Fever disrupts body homeostasis causing telogen effluvium (TE), a diffuse type of hair loss (diffuse hair loss). TE normally begins 3 months after the disruption in the body; this is one of the keys to correctly identifying the cause of the hair loss. Then the hair will shed or fall double daily hair loss which can be up to 300 hairs a day. This can be very scary if you don’t understand what is happening here. The hair loss will continue for 3 months, there is little that can be done to stop a function already in process by the body.
Good news is you will never go bald from TE diffuse hair loss. But, in this case we found there were other problems that had already affected hair growth and was also the reason why there was lowered immunity.
What we found in this otherwise healthy 17-year-old male was:
- Low iron stores – ferritin
- Low zinc
- Low vitamin D
Low iron will affect cellular energy and immunity. Hair, skin and nails are non-essential to the body, so when levels are low or deficient as they had been here, it can cause TE and diffuse hair thinning. That had already taken place and then the fever on top. It is unusual to find low ferritin in males, but it is becoming more frequent. A good discussion around food for ferritin, food combining, avoiding nutrient robbers and using supporting nutritional supplements was required.
Low zinc will also affect cellular health and lower immunity. Zinc comes from similar foods and the iron for ferritin. Having both minerals low indicated we also needed mineral support.
Low vitamin D will affect hormones, skin and immunity too. He was also having acne episodes and inflammation all associated with the three low nutrients. He was also showing signs of early onset male pattern hair thinning. He had hereditary factors here but was far too your to be showing the tell-tale hair miniaturising in the distinct pattern hair thinning areas.
Nutrition for Hair Regrowth
Raising these essential nutrient levels and providing the proper nutritional support is essential to get healthy hair regrowth following TE. We did a combination therapy of nutrition with food and select supplements combined with some basic topical hair regrowth treatment with hair loss treatment.
Blood tests
Blood tests are essential for finding the underlying causes and teaching sufficient levels for hair, skin and nails. Not just enough for survival as pathology ranges accept. Blood tests were repeated after 4 months of treatment and everything was looking better, but we still needed to keep working on the ferritin to get to safe levels for the body to support the hair without any hair loss treatment.
Hair Loss is a Sign
Don’t ignore the sign. Absolique Hair Health Clinic Trichologist Brisbane was so please to help this young man get his hair, health and confidence back on track. We also covered how he can now prevent the hereditary male pattern baldness if he wished, it is possible these days. The sooner you start protecting and preventing from male pattern hair thinning, the better the outcome. It could be as simple as changing the way you wash your hair and getting some blood tests.
Absolique Hair Health Clinic Trichologist Brisbane offers first 15 minutes free phone call in AU, book here to discuss your hair or scalp concerns. You can also email direct to Trichologist Carolyn at ua.mo1788800122c.euq1788800122ilosb1788800122a@ofn1788800122i1788800122