I Tried Rogaine for the Bald Spots I Saw From Extensions, Then Lost More Hair!

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

I’m a 39 year old woman who started using Rogaine because I had a few bald spots from using hair extensions. I used it for about a week and have been shedding for the last six months. It’s pretty much stopped, but I’ve lost between sixty to seventy percent of my hair.

Will I regrow any of it back? I’m MAYBE having some baby hairs returning up front but I’m not seeing that anywhere else. Is it possible that it wasn’t growing back because it was in shed mode and now that that has stopped maybe there’s hope for regrowth? Thank you for your input!

I’m not sure what you’ve experienced with just a short history. Rogaine is used to grow hair. Some patients have reported initial hair loss in the first month, but those usually grow back within a few months. You can give it about a year to see if the hairs will grow back.

You must also consider there might be other unrelated causes of hair loss that are coinciding with the Rogaine use. Have you seen a doctor about this loss?

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

I Had 2 Heart Attacks and a Mild Stroke — Is My Female Hair Loss from the Medication?

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

I am a 45yr old diabetic woman who suffered from 2 heart attacks and a mild stroke 6 months ago. I am on all sorts of medications such as Insulin, Glimeperide, Clopidogrel, Bisoprolol, Atorvastatin, Aspirin, Ramipril, Gluchophage/Metformin, and Amytriptylin. I have recovered well despite the period of ill health and am now back at work full time and looking after a young family and grandchildren.

This being said I have gone from having a head of wild curly hair to having nearly straight, very thin hair that is showing my scalp in places. Please help me understand if this will recover or is it a reaction to medications???

I am glad to hear you have recovered. While hair loss may not be life threatening like a heart attack or a stroke, it is a great concern for many patients with serious medical illness who need to be on many medications. Hair loss from medical stress may be temporary and you should generally see some regrowth in about a year. However, many patients may not see full regrowth.

In my experience it is generally not the medications that cause the hair loss, but the stress from the illness. With that said, the atorvastatin (also known as Lipitor) and amitriptyline both lists hair loss as a rare side effect, though I must reiterate that the side effect risk is rare.

There may be non-prescription solutions such as topical Rogaine, but speak with your doctor and get a good diagnosis before you start a treatment regimen for hair loss.

Tags: female hair loss, hairloss, hair loss, heart attack, stroke

I Had a High Fever For a Month, Then Started Losing My Hair a Few Months Later

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

Between 29/12/12 to 13/01/13, I experienced high fevers ranging around 105f/40degC.

During this period I consumed large amounts of ibuprofen and panadol(paracetamol) to bring down the temperature. On average, it was 4000mg of paracetamol and 4000mg of ibuprofen.

It was only about 2 weeks ago that I have suffered severe hair loss. Hair came out in the bunches whenever I combed my hair, and it would easily clog up the drain in the shower. What used to be one week’s worth of hair loss was now one day’s worth of hair loss. My hair is thinning and parts of my scalp are visible.

I have tried changing shampoos and eating chinese medicine. There are visible effects on the appearance of my hair (darker, shinier, less frizzy) but the hair loss still continues. I am a 22 year old female. Should I consult a doctor? Or should I wait it out?

Severe illness with fever as you described is known to cause hair loss, more so in women than men, though both sexes can be impacted. You should always see a doctor about your hair loss, particularly in your case because it is ongoing. If your hair will return, you should see it within a year of the illness. It could be permanent.

Tags: illness, fever, hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss

I Stopped Taking Synthroid 2.5 Years Ago and I’m Still Having Female Hair Loss!

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

About 3 years ago (current age 39, female), I began having menstrual irregularities (excessive bleeding). Tests didn’t show any distinct hormonal/structural reasons, but I was under extreme stress. One doctor suggested I try Synthroid to decrease my TSH (it was normal – 3.6 – but I didn’t know better). Within 2 months of being on 50mcg of Synthroid, I began losing MASSIVE amounts of hair on my head (and most of my body). I’d never had hair loss before – in fact, I had a LOT of hair.

I immediately informed my doctor of this but she said my body would adjust. After 6 months of continued hair loss (and no improvement with my health otherwise), I stopped taking Synthroid. That was in October 2010. But my hair loss has NEVER stopped since and when I once had so much hair, I now have very thin, brittle hair that falls out by the handful daily. The loss looks diffuse, but the most visible parts are my sides and the nape of my neck. I have been to numerous endocrinologist/dermatologists/hair specialists and no one knows why this is continuing. I am not on any medications, and all my hormones look fine. My menstruation has also gone back to normal – so I don’t understand? I’d appreciate any input!

My hair is less than 50% of its original thickness and the scalp can easily be seen through the front and sides of my hair under regular light. I cannot go out without using Toppik, but it can easily be seen as there is very little hair to hide the fact that I’m wearing a cover-up. My hair texture has also changed DRASTICALLY to dry, brittle, and cobweb thin in areas.

Click the photos to enlarge:

 

It is not unusual that when a thyroid condition is fixed and properly regulated, that the hair does not return to it per-disease state. I wish I had good news to tell you, but honestly, only time will tell if your hair will regrow. As to your continued loss, I don’t have a clue. With female hair loss, there are so many possible causes, that suggesting what it could be via the web with no examination would be a complete guessing game.

I realize you’ve been to numerous doctors, but I’m not sure what help I could offer at this point. There is a list of common blood tests here that could possibly lead to a reason for your loss. But TAKE CAUTION: these tests may point to a possible source but may NOT provide a treatment or a cure. You need to speak to a doctor and come up with a Master Plan to treat the hair loss. Lab tests do not mean anything if you cannot do anything about the results.

Tags: female hair loss, hair loss, hairloss

I’m 13 and I Am Losing Around 500 Hairs a Day!

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

(female)
Hello Doctor,
I’m 13 years old and I am loosing so much hair. It’s about 500+ hairs per day. I don’t really know what to do, my mom is taking me to a blood check tomorrow. I used heat stylers almost every day but now I’ve stop that. I can’t even run my fingers through it because It falls out. I’m not kidding and I’m getting so stress because of that. Is it possible to lose all my hair ? What can I do ? Please help !!

Anything is possible, but highly improbably that you will lose all your hair (unless you have alopecia universalis or totalis, which is rare). Sometimes hairs go into a cycle of excessive shedding and falling out. This is called telogen effluvium. The good news is if this is the diagnosis, it will reverse and your hairs will likely grow back. But you would need to be evaluated by a doctor to get a diagnosis. Perhaps you’ve just damaged your hair from the heat styling, but it would have to be some excessive damage to see 500 hairs falling out per day.

I would measure the hair bulk you have in different parts of your head and then wait out a 4 month period before remeasuring the hair bulk. That will tell us if you are really losing hair, as this test is highly accurate when comparing two sets of results over time.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, teenager, female hair loss

I’ve Been Using Minoxidil for My Female Hair Loss, But I’m Getting Unwanted Growth At My Sideburns

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

Hi,
I am a 24 yrs old and female. I have less hair at my hairline and it looks like a bald head. So I had started using Minitop (Minoxidil Topical solution USP 2%) which had worked wonders on me and I had noticed my forehead covered with new hair. I’ve been using it for the last 4 months on a suggestion from a dermatologist, but the problem is there is unwanted hair growth on my side locks which is very minimal.

Also I had read on the internet that if we stop using the medicine we are going to lose all the hair again and also the original hair will be effected! I am really scared to take the next step. Could you please suggest me the alternative and also the procedure to stop using the medicine with out any side effects.

One of the possible side effects of minoxidil is unwanted hair growth. Sometimes it appears as a mustache or other facial hair. On an extreme level, body hair may appear as well.

If the sideburn growth is the only side effect you have, is it OK with you to continue to get the benefits you see? Stopping minoxidil will cause you to lose all of the benefits of the drug within a few months. There are no other FDA approved hair loss treatment alternatives for women.

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

Could Someone Have Mixed Something Caustic and Dumped it On My Hair While I Slept?

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

(female)
Dear Doctors,

2 years ago i went to bed with a clean dry head and awoke to a greasy, wet head. My daughter also awoke to a greasy head. She had had a friend sleep over that night, and now after 2 years and 3/4 of my hair gone on the top of my head, and my daughter’s hair thinning greatly, all i can think of is that her friend mixed something caustic with oil and dumped it on our heads while we were sleeping. We are both losing the hair only on the crowns of our heads and not in the back. Is there something she could have put on our heads to do this to us?

Also, if by doing this she killed the hair follicles does that mean there is no chance of getting hair transplants…i know you are very busy but i would greatly appreciate it if one of you could take the time to answer my question. i am pretty desperate….thank you so much, sincerely

Your story is highly unusual. This sounds like a crime scene which may require some probing, interviews with the potential offender, etc. Yes, a hair transplant can probably solve the problem, but I would be very curious to know exactly what occurred first.

Tags: hair loss, hairloss

My Hair Loss Was Caused By Lupus — Can I Do Anything to Regrow It?

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


I am 53 yr old, African American female with lupus, it is not internally only scalp. I have seen many dermatologists and finally after 2yrs of testing, they stated it was Lupus. I have been told that my scalp is scarred. From the top of my head to near my ears, I am bald. Is there any physician in my area that can grow the hair back or is this just permanent. My scalp literally looks like Bozo the clown. Is there any help for me? I have tried cortisone injections and no help…

Please Help me what can I do? Thanks for taking time to read my story, may God continue to Bless you for the help you have given many.

Usually, people with lupus who lose their hair as a result of this autoimmune disease will not be candidates for a hair transplant. The Lupus Foundation of America has an article about hair loss that can result from the disease or the treatment, which you may find helpful (see here).

There is possibly a solution with Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP) if you have some patchy hair, but I would need to view many good photos of your scalp and hair loss to see if you would be a candidate for this approach.

Tags: lupus, hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss

I’m Female and My Doctor Prescribed Me Dutasteride — But What If I Want to Get Pregnant?

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

i am 31 years old female, not married yet and i am having male pattern baldness as my doctor said. i started mesotherapy sessions using dutasteride and minoxidil and some vitamins. i am concerned about using dutasteride but my doc said its not harmful as finasteride. is that true?

my question is if i got married and it is possible to get pregnant, when should i stop taking the sessions of mesotherapy before getting pregnant? and thank u so much

The use of dutasteride or finasteride in pregnancy may impact the sexual development of the fetus in the first trimester (i.e cause birth defects). For this reason, doctors should not prescribe this drug for women who may become pregnant.

Tags: dutasteride, avodart, finasteride, propecia, hairloss, hair loss, pregnancy

I Have Been Treated for MRSA and I’ve Lost 1/3rd of My Hair!

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

(female)
I have been treated for MRSA for over two years. The worst is on my scalp. This was not in the form of boils but big patches of infection containing pus and scabs. I have lost most of the top 1/3 of my hair leaving me with large patches of red skin. At present I have a two inch square of raw skin on top of my head. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you

The best advice I can give is to seek medical help from your dermatologist.

You need to treat the MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) for obvious reasons, and since I’m not sure what your treatment path has been thus far or what your doctor has noted about your hair loss, I am not really in a position to provide much help. Your doctor can drain the infection or prescribe an antibiotic.

Tags: staph, infection, hairloss, hair loss

Can Anything Be Done to Reverse Hair Loss from Years of Hair Braiding?

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

I’m a black 41 years old African American female with receding hair lines which resulted from many years of hair braiding. What can I do to reverse this condition.

What you’re experiencing is called traction alopecia. This occurs with continuous pulling on the hair over time. Unfortunately, hair transplantation is the only solution for this problem that I know of.

Tags: traction alopecia, hairloss, hair loss, braids

I Lost Almost All of My Hair After a Heart Attack!

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

I had a heart attack a few months ago, followed by a huge amount of hair loss. I am on warfarin, very healthy now, but almost no hair. I also have a burning and itchy scalp. help! I am a woman 71 years young

Hair loss can be traumatic, but at least you survived a heart attack! Following a major stress (like a heart attack), hair loss may happen, but if it is not a genetic acceleration of a predetermined balding pattern, it may reverse after a year.

It should also be noted that hair loss is a known side effect of warfarin.

Tags: heart attack, health, hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss

Minoxidil Has Regrown Some Hair, But The Rest of My Hair Is Very Fine Now!

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

(female)

I’ve been using Minoxidil for about a year. It seemed to stop my hair from falling out, with new regrowth. But, my hair is so fine now; the strands are very thin, that gains seem to have been replaced with thin fragile hairs. Is this typical? If I stop using it, will the strands that grow back stay fine, or thicker as they were before? Any comments on weight gain, as a small percentage side effect? Thank you so much!

If you stop using it and if your hair is minoxidil dependent, then you will lose hair along with whatever benefits you’ve gotten since you started the medication. I don’t know how much regrowth you saw since I don’t have before and after photos of your hair, but you need to continue using the minoxidil for life in order to maintain the gains you made.

Fine hair is fine hair, but minoxidil did not cause that. Minoxidil doesn’t change the character of hair. Fragile hair occurs in some people, but you might check with your hair stylist for a solution to this one. Remember the hair that you are treating with minoxidil is fragile by its nature if it is miniaturized due to the genetic balding, so I would imagine that your minoxidil treated hair will be easily broken if you are rough in handling it.

Female hair loss is tricky, and there are many possible reasons for the loss you see. If you were diagnosed with genetic loss by a doctor, that’s one thing, but if you are just treating yourself, there are common blood tests you can have done to see if there is another potential cause (see here).

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

My Hairdresser Used Peroxide, Then Hair Dye, Then I Relaxed My Hair — Now It’s Falling Out!

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

I’m a 19 year old female. I’ve wanted to change my hair color for quiet some time. I wanted to go blonde. When I went to my hairdresser, he told me the implications but I thought oh well let’s do it. I had to peroxide it…I didn’t like the end result so I immediately ordered him to change it…to light brown. I did and my hair was okay until 2 weeks later growth appeared really badly so I decided to relax.

Ever since then, my hair has been falling off. I do apply olive oil and coconut oils & have been treating it for only 3weeks now. I don’t know what to do and I’m afraid of cutting it all of. Is there no other way I can stop it from breaking & having it grow again? HELP

Hair coloring and chemicals, when used in excess or inappropriately, can cause hair loss. This can be temporary or permanent. If it is temporary, it could take 6-12 months for it to reverse. It all depends upon the degree of burn with the chemicals used. You will know within about one year.

It is a difficult and emotional process to go through and there is no easy answer to this.

Tags: chemical burn, chemical damage, hairloss hair loss

My Scalp Burned and Felt Numb After Getting Highlights, And Now It’s Much Thinner!

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

(female)
I have been getting my thick hair dyed for 20 years. I usually go every month. I have been using an Aveda salon where they use products with high ammonia content. I have been noticing the last few months that my hair is no longer thick.

I feel I did not realize this because I have a different style that is has very choppy layers and just naturally makes it look thinner. So, the last 3 times she put a toner on the highlights (bleach over bleach process) my scalped burned and felt numb. The times before this happened also, and I told her about it. I did not see any redness to my scalp. It just felt numb for more than a week and then it itched. I have seen my hair on my pillow and in the filter after a shower. It is noticeably thinner now and I am very distressed and worried that this is a PERMANENT loss, with having sustained death to the hair follicles.

Please help!!! My sister lives in LA and I could come to see you. What do you recommend?

The use of hair dyes have risks and can impact hair permanently, which is why you must go to a reputable hair stylist to hopefully avoid the types of damage that these chemicals can induce. You are welcome to visit us for an opinion.

In general, it may take a full year before you can tell if the damage was permanent.

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