Q:I would be grateful to read more information on hair loss in women. My own particular interest is my daughter who, still in her 20s, began to lose her lovely silky blonde hair. As she was working in British Telecom offices, near a large coalite factory, we wondered if pollution, stress and/or radioactivity were responsible. She had all available tests for anaemia, thyroid activity and steroid treatment to the scalp, but though the latter helped shorter term, hair that grew was cancelled out by more bare patches as well as bad headaches. Now still not 30, she is living in the country in West Wales, leading the "good life". After a full year, we had hoped to see some improvement, but there is still no sign of regrowth. Have you any theories, please? She has now been married for nine years and taking the Pill all that time. My own theory is her penchant for strong coffee which destroys inositol and can be a cause of baldness. After some stress six years ago she suddenly started to have shaking fits. Overdoses of caffeine can cause delirum tremens symptoms similar to those of alcohol." B.W. , Chesterfield.

A:Because your daughter is still suffering from hair loss, even though she is well away from all the circumstances of her stressful job, you might look to the Pill and coffee as the culprits. The Pill, like other drugs such as anticoagulants, has been implicated in premature hair loss in women.You might also have her checked out for various mineral deficiencies. B , zinc and iron deficiencies can all cause hair loss. And as, you point out, coffee drinking can deplete the body of B vitamins like inositol. Restoring her mineral levels and adding healthy doses of vitamin E and C might help to restore her crowning glory if she is willing to come off the Pill and cut out her coffee drinking.