Post Hair Loss Questions and Get Answers

This insightful information was posted on our hair restoration forum by Dr. Timothy Carman of La Jolla, CA, who is recommended on the Hair Transplant Network.

Recently, I lost about 40 pounds of muscle and fat due to a crash diet.  I know they’re not good, but I was very overweight and was tired of being laughed at.  A few months after my diet, I started noticing hair loss, including brittle hair on my legs and scalp especially around the nape.  I went to a doctor but am still waiting for the blood test results.

During the crash diet, I severely limited my caloric intake and didn’t eat much if any protein.  Also, afterwards, i had two intestinal infections and thinning hair.  I don’t know if my hair los has anything to do with the crash diet or infections.  I am very worried about my hair, please help.

What you are describing is classic for symptoms of telogen effluvium - which refers to a temporary hair shedding related to some type of “stressor” - in your case, caloric restriction or “crash diet”. 

The natural hair growth cycle as it relates to this, and as observed when we perform hair transplants, is that, after the “stressor”, the follicles goes into a resting phase that lasts three months. Also, this “three month window” is also a pertinent time line one sees for the onset of the shedding period as well.  Hence, what we do to our system to “stress” it begins to show up in three months. Conversely, when we “correct” or remove the stressor (in your case resume normal eating patterns, sleep, etc.) it will take another three months to begin to see the hair regrowth of that change.  As hair grows slowly (about 1 cm/month) it takes additional months to really appreciate a change for the better.

My dermatologist couldn’t answer this question and I couldn’t find an explanation on the internet.  If DHT is the main culprit of hair loss, then why doesn’t Propecia protect minoxidil dependent hair upon stopping minoxidil regardless of its different mechanism of action.  If Propecia is reducing DHT, then why would stopping minoxidil cause hair loss?

I’d suggest that it’s possible for Propecia to maintain hair regrowth from minoxidil.  

Remember that Propecia only really inhibits about 60% of DHT, leaving 40% to attack hair follicles.  Minoxidil adds extra stimulation to your hair causing hair regrowth.  Removing it from the equation will lessen your chance of keeping some of this hair.

I suppose the phrase “minoxidil dependent” should be explained a bit further.  Healthy hair not affected by DHT won’t become dependent on minoxidil.  Only miniaturizing hair that’s been successfully sustained or rejuvenated by minoxidil is.  If a patient uses minoxidil only, most likely these hairs would fall out upon stopping its use.  However, if Propecia is added to the hair loss regime later, some of these hairs may survive due to Propecia successfully inhibiting DHT. 

Unfortunately, there’s really no way to know for sure what hair you’ll keep and which you’ll lose if you stop minoxidil.

I hope this helps explain things further.

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

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Before recommending a treatment, balding men and women must discover what’s causing their hair loss. In most cases, hair loss is due to genetics, causing hair to be vulnerable to the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Though DHT is more prominent in men, it’s also found in women and still the number 1 cause of baldness in the world. However, other conditions can contribute to or even cause non-genetic hair loss.

Due to promotional propaganda and misinformation spread through the internet, differentiating fact from fiction can be difficult. Below, we expose the legends and distinguish what can and cannot contribute to or cause thinning hair.

Stress Causes Hair Loss: If you ask just about everyone, most would tell you that stress can cause you to go bald. Read this article to learn whether or not there is any truth to this highly popular belief.

Daily Hair Washing and Hair Loss: Due to the amount of hair men and women find in the shower, some have conjectured that daily washing can cause your hair to thin. Learn if there is any truth to this concern.

Accutane Acne Treatment and Baldness: Learn why Accutane treatment for acne might be detrimental to your hair.

Hair Pulling, Styling, and Hair Loss: Not everyone pulls their own hair out. However, excessive hair pulling or styling can be the cause of isolated balding. Learn why and whether or not this is temporary or permanent.

Differentiating what really works to treat hair loss and alopecia from the hype isn’t easy. Thankfully, leading hair restoration physicians and veteran hair transplant patients regularly offer their experiences on what works to treat baldness.

Below you will find answers to 5 of this week’s top topic hair loss related questions provided by real balding men and women and physician experts. You can also ask your own questions and get answers on our hair restoration forum or privately by contacting us.

Do Split Ends Cause Male or Female Hair Loss?

Why Transplanted Hair Can Seem Wispy and Lifeless at First (Dr. Carman)

Properly Preparing for Hair Restoration

Alternative DHT Blockers to Propecia – Are They Effective?

Applying Rogaine over Topical Concealers like Dermmatch

Additionally, these questions and more are answered daily on our news and blog sites including the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, the Hair Transplant Network, and the Hair Loss Learning Center.

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair loss, alopecia, hair restoration, hair transplant, treat baldness, balding

With all the new hair loss products regularly marketed in the media, it’s vital to be able to differentiate what really works from the hype.

Our educational and supportive hair loss resource and community is interested in keeping you up to speed with the latest and greatest discoveries that can really help you deal with baldness and restore your hair.

Below you will find answers to 5 of this week’s top topic questions provided by educated patients and expert physicians. You can also ask your own questions and get answers on our hair restoration forum or do a free online consult with one of our physicians.

Increasing Hair Transplant Graft Survival and Postoperative Healing Time (Dr. Cooley)

Does Daily Protein Intake and Weight Loss Cause Hair Loss? (Dr. Ross)

How Much Hair Shedding is Normal on a Daily Basis? (Dr. Beehner)

Why Xandrox Might Cause Unwanted Body Hair Growth in Women

Is Treating Hair Loss with Laser Therapy worth $6000?

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair loss products, hair loss, baldness

Can hair loss be predicted by a medical professional?

This insightful article was written by Dr. William Lindsey of Reston, VA who is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians.

I have had a number of balding patients who recently have either seen other local hair restoration doctors for consultations, or who have had a hair transplant procedure in the past and now have lost more hair.  A common theme has been that they were told by other consultants that they weren’t going to experience more hair loss.

I am pretty frank with folks and admit:

1. If I could predict the future, I wouldn’t be doing hair work, but picking stocks or making bets in Vegas.

2. Since a major component of eventual hair loss is genetics and luck, I can estimate potential loss if “everyone in the family” has a certain pattern, but its only a guess.

So my question to hair transplant patients or men and women with advanced balding patterns who’ve seen a doctor, was their prediction about future hair loss right?   Were you advised to a smaller or larger hair transplant session?

William Lindsey, M.D.

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Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair loss, balding, hair restoration, hair transplant, future hair loss

I have noticed my hair looks thinner.  I  can notice this when I’m under a light and and when my regular hairstyle does not look the same.  Am I going bald?

This could very well be the start of a genetic hair loss known as androgenic alopecia or male pattern baldness.   Hereditary alopecia is initiated when the hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone) binds to the receptor sites of hair follicles causing them to shrink and eventually, the follicles will no longer produce new hair.

 You may want to look into medical treatments like Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil) which can help slow down, stop, or even reverse hair loss.  These non-surgical solutions are typically pretty effective in early stages of loss, and are virtually non-effective in completely bald areas.

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: bald, hair loss, androgenic alopecia, male pattern baldness, alopecia, DHT, dihydrotestosterone, Propecia, finasteride, Rogaine, minoxidil

Thousands of balding men and women come to our community seeking answers to their hair loss questions daily. Thanks to the dedicated patient and physician expert members of our discussion forum and websites, differentiating fact from fiction and learning what really works to treat hair loss is easy.

Below we’ve compiled some of this week’s hot topic hair loss related questions and answers from our discussion forum, blogs, and email. Follow the links below to a topic that you find interesting and read what real patients and physician experts have to say about each topic.

Diary of a Hair Transplant – In this article, one man shares his personal hair loss struggles and research that led him to restore his hair through surgical hair restoration.

Restrictions on Activities After Hair Transplant Surgery – Read expert advice from world renowned Coalition member Dr. True on when it’s ok to resume normal activities after hair replacement surgery

Can Low Iron Levels Cause Hair Loss? Learn how low iron levels can contribute or cause non-genetic baldness, how common it is, and how to treat it

Can Alfatradiol Replace Rogaine to Treat Hair Loss? Learn whether or not topical alfatradiol is an effective hair loss treatment and whether or not it is more effective as an adjunct or replacement treatment for Rogaine (minoxidil).

Can a Bad Diet Contribute to Hair Loss? Learn if eating junk food can contribute to losing your hair

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Little boys and girls recognize baldness at a very young age. In fact, kids can be brutally honest. “You’re bald Grandpa”, you might have said to your grandfather when you were a child while looking at your reflection in his polished scalp.

However, it’s only a few years until you start wondering if one day you will be suffering from hair loss like other members of your family, hoping that you take after your uncle who’s got a full head of hair, and not your dad’s father who’s completely bald.

In this hair loss discussion, forum member “foreveryung” shares a photo of his grandfather’s scalp and wonders if his balding will progress to this level. Share your experiences and opinions on this topic and learn how genetics contribute to balding how much hair you may lose.

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: baldness, bald, hair loss, balding

I’m trying to determine if I’m balding due to genetics or an iron deficiency.  Can hair loss really be caused by a lack of iron in the body?

This question was posed by a hair loss sufferer seeking hair loss help on our hair restoration forum and answered by Dr. Steven Gabel of Hillsboro, OR who is an elite member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.  His professional answer is below.

Iron deficiency is a real cause of hair loss. I have seen several cases of iron deficiency as a causative factor for alopecia in women. When I see women for hair loss, one of the things I investigate, along with other blood tests, is their iron levels. For men, a blood work up is rare, however, if their history and examination are not consistent with androgenetic alopecia, then I will investigate further.

A while back, I went to a lecture about hair loss by an expert dermatologist who specializes in alopecia (she was one of the original physicians in the phase trials for Propecia before it went to market) and she reports that even low iron levels contributes to hair loss. Women do have a higher degree of iron loss because of their monthly cycles, but I think you may want to have your physician work this up.

Steven Gabel, M.D.

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Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: balding, iron deficiency, hair loss, hair loss help, alopecia, androgenetic alopecia, Propecia