Dr. Richard, PLEASE HELP ME! I AM ONLY 19 AND I AM FALLING APART!!!! (Acne = Long-term Anti-Biotic usage = Candida = Hair Loss?)

Dr. Richard (and all others who are able to help),

Hello. I 've been on the anti-biotic called Keflex (a.k.a cephalexin) for about the last 9 months straight. Immediately Before Keflex, I took Minocycline for about 6 months straight I have been using this in conjunction with a gel called Tazaorac. I was prescribed this combination to help reduce my moderate acne. I, however, stopped using tazorac about a month-and-half back because I felt that the tazorac was causing my skin to look/feel unhealthy. That, however, is beside the point. The reason I was prescribed wo different anti-biotics back-to-back is that that my body became "immuned" to the Minocylcine and the effectiveness was significantly reduced; hence, I was getting breakouts. So my doctor switched me to Keflex, never EVER mentioning the risk of long-term anti-biotic usage...ugh. Around Septemeber of 2004 (this past Sept.), I noticed that my hair was slowly beginning to thin and fall out. It has since continued to fall out since then. Although I am not 'bald' my hair is very much noticeably thinner than what it used to be and is very limp and "dead," so to speak. I underwent a thyroid test recently to see if my hair loss was attributed to some thryroid-related problem, and it isn't. I can't really think of any other reason for my hair to start falling out besides the long-term usage on anti-biotics which may have caused candida?

Could candida be causing my hair loss? I am only 19 years old. I have very oily skin, moderate Acne (which was relatively subdued by the anti-biotics), Acne scars, and now major hair loss. I feel so out of place among other students. I feel as if though I am a middle-aged man who has lost all his years of youth.

Please, Dr. Richard, please respond and help me. I was referred to you and this site by a member of another site that I frequent.

Lastly, I wanted to briefly touch on my childhood and adolesence. When I as younger, I really never went to the bathroom (number 2 [pooped]) regulary. By regularly, I mean daily. I didn't even go to the bathroom every other day. I don't know why. I never liked to go. My parents really didn't take note of this so this continued until maybe 4 years ago. I still have trouble sometimes going daily and tend to go bi-daily instead of daily. Sometimes when I'm constipated, I go oly once every three days, despite taken fiber capsules and drinking water and the like. Has this contributed to my Acne possibly? I have always had an inkling the two may be linked but I was never sure.

Again, Dr. Richard, I just want to thank you in advance for taking the time to answer, not just my questions, but all of ours. You, and the rest of the administrators on CureZone are a God-send. Thanks.