Hi, I hope you can help me. I am a 60 year old married female and have been experiencing some increased hair loss in the last year, but a significant increase in the last 3 months. I had a ruptured intestine in 8/09 and have temporary colostomy. I am also on a regiment of antidepression meds and other meds for the past 5 years. We have also lost 3 of our parents in the past 14 months which has added to the stress level. From some of the info I have found on hair loss all of these factors can contribute to the condition, which by the way is not in patches but just thinning over the entire scalp. I have always had full thick long hair all my life and now am heart broken to see it come out in large amounts after every shower and combing. I had recent check up to address the hair loss and a blood test was done to cover Thyroid levels also and it all came back OK. The PA I s/w at the Dr office said a option was to take Minoxidil (Rogain) but not sure of possible side effects or interactions with my other meds. Any ideas or suggestions? They also suggested following up with a Dermetoligest as the next step. Do you know of vitamins supplements that may also help?
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Q: Sudden excessive hair loss
Hi Jo!
I am so sorry this is happening to you. It know you must be very worried about this.
Is there anybody else in your family who has experienced this? In reading on this topic it seems sometimes it can be hereditary. Some of the other reasons for female pattern baldness is just aging and the change in hormones.
And here are still other reasons for femaile hair loss:
"* Temporary shedding of hair (telogen effluvium)
* Breaking of hair (from such things as styling treatments and twisting or pulling of hair)
* Patchy areas of total hair loss (alopecia areata -- an immune disorder causing temporary hair loss)
* Medications
* Certain skin diseases
* Hormonal abnormalities
* Iron deficiency
* Underactive thyroid
* Vitamin deficiency"
It seems like they checked out these possibilities?
Know that I am not a doctor but one of the first things I am wondering as I read your letter is the possibility that one or a combination of your antidepressants is causing this. Did the hair loss begin after using any new medications? I am the Community Leader over on My Depression Connection and we have gotten quite a few questions about hair loss. There are side effects to some of the antidepressants, usually rare, but some do include hair loss. I would investigate whether any meds could be causing this with the help of your doctor.
The suggestion to go see a dermatologist is a good one. They will have the expertise to let you know what is causing this and to tell you what you can do to treat your hair loss.
I am sorry you are going through this. Thank you for your question.
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Hi Jo, I have experienced this myself due to medications as well. The dermatologist told me not to sleep with rollers and not to put anything tight in the hair for pulling or such. Try not to shampoo your hair but once a week, use a botin shampoo and botin vitamins like 100mg or more this seems to stimulate hair growth. Do not blow dry your Hair this will dry your scalp as well put a little moisterizer cream in your hair, set your hair during the day and take the rollers out before you go to sleep or use steam rollers the less stress the better also use a wide tooth comb. and of course use a B-complex vitamin. But still see the derm doctor he will probably have special solutions for the scalp as well. I can tell you my hair has grown in around my temples where it was very thin for years. Hope you will find the right products for you and that your hair will grow back soon, Cecelia