My 12-year-old is experiencing hair loss at the scalp area. Besides taking Humalog through her pump, she also takes 112 mg pill of Synthroid for her thyroid. Recently, she had a stomach bug. I read sometimes this can happen after illness. Is this true? Will the hair loss stop? What else could be causing her hair loss?

Hair loss can occur due to many conditions. Hair has a growing cycle. Interruption of any aspect of that cycle can lead to hair loss. Too little thyroid hormone can cause hair loss; too much thyroid hormone can cause hair loss. Changes in iron or zinc can cause hair loss. Changes in estrogen levels in the blood can be associated with hair loss.”Stress” is associated with hair loss so, the recent illness might play a role.

Just as the person with diabetes has antibodies to the pancreas and then can have antibodies to the thyroid, they can have antibodies to other tissues as well, such as joints (rheumatoid arthritis), stomach lining (pernicious anemia), hair follicles, or combinations (to also include the kidney and skin and lungs – this is lupus).

So… the likelihood is that this is just a disruption in the hair growth cycle – a loss of hair called telogen effluvium where the hair growth cycle gets into an early and prolonged resting phase. Time is your main ally here. Things that you can do that are inexpensive and likely not harmful include being sure her nutrition is good. You can provide a general multivitamin that contains iron and zinc and biotin. But first, go to her primary care doctor for a good check up. Make sure you have them check the blood chemistries and those thyroid levels.

DS