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Suggest Treatment For Severe Hair Loss

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Posted on Mon, 14 Mar 2016
Question: Hi Doc, I have always had thick long hair but have been suffering from severe hair loss for the last 2 months. I have been ill and was hospitalized. Have been on steroids (prednisolone) which I have recently stopped.
I visited a dermatologist who has asked me to take Keraboost tablets for 3 months and Zevit capsules for 3 months. I there anything else I can apply on my scalp as I continue to loose a lot of hair. Is it true that once you stop using Minoxidil, the hair loss starts again. I am not using Minoxidil but was considering it.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
You may use minoxidil as it would hasten recovery

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us

I have gone through your query and I have understood your concern.

I would suggest a possibility of 'Telogen effluvium' as the reason behind your recent increase in hair shedding. Usually, 1 to 3 months after a stressful event e.g a surgery or a medical illness, hair that was growing earlier i.e was in Anagen Phase, gets shifted to Telogen phase, the resting phase of hair growth cycle (the stress response). Once hair enters Telogen phase, it is subsequently shed over the next 1-3 months. Telogen effluvium is a reversible condition; as soon as the stressful event passes off, the hair follicle once again enters Anagen Phase i.e growth phase.
Therefore, I feel your increased hair shedding is most probably a result of Telogen Efluvium induced by your preceding medical illness. This phase should pass over in next 1-3 months.
I suggest you to continue with the tablets mentioned.
In addition, you may start with Minoxidil solution 2%, 1 ml, twice daily. Minoxidil is a non-specific hair growth promoter and it encourages the hair to shift from Telogen Phase to Anagen Phase i.e aids recovery from Telogen Efluvium. Therefore, the action of minoxidil is just to hasten the recovery from telogen effluvium, and since the inciting event has already passed, the new hair that would re-grow would stay put, even after stopping minoxidil, though this recovery phase would take around 4-6 months and hence you need to use minoxidil and tablets for this period of time.

Regards
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Kakkar

Dermatologist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 9612 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Severe Hair Loss

Brief Answer: You may use minoxidil as it would hasten recovery Detailed Answer: Hello. Thank you for writing to us I have gone through your query and I have understood your concern. I would suggest a possibility of 'Telogen effluvium' as the reason behind your recent increase in hair shedding. Usually, 1 to 3 months after a stressful event e.g a surgery or a medical illness, hair that was growing earlier i.e was in Anagen Phase, gets shifted to Telogen phase, the resting phase of hair growth cycle (the stress response). Once hair enters Telogen phase, it is subsequently shed over the next 1-3 months. Telogen effluvium is a reversible condition; as soon as the stressful event passes off, the hair follicle once again enters Anagen Phase i.e growth phase. Therefore, I feel your increased hair shedding is most probably a result of Telogen Efluvium induced by your preceding medical illness. This phase should pass over in next 1-3 months. I suggest you to continue with the tablets mentioned. In addition, you may start with Minoxidil solution 2%, 1 ml, twice daily. Minoxidil is a non-specific hair growth promoter and it encourages the hair to shift from Telogen Phase to Anagen Phase i.e aids recovery from Telogen Efluvium. Therefore, the action of minoxidil is just to hasten the recovery from telogen effluvium, and since the inciting event has already passed, the new hair that would re-grow would stay put, even after stopping minoxidil, though this recovery phase would take around 4-6 months and hence you need to use minoxidil and tablets for this period of time. Regards