Can rapid shedding/underlying AGA ever be stabilized/stopped from progressing?

Question

21 years old. Began losing hair in 2016 after stopping Yaz birth control and spironolactone (both Res were for acne). No family history of female hair loss but diagnosed w/ AGA/CTE. My hair continues to thin rapidly (worsens by the week). Have been using Rogaine for almost a year, but I feel it was made it worse. I feel incredibly depressed and hopeless, and don't want to wear a wig. Is there any room to be hopeful? I can't find any success stories that don't involve hair pieces and "acceptance".

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

This needs an in-person evaluation. 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

In my opinion, you should be evaluated by hair loss expert. They will do a history, examination with magnification ,woods lamp, blood work and possibly biopsy. Your discontinuation of the birth control and spironolactone may have Unmasked an aggressive androgenic alopecia. Possible treatments include, Rogaine, oral or topical, finasteride, dutasteride, restarting spironolactone, restarting birth control pills, low level laser, peptides, nutraceuticals and PRP. Your hair loss expert needs to determine your definitive diagnosis and treat appropriately.

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

I suggest a consultation with a cosmetic dermatologist with experience in hair restoration and maintenance. Some great options for hair restoration and maintenance are prp injections which can stimulate hair growth. Hope this helps.

Arbella Sarkis, MD · Answer

I encourage you to make every effort to seek out the root cause of your problem and treat it rather than simply treat the symptoms with medications such as finasteride that will or may cause serious side effects. At your age, I have never placed my female patients on it for hair loss. 
  
For example, side effects of finasteride in women include, but are not limited to: harm to a fetus (finasteride cannot be used in pregnancy),fatigue, weight gain, depression, anxiety, decreased libido, sexual dysfunction, hair shedding, breast tenderness, breast enlargement.
  
Your method of administration and type of medication for birth control alone can also cause serious problems in some individuals in the short and much longer term. 
  
For example, estrogen should not be taken orally. Progesterone orally, no problem. Estrogen is very susceptible to being changed in the digestive tract and once again in the hepatic system (liver). Non-bio-identical estrogen also causes problems. Because it is not identical to what the body is expecting, problems can arise both in the near and longer term. When taken orally, the problem in multiplied. There is no way to know what problems may arise.
  
Yaz was exactly such a non-bio-identical estrogen drug, which I believe ultimately lead to its FDA recall for it's many known and yet unknown adverse side effects. 
  
I strongly encourage you to find a good Integrative or Functional Medicine physician that will work with you on the identification of the root cause of your problem. At a time when your root issues are addressed, then seek hair regeneration. Seek out such a physician that also practices Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT).
  
Pursuit of hair recovery prior to identification of the root cause will simply have the problem pushing against your hair recovery efforts. As illustrated above, treating the symptoms may actually induce more problems or trade one for another problem. 
  
Taking a medication that stops the hair loss prior to attempting to identify the root cause could send you down the wrong path in the identification of the root cause. 
  
Hair specialists are very good at many things. However, the description you’re providing leads me to believe your issues are generally beyond the scope of practice of the clear majority of hair specialists and dermatologists. Most will treat the general symptoms, but not the root issue.
  
The treating of symptoms rather than the root issues lead you to be taking Yaz in the first place. 
  
The good news is that your hair loss does not sound as though it has been going on for more than a couple years. Therefore, if your root issues are properly addressed, your hair recovery/regeneration efforts stand a good chance of being robust. Certainly, much more robust than otherwise would be the case.
  
Don’t despair! I’m confident there is help out there for you. 
  
Wishing you the very best in locating the right physician and achieving a wonderful outcome.
  
Warmly,
  
Arbella Sarkis, MD

Michael Meshkin, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

It is best to be aeen from upclose by a hair loss specialist to find the cause for your hair loss. Once the cause is established the proper recommendations can be advised. there are some medical hair treatments that are helpful for female hair loss, but you need to be examined first.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

You might consider adding finasteride to your treatment routine as this drug is very effective at stopping the hair loss process

Can rapid shedding/underlying AGA ever be stabilized/stopped from progressing?

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