Complicated Female Hair Loss Problem Forgot a key point

Question
QUESTION: Hi,



I sent in a long email about my hairloss, but forgot to mention that I have been taking Effexor and Klonopin for the last 3 years. I have been on a lot of different anti-depressants for the last 15 years. I would like to get off soon.



Thank you,

Alison



ANSWER: That is a key point. In the appendix of my book has a list of medications that cause hair loss and all the SSRI anti depressants can cause hair loss. If the appendix is not visible online it is possible to order the book from Amazon. It is frequently dose related in those that get this adverse side effect. The hair loss due to a drug reaction will force the hairs into repeated new hair growth cycles thus using up the predetermined number of cycles each hair was endowed with. So you have three factors causing your loss.

1. Drug reaction to SSRIs

2. Low Serum Ferritin

3. AGA



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------



QUESTION: Thank you VERY much! Hearing that I mostly likely have AGA makes me wondering if I can ever really grow my hair back.  I will work on getting off the SSRIs with the help of my doctor, and increasing my ferritin level. However, in terms of my mind set and trying not to get upset all the time about this...do you suggest that I just accept that it's genetic and I will lose my hair...and then start looking into other options (wigs, etc)?  Finally, any significance in the low progesterone?



Thanks again.


Answer
AGA may not be reversible but you certainly can slow or stop the process. Even though you have inherited bald genes you still need to have androgens - DHT - tell the hairs they are growing old. It is a combination of BOTH the GENES + DHT which leads to AGA. That is why I prescribe spironolactone and Yasmin. Ask your doctor about this therapy. It is commonly used for young women with acne or increased facial hair. When we see women with all three of these symptoms- acne- facial hair- AGA- the diagnosis which comes to mind is PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome and the standard treatment for that is spironolactone and Yasmin. If you block the androgen receptor sites you may get some regrowth of recently lost hair. It will take six months to see the benefit of the new treatment.