I know I'm coming late to this discussion, but ((((hug)))) DiamondLady, I'm glad you've found a physician who can help. I went searching on
www.aad.org (American Academy of Dermatology) to the Public Resources section, because Buffalo Soldier had mentioned telegen effluvium and I wanted to know what it was.
<ul type="square"> [*]Anyway, I found a section on women and hair loss that supports your initial reluctance to go to your primary care physician:
[*]<font color="brown">"Women usually pay pretty close attention to their hair and often notice signs of thinning or unusual patches of hair loss," said Dr. McMichael. "The problem is that if they talk about hair loss with one of their doctors who may not be quite as familiar with the early warning signs of hair loss as a dermatologist, they might be told that their hair loss is merely ‘hereditary thinning’ or ‘hormonal’ instead of really getting to the root of the problem."
[*]There are several different types of hair loss that women may experience, and treatment depends on the correct diagnosis. Typically, dermatologists diagnose hair disorders by a thorough history, exam, biopsy and categorization.</font>
[*]There's also support for thyroid problems causing dramatic hair loss:
[*]<font color="brown">Telogen effluvium, or resting hair loss, is marked by diffuse hair loss that is not concentrated in one particular area of the scalp. Usually, telogen effluvium occurs three-to-six months after a triggering event such as childbirth, major surgery, crash diets, thyroid disease, a severe infection or high fever. In addition, hair loss can accompany flares of autoimmune diseases including lupus, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.</font> [/list]
If you have time, surf around that site and check out the info.
<font color="brown"> <ul type="square"> [*]Today, there are more ways to treat hair loss than ever before. Oral medications, topical creams, injections of corticosteroids, hair transplants, scalp reductions, skin flaps and behavior modifications are all successful methods to treating common forms of hair loss.
[*]"As with almost any type of medical condition, hair loss can respond well to treatment if it is caught early enough," said Dr. McMichael. "The key is paying close attention to any changes in the hair’s appearance or texture and seeing a dermatologist for a correct diagnosis."</font> [/list]
For what it's worth, (((((DiamondLady))))) I hope this helps.
