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 Thank you so much. I am on bioidentical hormones I take C-Bi-est 2.5 mg loz a day and C-Progesterone 50mg loz on day 14-28 of my cycle.
Is that the same as premarin? Do I take premarin in addition to my bioidentical hormones?
Thanks!
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Followup To
Question -
I am a 45 year old woman. My hair, previously very thick, suddenly started falling out about 6 weeks ago, although I had noticed it was thinning in the crown for a few moths. There is significant hair loss and almost a bald spot on the top of the back of my scalp - I also notice alot of grey that was not there before. My father has had thin hair on top since his mid fourties, my mother in her mid 70's has just started thinning a bit, but has had very thick hair all her life. I had early perimenopause at age 41 and have been on bioidentical hormones for the past 6 months prior to that syntheic HRT since age 42.
I have been self supplementing with DHEA for a few years with normal dhea levels, but recently changed brands and took 25mg approx 3 times a week.
Other symptoms that I have noticed in the past six months - tightening of my chest - it is hard to take a deep breath - frequent yawning - insomnia - in the past 3 months acne on my forehead and oily skin - NEVER in my history have I had oily skin or acne. Am a redhead with freckly dry skin. Also mild depression and at the height of the acne breakout prior to the hair loss dramatic mood swings. I also have gained a small amount of weight with no eating habit changes which does not respond to diet or consistent excercise, constipation and bloating is an issue as well. I also notice significant heat intolerance and occasional heart palpitations.
Went to see my ob/gyn a few weeks ago on 8/9/06 and she ran some blood work. here are my levels
T4 7.19
T3 33.9
TSH 1.793
Testosterone, T 64
Testoterrone , F .87
My Dr messed up and didn't get a dhea level -
she told me to stop the dhea and that my testosterone was high and we will repeat the blood work in a few weeks. She said if it was still high she would order an mri of my ovaries and adrenals. This confuses me because the range for adult females is 20-100 and I am 64. I would be considered high for menopausal 5-40 is the range - but I still have a period every month so I am not menopausal.
Meanwhile the hair loss is sporatic, one day it will be minimal and others quite a bit, I am concerned of course it will not grow back and the more I lose the longer it will take if it does!!! - my acne started subsided significantly in the past few weeks soon after I stopped taking the dhea.
A naturopath has suggested I have adrenal fatique due to stress (I work alot but no other major stress at this time)
I had biofeedback test and was told I might have hashimotos disease (not sure how much credence you put in that) however the yawning and tight chest are symptoms.
I take alot of B vitamins and have had some B12 shots also.
I would REALLY appreciate some insight and direction and what other tests you think I should undergo or specialists I should see? And if there is any way to hault the hair loss!
Carol
Answer -
It seems to me you have inherited androgentic alopecia which you made worse by taking DHEA which is converted to testosterone and that in turn becomes DHT which causes balding. YOU WANT TO LOWER YOUR TESTOSTERONE AND BLOCK ITS TAGRGET SITE ON THE HAIR FOLLICLE. Stop the DHEA take an estrogen, something like Premarin, to reduce your own production of testosterone AND take Spironolactone 100mg/day to block it from telling the hairs to fall out. Check your serum ferritin to make sure it is above 70.
You can read more about all of this in my book "Hair Loss Answers",which you can read for free online aty www.hairdoc.com
Answer I'm sorry but I do not know what your bioidentical hormones are and this should be sicussed with your gynecologist , endocrinologist or even dermatologist. It may be you are taking enough estrogen already but with your symptoms it would seem as if you are not.
