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Hair Loss News Archives
March 2010
The Pill can lead to hair loss
Hormones in the Pill are causing hair loss in a number of young women, a leading expert has said
March 2010
The contraceptive pill is driving a steady surge in the number of
young women suffering hair loss.
Hair specialists say thinning, previously the misfortune of pregnant and
menopausal women, is being triggered by hormones in the pill.
International Association of Trichologists director David Salinger said 10 years
ago he would treat one young woman a month for hair thinning. Now he treats one
a day.
While newer contraceptive pills such as Yasmin and Diane 35 ED can promote hair
growth, older pills such as Loette and Levlen were triggering a genetic
predisposition for hair thinning in women as young as their mid-teens.
''The progesterone in some pills can have a male hormonal effect on the hair,''
Mr Salinger said. ''If a female has a genetic tendency and she then takes
something which has male hormonal effects, that can trigger the thinning. I'm
seeing many, many women in their 20s and 30s getting this type of hair loss.''
The problem is commonly acknowledged in medical books, but Mr Salinger believes
that doctors did not address it when prescribing the pill as it would be seen as
favouring certain pharmaceutical companies.
Hair specialist Russell Knudsen says up to half of all women have a genetic
predisposition for hair thinning. Eight out of 10 of his female patients are
women who have triggered genetic hair loss, some as young as 14. The problem is
under-reported due to a lack of knowledge about genetic hair thinning and
because the hair loss often needs to be severe before people take notice.
''It's a devastating problem,'' Dr Knudsen said. ''Apart from the idea of a
woman's hair being her crowning glory and society valuing the colouring and
styling of hair, it is also not common to see through the hair of women and they
believe it looks very abhorrent.''
Associate Professor John Eden, a research professor of reproductive
endocrinology at the University of NSW, said many older contraceptive pills were
still subsidised on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme whereas newer ones were
not.
''I imagine many people are using the older pills because they're cheaper and
they're suffering hair loss and not realising it's from their pill,'' he said.
Other prevalent causes of early onset hair loss in women include acute stress,
iron deficiency, vitamin D deficiency and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, all of
which have become more prevalent as lifestyles have changed. Many more triggers
are still unknown.
Livi di Benedetto's hair began thinning when she was 23 and her daughter is now
starting to lose hair due to iron deficiency, vitamin D deficiency and stress
from university. ''It's OK for a guy. You accept them without hair, but not a
girl.''
It took Mrs di Benedetto several years to seek treatment because she believed
the hair would grow back.
Hair thinning has become more common in women but it can often be easily treated
once detected.
The Australian Medical Association advised women to see their doctor if worried
about hair loss.
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