Female alopecia

[stuglue]

Just a question,this is for a woman i work with who over the course of a month lost all her hair and eyebrows and eyelashes due to stress and trauma she suffered as a result of a car crash.She wants to know if their is anything that might help grow her eyelashes and brows back.She is slowly coming round to the fact that her hair probably won't grow back(only 1 in 10 does).Any ideas?

 

[CCS]

I've heard of doctors giving people a shot in the eyebrow to grow hair back, but I don't know what the condition was for. you're best bet would be to search the net for shots doctors give, and find a doctor who has heard of it and knows when they are supposed to be used. minoxidil would help a small amount at least, but I don't think it is the primary treatment. I read that women don't get parafollicular fibrosis (scaring of the follicles) like men do. The follicles shrink to vellus hairs, rather than dying, and therefore can be treated with minoxidil with much bettter response rates than men get. However, a Doctor may have to fix the underlying problem first. Normally, stress loss does not last more than a year after the source of the stress is removed. Stress meaning injury or surgery or some other physiological stress, not emotional stress.

THis site has a women's section. I'm sure people there will know more. on this part of the site, bryan might know the answer.

 

[Withnail]

http://www.heralopecia.com is the sister site to this one (I think).

Hope it helps!

 

[Caryyn]

I would suggest to your friend that she find a dermatologist that injects steroid shots. I have had tremendous success with these shots. I had lost 80% of my hair a year and a half ago and all has grown back. I did not lose my eyebrows but I believe in those shots. Maybe it will work for her.

Severe stress is a trigger for alopecia areata. Seventy-Five Percent regrow their hair. Her body needs to readjust to the shock of her car accident. I am praying for her!