Clobetasol and Female Hair Loss

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

(female)
I have used clobetasol off and on for years. I have never been advised that this med can thin the skin or cause hair loss. Just about 1 yr ago my scalp psoriasis became quite aggressive and I spent every evening slathering my scalp with the med. My hair thinned to about 1/2 of its normal thickness. Is it possible to somehow regrow the hair that I have lost?

Clobetasol is a powerful topical steroid that can thin the skin, thin the hair, and produce a variety of systemic problems from steroid overdose. Withdrawal from this medication can be a problem and you may need to be managed by a good doctor for the withdrawal process.

With respect to hair growth, if it does not regrow within one year, it will probably never grow back.

Tags: clobetasol, female hair loss, hairloss, hair loss, steroid

I Lost Hair When I Lost Weight — And I Have More Weight to Lose

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

Hi. I’m a 20 year old female. I have always had quite thin hair and recently have started shedding a lot of hair due to weight loss. I have lost weight in a healthy way but my doctor says sometimes the shock to the body pushes the hair into the resting phase prematurely, and then causes it to drop it? Because my problem isn’t genetic, I’m unsure what to do. I know my hair will eventually grow back but I have more weight to lose and want to try and hold onto as much of it as I can and encourage new growth. What would you recommend I do, both as a further preventative and as encouragement for new hair growth? Thank you.

Rapid, significant weight loss is a known cause of hair loss. It is particularly significant in women who have genetic hair loss in family lines, and these women may not regrow it after the weight loss is stable. If you have no history in the female side of your family of genetic hair loss, then you might have a better chance to grow it back when your weight becomes stable.

Tags: weight loss, diet, hairloss, hair loss

Woman Took Dutasteride and Got Acne

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

(female)

Hi Dr. Rassman! I have a quick question for you. While I found a combination of Rogaine, Diane 35 birth control, and 200 mg spironolactone just about completely reversed my AGA hair loss, I was stupid enough to begin taking Dutasteride (Avodart) which I ordered from the internet at a dose of 0.5mg/ every other day. The predictable shed started recently as is common, but what really got me was my skin started getting filled with pimples (I take pride in having good skin) and I decided it wasn’t worth it, since my hair had already become pretty good before I started it, and who knows if the acne would be temporary, or even get worse. I stopped it about 5 days ago.

Now I am wondering if you have any idea, even a vague one, as to when my hair will return to how it would have been pre-Dutasteride use, since I stopped using it during a hair shedding phase which was induced by the drug. (weeks/months/ever?)

Any ideas would be so helpful in helping me feel reassured. Thanks so much for your time.

I hate to use you as an example, but this is exactly why you should not treat yourself with prescription drugs bought via the Internet. I can’t say this enough — you should not be self-treating your medical issues and you certainly should not be purchasing prescription medication without a physician’s prescription.

Unfortunately, I do not know anything about you to even begin assessing your medical issues. Sorry. You really need to see a doctor for an in-person examination. I realize the Internet is an easy way to try to diagnose and treat yourself, but you could be doing more harm than good.

Dutasteride (Avodart) is not recommended for women and it may have unforeseen long term side effects. I was able to find a forum where a woman took dutasteride and had a similar side effect that you had (acne breakout)… but beyond that, I really don’t know what it would do for treating female hair loss.

Tags: dutasteride, avodart, hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss

In the News – Breast Implants Caused Hair Loss?

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

Snippet from the article:

A mother has suffered insomnia and hair loss after both of her breast implants ruptured – causing toxins to leak into her body.

Andrea Hayman, 38, has spoken out to highlight the dangers of Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) implants.

The distressed mother-of-two also wants to encourage women who have had similar breast enhancements to act immediately.

Read the rest — Mother reveals PIP implants have caused hair loss and insomnia

Poly Implant Prothese was a maker of silicone breast implants, which may still be in approximately 400,000 women around the world.

Tags: PIP, breast implants, hairloss, hair loss

Female Hair Loss After Lap Band Surgery

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

Great blog, Dr. Rassman! Quick question. My Cousin had the Lap-Band surgery in August 2011. Since then she has lost almost 60 lbs. She has also lost almost all of the hair in the front half of her scalp. Does this hair have a chance to return if she supplements with a vitamin or has her Lap-Band loosened so that she can eat more? She never had hair loss before the surgery. Thanks!

Women who lose hair from rapid weight loss may have accelerated a genetic pattern for hair loss that is present. These women may never return to their preoperative hair thickness, but some of it may reverse. If there is no genetic pattern present, then the hair loss may reverse upon balancing her diet.

Tags: lap band, lapband, hairloss, hair loss, weight loss

Salesman Tried to Push a Bunch of Hair Care Products and Lies

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

Hi

I went to see a few trichologists in London. The first was a free consultation by [name removed] at The Westminster Practice. He told me I was losing my hair and it would get worse and I should pay £2200 upfront for a year treatment of Vitastim and Biostim and hair care products.

I saw 2 other trichologists who couldn’t see a problem with me except I have naturally fine hair. They had never heard of the products and I have since researched both those and [name removed] (who is not a registered trichologist) and found every single mention of these products online was written by [name removed]. I also found on the ITN website he was on a program called ‘Salesmen from Hell’ and he was recorded trying to push expensive products and was fired from his position for fraud.

I was very very close to handing over the money a few months ago until I took a second opinion and need to share my experience with others. However, he instilled a seed in my head that the products he mentioned could thicken my hair and give me a “curtain of hair better than I had before” and I am unable to put this seed out of my mind. Are these products available anywhere else under a different brand name?

Many thanks

I blanked this person’s name because it is our policy not to slander anyone. I am free, however, to reference publications like newspapers or official news releases if they are in the public domain. You did the right thing to research the person who was selling you a line. Don’t believe people when the promises made are outlandish and not realistic. £2200 (around $3500 US) is a lot of money to gamble on a sales pitch.

There’s no magic product that will give you better, fuller hair than you had before you started losing it… particularly for women, since they have more limited treatment options.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss, scam

Sexy Bald Women in Sci-Fi

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

Hi guys –

I wanted to share an article about sexy bald women in sci-fi that you might be interested in: the 4 and a half sexiest bald women in sci-fi.

Here’s the link: Hairlossgeeks.com

Personally, I thought it was a bit of positive fun about a pretty serious topic for your readers. Hope you guys enjoy it!

Thanks!

There are absolutely bald women with sex appeal… but the blue skin would turn some heads.

Tags: female hair loss, sci-fi

Is Minoxidil Only for Men?

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

I am a 58yr old woman. My hair is falling. A hair doctor has put me on to MINOXIDIL TOPICAL SOLUTION USP 2% HAIROUSE-MX. 1ML 2 X DAILY along with multivitamin tablets. I have been on it since 45 days. But to know more about this solution i googled it. To my surprise i found out that this solution should only be used by men, not women. Secondly,when stopped hair falls again.

What should i do? i am worried. I dont want to use it for the rest of my life. How do i stop it and being a female using this, am i harming myself? Please help.

2% minoxidil is sold as Women’s Rogaine, 5% minoxidil is sold as Rogaine (for Men). It is the only medication that is FDA approved for treating female hair loss. Some doctors may prescribe the stronger minoxidil (5%) for women, but that is on an individual case by case basis. Besides, it looks like your doctor put you on the 2% anyway.

You do need to use it for life if you want to continue seeing the benefits, and stopping it will result in a disappearance of any benefits you saw from it. In 45 days, you probably didn’t notice too much of a difference, if any. You should talk to your doctor about your concerns.

Propecia (finasteride) is only for men, so perhaps you’re confusing the two medications.

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

My Mom Has Hair Loss After a Triple Bypass

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

My Mother had triple bypass in August 22, 2011. She has had alot of hair loss. She has done well from the surgery but this bothering her. Can this be from the meds that she was given to put to sleep?

I’m not sure which medications she’s taking, but stressful surgeries can certainly cause hair loss. Most of the time this will reverse in a year or so. Just wait it out.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, surgery, triple bypass, stress

In the News – Women of All Ages Can Have Hair Loss

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

Snippet from the article:

Women make up about 40 percent of Americans experiencing hair loss, according to data from the American Hair Loss Association, a California-based organization dedicated to educating and improving the lives of those affected by hair loss. Despite growing concern among women, hair loss is still often considered a male issue, but there are signs that women are no longer willing to suffer in silence.

Read the rest — Hair loss common in women of all ages

The article talks about female hair loss treatments, and acknowledges that the options are unfortunately more limited for women than they are for men.

We’ve written before about the many possible causes of female hair loss and the tests one may undergo to help determine the cause.

Tags: female hair loss, hair loss in women, hairloss, hair loss

Ovation Cell Therapy Caused Damage to My Transplants

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

Hi,
I am a 55 year old female that had hair grafts and was not informed not to use hair conditioner.

Can you tell me if I used Ovation Cell Therapy a month after my hair grafts if this would have caused any damage to my hair from prior grafts? I started losing a lot of my hair in my temple area from previous hair grafts. I have had four (4) hair restoration surgery’s over a period of 7 years and started losing hair after using Ovation Cell Therapy. I really only want to know for my own peace of mind.

Thanks in advance for you help and please advise

I am unfamiliar with the side effects of Ovation Cell Therapy. It looks like it’s a shampoo/moisturizer treatment, and I wouldn’t expect it to cause damage to transplanted hair. Have you talked to your surgeon? Do you have a possible allergy to any of the ingredients?

Tags: ovation, hair transplant, hairloss, hair loss

Woman’s Hair Grows on the Sides of Her Head, But Not on Top

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

I am a 48 year old African American female. I am diabetic. I also relax my own hair. For a while, the hair on the sides of my head has grown considerably, but the hair on the top of my head had not. Is this indicative of any particular condition? Thank you for your help.

You may have chemical damage from relaxing your hair, or genetic hair loss…. or something else entirely going on. There are a variety of possible causes for hair loss in women (see here).

Without seeing you, I can not tell much. Make an appointment with a good doctor/dermatologist who will give you an opinion.

Tags: female hair loss, hair loss, hairloss

Female Pattern Hair Loss Overview Published in Medical Journal

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

Snippet from the article:

Androgenetic alopecia affects both men and women. In men it produces male pattern hair loss with bitemporal recession and vertex baldness. In women it produces female pattern hair loss (FPHL) with diffuse alopecia over the mid-frontal scalp. FPHL occurs as a result of nonuniform hair follicle miniaturization within follicular units. Diffuse alopecia is produced by a reduction in the number of terminal fibres per follicular unit. Baldness occurs only when all hairs within the follicular units are miniaturized and is a relatively late event in women.

The concepts of follicular units and primary and secondary hair follicles within follicular units are well established in comparative mammalian studies, particularly in sheep. However, discovery of these structures in the human scalp hair and investigation of the changes in follicular unit anatomy during the development of androgenetic alopecia have provided a clearer understanding of the early stages of androgenetic alopecia and how the male and female patterns of hair loss are related.

Read the full abstract — Hair loss in women: medical and cosmetic approaches to increase scalp hair fullness

This is an interesting article published in the British Journal of Dermatology (December 2011) which covers the subject of hair loss in women. The recommendations in treatment suggest early medical intervention with drugs like spironolactone, minoxidil, and finasteride. When the hair loss becomes advanced, hair transplants work well if the hair in the occipital area (donor area) remains relatively unaffected by the process found in the balding area. The article also suggests women should use camouflaging agents to help give the appearance of thicker hair. There’s nothing particularly groundbreaking in here, but it’s a good overview.

Based on our experience at NHI though, unfortunately the donor area is often not spared in the woman with advanced balding so that the number of good candidates are limited. We have found that if the donor area has significant miniaturization, transplanting this hair to the thinning area often fails to give full benefits. Many women aren’t surgical candidates for this reason.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss, hair loss in women

Best Topical Cover for Female Hair Loss?

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

I am 30 yr old female and have been experiencing frontal hair loss. What is the best way to hide the scalp? – toppik, easibang, anything else? Does toppik have any side effects or does it damage hair/scalp?

Many people use Toppik, as it has no side effects. There are a variety of topical camouflaging agents that work well, but some people will try out a few and stick with their personal preference.

You should get a diagnosis and be examined by a competent doctor who does this type of work. You may be a good candidate for a hair transplant if the hair loss is only frontal. Women are usually not the best hair transplant candidates, but seeing a good hair transplant surgeon for a consultation would be the best way to figure it out.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, female hair loss, toppik

Eltroxin and Telogen Effluvium

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

I have recently been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, and I have started eltroxin. I have also been suffering from FPB since the last 8-9 years. Is eltroxin likely to cause a TE to people who is predisposed, like me? When is this hair loss noticed, and can it be prolonged? Can anything be done to contain it?

There is an association between taking Eltroxin (levothyroxine) and hair loss, particularly in the first few months of taking it. You need to take this complication up with your doctor. It’s worth noting that hypothyroidism itself can cause hair loss, too.

Tags: levothyroxine, eltroxin, hair loss, hairloss, female hair loss