Homeopathic Medicine, Birth Control, and Hair Loss

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).