I Was Diagnosed with Telogen Effluvium a Year Ago, But My Hair is Still Falling Out

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

Hello

I am a 30 year old woman and I have been experiencing hair thinning especially in the front. I did a hormonal test a couple of years back and it came ok. Last year a dermatologist in Atlanta did a Hair and I was diagnosed with TE. He did nothing but to prescribe vitamins. My hair loss has not stopped. What shall I do? can you suggest a doctor or a treatment?

You should perhaps consider seeing another doctor for a second opinion, though I don’t have any personal recommendations in the Atlanta area.

In general, there is no definitive cure for women’s hair loss once other medical causes have been ruled out (anemia, thyroid conditions, etc). If you do have telogen effluvium, hair generally grows back after about one year.

Tags: telogen effluvium, hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss

Keeping Your Hair Through Chemotherapy with the Cold Cap

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

A previous post from a few months back talked about a way to prevent hair loss when a patient is going through chemotherapy by using Cold Cap Therapy. Chemo is used for treating many types of cancer, and many of these treatments cause hair loss.

I am happy to report that the patient discussed in May has just finished her chemotherapy, and she sent this email to me with permission to post it on this site:

Wow – it is good to be looking at the end of the chemo cycle (six treatments in an outpatient facility). I am finally seeing my energy beginning to come back. This cycle had more general fatigue and much more muscle fatigue which is slowly waning. I am thinking that I should be 90% to my normal state by the weekend. I can report that my hair is holding – we sent back the cold-caps with a fond farewell.

Overall I’ve had about 20% hair loss over the therapy course and my hair is growing normally. I may have lost 20% (my estimate) of my original hair and the new hair is already growing back. I want to put the word out that if you know anyone who is looking at chemotherapy and wants to avoid hair loss that they should contact me [note: BaldingBlog will make the connection to this patient].

I have put together a guide to using cold-caps based on my experience which I think will be helpful. It is only hair but it makes a difference to know I look healthy and when I looked in the mirror through this period of chemo, having my hair kept my spirits up. Please tell others to contact me.

If you’d like to contact her, send us a message via the Contact page and we’ll make sure the email gets to the right place.

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

Transplanted Female Hairline (with Photos)

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

Some women develop changes in their hairlines as they age that make them look more masculine due to receding corners. These defects are very evident in women with very dark hair and light skin (like the Asian patient below), more so than in women with blonde hair and white skin or brown hair with olive skin tones.

These changes occur with many women who undergo plastic surgery, as their hairlines are often negatively impacted by face lifts and brow lifts. The changes tend to become noticeable rapidly after their plastic surgery is done, while others who did not have any such cosmetic procedure will barely notice the changes as they occur very slowly over the years. There are many women who show miniaturization in the corners of the hairline that may eventually lead to the type of changes shown here.

We love doing these surgeries as the patients are most grateful.

The before photo is below on the left, the after photo is on the right. This was done in a single procedure of 1800 grafts, mostly in the corners with some work in the frontal hairline. The after photo was taken about 18 months after her surgery. Click to enlarge.

 

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, hairline, female hair loss, hair transplant

My Female HairDX Test Showed Sensitivity to Testosterone

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

Hair Dx test (female)..

I have a 2 part question.

1. What does it mean if the results indicate that a person has the gene that shows sensitivity to testosterone but not the gene for Androgen Alopecia?

2. Does finastride cause initial shedding? If so, what % of people usually get it.

Thank you

I’m guessing you’re talking about the Genetic Test for Female Androgen Sensitivity, but what does sensitivity to testosterone really mean? It does not mean you are necessarily a candidate for finasteride. Remember that finasteride is NOT approved for women, so I would talk to the doctor that conducted the HairDX test and discuss these results and treatment plans.

There’s generally no shedding phase from finasteride, but some have reported it through this site. It’s not common and I don’t have percentages available.

Tags: finateride, propecia, hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss

68 Year Old Woman Lost Her Eyebrows — Is It Medication Related?

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

I have been taking Pradaxa for over a year-I also take metoporol & digoxin. I always had plenty of hair & my eyebrows were almost perfect naturally.about 6 months ago my eyebrows have disappeared almost completely & my hairline is receeding–could these meds be causing this??? Thank you! I am a 68 year old female & would like my eyebrows & hair!

metoprololWomen lose hair just like men, but in different patterns and stages. Women don’t go bald like men, but they thin out later in life. This can also be genetic as well. For women, there may be other medical issues such as thyroid conditions. There’s a list of possible causes here.

In general, medications can be the cause of hair loss. Pradaxa (dabigatran) and Lanoxin (digoxin) aren’t known to cause hair loss as far as I can find, but metoprolol (marketed as Toprol or Lopressor) does have hair loss listed as a rare side effect. More importantly, these medications are taken for serious health issues, so they should not be stopped or changed without a serious discussion with the doctor.

Many women lose their eyebrows and this can be genetic as well (as do men). A hair transplant procedure is a good option for those who want eyebrow restoration.

Tags: pradaxa, digoxin, metoprolol, hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss, eyebrows

I’ve Had a Chemical Burn from Relaxer for a Decade

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

(Female)
Is their a name for hair loss that resulted from a relaxer? Ive had had a small chemical burn for over 10 years now, in which im self conscious of. Are their any treatments for this?

There is no cure for this problem. If a chemical burn happened from relaxers, a hair transplant can address it very well. After a decade, if the hair hasn’t grown back on its own by now, there’s not likely to be any medication to bring it back.

Tags: chemical burn, hairloss, hair loss, relaxer

I’ve Been Thinning for Months After the Salon Put Product in My Hair

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

Hello!I’m a 32 year old African American Woman. In early March of this year,i went to a salon and got my hair done. The stylist used a product called Morning Glory. When it came time for me to wash my hair, OMG!!! My hair was shedding so bad.

Fast forward to today, I have lost at lest 3-5 inches of my hair. Especially in the front and middle of my head. Some of the back but not as much. Oh and did i mention it sheds really bad everytime i try to do anything to it more of my hair comes out. The same stylist that did my hair told me to come to her for a protein deep conditioner. Will that help?? What can i do to stop the shedding?? I don’t want to go bald!! Please help me. I appreciate any and all advice.

Morning Glory makes a few different products, so I’m not sure what was used (or for how long it was used) on your hair at the salon. You could be experiencing a chemical burn or an allergic reaction. I don’t know that a protein conditioner will help any more or less than just giving it time to regrow (it will take months). If you’re still losing hair months after this happened, you should visit a dermatologist to make sure there isn’t some allergy to one of the ingredients in the product used at the salon.

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

I Burned My Hair With an Iron as a Teen and Have a Bald Spot

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

Hi,
I am 33 years old female and have a bald spot on the top of my head from an iron burn since a teenager. There was no scar but definitely a linear bald spot as my iron was linear. Is there anyway I can regrow my hair. Would vinegar work? or alternatives? Thank you.

There is no way to regrow that hair, as it would’ve regrown on its own by now in the 15 or so years since you burned your scalp. Depending upon the wound that is present, it is often easily treated with hair transplants. I have corrected many of these types of problems with hair transplants.

Vinegar won’t do anything for hair regrowth.

Tags: bald spot, scarring, burn, hairloss, hair loss

Female Hair Loss at 81 Years Old

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

I have been seeing a great amount of hair loss for about 5 years. It appears to be much worse lately. I am 81 years old. Could it be attributed to post menopause ? I also have really bad dandruff. It all seemed to start when my husband died.

Stress can cause hair loss in someone your age. I would have to examine you and possibly do some special blood tests to determine if these is a cause for the hair loss that can be treated. Female hair loss could be caused by a variety of issues, but the death of a spouse is obviously a very stressful situation and can cause the loss you’re seeing.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss, stress

Does Toppik Work On My African Hair?

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

I am a African American woman and i was chemical burn by relaxer about 7 yeas ago. I do not know how and if you can help me with me living in the Caribbean. I was thinking of getting toppik but will that work on my African hair? please help

Yes. I know many African American men who came into our office to get a consult with us and when they are using Toppik, it seems to work well. I don’t see why it wouldn’t work in the same way for women. Give it a try!

Tags: toppik, hair loss, hairloss

I’m Taking Iron Supplements, But After 3 Months My Hair Has Gotten Worse

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

(female)
I’m really hoping someone will be able to help me out. I am 24 years old. Over the past 8 months or so I have had a few medical problems ranging from headaches, joint pain and severe hair loss. I have seen my primary, who then referred me to a rheumatologist. She was concerned about my ANA but ruled out Lupus. She referred me to a dermatologist. He informed me that my iron absorption level was low, and put me on an iron supplement, which I have been taking for three months.

My hair has gotten worse. I use to have thick curly hair. I have such thin hair now that you can see my scalp no matter what I do. It is extremely depressing. I’m only 24 years old and I fear I am going to lose all my hair. I am married and have a 5 year old son and a full time job, so like any other person I have stress, but I am not so overcome with it that I feel that is the reason this is happening to me. I do not have a family history of hair loss. I don’t know what to do. I’m 24; I can’t believe I am going through this. Please help me.

The best help I can offer is to tell you to consider seeing a doctor for your issues, including your depression and stress.

With respect to your hair loss issues, I cannot diagnose you or even offer a treatment (since I have not examined you or know exactly what is going on). Iron deficiency is known to cause hair loss, but I couldn’t say if that’s the cause of your loss. Continue the iron supplements for a good year or so, as it does take time to reverse any deficiency.

Tags: iron deficiency, anemia, hairloss, hair loss, low iron

Does Finasteride Change a Woman’s Cycle?

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

Will taking finesteride alone cause changes in a woman’s cycle. I recently stopped birth control pills and continued the finesteride but have noticed some changes.

Thanks

Finasteride is NOT approved or recommended for women, especially those who are of childbearing age. Even more importantly, finasteride can potentially cause birth defects if you were to stop your birth control and become pregnant. You need to speak with your doctor and address your issues. I can’t imagine why any doctor would prescribe this medication to you at your age.

Since there have been no studies (that I know of) in women of child bearing age, I would not know how it would affect the woman’s cycle. There was a small study on finasteride in women experiencing postmenopausal hair loss, but this is clearly not the case for you.

Tags: finasteride, women, hairloss, hair loss, propecia

I Don’t Have Hair Loss, But My Hair Is Thin — Should I Use Rogaine?

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

(female)
Hi Doctor

I am not experiencing hair loss, but my hair has always been very thin and sparse. What products could your recommend to stimulate hair growth? Is Rogaine foam a product to consider?

Thank you.

In my opinion, Rogaine does a poor job of thickening hair. Rogaine generally grows fine hairs, so using the medication would not really result in too much thickening of your existing hair. You can give it a try if you want to see for yourself.

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

My Doctors Are Experts and Have Differing Opinions

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

Hi,

I am a 41 year old female and have been thinning for several years. My hair loss was triggered by the removal of an ovary and a tubal ligation of the other. I have visited many doctors over the years with no success. Two have indicated that I have androgenic alopecia, the rest indicate I have telogen effluvium because my hair loss has a diffuse pattern and I show no miniaturization. I had the HairDx test done and the results were high androgen sensitivity and low risk of AGA. Both my physicians (an endocrinologist and dermatologist) are considered experts in their field and have a different set of opinions based on the results. One indicating no treatment needed and the other indicating I should go on finasteride. What is your take on this result?

I can not possibly form an opinion one way or the other based on what you wrote. I would need to examine you and make a determination based upon my observations and measurements.

Female hair loss is not as clear cut as male hair loss, so differing opinions are not unusual. Finasteride is not FDA approved for treating female hair loss, but your high androgen sensitivity (as revealed by the HairDX test) means there could be some benefit from the medication. It would have to be prescribed off-label, and is something you and your doctor should discuss in depth.

Ultimately, you may have to go with your gut feeling on this one.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss, finasteride

It’s Been 7 Months Since I Chemically Burned My Scalp — When Will I See Regrowth?

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

I am a 25 year old black female and I recently permed my hair. I burned my scalp pretty badly. But there are no bald spots or scabs, or anything. My hair started to fall off, not everything though. Will my hair grow back. It’s been seven months. I haven’t seen any hair growth. And I usually see hair growth within 2 or 3 months of perming my hair.

Wait out a full year to see if there is regrowth. When a person has a bad burn from chemicals, the results are often permanent hair loss. Transplants can help and might be considered an option at the 1 year point if the hair hasn’t grown back.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, chemical burn