Can head lice cause hair loss?!


Question: My hair has been falling out since March 2007.. I had lap band surgery Thanksgiving of 2006, but had been on a high protein and vitamins, and did not starve myself, but hair was falling out. I became pregnant in July 2007 and it seems to be getting worse! Only 6 weeks left to go before delivery, and my hair is almost gone. I had my band emptied and I gained 50 lbs during the pregnancy (so far), been on high protein and prenatals. I work in a school and am afraid that maybe I have lice! I have tried to figure out what could be causing this, maybe Im just pregnant and paranoud, but Ahhh! I am going to stop by the nurse and have her check me out, but is there some correlation with lice and hair loss?


Answers: My hair has been falling out since March 2007.. I had lap band surgery Thanksgiving of 2006, but had been on a high protein and vitamins, and did not starve myself, but hair was falling out. I became pregnant in July 2007 and it seems to be getting worse! Only 6 weeks left to go before delivery, and my hair is almost gone. I had my band emptied and I gained 50 lbs during the pregnancy (so far), been on high protein and prenatals. I work in a school and am afraid that maybe I have lice! I have tried to figure out what could be causing this, maybe Im just pregnant and paranoud, but Ahhh! I am going to stop by the nurse and have her check me out, but is there some correlation with lice and hair loss?

No there isn't. Theoretically, if you had a very bad infestation where your scalp was chronically infected then they may account for some hair loss, but you'd probably be aware if your scalp was that itchy and sore.

You should see an endocrinologist to help determine the reason for your hair loss and to rule out and glandular or hormonal issue.

I don't think it is lice, probably something hormonal

Lice wouldnt do that, trust me, been there! It probably has to do with something else, ask ur doctor!

I haven't heard of it causing hair loss. My hair is also falling out. but don't know why either and I don't have lice. I am beginning to think that there is a correlation with obesity in some women, but don't know that either. I could stand to loose 100 lbs.

Hair loss, including thinning and breaking, is the most common scalp problem. Most people lose from 50 to 100 hairs per day.

Hair gradually thins as people age, although not all people are affected to the same degree. Hereditary thinning or balding is the most common cause of thinning hair. You can inherit this from either your mother's or father's side of the family. Women with this trait develop thinning hair, while men may become completely bald. The condition can start in the teens, 20s, or 30s.

Babies often lose their fine baby hair, which is then replaced by mature hair. Because of changes in hormones, women often lose hair for 1 to 6 months after childbirth or after breast-feeding is completed.

Other possible causes for excessive hair loss, thinning, or breakage include:

* Damage to the hair from hair care products, such dyes and permanents, and from hot rollers, curling irons, or hair dryers.
* Hair-pulling or hair-twisting habits. Trichotillomania is a mental health problem in which a person pulls out his or her own hair, usually from the head, eyelashes, and eyebrows.
* Side effects of medicines or medical treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
* Recent surgery, high fever, or emotional stress. You may have a lot of hair loss 4 weeks to 3 months after severe physical or emotional stress. This type of hair loss usually stops within a few months.
* Diseases, such as lupus and hyperthyroidism.
* Heavy metal poisoning, such as thallium or arsenic poisoning.
* Poor nutrition, especially lack of protein or iron in the diet.
* Damage to the hair shafts from burns or other injuries.





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