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 Dr. Alan J. Bauman is the Founder, Medical Director and Chief Surgeon of the Bauman Medical Group, P.A. located in Wharfside at Boca Pointe in Boca Raton, Florida. His practice is dedicated exclusively to treating male and female pattern hair loss. Dr. Bauman uses state-of-the-art medical and surgical techniques to help his patients maintain and/or restore their scalp hair.
Karen
2004-05-26
Women's Hair Loss and Seborrhic Dermatitis
Dear Dr. Bauman:
I am a 44 year old female. Two years ago this July, I noticed my hair getting thinner on the top. Now, I look in the rearview mirror in my car in the sunlight and I can see my scalp right through the hair. In December 2002 I saw a physician in NYC (he is highly respected) and he told me I had seborrhic dermatitis and told me to use Klayron Lotion before bed - I did faithfully. He promised me, yes literally promised me, that my hair would grow back. Well, it's 1 1/2 years later and my hair has not grown back and has only gotten thinner. I had blood work done and they found I lacked iron so I went for a colonoscopy and that checked out fine. So, I started taking iron every day. Can lack of iron cause your hair to fall out? Yes, my grandmother did have thin hair from what my dad has told me. I have 4 other sisters and not one of them is experiencing this situation.
Have you found out anything about women's hair loss very recently? Can you give me any words of encouragement?
Thanks for listening.
Karen
Karen,
Low iron (anemia) is a common contributor to female pattern hair loss. Iron carries oxygen in the blood. When you are low on iron, hair follicles can suffer. Just because your sisters are not experiencing hair loss currently, doesn't mean that you don't have genetic female pattern hair loss. People who are related to one another may carry the 'tendency' toward hair loss in varying degrees. A grandmother with thin hair is a warning sign. Today, there are more effective treatment options for women than ever before (but also many 'snake oil' treatments, too). Effective treatments for women may include a regimen of minoxidil (rogaine), laser therapy, nutritional supplementation, or even hair transplantation (if the situation is severe). A combination (or multi-therapy approach) is best, and it ususally takes 6 to 12 months to see substantial results from any treatment regimen. For more info, visit my practice website at www.baumanmedical.com. I can offer a more detailed approach to your hair loss situation if you contact me via email for a 'virtual consultation.' Let us know how we can help.
Sincerely,
Dr. B.
Alan J. Bauman, MD
Bauman Medical Group, PA
Boca Raton--FL
877-BAUMAN-9
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