What Is The Cause And Treatment For Hair Loss?
Possibility of Telogen effluvium; details required
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thanks for writing to us at healthcaremagic
I am Dr. Kakkar. I have gone through your query.
I would like to gather more information from you in order to be able to guide you better.
-The duration of hair fall? How many hair strands do you lose per day, the approximate number (100)? Do you have dandruff?
-Any history of Thyroid (Hypothyroid or Hyperthyroid)? Have you ever been investigated for thyroid?
-Any history of Sudden/Significant weight loss preceding hair loss?
-Any major stressful event preceding hair loss (preceding 3-6 months) e.g history of medical illness (e.g jaundice, malaria, typhoid, dengue etc) Or preceding surgery Or any other major psychological/mental stress?
-Are you on any treatment for hair fall Or do you take any other medications?
Scalp hair grows for 2-3 years (Anagen phase) after which it enter the catagen phase (transition phase) which is followed by resting/shedding phase (Telogen phase).
Hair can prematurely enter from growth phase(Anagen) to resting/shedding phase(telogen) therefore resulting in shorter length and increased shedding. After a major stressing event like e.g medical/surgical illness OR post-partum OR weight loss, scalp hair is prematurely pushed into resting phase (Telogen) from the growth phase (Anaphase). This phase usually starts in the third or fourth month after a major stressful event and ends by six months if the stressful event is removed.
There are certain well known causes of Telogen effluvium e.g Deficient Iron Stores; Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism; Post partum(after delivery, begins 3 months after delivery and last 6 months); Post Surgical or following a Medical illness (typhoid, malaria, dengue etc); Sudden weight loss/ dieting etc
A few of them can be ruled out on history and investigations e.g Thyroid status, Serum ferritin levels, Vitamin D levels.
Kindly get back to me with the details and so that I am able to guide you better.
Regards