Medrol (Methylprednisolone) for Migraines and Female Hair Loss

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

I was on Methyl Predisolone for 20 months for Complicated Migrains. 8mg for 5 months and weaned off for many months slowly. Since I went off my hair is falling out and thinning. It did not happen when I was on them only when I went off. Does this end after a while? Is it permanent? My parents did not have hair loss. I am 44 years old. Female.

While there are many drugs that can cause hair thinning and hair loss generally for women hair loss is due to other medical causes, such as thyroid conditions for example. Genetics (which you have no control over) also play a key part. As such, your hair loss may seem related, but I cannot say if it was the medication. Even if it was the cause, there is no way to know if your hair will return back to its original state. Only time can tell… (about one year).

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, female, women, woman, medrol, methylprednisolone, migraine

Woman Getting Iron Injections and Experiencing Hair Loss

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

I’m female, young and otherwise healthy. All the women and men in my family have thick healthy hair. I recently found out I have very low iron, iron tablets didn’t work, now my doctor has switched me to iron injections. Several doctors have explained that my severely thinning hair is due to my low iron, and that once it is corrected my hair should come back. My hair specialist also has me using Minoxidil to speed up my hair regrowth. I’ve been using Minoxidil for almost four months, and I’ve been getting iron shots for a couple months. My hair has recently started to fall out like crazy. I never expected my problem to get worse. Has anyone had a similar experience and can offer some answers/support? Thanks!

I do not have the value of seeing your complete laboratory work-up or knowing what the doctors who are treating you feel is going on. They should be your source.

With regard to low iron levels as a cause for hair thinning, there is no assurance that correcting it will reverse the problem. You have to wait it out. Minoxidil works in some people, not all — so again, i do not know the goals that your doctors are trying to achieve.

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

Seasonique and Female Hair Loss

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

Up until last week i was on inderal (for about two months) and went off of it becuase I noticed my hair starting to fall out recently. I also started taking seasonique (birth control) a month ago. Assuming it was the inderal, will my hair grow back? Im also still losing some hair and wonder if it was in fact the seasonique causing it. How long should i wait and see if it was the inderal. If it was the seasonique will it grow back?

SeasoniqueYour birth control Seasonique (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) does have hair loss listed as a side effect — though it also has increased hair growth as a side effect (see Drugs.com). I really couldn’t say for sure if your hair loss was caused by the your birth control or the hypertension medication Inderal (propranolol), though hair loss is a side effect of many beta blockers (see WebMD). I wouldn’t know if your hair will grow back to its normal state, and though I realize that this answer may sound frustrating, regrowth is not a guarantee for each person. Each person reacts slightly different to each medication.

You need to discuss these issues with the doctors who prescribed these medications to you, and you should not stop or start any medication without discussing it with your physician.

Tags: bcp, seasonique, estradiol, hairloss, hair loss, seasonale, inderal, propranolol, hypertension

Lost My Temple Hair 35 Years Ago and I Want to Grow it Back

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

(female) i lost my temple hair when i was about 16. my mother said it was from using sponge hair curlers. i am 51 now i’ve tried everything. it starts to grow then comes back out. no one else in my family has this problem.what can i do help?

I’ve not heard of a complete loss of temple hair, following by regrowing and falling out over and over for decades like you’re describing, so I wouldn’t know what non-surgical solution to provide. On the surgery side of things, we have transplanted hair for women with temple hair loss. I would need to see photos of you before rendering an opinion though, because without seeing what you’re describing I really don’t know if you are a good candidate.

Tags: temple, hairloss, hair loss, female, women, woman

My Bulimia Is Gone, How Can I Get My Hair to Grow Back?

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

(female)
I used to have very thick hair, but I suffered bulimia which caused my hair to thin over the years. Both my parents have full hair. I have been cured now and back to a regular healthy
diet. I was wondering is it possible to get my hair back to the way it used to be?

When one loses hair from dietary deficiencies, it could trigger some element of the hair cycle such that the hair evolves into an ‘older’ type of hair. Genetic factors can also be triggered and these may not be reversible. You should really see a professional who can analyze your hair and look to other causes of hair loss. Just because you lost your hair from bulimia, does not mean that this was the only cause. Get a thorough check up by a good doctor.

Tags: bulimia, hairloss, hair loss

In the News — Supermodel Naomi Campbell Is Losing Hair?

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

From the article —

Naomi CampbellExpert Leonora Doclis believes Naomi may be suffering from hair loss brought on by years of using weaves to make her locks appear straight.

She said: “There is a possibility that Ms Campbell could be experiencing a condition called traction alopecia but, if so, it is a very mild case.

Full text — Is supermodel Naomi Campbell suffering from hair loss?

Upon seeing the photo on that page (before reading the full article text), I immediately thought about traction alopecia. If this is the correct diagnosis, then there will probably be other areas of her head that are impacted. Hair transplants work nicely for this condition and may be the only effective treatment available.

(Photo: WENN)

Tags: supermodel, model, naomi campbell, naomi, hairloss, hair loss, traction alopecia, alopecia, celebrity

HairDX for Women

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

From the press release —


HairDX, LLC (www.hairdx.com) pioneers of consumer-friendly genetic tests for hair loss, today introduced the first meaningful test using genetic markers strongly associated with Female Hair Loss (Female Androgenetic Alopecia). The easy to understand test provides an accurate and understandable genetic analysis of a woman’s likelihood of developing this common type of hair loss.

The HairDX test for Female Hair Loss provides women with a score, called the CAG repeat score. A smaller CAG repeat score is associated with a higher risk for significant hair loss (Ludwig grade II or III hair loss) while a larger repeat score is associated with a lower risk for hair loss. To be tested, a woman swabs her mouth (inside cheek) for several seconds and returns the swab to the HairDX lab. The results are delivered confidentially and anonymously via a secure and private Web site.

HairDXFull article — Revolutionary Genetic Test For Women’s Hair Loss Launched

Like the HairDX test for men that was announced earlier this year, this is an exciting finding, but it may be difficult to understand how to use it since there is not a one-to-one ratio between the presence of the gene (the score) and the connection to female hair loss. As we all know (or hopefully know, since I’ve written about it many times before), the hair loss evaluation for women requires many tests, because there are many potential causes of hair loss in women that are not genetic. I certainly will evaluate the value of this test in the diagnosis of female hair loss.

Tags: hairdx, hair dx, hairloss, hair loss, female, women, woman, genetic, gene, test

Levothyroxine, Hypothyroidism, and Female Hair Loss

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

(female) I’ve been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, and have been taking Levothyroxin 75 mcg for about two years now. I just recently had lab work done, which indicated that my thyroid levels are low again, which means I will have to increase the amount of Levothyroxin I take daily. I have about 30 ongoing medical conditions, and I do take many medications along with this one. I asked my pharmacist about hair loss (as mine has been thinning and coming out for over a year now, but it’s really bad now though), which of my meds could be causing it, and what vitamin(s) I could take to combat it. He told me that my hypothyroidism was most likely the cause of my hair loss, and suggested I take 200 mg of selenium everyday to stop the problem. Is he correct? What kind of doctor would I need to see for this problem? What more can I do? Help me, PLEASE!! There is no pattern baldness in my family. I used to have a nice long full head of hair and now it’s so thin. I cry everytime I wash my hair because so much comes out at once. This problem is making my depression worse as well. Where can I go and what can I do? I’m on disability so I do not have a lot of funds to combat this problem so yet another issue with which to deal. HELP!!!!!
Thank you so much for your help!

Hypothyroidism is a cause of hair loss and thinning. First you must get your thyroid problem regulated. Best to see a good medical doctor who feels that this problem falls without his/her expertise, possibly working with a dermatologist to follow your hair loss. An endocrinologist may be a good choice for a specialty. You also asked about taking selenium — it should not be harmful and actually may help.

Tags: hypothyroidism, thyroid, hairloss, hair loss, female, woman, women, levothyroxin

What Caused Sudden Female Hair Loss — Chemical Relaxer or Psoriasis?

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

A client I have serviced for almost one year accuses me of causing her hair to fall out after a relaxer I gave her. She called me two days after the relaxer saying her hair was shedding. I am very thorough with my rinsing of chemicals and the shampoos that follow. She said her hair was coming out in strands and that her scalp itched a little. I suggested she see a dermatologist. Her dermatologist told her that there was nothing showing in her bloodwork that would cause her hair to fall out. He prescribed her Luxiq which as you know is for psoriasis of the skin and scalp. Would’nt that not mean that she had a skin condition which caused her hair to fall out and not the relaxer?

It sounds like you may be looking for potential legal advice. I do not know your client or the entire circumstance involving her hair loss. This sounds like an acute episode of hair loss happened within a couple of days of the treatment you gave her. There seems to be a direct link between the use of chemicals and the hair loss, based on what you’re telling me. As I’ve written before, psoriasis will not cause hair loss unless you pick at it enough to develop traction alopecia. This does not seem to be a traction alopecia case, though.

There are many possible reasons for female hair loss, ranging from medical illness to genetics to hormonal to stress. Moreover, even with modern advancement in medical technology, the exact cause and/or cure for female hair loss is still elusive. Your client’s hair loss may have been related to the chemical stress or it may just also be coincidental. I really cannot say.

Tags: hair loss, hairloss, female, women, woman, chemical, psoriasis

Female Hair Loss Continuing After Serious Surgery a Year Ago — My Doctor Dismissed My Concerns

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

(female)
Hello,

I’m having a hard time with hair loss since a serious surgery in May of 2007 (it lasted approximately 6 hours). It is now April of 2008 and I’ve noticed a steady and very noticeable loss in hair (I can see my scalp from the back- very little coverage of hair).

I have no known genetic hair loss in my family (that I’m aware of) my grandparents and parents have full, very thick, heads of hair and I had a full head of healthy hair prior to my surgery. My Dr. dismissed my concerns as attached to the surgery in May, however, I have not seen any return of hair since then, but rather a continuing loss.

When should I expect the hair to regrow? Is it unusual for hair loss to continue 10 months after surgery (note: the loss didn’t start until a few months after surgery and it was dramatic loss all of a sudden rather than slow shedding). Sometimes I find that my scalp hurts- it’s a hard feeling to explain. It is not severe pain, but rather a dull sort of sensation all over my scalp. I’m very concerned and have tried one treatment (oil and shampoo system -the oil treatment was twice a week for three months-that was supposed to stimulate growth). It did not seem to help at all.

What do you recommend I do? Is this normal or the sign of something irreversible? Thank you for your help. I do hope you can answer my question. I’m desperate to find some solution.

Hair loss after a surgery or from a severe stress is called telogen effluvium. If it lasts less than a year as it normally does, it will reverse after the stress abates. Some people go on to a chronic telogen effluvium. Both forms may be treated with minoxidil while you are waiting for it to reverse. More information about telogen effluvium can be found at eMedicine.

Tags: telogen effluvium, hairloss, hair loss, chronic telogen effluvium, stress, surgery

Chemo After Breast Cancer 2 Years Ago — Hair Still Hasn’t Come Back!

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

I had breast cancer and my last chemo treatment was in July of 2006. I finished radiation in October 2006. It has been almost two years and my very thick curly hair has not come back. I have a few sparse hairs all over my head, but they are very sparse. I take tamoxifen daily. Will my hair come back and what can I do to help it. I have used Nioxin for two years and just recently started uses minoxidil. Are there vitamins to help? Just what can I do?

I do not know how to help you. My experience is not in the area of chemotherapeutic drugs. Your best information will probably come from the doctors who are managing your chemo. They see many people with hair loss and can probably give you the answers you are looking for. I wish I could offer more, but this is beyond my specialty.

Tags: chemotherapy, chemo, hairloss, hair loss, cancer

Short Hair Syndrome?

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

I’m writing on behalf of my mother in law, a 59 year old african american woman. Her hair never seems to grow and she hasn’t gotten a haircut in a long, long while. Can I get your thoughts on “Short Hair Syndrome”? This sounds like what my she is dealing with, but I can’t find any further info on it. Is it even real? The site is https://www.lisaakbari.com/SHS.html

From a medical point of view, or as a physician involved in hair loss for over 15 years, I do not recall ever hearing or reading about “Short Hair Syndrome”… but I can logically give you an explanation for it, assuming the the examination of the hair and scalp is normal and there are no medical problems lingering behind the scene.

First, I will assume that she has no miniaturization going on throughout the scalp. If she does, then short hairs will come about when the hair miniaturizes so that a diagnosis needs to be established. With respect to your mother-in-law whose hair is not growing much, she may have a very short anagen phase (growth phase) of the hair cycle. A short growth phase could produce healthy, but short hairs. Of course, she should see a dermatologist or her primary care physician to see if there are medical issues that are causing such problems.

Tags: short hair syndrome, short hair, anagen, hairloss, hair loss

Did the Laser Comb Damage My Hair?

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

Is it possible for a laser comb to do damage to hair or scalp? I’m female – senior citizen. I’ve been using laser comb for a couple months and my hair seems alot thinner, plus it goes in all different directions. I can’t seem to fix it anymore. I am not trying to put blame – a person with hair loss will try anything. I’m just asking for your opinion. If the comb has done damage, it is my own fault. Please answer. Could the comb be too warm for some people.

I have not heard any reports that parallel yours. I personally do not feel that the LaserComb (or similar) does much more than line the pockets of the company’s owners.

Tags: laser, lasercomb, hairloss, hair loss, damage, scalp

Microscopic Exam of My Hair Showed Lack of Nutrients?

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

(female) Dear Dr Rassman,
I saw a trichologist who examined my hair with a microscope and told me I am not getting nutrients to the follicles and there was some minaturization. I was told this could be corrected with minoxidil and oral supplements. I would be grateful for your opinion on whether it’s possible to make this diagnosis with this kind of examination?
With Thanks

I do not believe that you can determine nutrients by looking at the hair under the microscope, but you can see miniaturization that way, particularly if the exam is done on your scalp (as opposed to examining the lost hairs under a microscope) and you map it out by area. This will give you a sense of what type of pattern balding you may develop, assuming that you are balding.

If you are not getting proper nutrients in your diet, certain supplements can be helpful (depending on what you’re lacking), and minoxidil is the only FDA approved medication for treating female hair loss. I’m just not sure what your trichologist was looking at to determine a lack of nutrition based on your follicles under a microscope.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, nutrients, minoxidil, female, women, woman, trichologist

Woman Experiencing Significant Hair Loss In Transplant Area 10 Years After Surgery

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

I’m a female who had a mini graft (hair transplant) 10 years ago. Over this past year I have noticed significant hair loss in the area where the transplanted hair is. When I say significant, I mean the hair on my head is now see through! Why is my transplanted hair falling out? Is there a way to tell which hair is the transplanted hair? I read somewhere that hair transplants in women aren’t as successful as they are in men, because as women age we tend to lose density to our hair. Because of that, all the hair on our head appears to thin, and that includes transplanted hair. Any truth to this?

Women with genetic hair loss will often find progression into the back and sides (called donor area in men) as they age. What you are probably describing is that you are losing this hair and the transplanted hair (which was moved from that area) has some of that hair in there… so what you are probably seeing in the previously transplanted area is the same thing that is happening on the back and sides of your head as well. If your doctor examines the back and sides of your head, he/she will probably see miniaturization that reflects what you are witnessing in the previously transplanted area.

You’ll note that I’m using the word “probably” a lot in my answer, and that is simply because I don’t have enough information to provide a response of real substance. Photos and an examination would help tremendously.

Tags: genetic, hairloss, hair loss, women, woman, female, hairtransplant, hair transplant