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Suggest Treatment For Hair Loss While Treating Thyroid

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Posted on Wed, 3 Jun 2015
Question: Hello Sir,

My wife is suffering from hair loss and she is losing lots of hair everyday. i can also see little badness. she was having very beautiful and long hair. Could you please help us to prevent this.

Just for your information, she has thyroid and takes thyroxin
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
I suggest topical minoxidil solution along with an Oral biotin supplement

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us.

I have taken note of your query and I have understood you concern.

I would like to know the duration since she started noticing increased hair shedding?

I suggest a possibility of either Telogen Effluvium Or Female Pattern Androgenetic Alopecia.

Telogen Effluvium is when the hair gets shifted from growth phase i.e Anagen to resting phase i.e Telogen.
Telogen can happen in response to certain well known causes though in majority of the cases of Telogen effluvium it is difficult to ascertain the cause i.e there is no underlying cause

--Recent medical illness e.g Malaria, Dengue, Jaundice, recent surgery etc.
Hair fall is common during the recovery phase of medical illness. Hair fall usually starts 1-3 months after illness and can last for 3-6 months
--Post-partum hair loss i.e after delivery. Usually starts 3 months after delivery and can continue for 3-6 months.
--Significant weight loss (>10% body weight) can also lead to increased hair shedding.
--Iron and nutritional deficiency is a common cause in females.
--Underlying thyroid (hypothyroidism as well as hyperthroidism) is also a well known cause.

On the other hand, Female pattern Androgenetic Alopecia (FAGA), is mainly characterized by hair fall and thinning/ loss of volume from the center part of the scalp to such as extent that in later stages there is widened central part width i.e visible scalp on parting hair with a comb.
In FAGA hair does'nt grow as long and thick as it used to grow earlier and is shed prematurely.
FAGA is due to genetically determined sensitivity to circulating androgen/ hormones.

She may take up a test for serum ferritin levels which indicates iron stores. If found deficient, an iron supplement can be added.
Thyroid hormone levels should be monitored and adequately replaced as is being already done.

I would suggest her to use a topical Minoxidil 2% solution for her.
She needs to apply it twice daily (1 ml morning and 1 ml evening), at the scalp skin, with help of a dropper.
Start applying from the center of the scalp and gradually moving outwards

An Oral Biotin supplement, once daily can also be added.

These are prescription medications.
I will advise you to visit a nearby dermatologist so that he/ she can do clinical examination and give you prescription.
Response may be slow and may take 1-2 months for a noticeable effect and therefore she needs to have patience and continue with the treatment regularly.

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
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Kakkar

Dermatologist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 9612 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Hair Loss While Treating Thyroid

Brief Answer: I suggest topical minoxidil solution along with an Oral biotin supplement Detailed Answer: Hello. Thank you for writing to us. I have taken note of your query and I have understood you concern. I would like to know the duration since she started noticing increased hair shedding? I suggest a possibility of either Telogen Effluvium Or Female Pattern Androgenetic Alopecia. Telogen Effluvium is when the hair gets shifted from growth phase i.e Anagen to resting phase i.e Telogen. Telogen can happen in response to certain well known causes though in majority of the cases of Telogen effluvium it is difficult to ascertain the cause i.e there is no underlying cause --Recent medical illness e.g Malaria, Dengue, Jaundice, recent surgery etc. Hair fall is common during the recovery phase of medical illness. Hair fall usually starts 1-3 months after illness and can last for 3-6 months --Post-partum hair loss i.e after delivery. Usually starts 3 months after delivery and can continue for 3-6 months. --Significant weight loss (>10% body weight) can also lead to increased hair shedding. --Iron and nutritional deficiency is a common cause in females. --Underlying thyroid (hypothyroidism as well as hyperthroidism) is also a well known cause. On the other hand, Female pattern Androgenetic Alopecia (FAGA), is mainly characterized by hair fall and thinning/ loss of volume from the center part of the scalp to such as extent that in later stages there is widened central part width i.e visible scalp on parting hair with a comb. In FAGA hair does'nt grow as long and thick as it used to grow earlier and is shed prematurely. FAGA is due to genetically determined sensitivity to circulating androgen/ hormones. She may take up a test for serum ferritin levels which indicates iron stores. If found deficient, an iron supplement can be added. Thyroid hormone levels should be monitored and adequately replaced as is being already done. I would suggest her to use a topical Minoxidil 2% solution for her. She needs to apply it twice daily (1 ml morning and 1 ml evening), at the scalp skin, with help of a dropper. Start applying from the center of the scalp and gradually moving outwards An Oral Biotin supplement, once daily can also be added. These are prescription medications. I will advise you to visit a nearby dermatologist so that he/ she can do clinical examination and give you prescription. Response may be slow and may take 1-2 months for a noticeable effect and therefore she needs to have patience and continue with the treatment regularly. Regards