Can alopecia be stress related?
Patient: Hello, I am a 69 yr old female and I live in Quebec, Canada.  In the last 6-8 weeks, I have noticed my usually thick and plentiful hair is thinning, especially in the front and top of my head.  Also, in the last couple of weeks, I have felt a small dip/depression at the top of my skull at the spot where I have a patch of hair loss.  One doctor calls it alapecia caused by stress but wasn't concerned about the depression in the skull.  The Dermatologist didn't seem to have an answer for the hair loss but prescribed a cortisone type lotion for the chronic itching of my scalp, which seems to help.  However, I think the depression in the skull is getting larger and I am wondering if you have any idea what is causing that.  I have had three once-a-year infusions of Aclasta (the Canadian term for Reclast) for my advanced osteoporosis and am thinking that might be the culprit for the hair thinning and patches of hair loss.  I've been dying my hair for a number of years with no apparent allergic reactions.  My hairdresser has been using environmentally friendly ("green") products in the last few years, but I can't say if that's what causes the itching or the hair loss.  Please let me know what your thoughts are on all of this.  Thank you. Doctor: Hello,  Perhaps you have androgenetic alopecia.  I suggest you to use minoxidil 5% solution,  twice daily.   Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.  Take care  Regards, Dr Kakkar S., Dermatologist