Telogen Effluvium for 5 months no sign of improvement

by Kristy
(New Zealand )

Hi I am a 25 year old female and I started noticing my hair loss in Feb '09 (now almost June) in the past few months it has gotten really bad.

I have been on the contraceptive pill since I was 16. I was taking a contraceptive pill named Estelle 35 (anti-androgen effects). I liked the results for my skin but I believe it dried me out EVERYWHERE and made sex very painful. I need to remain on the pill or something similar as I get a reaction to condoms.

My doctor asked me to stop the pill for 2 months to test my hormone levels which came back normal. After trying 2 months of using various other contraceptive methods we decided to go onto a triphasic pill (Ethinyloestradiol and Levonorgestrel). It was just before I started the new pill I was starting to notice some hair loss.

Since starting the new pill my hair loss has increased. I have a slightly itchy scalp and some residue/ film on there. I’m losing about 150 - 180 hairs after a shower. The dermatologist didn’t seem too concerned and said there was nothing I could do but to wait it out. (Thanks for the expensive helpful advice?!?) He also didn’t recommend switching my pill back or to another even though my current pill lists scalp hair loss as a side effect.

I am using Ketoconazole 2% a few times a week and my GP gave me a beta-scalp liquid. Besides that, I also use TGEL every time I shampoo my hair. I have also been under a wee bit of stress with my boyfriend moving to the states (but not significant stress as I will be joining him shortly)

My questions are

1) Other people who have switched pills or stopped and started again how long does the Telogen Effuvium last? (5months now and my dermatologist doesn’t think that this is the reason and puts it down to stress)

2) Am I using the right products? My dermatologist said that Rogaine would not work as he doesn’t think mine is androgen related.

3) I am a Dietician so I know my diet is balanced and I am taking a B-vitamin supplement. I’m thinking of taking additional biotin?

4) Is there a contraceptive pill I could take that has fewer effects on hair loss? And should I switch pills again or stick with the one I’ve got to see if my body will balance out (even though a side effect is hair loss)

ANY advice or similar stories would be much appreciated as I am starting to see scalp!


Editor’s Comments,

Hello Kristy,

Glad to know you are willing to share your story with us and I will try to help you the best as I can. If you do read other user submitted stories, you will have noticed that hair loss due to birth control pills (BCP) are very common indeed and there is no need to say that pills that artificially control hormones are never a good thing to take for a long period of time. Also in some cases, people might also face hormone imbalances after stopping or changing BCP because their body has already adapted to the medications as sudden changes can in return induce hair loss problems.

Although birth contraceptive is important for family planning, I really recommend users to pay more heed when using them because of certain side effects it can cause especially hair loss. When your hormone changes, it can cause excessive sebum production which leads to oily scalp, flaking and dandruff problems. The current treatment of Ketoconazole 2% and TGEL are proven treatments against this condition but regulating your hormones is important too.

About your questions,

1. Most people that suffer hair loss from birth control pills can continue to suffer symptoms for a period of 6 months to 1 year (depending on the medications) as the active ingredient can still linger inside the body and it takes some time for it to recover back to normal. However, you should see less hair loss gradually during this period of recovery.

2. Rogaine which active ingredient is Minoxidil is growth stimulator and it’s not only for people facing with androgen or genetic baldness. Minoxidil is generally used to boosts hair growth and many hair loss sufferers that do not have genetic hair loss also find the product useful to stimulate hair regrowth. You might want to try marine supplements like Viviscal for women as it seems to be effective to women. It’s a supplement that you can opt to stop taking once you get your hair back.

3. Glad to know you are using Vitamin B Complex which is really crucial supplement if you are taking birth control pills. You should keep it up with it.

4. There are just too many kinds of birth contraceptive pills around and frankly speaking, I am in no position to say which one is right for you because everyone have different experiences with BCP. If you really must, it’s best to consult a qualified doctor that understands your situation better.

Another thing that you should be aware of is to try to stop worrying. One of an unnecessary cause that can alleviate your hair loss is psychological stress especially when people start to see their hair thinning. So the more you worry and the more you keep on agonizing over the thinning hair, the worse it will get. Give your hair and yourself some time to recover and I am optimistic that it will grow back.