QoM Archives - Page 3 of 5 -

Hair Loss After Surgery

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Dear Doc,

I have a friend who did surgery for weight loss a few months ago. She keeps saying that her current hair loss is due to the surgery. Is this really possible?

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Sounds like the two of you have been debating the cause of her hair loss. Well, hair loss after surgery is actually not uncommon, especially after major surgery such as bariatric surgery aka gastric bypass surgery. There are several reasons she could be having hair loss after surgery.

First, the anaesthetics which put her too sleep are quite notorious for inducing hair loss. Any significant blood loss during the surgery could also trigger it. The stress the body undergoes from the surgery alone also causes hair loss. Any deficiencies that she may acquire post surgery, such as low iron, and especially after bariatric surgery, low proteins etc, can also trigger hair loss. The fact that she would have experienced rapid weight loss after the surgery is also a contributor. Hair loss often accompanies rapid weight loss.

The hair loss phenomenon she is experiencing is Telogen Effluvium, a diffuse hair loss characterised by excessive shedding of hair. It usually occurs a few months after a stressful event, such as surgery. Eventually, after six months it should correct itself, however, if she is worried about her hair loss, she should seek help from a dermatologist to help with controlling the hair loss after surgery. She should also make sure to follow the dietary regimen and vitamin supplements that her doctor would have prescribed for her.

December’s QOM- Can I dye hair before braiding?

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Is it ok to dye hair and (deep) treat your hair one day before braiding?

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I am assuming that by “braiding” you mean putting in braid extensions. It is best not to dye hair one day prior to braiding. In general, you should avoid chemical treatments right before installing any hair extensions or weaves. This includes both relaxers and permanent and semi permanent hair dyes. Hair will be weak from the chemical bonds being broken in the processes. Wait at least two weeks after the processes to install the braids. This is because new growth would be stronger than the already dyed hair and thus be more likely to handle the added hair than weak dyed hair.

For the second part of the question, yes, go right ahead and do a deep treatment for your hair. In fact, it is always good to perform a deep treat before braiding. That way the hair will be adequately prepared for the added hair fibres that will absorb oils from your own hair. If your hair goes in dry and brittle, it will be even drier when the extensions are removed, despite using braid spray on a daily basis.

Dr. Llorenia Muir-Green is a practising dermatologist in Jamaica. She graduated from the University of the West Indies, first obtaining a double major in Chemistry and Biochemistry. She then went on to pursue a career in Medicine. Having obtained her Medical degree from UWI, she went on to pursue postgraduate specialisation in Clinical Dermatology at Cardiff University, for which she got distinction. She was a recipient of the 2013 Fellowship in Hair and Scalp Disorders at the University of British Columbia. She is a member of the North American Hair Research Society, International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, Dermatology Association of Jamaica as well as an Associate Member of the Caribbean Dermatology Association. She currently works at the Dermatology Clinic at National Chest Hospital where she recently established a Hair Clinic.

November’s QOM- How can I tell if I am balding?

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Hi Doc, my girlfriend says that my hairline is receding. My hair feels different in that area but it doesn’t look like my hairline is going back like Lebron James. How can I tell if I am balding? Help! I’m too young for this!

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Hi there!

I can understand you going into panic mode when your girlfriend told you that you may be balding. Truth is, no one who is young wants to acknowledge that he is losing his hair. Balding is for “old people” as I often hear my patients say. The truth is most of us do not notice our own hair loss, however persons who are around us are more likely to do so. So, if they do notice this then it is likely that you have lost a good percentage of your hair already.

The best way to tell if you’re losing your hair is to look at your old pictures. Is your hairline going more inward? Can you see the hair receding at your temples? Is there thinning noted to the crown of your scalp? Does the hair especially at the crown seem finer and soft like a baby’s hair? The latter description is often described in men with tightly coiled/kinky hair.

For most black men, their hairline is straight across and can sometimes be low. Due to the curliness of the hair, it doesn’t become too obvious when the hair line starts to recede or the hair at the top of the scalp starts to thin out, unlike persons of other races. This is due to the styling preference of cutting the hair low. If the hair were allowed to grow out into a low afro, it would become a bit more easier to tell that the hair is thinning. Also, due to the 3-D volume created by curls, thinning is hidden well. Things start to get very obvious when the top of the scalp thins out significantly.

In your case, it is best to see a professional to get an opinion and see if there can be anything done to halt the hair loss.

Dr. Llorenia Muir-Green is a practising dermatologist in Jamaica. She has an avid interest in hair and scalp disorders. She is a member of the Medical Association of Jamaica, Dermatology Association of Jamaica and is an Associate Member of the Caribbean Dermatology Association. She was a recipient of the 2013 Fellowship in Hair and Scalp Disorders at the University of British Columbia.

October’s QOM- Can Apple Cider Vinegar replace shampoo?

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Dear Hair Doctor: What is your medical opinion on replacing traditional shampoo with Apple Cider Vinegar? Can it really help with dandruff and itchy scalp? Are there any benefits for tightly coiled black hair?

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I don’t think Apple Cider Vinegar is that useful as a complete replacement for shampoo as it cannot effectively remove oils etc from your hair that well because of its chemical properties. See this blog post from another scientist :

http://www.thenaturalhavenbloom.com/2014/07/can-you-wash-your-hair-with-baking-soda.html

Apple Cider Vinegar has been used traditionally as a final rinse to close the cuticle, make the hair shiny, and to remove any residual soap deposits from the hair. People used to wash their hair with soap (as well as with other naturally saponin rich plants like soapwort and aloe vera). Because Apple Cider Vinegar is acidic it helps to restore the pH of the scalp and hair, and in the process tackles excess flaking (dandruff). For highly textured hair, in women of African descent, it is quite useful as it helps to restore the pH which would be significantly changed once exposed to high pH shampoos and soaps. This renders this hair type rough and make it extremely unmanageable. Once the pH is restored the hair will be more likely to act better.

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September’s QOM- Hair growth cycle and hair care

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How can I use the hair growth cycle to help me take care of my hair? What’s the application?

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Just to remind you from my blog post, the hair growth cycle is divided into three stages: Anagen (growth), Telogen (rest) and Catagen (degeneration). The majority of hairs on anyone’s head is usually in the Anagen phase. Therefore, the best way to ensure good hair growth is to make sure that you do not disrupt your hair growth cycle. This can be done by having a healthy diet. That way, you won’t prematurely shunt hairs meant to be in anagen into telogen because of vitamin or mineral deficiencies.

If that were to happen, you would get a Telogen Effluvium where you will find excessive shedding of your hair. In the acute phase, a Telogen Effluvium doesn’t last long. However, once it goes on for more than six months, it becomes chronic and you can experience significant reduction in the number of hairs on your head. So it is imperative to have a good diet, especially a good Iron intake.

Other than a good diet, and general good health, there’s nothing that you can do to speed up anagen because the body does its own thing. You can ,however, extend the anagen phase especially with hairs undergoing Telogen Effluvium. Products such as Rogaine (Minoxidil) have been shown to extend the anagen phase thus reducing hair loss from this Telogen Effluvium.

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