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Suggest Treatment For Severe Hair Loss

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Posted on Thu, 14 Sep 2017
Question: I would like to know why I keep losing my hair, it will grow back and then i lose it again. The hair that falls out doesn't even have a root bulb on it.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Mirjeta Guni (27 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
About hair loss;

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for asking!
I have gone carefully through your concern.
Under active thyroid and anemia are the 2 most common causes of hair loss. Even though you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism, you should check also iron level ( ferrtinemia).
There are also some types of hair loss with autoimune origin and need treatment with corticosteroids but they are characteristic and your physician should have noticed.
Usually, under treatment with levothyroxine when TSH is corrected the hair loss is improved. Iron supplements are also recommended if iron level is low.
So, try to keep TSH level corrected and check the iron level.
Hope the information will help.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Mirjeta Guni (10 hours later)
I will give you a little history of my health, the first time I lost my hair was in 2004 after two tragedies, I watched my daughter deliver stillborn twins and also my father died. I went to a dermatologist and he said my hair loss was due a traumatic event and it was called tellogen effluvium. My hair grew back and I didn't lose it again until 2015 when my mother died. My hair grew back again and by the Spring of 2016 I had enough hair to stop wearing my wig. Everything was fine for a few months and then around the first part of December it started falling out again and within 3 weeks it was gone. I noticed the hair that was coming out didn't even have a root bulb on it. I went all winter without hair and wearing a wig and but Spring of this year enough grew back that I stopped wearing my wig, even though it was very short. It has been growing nicely this summer but once again it is falling out. My tsh level for the 2 years was around .37 or so, I went to my endocrinologist and he adjusted my synthroid from .88 to .75mcg and now my tsh is 3.2. I also have an overactive pituitary gland and am on 2.5 mg of bromcriptine, my prolactin level has gone up some since my thyroid medicine was adjusted, it was a little over 7 the last time I had it checked. I have fibromyalgia and have a lot of muscle pain as well, and I have IBS with constipation so I never take iron supplements because of my constipation problem. Does this information give you a better insight to what my problem is or should I be seeking help from a dermatologist?


Also could you tell me what autoimmune conditions are related to hair loss?
Thank you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Mirjeta Guni (9 hours later)
Brief Answer:
About hair loss;

Detailed Answer:
Welcome back!

Your description is more clear now.

I would rule out thyroid as a cause of your hair loss, with this hormonal result.

I suppose from your description that it is a diffuse hair loss and not areata (alopecia areata is a characteristic of autoimmune hair loss).

Except for underactive thyroid (that in your case is corrected), a low iron level, Cushing disease, lupus erythematosus can be associated with diffuse hair loss, but they have other clinical symptoms that your physician has ruled out.

Local treatment with Minoxidil or injections with biotin may help.
So, I would recommend seeing a dermatologist for further treatment.

Best wishes,
Dr.Mirjeta
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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Follow up: Dr. Mirjeta Guni (24 hours later)
Thank you
doctor
Answered by Dr. Mirjeta Guni (8 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Wish you good health!

Detailed Answer:
It is a pleasure!
Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
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Answered by
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Dr. Mirjeta Guni

Endocrinologist

Practicing since :2006

Answered : 2414 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Severe Hair Loss

Brief Answer: About hair loss; Detailed Answer: Hello and thank you for asking! I have gone carefully through your concern. Under active thyroid and anemia are the 2 most common causes of hair loss. Even though you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism, you should check also iron level ( ferrtinemia). There are also some types of hair loss with autoimune origin and need treatment with corticosteroids but they are characteristic and your physician should have noticed. Usually, under treatment with levothyroxine when TSH is corrected the hair loss is improved. Iron supplements are also recommended if iron level is low. So, try to keep TSH level corrected and check the iron level. Hope the information will help. Kind regards, Dr.Mirjeta