Is Gas Used in Badly Ventilated Dentists Causing Hair Loss?'

Name: Sujitha

Question: I'm a dentist and working in paediatric dental clinic where we use NO2 daily, and the clinic has very poor ventilation. Since last month I'm having severe hair loss, plus I'm a PCOS patient. Do I have any kind of remedy or treatment for this??

Answer: Hi, Sujitha. We would need to examine your scalp, or at least see photos, in order to give you an accurate diagnosis, as well as taking some medical information to assist our hair loss specialists with this process.

For now, we can give you some general information based on the query you have sent us but we do recommend you having a professional consultation, either in person or online, to ensure you receive the most appropriate advice.

The severe hair loss you mention is an indication of a temporary condition known as Telogen Effluvium. This causes a period of intense shedding from all over the scalp.

Although having a temporary hair loss condition may not sound too concerning, it can cause those affected to lose an average of 30 to 40 per cent of their hair density within a short period of time, which can obviously be extremely stressful.

This type of hair loss becomes noticeable approximately three months after a stressful event, whether this is emotional or physical stress.

In this regard, potential hair loss triggers you may wish to consider include factors such as hormonal issues, underlying illnesses or dietary problems such as nutritional deficiencies.

It is more likely that the stress of working in an uncomfortable environment would trigger hair loss than the regular administering of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) to patients.

However, as you mention frequent administration of NO2 and the dentists clinic you work in being poorly ventilated, if there is a chance you are regularly inhaling the gas yourself, you may want to see your doctor for a general check-up, particularly concentrating on your respiratory health.

Various previous clinical studies have linked the inhalation of NO2 to asthma, COPD and other respiratory issues. Should you have an undiagnosed illness, this may be placing added strain on your body and overall health, which is known to cause Telogen Effluvium.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is also associated with thinning hair so, if you are having any particular trouble managing this, or have switched to a new medication recently, this may also spark or exacerbate any hairloss.

A check-up with your doctor is a good place to start, then, if you continue to experience increasing levels of shedding, a consultation at a dedicated hair loss clinic should provide you with the help you need, both in terms of a diagnosis and recommendations for appropriate hair loss treatments.

Telogen Effluvium treatment courses at Belgravia generally consist of two separate elements, the first of which is topical applications of suitable high strength minoxidil formulations, in order to encourage hair growth. Although this medication is MHRA-licensed and FDA-approved for the treatment of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss, its use has seen promise for other conditions, including Telogen Effluvium.

Additional hair growth supporting products can also be used; These range from highly-targeted Hair Vitalics for Women food supplements to support the maintenance of normal healthy hair, to follicle-stimulating laser devices, such as the FDA-cleared LaserBand.

Do let us know if you require any further advice or information on this.