My hair loss is back after a trip to a tropical country. What can I do?

Q. My hair loss is back after a trip to a tropical country. What can I do?

Answered by
Dr. Shaikh Sadaf
and medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team.
This is a premium question & answer published on May 23, 2018 and last reviewed on: Jun 05, 2023

Hello doctor,

Three months after I had my second child, I suffered hair loss. It all grew back six to seven months postpartum. Then, I went on a trip about two and a half months ago to a tropical climate and when I got back I am getting the same type of hair loss again. I believe the name for it is called telogen effluvium. My hair is also very weak in general and some strands are similar to a straw consistency. Could the trip have triggered this or could this be a thyroid issue? I also got BPPV postpartum and even now suffer from chronic dizziness. MRI is normal. Ear tests are normal. The blood test is also normal.

#

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I just read your query and from what you have mentioned it appears that you have hair fall. Now, there could be many reasons.

1. Postpartum: One-year post delivery of a child and a possible lactation might cause nutritional deficiencies in a woman and also the normalization of the pregnancy and lactation hormones back to the non-pregnant state.

2. Thyroid dysfunction: For which I suggest a TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) test.

3. Iron deficiency anemia: For which it would be best to do a complete blood count and serum ferritin levels.

4. Vitamin D deficiency: For which I suggest doing a vitamin D test.

Treatment: In the meantime, I would suggest that you take

1. Zinc capsules 110 mg once daily for one month.

2. Take a multivitamin supplement.

3. Eat eggs if you are a non-vegetarian.

4. Minoxidil 2 % hairspray can be applied carefully to the scalp only for three to six months wearing gloves.

5. Oil your hair with coconut oil twice a week, leave it overnight and wash it off with a mild shampoo.

Try to do the tests and get back for review. Good luck.

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply,

My TSH level is 2. B-12 is great. My iron and hemoglobin are within normal limits also. Since my hair grew in after I originally experienced hair loss, could the hair loss now be a result of the vacation I took and being in hot, humid weather?

#

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Yes, hair loss can definitely be due to a change in weather. I asked about vitamin D levels as well. It is good to know about your thyroid function test and iron levels as well. I suggest you take a multivitamin including biotin and other essential vitamins.

Good luck.


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