AboutPeter J. Panagotacos, <B>M.D.</B> Expertise I have 30 years experience in the field of medical and surgical Hair Restoration and am Board Certified
in Dermatology and Hair Restoration Surgery.
Experience I have 30 years experience in the field of medical and surgical Hair Restoration and am Board Certified
in Dermatology and Hair Restoration Surgery.
More information can be found at my website
www.hairdoc.com
Question Hi, I am a 43 year old female and I take Levoxyl & Cytomel for Hypothyroidism for about 2 years now. I have always lost an excessive amount of hair, but now you can see definate lines in my hair. When I comb it straight up, you can see I have a layer of hair that is about 1/2" long, a layer that is about 3" and a layer that is about 5" as well as the full length of about 12" that is very thin. I never have my hair layered and only have it trimmed about 1/2" about every 7 or 8 weeks on the ends only. I also have to color my hair since it is rapidly turning gray. My co-workers are noticing my hair and giving me advise and tips, so it has me very worried. I have always had bad skin, hair, and ridgy brittle nails with the ridges running in both directions. When I run my fingers thru my scalp, I feel something like salt crystals and my hair falls out with the bulb attached, so it isn't breaking off. I also take Wellbutrin 150 SR BID since having an abdominal hysterectomy with severe complications resulting in depression when I had a ureter ligated during the surgery and had to have another open abdominal surgery to cut and reattach it to my bladder 6 weeks later. I have had various types of anesthesia 7 different times and been on a morphine pump 3 times between 3/13 to 8/14 and had two seperate nephrostomies put in my left kidney. I am taking several vitamins & suppliments (Multi Vit, Vit C, E, & calcium, Grape seed extract, cranberry capsules (to ward off bladder infections) enzyme suppliments that have beneficial bacteria in them to help my intestinal tract since all the antibiotics I have taken has given me constant diarrhea up until I began the enzymes about 1 1/2 weeks ago. I also take a fish oil cap, flax seed oil cap, and just started take SAM-e, and beneficial salts (homeopathic remedy) and am hoping to regrow my hair and slow the loss. I have had elevated Cortisol levels in the past and am using a .1 /day Vivelle estrodiol patch and 75 mg progesterone and 1 mg testosterone bio-identical HR cream that I rub on my inner thighs every evening. I have a follow up appt with my dermatologist for my breakouts on my face, neck, shoulders, and back. I am also using Retin A on my surgical scars, but not on my face since it does nothing except turn it into a scaley mess. My skin is very oily on the surface, but dry once I wash it with dove soap, so I don't understand why my own oils don't moisturize my skin. My diet is fairly good, in that I don't eat a lot of junk or sweets. I prefer a lot of protein (eat 3 hard boiled eggs for breakfast each day) and drink at least 64 oz of water a day and love nuts and almonds, broccoli and collard greens. I never drink soda and occassionally drink decaf tea or coffee. I was anemic after my surgery and was put on iron suppliments and also had to take potassium tabs for a few weeks, but haven't had any recent labs. Would using a hair loss product help? I've tried Nioxin hair products for thinning & chemically treated hair but didn't see any good results. In fact, I think it may have caused my hair to become more brittle. I am using Redkin Extreme products right now and my hair is nice and soft, baby fine, and very thin and just doesn't look healthy. Feels nice and healthy though. I do not blow dry my hair, except my bangs, and never towel dry my hair, and only blot it and I never brush it, only use a comb, so I don't think I am mistreating my hair and causing this. Stress, yes I feel stressed since all these complications but think I am handling it very well. Since I am going for a follow up to my Derm this week, what do you suggest that I ask him or have him run as far as labs? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks
Answer You may want to ask if you really need the testosterone. You have given plenty of reasons to have had telogen effluvium shedding at different times over the past year which is why the regrowth is at different lengths. It would seem you are on the right track for getting your hair back.
