Hair roots turning white

[ruby83]

Okay ... this is a weird hair problem.
Subject: Female, age 25.

Had a massive sudden hair loss (triple usual amount) for almost 2 months now (started in mid July). Have consulted with 2 doctors. The said its telogen effluvium, but i doubt it as it shouldnt last more than a month. Took normal biotin / zinc prescriptions from doctors. Last major sickness was dengue fever, which ended in May 2007. Did not do anything else with the hair.

Hair is easily falling off now. Combing itself can cause a small lump of hair to come out. One of the weirdest this i notice is the roots of the hair are all turning white (yes, only the roots). After about 0.5 cm to 1 cm of white growth, the hair fell off naturally. I suspect the hair is dying from within.

Anyone have any idea what is wrong??
Any suggestions on what to do??

[Goodsoulette]

This is no help to you but my dad had alopecia and when his hair grew back it was white, even the bits in his 5 o clock shadow.

[4getmenot]

This site should help. mentions hair growing back white too

http://www.surgerydoor.co.uk/medical_condition s/Indices/A/autoimmune_hair.htm

[Goodsoulette]

I just googled images and people with alopecia areata (like my dad ad) have the white roots too.

Go to your doctors again, you might need some steroid treatment.

[ruby83]

hmm ... will taking steroids result in hormone imbalance? sounds pretty scary.

[Goodsoulette]

Don't worry Ruby, I have recently come off a course of steroid for a few months due to asthma,. I had no side effects. I think its with long term use that you see the problems. In fact I suppose I am still taking them as I have a steroid inhalor every morning and evening. Plenty of people take them and have no effects.

[Skreecheeboy]

There's lots of different types of steroid, the ones that body builders take are anabolic steroids and will muck up your hormones more than any prescribed by a gp. Better to ask them than us though, might not be anythign they can do about it exept write you a line to buy a wig!