Quick Tip: Female Hair Loss

Oct. 11, 2005 — -- Hidden beneath Elline Surianello's beautiful hair is a woman few ever see.

Since she was 14, Surianello has suffered from a condition called alopecia, commonly known as hair loss. She wears a wig to hide the bald spots.

"To be like this all the time and think that this is how you have to be all the time, every day a little part of you dies," she said.

Surianello is among 30 million American women, about 1 in 5, living with female hair loss.

"Very few men are shocked that they are losing their hair," said Dr. Mark Kaufmann, a dermatologist. "With women, there's a complete shock and disbelief."

Surianello agreed to walk outside without her hairpiece with "Good Morning America" cameras following her.

"How do I function in the world knowing that everyone's paying attention to this," Surianello said, pointing to her hair. "Now they're not going to say anything to me because this is not a conversation, but they're going to ignore me. I become a nonentity. I become not a person that makes a statement. And I don't want to live my life that way."

About 70 percent of female hair loss is genetic. Other causes include stress, illness, medication and diet. Crash diets, tight ponytails/braids/weaves/extension, thyroid disorders, pregnancy, going off birth control and general anesthesia can all result in hair loss.

Dermatologist Susan Taylor had the following advice for preventing female hair loss.

• Don't ignore the problem. Get help soon.
• Hair care should be gentle, not painful. If it hurts, it's going to harm your hair.
• Avoid tight pony tails.
• Use gentle shampoos, nothing that itches.
• Don't skip conditioner.
• Don't over brush.

For those who have already lost a significant amount of hair, Taylor said Rogaine and cortisone injections or creams may help stabilize growth and in some cases regrow it. Rogaine costs about $25 per month. Cortisone requires a doctor's prescription and may be covered by insurance. Without insurance, the treatments cost approximately $50 to $150, Taylor said.