Dr. Henry, I have been diagnosed HIV positive four years ago, at the time my CD4 count was below 100. My doctor started treatment with Atripla and my CD4 count slowly increased. I am in my mid 50's and my CD4 count has been steady at around 550, my viral load has been low but has never gotten to the non detectable range. I have had little problem with the Atripla. I am also on a range of psych medications, serequl, buspar, and effexor. I see my doctors regularly. In the last year I have developed eczema over 80% of my body I see a dermatologist who put me on varying degrees of steroid creams, this has relived some of the symptoms but I still experience a great degree of discomfort. Last month I put my hands through my hair and noticed hand fulls falling out, I wore a long beard and the same was happening with that. Within five days I was bald and my beard was gone. I went to my doctor who said that he thought I had some sort of childhood virus and treated me with oral steroids. It has been weeks now and no hair is growing back I have not shaved in over a month and my face is baby smooth, my eye brows are falling out and the hair on my body has decreased dramatically. Could this be HIV related? Should I continue to seek a more definitive reason for my hair loss? Could this be a side effect of the medications? People are asking me if I am on Chemotherapy, and I find it to be quite disconcerting that it all happened so fast.

It would be worthwhile to seek consultation for other causes (such as syphilis or hormone problems). I have seen and/or heard about a small percentage of patients who experience hairless from HIV infection or HIV drugs (including the emtricitabine in Atripla) so if no other possible explanation found then discussing with your HIV provider a trial switch to alternative regimen may be worthwhile. KH