Change of hair texture

My two year old has just gone through a weird metamorphasis.  About 5 months ago her hair started falling out and getting very brittle.  Now she is getting new growth back, but it is different.  It is growing back with no sheen what so ever and it resembles straw in texture and appearance.  I am worried that this is possibly a vitamin deficiency or possibly a reaction to antibiotics.  Do you have any information on what would have cause this change in her hair from the inside out.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Sudden hair loss like that is usually not vitamin deficiency.  More likely, it follows some health issue a few months ago--perhaps a fever or something.  The same happens after women deliver a child.  It lasts a while, then reverses itself.  Have you asked your pediatircian to evaluate it?

Should be OK.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[justagrrl]

I've heard many comments about this sort of thing over on the NUSPA.com board.