Mrs robinson, sounds like androgenic alopecia.
What’s going on? How do aromatase inhibitors promote hair loss?
The drug-induced hair loss we experience is called androgenetic alopecia. In one trial, about 15% of women taking Aromasin experienced it; so it’s not exactly rare.
Androgenetic alopecia is related to a chemical in your body called DHT, which is manufactured from one of your hormones, androgen, plus an enzyme. When there’s too much DHT in your system, your hair follicles produce thin, rather than thick hair. Eventually, some of these follicles may stop producing hair altogether.
The result? Less hair on your head; fewer strands covering more area.
Noticeably “thinner” hair.
How do hormone therapy drugs affect your balance of DHT?
Well, aromatase is an enzyme that turns the hormone androgen into estrogen. No aromatase = no estrogen. No estrogen = reduction in the risk of cancer recurrence.
An aromatase inhibitor does exactly what it says: it inhibits the enzyme from doing its job. How? By binding itself, either temporarily (Arimidex, Femara) or permanently (Aromasin) to aromatase so that it becomes dysfunctional, and can't turn androgen into estrogen.
So, androgen that used to become estrogen now remains androgen. Which means more DHT, and thinner hair – at least atop your head.
Paradoxically, more androgen also means MORE hair, right where you don’t want it: on your upper lip and cheeks. Without estrogen – the chief “female” hormone – you’re more prone to developing certain male characteristics: like facial hair, and loss of scalp hair.
So, what’s a woman to do?
Theoretically speaking, hair loss due to excess androgen should be reversible once you stop taking an AI. Some of your androgen will once again become estrogen, lowering your overall androgen levels, and hopefully stopping hair loss.
The question is, will the follicles that have stopped producing hair altogether resume their work, or are they permanently out of the picture?
At this point, the jury’s out. Anecdotal evidence is mixed; some women report some thickening of their hair after finishing hormone therapy, while others report no improvement. And as far as I could ascertain, there are no studies – yet – examining long-term hair loss after use of AIs.
Is there any treatment for thin hair? Some women report improvement with the drugs Propecia, or minoxidil (Rogaine), a 5% solution of which is rubbed into the scalp. Problem is, you have to continue to treat your scalp indefinitely, to keep any new hair; and results thus far have been spotty (no pun intended).
And you might try increasing your B vitamins, especially biotin. Biotin is key in your body’s natural hair-manufacturing process; so while it may not help prevent your hair from falling out, it will encourage new hair to keep growing.
Dermatologists recommend 2mg to 3mg biotin daily, in supplement form, to really make a difference with hair growth; as with any drug or supplement, ask your doctor before adding this to your daily dose of pills.
You may want to try NIZORAL (ketoconazole) 2% you can get 1% at walgreens, cvs, and so on.
He needs to get his ass back here and kick mine !!!!!!
slow but sure. I had to drop the primo, I am SUCH a wuss. just too ouchy for me and I've noticed some shedding. Don't know if its the arimadex the doc has me on, but can't imagine it was the primo with only a couple pins. Cant be losing my hair tho, I'll FLIP. I just don't know
(mace, your starting to sound just like Vis 
