Expert: Melanie Vonzabuesnig - 11/4/2008

Question
I have been losing hair for two years. it started out just noticing thinning but quickly turned into te. Im a 44 year old female with fybromyalgia. First we thought it was the trycylic antidepressants i was on for 15 years and very low iron so i have switched meds to Luvox,Xanax,Temazepam,Seroquel, a very small dose Demerol and Darcocet. The new meds are the Luvox,Seroquel(small dose) and Xanax. It has taken me almost two years to get my serrum ferratin to 102(was at 52) and some doctors say its from that and others say its the stress of losing all this hair. Anyway I wear a hairpiece behind my hairline but I have spots i need to fill in and find powder eyeshadow down the side of my hairline works the best and i have an inch by half inch that needs covered for the hairpiece to work. Will this clog my hair follicles and prevent regrowth? (I have had some new hair coming in at the temples despite still having some other shedding.) I tried Toppix and didnt care for it. I apply the shadow twice a week and wash my hair twice a week. I've been told Dermmatch would probably clog the follicles. It seems like such a small thing but makes the difference whether i can wear hair or not and i keep getting conflicting answers as to if eyeshadow is safe. I know there must be some oil in it to make it adhere to your lid but dont alot of hair products and styling products have oils in them? If you could help with this that that would be great and if you dont know thats ok for me to hear also..it's so important though so any guidance or referral would be helpful. Also if dont recover Im thinking about having a follicullar hair transplant just all around my hairline and the transplant information says they take it from a part of the back where you're hair's programmed not to shed and once its transplanted it's there for life. Does that mean its safe from te should that ever happen again? (none of my medication have hair loss as a side effect)

Answer
Hi Patty: I understand the dilemma in your in. I was trying to think of another option to stain the skin that would be safer. I thought maybe you could use henna in a color that matches your hair.

I was also wondering if you could wear a regular wig instead of the hairpiece but maybe you are uncomfortable with that. I understand.

I don't know how much harm (if any) the shadow has on your follicles. I would prefer you used something more natural. If you really don't want to give it up I would at least wash it off in the evening to your scalp a break from it. Then reapply it in the morning. I'm actually surprised the powder shadow actually stays on that long.

It is very encouraging that you are seeing new growth. That's a very good sign. Would you be interested in trying essential oil formulas to stimulate more new growth?

Starting (or stopping) any medication can cause hair loss even if it's not listed as a symptom.

I don't know much about transplants but even it the transplanted hair remains intact, the rest of your hair can become affected.

I hope this helps. Keep me posted.

Sincerely, Melanie Vonzabuesnig