Stress Induced Hair Loss

I’m 42/F and in the past three months I have lost a good amount of hair and there is no balding in my family. I am on thyroid RX (5 yrs of Levothyroxine). Since then I have had my thyroid checked and it’s is normal. I have noticed my scalp does itch (not intensly) and the hair is falling out from the follicle (white tips are on the ends of each strand) and it comes out worse in the shower. Dr recommend to seek a dermatologist, which is my next step. I also take Estrogen (7 years), Topamax (6 mo), Maxalt (2 mo). I have alot of stress in my life besides.

Scared of going bald.

There many reasons for hair loss, such as hypothyroidism, ezcema, alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, lupus, drugs, stress, crash diet and infections. I recommend that you have extensive blood work done to rule out many of these causes for your hair loss; a good endodrinologist or dermatologist should be able to do this. Alopecia Areata and Telogen Effluvium are causes of hair loss where biopsies may be indicated. You also need an extensive mapping of your head for miniaturization. Female patterned hair loss has very characteristic findings on mapping. You must realize that it is normal to lose up to 100 hairs per day.