and any genetic contribution you are having to cause hair loss. In your case, despite taking supplemental vitamins and minerals, a malnourished state is the most likely culprit but going through everything that you have experienced, could have precipitated an underlying genetic process as well.

Tags: gastric bypass, diet, weight loss, weight, hairloss, hair loss, stress, surgery

Woman Growing Face and Neck Hair with Rogaine Use

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

Hi, I’m a 25 yr old female and have been using mens rogaine for 3 months as directed from physician. In the past month i have noticed a lot of unwanted hair on face and neck. I understand that this is a possible side effect. my question is, does it decrease and go away with time or as long as i continue using it, it will be there.
thank you

The hair growth that you mention does sound like a potential adverse effect of the medication. Stopping it should make the facial/neck hair go away, but it might take a few weeks/months to disappear. You should discuss this with your doctor, as you are already under someone’s care.

Tags: facial hair, neck hair, female, women, woman, minoxidil, rogaine, hairloss, hair loss

Accutane (Isotretinoin) and Female Hair Loss — I’d Rather Just Have Acne!

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

(female) My hair loss is due to a 5 month regimen of Isotretinoin. My last treatment was Dec. of 2006. I am still experiencing persistent hair loss. I realize the medicine has significantly reduced my sebaceous glands. Is there any possible way to enlarge, inflat, manipulate, or to boost or increase my sebaceous glands so that I may began producing sebum again? I would much rather battle acne than hair loss.

With Kind Regards

You are in a predicament that many patients run into with regards to medication usage and adverse effects. Hair loss is a known adverse effect of using Accutane (isotretinoin). Often times these effects are increased as the dosage of this medication increases and can persist even after the medication is discontinued.

I am assuming that in your battle with acne, your doctor has exhausted other treatment options prior to putting you on isotretinoin. Unfortunately, I am not aware of any medication or procedure that would allow the sebaceous glands to be manipulated in the ways that you mentioned.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, accutane, isotretinoin, female, women, woman

Yaz Birth Control Pill and Hair Loss?

/by William Rassman, M.D./3 /,

This site is a great resource! I see that you have answered questions before about Ortho Evra and hair loss, and depression and hair loss. I wanted to know if Yaz (another birth control pill, but with a lower dose of estrogen) can also cause hair loss – and depression/mood swings? My doctor already ruled out thyroid or other conditions as a possible cause. I´m trying to figure out what is causing what.

Thank you!

YazI would suspect that regardless of the dose of the oral contraceptive, if a woman has a genetic predisposition for hair loss, then the medication would serve to increase the loss. Some medications may have more of an effect than others. On the other hand, Yaz claims to help with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), thus decreasing the chance of emotional and/or physical stress which can exacerbate hair loss. As with many medications, there needs to be a balancing act with regards to intended use and benefits versus side effects. With that being said, Yaz (drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol) is known to cause scalp hair loss as a rare side effect — see Drugs.com.

Tags: yaz, yasmin, hairloss, hair loss, pmdd, bcp, birth control, pill, drospirenone, estradiol, female, women, woman

Tight Pony Tail and Female Hair Loss?

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

I am a 39 yr old female and I’ve been slowly balding for the past two years. One thing that is confusing me is that my scalp is always sensitive; and it’s only where my hair is thinning. The only way I can explain this sensitivity is that it feels like I had my hair pulled back in a pony tail all day and than took the pony tail out. Anyone who’s worn their hair in a pony tail would understand the feeling after you take out the pony tail (the scalp feels sore/sensitive from pulling back the hair). The confusing thing is that I never put my hair back; I always wear it down with nothing in it. I have no idea why it feels this way (and only where I’m having the hair loss). I’ve told this to two dermatologists and my doctor; they were just as confused as I am. I’m hoping you have heard of this before and can help me resolve it. Does this sound like it might be a circulation problem? Would a lack of circulation cause a sensitive scalp?

Thank you

Pulling your hair in a pony tail can product traction alopecia and on the way to getting the alopecia, you will have some hair damage showing. Stop the use of a pony tail completely as this can be causing your hair loss. You should also see a doctor for a full medical workup, which I advise in most women. See Female Genetic Hair Loss Is Different From Male Genetic Hair Loss for info.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, scalp, circulation, female, women, woman, pony tail

My Dermatologist Just Told Me to Use Minoxidil and Didn’t Run Any Tests for My Female Hair Loss

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

Hello – I hope I’m not being redundant with this question but I didn’t see a similar question on your site or on the many others I’ve searched (have also read lots of books). I’m 54, female and am not yet in menopause. About 4 years ago, I noticed that a relatively thick layer of my bangs would no longer grow past my eyebrows. In general, this layer of shorter hair extends to both temples and stops at the front of the ears (although it is obviously most noticeable right in front and makes styling a hassle). I have become much more careful with heat styling and have been taking supplements (Black Currant Oil, Bio Available Silica , EFA’s, Multi-Vitamins, Special Hair Formula Vitamins, Calcium, and have recently adjusted my diet to include salmon, nuts, good fats, etc — and I’ve seen some overall thickening and lengthening.

I recently went to a local dermatologist who is a specialist in hair and he diagnosed me with androgenic alopecia and prescribed rogaine for the small area at the hairline. If I recall correctly, he said I had a brief anagen phase. I show no signs of shedding or thinning and I have a very thick head of fine hairs (I know I’d be an excellent candidate for transplants should I need them!). I asked him about whether I could take birth control pills (low androgen ones) or spirodactone instead of or in addition to the Rogaine (which seems like a mess and hassle — for the rest of my life). He said no no no and wouldn’t run any tests for ferritin, hormonal issues, etc. I would think that the fact that I’m 54 and still menstruating (and have a very large uterine fibroid that’s still being fed by estrogen; I’m being watched by my ob/gyn) would suggest some hormonal atypicality for my age, but what do I know?. Although he was very nice and kind, I’m not 100% confident in his diagnosis because the hair has improved significantly since this problem began. Is it possible that I have a different problem? Could I first try to treat this issue with anti-androgen medications before I sign on for life with Rogaine?

Thank you for time and best wishes.

Your dermatologist is probably correct with his assessment. Many people will have a shorter anagen phase as they age. This means that as hair grows at about 1/2 inch per month, if your anagen phase is shorter (let’s say to the tip of your nose in the front), then you can calculate backwards the length of the anagen cycle by dividing that distance by 1/2 inch.

You should have the battery of tests run, which will rule out other causes of changes in the anagen cycle other than genetic causes. These blood tests include:

  • 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

As you are using a variety of other substances, I can not tell you what has worked, but clearly it sounds like something is working to increase that cycle time. Go back to your dermatologist and be more forceful with getting him/her involved in the diagnosis. For more information, please see Female Genetic Hair Loss Is Different From Male Genetic Hair Loss.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, female, women, woman, minoxidil, rogaine, testing, blood work

Bald Spots on the Sides of My Head Hurting My Self Esteem!

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

I am a 22 year old female that since i was 14 years old i have been having a bald spot on the side of my head, it use to be the size of a quarter and as time has gone by it has grown bigger, i have also started balding from the other side as well. i am very scared of having alocepia. i have not tried any medication like rogaine for women or have not gone to a dermatologist because i am embarrased of this problem because i am soo young to be worrying about balding. this balding issue has affected my self esteem. i just want to receive some sort of answer before facing a dermatologist. i sent some pics of my problem you can use them for your site just please make sure my face is blocked and i remain anonymous. thank you for your time

First off, thank you for give us permission to use your photographs. I like being able to offer visitors to this site a chance to see precisely what they’re reading about.

It appears that you have a condition called triangular alopecia. This is a genetic condition which can be treated with hair transplantation very successfully. There is no need to suffer as you are. I would be happy to see you for a consultation.

 

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, triangular alopecia, alopecia, temples, photo

Severe Female Hair Loss Specialist in Los Angeles?

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

Please-I would like a recommendation for a dr. that can do a scalp biopsy and who also takes an interest in severe female hair loss? Thanks so much.

Dr. Richard Strick at UCLA specializes in this and would, of course, do a biopsy and read the pathology himself if he felt the indication to do so. His contact info can be found at the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Tags: hair loss, hairloss, los angeles, ucla, richard strick, strick