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Traditional Chinese medicine
sometimes links hair loss to a much bigger problem - an internal disease
or condition. For centuries, Chinese medicine suggests that hair condition
is dictated by the health of your kidney, liver and blood. The most
famous Chinese herbal remedy for hair loss is Ho-Shou-Wu.
Incidentally, Ho-Shou-Wu works as a hair loss remedy by nourishing one's
kidney, liver and blood circulation.
Now western medicine may concur to the fact that hair loss may signal an
underlying internal disease or condition.
Speaking at the American Academy of Dermatology's 2001 Annual Meeting, Dr.
Amy McMichael (Assistant Professor, Dept of Dermatology, Wake Forest
University, Winston-Salem, N.C) exposed some of the illness or medical
conditions that may cause hair loss.
Among some of the illness or medical conditions covered in Dr. McMichael's
speech were thyroid disease, HIV/AIDS, lupus erythematosus, and
chemotherapy.
Thyroid condition
Contrary to popular belief that hair loss can only be caused by an
underactive thyroid, Dr. McMichael suggested that hair loss can be related
to both hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid) or hypothyroidism (an
underactive thyroid). The only difference, however, is that with
hyperthyroidism, the patient's hair tends to be fine and soft with diffuse
thinning whereas with hypothyroidism, the patient's hair tends to be
coarse
and dry with telogen shedding.
HIV / AIDS
Individuals infected with HIV/AIDS may sometimes exhibit a more stubborn
and severe version of certain hair disorders largely because of a weakened
immune system. Among some of the hair disorders commonly reported by HIV /
AIDS patients are alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, seborrheic
dermatitis, psoriasis, lengthening of eyelashes (trichomegaly) or
progressive straightening of the hair. Sometimes the hair disorders may be
triggered by certain drug cocktails used by HIV/AIDS patients.
Lupus Erythematosus
Lupus is an autoimmune disease. Patients with Lupus often exhibits a rash
or plagques on their skin that can be quite unsightly. According to Dr.
McMichael, in a study of 70 patients with systemic lupus, over 50% had one
form of alopecia or another. Also, telogen effluvium is usually associated
with this condition.
Chemotherapy induced hair loss
Hair loss is one of the most commonly reported side effects of
chemotherapy patients. In chemotherapy, the radiation can destroy or
severly damage hair cells in such a way that they stop dividing. It is not
unusual for cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy to lose up to 90% of
his or her own hair. For some patients, regrowth is expected when the
cancer treatment is terminated. However, there are individuals whose hair
continue to fall even after the cancer treatment has been terminated.
Dr. McMichael also exposed some medications that can trigger hair loss in
patients. They include methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, bleomycin,
doxorubicin, mitomycin, cytarabine, vinblastine and vincristine.
Excessive Androgens
Women with excessive androgen production sometimes develop adult acne,
male pattern baldness and/or hirsutism. Other conditions associated with
excessive androgens in women are irregular menstrual cycles, obesity,
infertility or diabetes.
HairSite has also featured a story on medications induced hair loss as
well
as a story on hair loss caused by vaccination. Please click the following:
http://www.hairsite.com/library/abst-119.htm
http://www.hairsite.com/library/abst-118.htm
Current Forum:
Medications
Induced Hair Loss -forum # 4 (current)
Older forums on medications induced hair loss are archived at:
HairSite Discussion
Group
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