Ask the expert: I’m suffering from hair loss

I’m a 36-year-old woman and have been suffering from severe hair fall for the past six months. I’ve undergone fertility treatment but have failed to conceive. I also have hypothyroidism. Please help. 

Excessive hair fall can occur due to several reasons. The most likely cause is an underlying hormonal imbalance, which could be a reason for your infertility as well.

Hypothyroidism – a condition where the body lacks sufficient thyroid hormone essential for the body’s metabolism – and the drugs used to treat it, like Thyroxin, can lead to excessive hair loss.

I also suspect you are very stressed – this can be a factor too. Other causes are anaemia and vitamin deficiencies, frequent consumption of painkillers and dermatological conditions affecting the scalp, like skin lupus.

Consult an experienced dermatologist, who will treat the underlying cause of hair loss. Once this is done, he can suggest a lotion or medication to boost hair growth.