Question of the Month
Q: I'm 29 years old and I was diagnosed with TE 4 years ago. The hair loss
came out of the blue, I wasn't on any medications including birth control
pills. The shedding is diffuse all over the scalp. Had all necessary blood
work. I'm on 200 mg of Aldactone for about 7 months, the aldactone has
slowed the shedding and healed the acne, oily face and dandruff. But, I
still have too many hairs in the telogen phase and my hair is still thinning.
What do you think about Androcur? Is it stronger than Aldactone? Any other
suggestions. I believe this hair loss is hormonal and I must have had a
sensitivity to my androgens since the Aldactone did something. What about a
hormonal imbalance? Should I do more blood work? Thank you for any
suggestions.
A: Your question raises some important issues.
First, I am always skeptical of the diagnosis of "telogen effluvium"
(TE). This term implies that it is just a period of increased shedding without
hormones being involved. The only way to see if it is TE is to wait and see
if it grows back by itself. If it doesn't, and, unfortunately most often it
does not, precious time has been lost. Most of the women I see at the Hormone
Center of New York who have been told they have TE actually have androgenic
alopecia or estrogen deficiency alopecia.
My article on alopecia will be posted on my website within a few days and it
describes these in more detail.
Re your individual situation, I can only comment in general since of course
I cannot diagnose or recommend treatment for someone I have not seen in
consultation. Response to spironolactone (Aldactone) or other treatments is
slow and may take many months. When someone is not responding, I will check
their androgen levels and consider other medications.
Re Androcur, this is the brand name for cyproterone acetate, used throughout
the world but not available in the U.S. I've not seen studies comparing it to
Aldactone and side effects may be greater, including weight gain.
Hope this is helpful.
Sincerely,
Geoffrey Redmond, MD
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