Posts Tagged: Causes of Hair Loss in Women

Can Hair Loss be Caused by Pregnancy, Prozac, or Hyperactive Thyroid?

December 1st, 2006

Q: I had a baby 12 weeks ago and have recently been diagnosed with a hyperactive thyroid, although only slightly. I was also taking Prozac for 7-10 days. I am 27 and have been experiencing a significant amount of hair loss from all over my scalp. What are the chances that this would be permanent?

A: Based upon your history, you have three possible reasons for having a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium; thyroid disease, medication induced (Prozac) and pregnancy.

Telogen effluvium is diagnosed by a hair pull test and observing club hairs under the microscope. It is generally a reversible condition, regardless of the cause. Telogen effluvium most often occurs 2-3 months after the inducing event, so your pregnancy is the most likely cause.

Prozac would less likely be the problem since you have only been on it for a short time. Besides causing Telogen effluvium, thyroid disease can also alter your hair characteristics, which can make your hair appear thinner.

Other causes of hair loss, such as genetic female pattern hair alopecia, must be ruled out.

Please see Hair Loss in Women page on the Bernstein Medical – Center for Hair Restoration website for more information.

Topic: Women

Tags: / / / / / / / / / / / /

Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 8:02 am

Can Hair Transplant Treat Diffuse Hair Loss in Women?

October 27th, 2006

Q: My hair loss resembles the grade I female hair loss scale, but none of the male hair loss patterns. It has been relatively stable for the past five years and only recently has it begun to progress further. I began both Propecia and regain two months ago, but the hair loss still continues at the same pace. I’m really worried. Does a hair transplant work in such a diffuse hair loss?

A: If your hair loss is diffuse only on top, then a hair transplant will be effective. This condition is called Diffuse Patterned Alopecia or DPA.

If the diffuse pattern of hair loss affects the back and sides as well, then surgical hair restoration should be avoided. In this case (called Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia or DUPA) the donor area is not permanent and the transplanted hair will continue to thin over time.

Topic: Hair Loss

Tags: / / / / / / / / /

Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 2:02 pm

Can Hair Transplant Restore Frontal Hair Loss in Women?

September 25th, 2006

Q: Although I read that women are supposedly protected from hair loss in the frontal hairline by the enzyme aromatase that is exactly where I am losing hair. My hairline has receded and I have developed a widow’s peak. What can be causing this, and how can I fix it? It seems to have been happening gradually for a few years.

A: Less than 10% of female hair loss is in a frontal pattern that is similar to the pattern of genetic hair loss seen in men.

Women with this pattern can often be good candidates for hair transplantation, particularly if the donor area is stable.

Topic: Women

Tags: / / / / / / / /

Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 11:37 am

Can Hair Loss in Women Come from Hair Dye?

September 15th, 2006

Q: I am a 48 year old woman. Since I have used a new hair dye, I seem to be going bald. Is this possible?

A: Dying hair is a very common practice and hair loss in women who are 48 years old is also very common. The fact that the two have occurred together does not necessarily imply that there is a cause and effect relationship.

Women who are already losing hair often go to a great deal of effort to disguise this fact with dying, bleaching, and perming. These procedures, particularly if too aggressive, or done too frequently, can cause weakening and increased fragility of the hair shaft and increased hair breakage may result. This is more common if the hair is already fine in texture. This breakage is frequently interpreted as “hair loss” and it certainly does result in a significant loss of hair bulk, although the follicle itself is not damaged.

When there is a relationship between the hair dye and hair loss, it is usually an inflammatory/allergic or irritant reaction. If severe, there may be an actual burn. In these cases, there would be a history of redness and swelling.

An inflammatory reaction could cause hair loss but it would be unusual to damage follicles enough to produce scarring – although this occasionally does occur.

A scalp biopsy is often helpful to sort out these cases.

Topic: Women

Tags: / / / / / / / /

Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 9:49 am

Can Women Suffer Hair Loss from Hormone Replacement Therapy with Testosterone?

August 18th, 2006

Q: Dr. Bernstein, a lot of older women are taking testosterone to restore libido, but are they going to suffer hair loss as a consequence?

A: They can. In women there is a delicate balance between the androgens, i.e. testosterone and estrogens. Estrogen is protective to some degree against hair loss, which is why most women don’t experience such severe hair loss as do men.

When a woman takes testosterone supplements, it upsets that balance and can cause hair loss.

However, hair loss in post-menopausal women is usually due to age related changes. Typically, the hair decreases in size in a genetically determined progression that seems not to be directly related to changes in the levels of hormones.

For more information, please see the Causes of Hair Loss in Women page on the Bernstein Medical – Center for Hair Restoration website.

Topic: Women

Tags: / / / / / / / / /

Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 9:17 am



Pages: 1 2 Next»


© 2009 Bernstein Medical, P.C. All Rights Reserved.