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Hair Loss after Taking DHEA
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An_247732 posted:
I'm dealing with infertility, and my physician suggested taking DHEA, 25 mg, 3 times per day. (Though my hormone levels tested normal.) I did not initially notice any hair loss, which I now know can be a side effect of taking DHEA. However, I stopped taking DHEA after about 6 weeks because it was causing cyclical red patches of swelling of the skin beneath my eyes. That reaction phased out over the course of 5-6 weeks. However, I began to notice significant hair loss that has continued, even though I stopped taking DHEA nearly two months ago. Should I be concerned? Is this likely something that will also stop, or do I need to take steps to prevent further hair loss?
1 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Hair Loss after Taking DHEAI'm dealing with infertility, and my physician suggested taking DHEA, 25 mg, 3 times per day. (Though my hormone levels tested normal.) I did not initially notice any hair loss, which I now know can be a side effect of taking DHEA. However, I stopped taking DHEA after about 6 weeks because it was causing cyclical red patches of swelling of the skin beneath my eyes. That reaction phased out over the course of 5-6 weeks. However, I began to notice significant hair loss that has continued, even though I stopped taking DHEA nearly two months ago. Should I be concerned? Is this likely something that will also stop, or do I need to take steps to prevent further hair loss?
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Anon_6061 responded:
Any changes in hormones (pregnancy, delivery, going on/off birth control meds or other hormones such as DHEA) can definitely affect hair growth phases. This type of shedding is called telogen effluvium and generally stops on its own and the hair regrows if things return to "normal." This can take longer in some than others and sometimes the shedding "switch" doesn't want to reset. Since you didn't take DHEA that long, it would seem that your shedding would be short-lived. Here's a link about telogen effluvium - http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/effluviums.

My hair shed after going off birth control pills and then again post-partum (although it had thickened a bit during pregnancy) but it never lasted more than a few months or so and then my hair gradually thickened back up. But after a hysterectomy, it shed excessively, continues to shed and isn't regrowing. But that's likely due to the severe changes to my hormones. I'm on HRT but it's not the same as having ovaries. My hair is now very thin and fine textured - very upsetting!

Here's a discussion started by a woman who's also having hair loss and took DHEA - http://forums.webmd.com/3/gynecology-exchange/forum/26939
Report This| Share this:Hair Loss after Taking DHEAAny changes in hormones (pregnancy, delivery, going on/off birth control meds or other hormones such as DHEA) can definitely affect hair growth phases. This type of shedding is called telogen effluvium and generally stops on its own and the hair regrows if things return to "normal." This can take longer in some than others and sometimes the shedding "switch" doesn't want to reset. Since you didn't take DHEA that long, it would seem that your shedding would be short-lived. Here's a link about telogen effluvium - <a href="http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/effluviums">http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/effluviums</a>. <br /><br />My hair shed after going off birth control pills and then again post-partum (although it had thickened a bit during pregnancy) but it never lasted more than a few months or so and then my hair gradually thickened back up. But after a hysterectomy, it shed excessively, continues to shed and isn't regrowing. But that's likely due to the severe changes to my hormones. I'm on HRT but it's not the same as having ovaries. My hair is now very thin and fine textured - very upsetting!<br /><br />Here's a discussion started by a woman who's also having hair loss and took DHEA - <a href="http://forums.webmd.com/3/gynecology-exchange/forum/26939">http://forums.webmd.com/3/gynecology-exchange/forum/26939</a>
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