Can seborrheic dermatitis cause a mild telogen effluvium? (Photos)

Question

I'm 24 years old and I had never noticed hairs on my pillow or while in the shower. I have Seborrheic Dermatitis since 6 months ago, and in the first months I stopped washing my hair regulary because I though it was some kind of dryness (Big mistake). After two months of not washing my hair reguraly one day I started finding from 6 to 8 hairs on my pillow and from 15 to 25 when showering all of them with a small white bulb. And, when I rub my fingers through my hair falls 1 to 2 hairs each time.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

It may increase hair loss. I suggest seeing a hair loss expert now to evaluate and go over your condition and provide you information about your best treatment options. There are great non-invasive options like prp/progesterone and/or hair transplantation. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Jeff Rapaport, MD · Answer

Severe  seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis can enhance hair loss. This is most commonly seen in males with androgenic alopecia. Find a hair loss expert who can develop a treatment plan based upon your diagnosis and will help with the seborrheic dermatitis.
Jeff Rapaport MD
Realself Core Aesthetic

Yael Halaas, MD · Answer

Yes, if you are suffering from dermatitis of the scalp and have ongoing itching, it is possible to have an increase in shedding. It's best if you seek treatment with a board-certified hair loss specialist who can diagnose and treat the condition immediately.

Monika Soni, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question! It may increase hair loss. I suggest seeing a hair loss expert now to evaluate and go over your condition and provide you information about your best treatment options. There are great non-invasive options like prp/progesterone and/or hair transplantation. Best of luck!

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

Yes, mild SD causes a mild TE. Severe SD causes severe TE. Other causes of hair loss are also possible here. See an expert.

Sara Wasserbauer, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Seborrheic dermatitis can encourage hair loss, and in your age range, it is very likely you have male pattern hair loss as well.  Shedding up to 100 hairs per day (averaged over 1 week) is normal.  The best thing to do would be to 1) get on a shampoo to help with the dandruff (ketoconazole, zinc (like head and shoulders), selenium (selsun blue), or coal tar (t-gel) and plan to leave it on for 5 minutes at a time) 2) start treatment for male pattern hair loss (assuming you have it) with minixidil, finasteride, and low level light therapyExpect the shedding to slow after 6-12 months of treatment - it takes a while!Good luck!

Jon Ver Halen, MD, FACS (license suspended) · Answer

Dear Ofederico263,Hello and thank you for your excellent question. I suggest that you start Finasteride and Minoxidil, as they are the only two medications for hair loss approved by the FDA. For women of child-bearing age, I use spironolactone instead of finasteride. Both medications have different mechanism of action, and I usually recommend both medications to my patients. Other adjuncts include low-level laser light therapy, PRP, stem cell, or other regenerative medical treatment. Also, you will want to ensure that you are not taking any medications that could be contributing to your hair loss. The main objectives with the combination treatments are to stabilize your hair loss, increase your existing hair fiber diameter, and stimulate some hair regrowth. After those options are completed, I recommend hair transplant, including FUE or FUT. It is best to answer your question during a face-to-face evaluation, when you can discuss your goals and expectations for the procedure, and you can have a physical examination to evaluate for that procedure. I recommend that you find a board-certified, or board-eligible plastic surgeon with whom you are comfortable. Be sure to have all of your questions answered during a face-to-face meeting with your surgeon, and review before and after pictures of similar patients whom have had this procedure. If you have any questions, call our office for assistance. Good luck!
  
Best,
  
Jon Ver Halen, MD FACS
  
Harvard educated plastic surgeon
  
Texas “Top Doc” 2017, 2018
  
RealSelf100
  
America’s Top Plastic Surgeons, Consumer’s Research Council, 2010 – 2018
  BeautyAdvisor Top Contributor

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

It is rare for a male to get telogen effluvium and I often tell males to think genetic hair loss.  The answer to your questions is that SD does not cause hair loss

Can seborrheic dermatitis cause a mild telogen effluvium? (Photos)

Answers (8)

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