When lesions heal spontaneously, the regrowth of hair is frequently white. OTC prescriptions have neither value nor place in treating this condition and most experts will acknowledge that there is no 'one best' treatment. Systemic disease and hair loss Many serious systemic diseases lead to eventual hair loss. Common disease associations in trichology include psoriasis of the scalp in AIDS and alopecia areata with thyroid disease. An interesting condition of which the community pharmacist should be aware is post-febrile alopecia in which marked diffuse alopecia may occur some eight weeks after recurrent bouts of fever.
Full recovery is the rule.
More interesting is the controversy surrounding hyperthyroidism. Hair loss in this condition is often attributed to the therapeutic regime rather than to the condition. It is my belief that neither is the cause. The thyroid is an unstable gland and difficult to stabilise. Drug levels cannot be maintained absolutely constantly between doses.