Homeopathic Medicine, Birth Control, and Hair Loss

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

Dr. Rassman – I am a female and have just turned 40yrs. Last year, some time in May of 2005, I stopped taking the birth control pill, Yasmin. I initially started the pill about 5 years ago with Orthotricyclin, then changed to Levlin (due to insurance no longer covering Ortho) and then Yasmin (as I was told was not as potent and wouldn’t cause the nausea) Anyhow, I am Mexican/American and always had a thick set of hair. In the past, my hair would always fall out but still always remained thick; however, after I stopped taking the pill (for which I never consulted my doctor before stopping) I realized my hair was still falling out but after seven months later, realized that the thickness and volume were gone. I’ve always had thicker hair than my older sisters (now 41 and 43) but now theirs still has thickenss & weight whereas mine is literally thinner & has a featherlike feel to it. I’ve been a Kaiser dermatologist who says it’s just part of aging and that my hormones are normal (blood testing was done) however, after seeing a homopathic doctor (without me mentioning my symtoms) she advised that my hormones are not balanced. I have not yet been treated for this imbalance thus far.

My question to you is if I go back on the pill — Yasmin — will my hair slowly come back? As you can see, I’m still off the pill but very tempted to start up again. Had I known the side affects, I would never have discontinued use.

Please reply at your earliest opportunity.

P.S. In the meantime, I am using Nioxin Cleanser and Scalp treatment for thinning hair. Also, I do have lots of fine baby regrowth around my temple area & some wiring hair coming down the center of my head. Does this mean my hair is coming back and will it ever be as thick again?

First off, I am not a homeopathic doctor. We here are allopathic medical doctors. So, if your homeopathic doctor says your hormones are not in balance, I cannot comment on the homeopathic doctor’s opinion or diagnosis. I can only comment on the fact that if your medical doctor has done all the appropriate blood work and states that your hormone levels are “normal”, the cause of your hair loss may be coming from other sources such as age. Having said that, you may be going through early menopause and other hormonal changes which are “normal” parts of the aging process. I cannot tell you that starting Yasmin will help your hair grow back. More importantly, starting and stopping any hormone treatment (such as birth control pills) should be discussed with a medical doctor that has been following your health.

As far as your question on Nioxin, it is a popular shampoo and the company sells other products that are talked up by my readers. We still put forth a buyer beware position, and if you are asking if such products do what they claim to do, I do not have the answer (as you have read many times in this blog). Minoxidil (Rogaine) is the only FDA approved topical treatment for hair loss.

Finally if your homeopathic doctor has a solution to grow hair then he/she will be a rich man/woman if the treatment actually works. Please let us know the results if you take the olive branch and try to get into the balance that your homeopathic doctor recommends (particularly if it succeeds).

Avodart and Female Genetic Hair Loss

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

One of my friend’s doctors has prescribed Avodart for her thinning hair. Is this effective? If so, why do I not hear more about it? Can I get your to prescribe it as I am in Los Angeles?

See Effective treatment of female androgenic alopecia with dutasteride

One case does not say much about this process, but it may provide a little hope. There is no significant documentation for breast, ovary, or uterine cancer predispositions with DHT blockers. That is worrisome without a good controlled study in hand. We know that one side effect of this medication in men is breast enlargement (one in about 300 men), so the question of safety is paramount in the decision to provide this drug to women. Even for men, there are no long term studies to suggest that this drug is safe for the younger men. Any woman taking this medication while pregnant runs a high risk of producing a hermaphrodite baby (without a normal penis or vagina). This tells you a great deal about what we do not know. I will not prescribe this medication for women, and I have been very forthright against using it without adequate safety issues addressed in the proper way. I worry that articles like this, which show a single example that could be a chance occurrence having little to do with this medication, can be ascribed to the drug. Please don’t rush to your doctor or the internet and use this as a panacea for your hair loss problem, for it could just open a Pandora’s Box. I would be happy, on the other hand, to have you visit me for a diagnosis and an opinion.

Scarring Alopecias in Women

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

Hi,
I’m a 30 year old African-American female with hair loss on the entire top of my head. I was diagnosed 9 years ago with scarring hair folliclelitis and since that time my hair loss has escalated. I’ve worn weaves, wigs and the hair piece that you have to use a special tape to wear it. I feel that by using these methods to cover up my hair loss, i’ve made it worse. I was interested in hair transplant but do not know if I would be a candidate. Can you please tell me?

Weaves, wigs and the hair pieces cause hair loss. This is common in the African-American female community where balding (hidden by wigs) may be the norm in some communities. As you have already seen a dermatologist, I would suggest that you go back to that doctor. Scarring alopecias are a special case diagnosis which your doctor can put into perspective for you. Hair transplantation in a patient with active scarring alopecia do not go together. An alternative to a biopsy may be a test transplant of 10 grafts into the bald area. If they grow in 6-8 months, then the disease may be inactive and you may be a candidate for a hair transplant. Hair transplants for African hair tend to do very well provided that the skin in healthy.

Menstruation and Hair Loss in Women

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

I am a 30 year old mother of 2. For the past 2 years I have experienced hair loss mostly in the frontal part. In this area my hair is thin, fragile and uncombable. Totally dry. Although my hair fall is under control now, the hair in the front and crown area still falls out, especially the regrowth. I am taking supplements and iron and that has improved the texture of hair elsewhere on my scalp but the problem area. Could it be a hormonal problem as my periods are late and heavy and my hair falls more specially just before and during my periods? I also suffer from eyebrow loss. They grow back and then fall out again. My main problem is keeping the regrowth. Please help.

With irregular periods, there may well be a connection with the hair loss you are reporting. It is critical for you to get a doctor involved. Please refer to this past blog entry to find a list of tests that should be included in your work-up, which you can show to your family doctor as a start.

Hair Loss in Young Teen Girl

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

I’m female and 14 with fine shoulder-length hair and recently i’ve noticed abnormal amounts of hair falling out all the time. i haven’t told anyone yet, but i’m scared it’s something serious. I’m thinking maybe it is the drugs i’ve been taking to clear up a bad ear infection, sinusitus, and conjunctivitous, which has just cleared up and i’ve finished the treatment. Maybe it is because i have a very irregular menstural cycle, having my first and second period over a year. What is wrong with me???

You need to be evaluated by a good doctor. This type of question would be too difficult for me to provide an answer to over the internet, especially without knowing your medical history or even being able to see you in person. There are many causes for women’s hair loss, including hypothyroidism, eczema, alopecia, dieting, malnutrition, autoimmune, drugs, infection, genetics, etc.

A Good Dermatologist?

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

My daughter is 27 had a child 3yrs. ago. she is still having hair loss and is getting very thin,use to have beautiful thick her…do you do test strands of the hair ? I understand through a test the hair can tell alot. She commented to me that the hair on her legs does not grow either. could this be a inbalance of hormones? her OB decided to give her something that would stop her periods thinking it would help her margine, which it has.. BUT has this also messed her system all up ?

Please help her…how do you know if you have a good dermatologist? would it be helpful if you took pictures of the way it was once for the doctor to see ?

-A concerned Mom

The best way to find a good dermatologist is to ask your doctor or friends for recommendations. If that does not work, you can go to the American Academy of Dermatology website and look up a dermatologist in your area. I can’t be more specific without first examining you, as there are many things that I would need to know (such as health history) and see in person.

Alopecia Areata in 4 Year Old

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

My daughter who is 4 years old has been diagnosed by doctor has having “alopecia areata (AA)” . I am really worried about her treatment.

She is being given
a)Minoxodil Topical Solution USP 2%
b)Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate Suspension- Omnacortil suspension- 5m/5ml
c)Tretinoin Cream USP- Retino -A 0.025%

is this a good medicine or any new development has been done in this year 2005? please do let me know if any thing else can be done to get my daughter treated permanently

Doctors who treat Alopecia Areata have a particular interest in this disease. This appears to be a standard treatment for this disease, but this is a highly specialized field and I would assume that your doctor is fully in command of the treatment.

Do I Have Genetic Female Hair Loss?

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

On December 26th 2005, I had a miscarrage. I was approximatley 12 weeks pregnant during my pregnancy I noticed alot of hair falling out. I know this usually happens after a women gives birth. My hair got very thin on top. My part is wider then before and you could see my scalp when I’m out in the sun. Now, I have alot of little hairs sticking staight up but they look thinner and smaller coming out of the root. This happend to me once before after surgery and all my hair came back with cortizone shots from my dermatologist. Could it be possible that as I get older my hair is going to thin on top. My mother passed when I was born but I think her hair thinned out on top as she got older. My brother and sister have thick hair and are in there late forties. How do I know if I will take after my mother and if I do what can I do to prevent it from happening to me. I’m 37 years old.

The hair loss which you have experienced may be due to stress from the miscarriage or hormonal changes from the pregnancy and/or previous surgery or any emotional/physical stresses in your life. This history is not inconsistent with genetic female hair loss reaction to your circumstances. Pregnancy can cause hair loss in woman and it almost always reverses to some degree. If you indeed have genetic female pattern hair loss, there is not much you can do except for eating healthy and taking all of your proper vitamins. Sometimes, Rogaine (minoxidil) may help.

Shock Loss from Hairline Lowering?

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

Hello, i am 30 years old, female, do not suffer from hair loss however would like to lower my hairline..have you had women do this?? Also, is their any temporary hair loss of the non-transplanted near the transplated area due to the shock?
Please can you tell me if you know of any highly reputable surgeons in Melbourne??

Kindest Regards

Shock hair loss is unusual in women who receive a hairline lowering procedure, provided that they do not have female genetic hair loss. For a doctor near you, you might want to locate a good plastic surgeon in your area and check out his/her experience with the procedure or look to the physician search at ISHRS.org. Be careful that the doctor you choose is a qualified surgeon (as many doctors who call themselves experts and may be experts in hair restoration will not tackle this type of surgery). Sorry I couldn’t give a better recommendation than that.

Ayurveda

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

I have tried so many things – currently taking avodart- did try using a system for my hair and now am using clips because the system that was adhered on with glue and braids caused a substantial change in my hair loss. So I remove the system each night- giving my hair time to breathe and it is slowly growing back. The company called restorationhair.com is touting its Ayurveda product and I am wondering if I should try this in addition to the avodart or is it just a waste of money.

What options do you provide? Is there anyway to implant human hair from a system because hair translplants from your own hair is not enough- just wondering about that

There’s information on Ayurveda at Holistic-Online.com.

It sounds like you are grasping for straws and looking for magical cures and promises of a wonderful, hairy life. I think if you want to know what I do, please take a look at my website, newhair.com.

I always wonder why people try to make the impossible, possible. There is no cure for hair loss out there now. Maybe in the future there will be, but why would you want to experiment on your head, risk losing your hair, taking chances which will delay the right things to do which are well tested? Get a working diagnosis, get a good doctor to map out your hair for miniaturization and get on a program that works. To answer your question, Ayurveda sounds holey to me.

Female Hair Loss on Sides of Head

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

my hair has become thin and the sides of my head are thin and have lost hair. i look like i have a natural mohawk. the sides of my hair wont grow. i tried minoxidil and it gave me rash. then i tried nu hair and did not see anything. i am a 35 year old female. what can i do or what can i use?

Hair loss on the sides of the head of a woman often reflects female genetic hair loss. If your scalp is mapped out for miniaturization, you will see considerable thinning (finer hair shafts) in the hair on the sides when compared to other parts of the scalp. You need to see a good dermatologist to understand what is happening to you.

Hairline Too Low — Can It Be Raised?

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

My girlfriend has the opposite problem as your patients seem to have. She has a low hairline which crouds her forhead and seems th throw the whole proportions of her face off. What can be done to create a more natural and astheticly pleasing hairline for her?

Yes, hairlines can be raised. Brow lifts do just that, but candidacy for this type of procedure in the young patient will be very restricted. In the older women (above 40 or possibly even above 50), a brow lift may have value.

I’m Pregnant and Have Alopecia

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

Dr. Rassman,
I’m 11 weeks pregnant and I’m suffering from alopecia. I was just wondering if is there any safe form of treatment that I can go through or any specific food that I can eat to prevent any further hair loss. The hair loss started off as about a quarter size in circumference now it has grown to about five inches in size!! Please I need some help, because I feel that pretty soon I will be completely bald. Thank you for your time.

I am assuming that the hair loss is relatively complete in the areas showing. If so, it sounds like you are suffering from Alopecia Areata induced by the pregnancy. You need to see a dermatologist for a biopsy and treatment. You will need to coordinate any treatments with your OB doctors to keep things safe for your baby if the doctor elects to treat the problem and my presumptive diagnosis is correct.

Brevinor and Female Hair Loss

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

Hi, I am 35 years old and started losing my hair about a year ago. I had been taking Prozac for over 6 years and after some research discovered that this could be the reason for my hair thinning so much. I have managed to come off Prozac now (about 3 months ago) but haven’t seen much of an improvement in my hair. Then I started to think about the possible effects of coming off the contraceptive pill ‘Brevinor’ which I had been taking since I was 19. I came off the pill last May. Could this also be the cause of my hair loss? If so, is there anything I can do? perhaps some sort of oestrogen supplement? Do you think my hair could re-grow? Any information would be greatly appreciated since my GP does not seem to have a clue. Thank you

Both Prosac and Brevinor can contribute to hair loss. In some women with genetic hair loss tendencies (often evident in the female side of your family) these drugs may induce or precipitate the hair loss and it may not reverse. If the genetic tendency is not there, then it should return over a 6-18 month period with the drugs stopped. Of course, these drugs offer you value, so stopping them may cause you more problems; these are not easy decisions to make.

Prednisone and Hair Loss

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

I recently read that prednisone is usually not related with hair loss in women, but I am a 35 year old female who has ulcerative colitis. I spent 2 weeks in the hospital where they gave me prednisone intraveniously as well. I have been on oral doses starting at 55mg and over a course of about 5 months, have gone down to 5mg and will soon be off. I am also taking Asacol which may also be contributing to my hair loss. I have also been losing A LOT of my hair and it is really starting to affect my confidence. I have been hospitalized 3 other times for this condition where I also lost hair due to the meds and it did return. I just don’t remember it being as extreme. Is there a product I can take to help me grow it back and is it the Prednisone that has caused this hair loss? Thank you for your time.

Your hair loss can be attributed to multiple causes, such as malnutrition from Ulcerative Colitis, the medication in Asacol, and stress from your recent hospitalization. Steroids have androgenic properties and can also be the cause of your hair loss. I do not know if the hair loss is reversible, certainly as long as you are on many of these medications. If the medications have precipitated genetic hair loss, you may not get benefits even if you are off of the medications.