I am a 53 yr old woman who has been suffering from alopecia for 10 yrs. I've used topical creams, had cortisone shots and laser treatment, but the baldness is spreading. It seemed to be under control until I had a pulmonary embolism and had to take blood thinners for 3 months, which was 1 yr ago. I do have some itching in the areas where its spreading. I've spent thousands of dollars on hair growth products and nothing seems to work. I went to a trichology clinic and after my exam was told that my hair could grow back, which is where I received the laser treatment. My hair has been falling out since the laser treatment. I live in Alexandria, VA. Can you please recommend a reputable dermatolgist in my area to help me. Thanks.
Feb 16, 2009 Rating
Orlando Hair Loss Biopsy OptionsNEW by: Seymour M. Weaver, III, M.D.
You mention that you had a biopsy done from your scalp and that you were advised to use Rogaine and see a hair transplant specialist.
However, you do not mention what the results of your biopsy revealed. From the description that you state your hair growth has taken over the years, it is possible that your biopsy revealed cicatricial alopecia. However, I have some patients whose biopsies show cicatricial alopecia with chronic inflammation present and some that show only fibrous tracts and scarring where the hair follicles used to be, with no inflammation present.
If there is inflammation present on the biopsy or if the area of hair loss is still progressing, then medical treatment with topical or intralesional steroids is indicated and it would be inappropriate to do a hair transplant procedure since the inflammation would destroy the transplanted hair.
If there is no inflammation present and only scarring present and the hair loss is not progressing and there are no symptoms of itching or pain, then doing the treatment mentioned above would not help.
Dr. Cedric Thornton, M.D. and Dr. Thomas Taylor, M.D. are both in the Tampa/St.Petersburg Florida area, and it might be worth a trip there from Orlando if you would like to get another opinion.
