Hello everyone, I've been losing hair in large amounts since last september. There is diffuse thinning all over the scalp, loss is most noted at the vertex/ crown and sides. My hair loss is badly affecting me. I can't sleep well, and iam getting panic attacks every morning when I wake up. I recently visited a psychiatrist who prescribed me an SSRI for my depression. I am currently on regaine only as i fear finasteride sides immensely. The only problem is that i can't cover my whole scalp with it. Diffuse thinning is ruining my life and i wish i just had normal MBP.
Diffuse Thinning Ruining My Life. Please Help.
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. I started the SSRI just yesterday due to being depressed about my hairloss. The shedding has been occuring for over a year now.
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It might be hormone related. You should get it tested out. Do you have a family history of baldness? If it is male pattern baldness, it looks like DUPA to me.
. Father's got a full head at 60, brother full head too. Grandfathers from both sides are bald however, with a family history of MBP in mother's side. I tested zinc, iron, ferritin, biotin and thyroid. All are normal with the exception of vitamin d (deficient) which i corrected, and a high TSH which also resolved on it's own. What should I do next?
whatintheworld
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Man, watch it for a bit, but I would get on finasteride if I were you. Maybe not yet...watch it for a bit more. But if you notice your hair deteriorating rapidly, I would get on it.
All dermatologists (except for one) were against me going on finasteride due to sides. Although they were all clueless about what type of baldness this is. One doctor prescribed it and told me to stay on it for 3 months with minoxidil then re-evaluate.
But if this is dupa, will finasteride provide good maintenance ? I lost a lot of hair since last September and i wish i started attacking this problem since then... it is quite rapid. I don' even know where to apply the minoxidil since i am losing all over the scalp. I just rub it on the vertex/crown and spare the sides and the back where the bald areas are becoming more apparent...
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numbers?
whatintheworld
Senior Member
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DUPA is pretty much aggressive male pattern baldness. I have some of it myself, around my side area where the hair is closest to the neck. I think finasteride should help your hair all over, but then again it is a personal decision.
For me, the side effects of going bald would be much worse than the side effects of finasteride, and those would be 100%, while for finasteride they would be about 2%.
I actually can't get hold of the numbers now. But 3 months ago all results were normal except for vitamin d and a slightvincrease in TSH. Both were corrected however. The only thing i had was a loss of almost 10-15 kgs over two and a half years, and i suffered from anorexia for almost one year after my loss. I was on a very restricted calorie and high sugar meals. I dot not know if stress accelerated my hair loss, or is this chronic Telogen Effluvium? I am diffusely thinning and losing hair everywhere.
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could be related to the weight loss. "normal" doesn't tell us much, because if you're within what doctors consider the normal level, you can still get hair loss if you're on the lower end. your body needs to be at a consistent 70 or above in ferritin to grow proper hair.
there is a thyroid pic for healthy hair as well. you have to insist on getting those lab numbers. i recommend get a follow up test so you're not leaving any stone unturned.
good luck with your battle
there is a thyroid pic for healthy hair as well. you have to insist on getting those lab numbers. i recommend get a follow up test so you're not leaving any stone unturned.
good luck with your battle
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I feel the same way. My pattern of hair loss is a strange one and i could hide it with long hair, but now it is more apparent especially on the back/sides. Im suffering from anxiety and panic attacks and lost interest in all things that mattered most to me. I thought about finasteride but i fear getting sexual/ mental sides with my already existing depression.
whatintheworld
Senior Member
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I know man, I was also really afraid of taking finasteride, I remember staring at the box and being too scared to open it lol. But the thing is, as my hair got worse, I felt so terrible about my hair loss, that it was pretty much take it or somehow try to cope with the crippling anxiety that baldness was bringing me.
Did you get any sides from it? I agree... baldness has brought me an unending, anxiety, OCD in the last month alone.
whatintheworld
Senior Member
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Nope, 10 months on it and no sides. I feel terrible for guys who do get sides though, but I still think it is a minority.