Do I have genuine hairloss or just too much stress?

[tank]

Hi all,

I am 22 years old and am wondering whether or not I am suffering from genuine hair loss.

Lately I am finding that I am losing (IMO) 'abnormal' amounts of hair - I am finding it on my pillow of a morning and also when washing my hair, I am finding a somewhat unusual amount of hair on my hands.

I am talking in the quantities of probably 30 hairs per day. I have also noticed that the hair that I am losing is incredibly thin. I have always had thin hair, but most of the hair that I am losing seems to be extrememly thin.

I have noticed this over the past 3 months. I have been under alot of stress lately and want to know if this is the contributing factor to all of my worry (a.k.a. hair loss). I am not losing hair from my temples or sides or any particular part of my head...since finding this site, my stress has probably got worse. I am now finding myself constantly looking at my pillow or at my hands after running them through my hair. I am about to move to another country and this alone is placing alot of stress on me. I also have new committments that have also been quite worrying to me.

I am currently taking Rogaine and Nizoral 2% and have got a prescription to Propecia, however the whole "shedding" process has really got me concerned. Because I don't have a particular part of my scalp that is bald (just thining all over), I'm finding that applying the Rogain is difficult as I'm simply massaging it all over my head (and most of the solution is probably absorbed by the hair and not the scalp).

My worry is should I:
- try to reduce the stress and "hope" everything goes back to "normal"
- take Rogain (which I think is being absorbed by the hair, rather than my scalp) and continue using Nizoral
- take Propecia
- take both Propecia and Rogain
- buy a really cool hat

I'm thinking of starting the propecia... I really do not know what to do. I've been told stress related hair loss can be helped by using EMU shampoo and oils to the scalp?

Should probably add: My father shows some thining however he didn't start losing hair until his early 40's and even now I would say his hair loss (for his age) is more than acceptable.

Can anyone provide some advice?

thanks peoples.

Tank

 

[zak84]

there's no way anyone here can tell you for sure what is wrong with you, but there is a group of people who are trained to do it professionally...doctors, specifically, dermatologist

 

[bombscience]

It's hard to say but if you are loosing an unusual amount of hair and notics male pattern baldness thinning then you will want to start propecia. I would wait on rogaine as a backup plan if things continue to thin.

 

[tank]

Thanks Zak and bombscience for your replies.

I did actually go and see my local GP (not a specialist), and he did agree that I had thinning hair and prescribed me on to Propecia. I asked him about all the side effects and the "shedding" phases, and he stated that he had never heard of anyone having such side effects. I will try to see a dermatologist, however hair specialists are pretty limited here...

Bombscience - I have started taking Propecia today. Why do you suggest to hold off Rogaine? Could it actually make my hair worse do you think, if so, I'm interested in hearing your opinion? It would save me AUD$60 a month! :lol:

Also, when is the best time to take Propecia... I just took it after breakfast..Should I be taking it on an empty stomach, with(out) food, with(out) water? Anyone?

Thanks again,

Dave

 

[Guest]

WHILE WERE ON THE TOPIC A STRESS I BEEN SCHIZOPHRENIC FOR YEARS YOU THINK THIS IS WHY MY HAIR BE FALLIN OUT. THE VOICES IN MY HEAD SEEM TO THINK SO.

 

[Guest]

WHILE WERE ON THE TOPIC A STRESS I BEEN SCHIZOPHRENIC FOR YEARS YOU THINK THIS IS WHY MY HAIR BE FALLIN OUT. THE VOICES IN MY HEAD SEEM TO THINK SO.

You need to smoke a lot of cigarettes. Blunts don't count. Tobacco helps a lot.

 

[Guest]

HOW IS THIS?

 

[Guest]

Don't ask him ask me. Or me. It works for us. We smoke like a friggen coal plant.

 

[Guest]

4 REAL NIGGA BUT THEM NEWPORTS BE STRAIGHT KILLIN ME

 

[Guest]

Try Cools if the lungs need a break.

You wanna talk gyno? Benson Hedges Menthol make you grow tits.

 

[Guest]

na us blacks peeps be stickin to newports with the occasional black and mild.

 

[Guest]

YOU KNOW HOW WE DO!!!! AIGHT IM OUT GOTTA GO OUT FOR MY B-DAY AND f*** SOME STRIPPERS.

Bedtime, huh? Must be Summer School, you know them white mothers crack the whip over that bedtime stuff. But 9:00? You must have a Stepford white robomomma, that 9:00 is way too harsh.

 

[bombscience]

Thanks Zak and bombscience for your replies.

I did actually go and see my local GP (not a specialist), and he did agree that I had thinning hair and prescribed me on to Propecia. I asked him about all the side effects and the "shedding" phases, and he stated that he had never heard of anyone having such side effects. I will try to see a dermatologist, however hair specialists are pretty limited here...

Bombscience - I have started taking Propecia today. Why do you suggest to hold off Rogaine? Could it actually make my hair worse do you think, if so, I'm interested in hearing your opinion? It would save me AUD$60 a month! :lol:

Also, when is the best time to take Propecia... I just took it after breakfast..Should I be taking it on an empty stomach, with(out) food, with(out) water? Anyone?

Thanks again,

Dave

Well now that you've described your situation a little more, I would say if you want to regrow some of the thinness, get started with minoxidil as well as propecia. I am not an expert at these things by any means, but if your hairloss isn't noticable and you just want to maintain where you are right now, Propecia should do that for you. Then if Propecia somewhere down the road looses it's effectiveness, you could always add Rogaine to keep your hair around that much longer.

I wish I had taken this route, instead I started minoxidil first, shed, and then had a reaction to the PPG in the solution which accelerated my hairloss from a place that was only noticable to me, to where it is now noticable to other people.

Anytime of day is ok to take your pill, the medicine is so strong that it is effective for more that 1 day. I take my pill in the morning, and then eat 240mg of saw palmetto at night to mostly ease my conscious.

 

[tank]

Thanks bombscience for your reply,

Well now that you've described your situation a little more, I would say if you want to regrow some of the thinness, get started with minoxidil as well as propecia. I am not an expert at these things by any means, but if your hairloss isn't noticable and you just want to maintain where you are right now, Propecia should do that for you. Then if Propecia somewhere down the road looses it's effectiveness, you could always add Rogaine to keep your hair around that much longer.

Isnt minoxidil (minoxidil) and Rogaine the same thing?

You make a valid point about "noticing" hair loss. Hopefully the Propecia will keep what I have..At the momment, people aren't noticing, but it is making me wonder whether or not the Rogaine is making more hair hit the pillow? I seem to have more hair falling out now then what I did before I started taking the Rogaine (or maybe I'm just more paranoid now).

I've decided that I will stop taking the Rogaine for now and just take Propecia and use the Nizoral 2% every 3rd day.

Anytime of day is ok to take your pill, the medicine is so strong that it is effective for more that 1 day. I take my pill in the morning, and then eat 240mg of saw palmetto at night to mostly ease my concious.

Can I ask what is "saw palmetto"?

I'm going to take some photos and compare them in 6 months time. Hopefully I'll have an afro

Thanks again,
tank

 

[bombscience]

Thanks bombscience for your reply,

Well now that you've described your situation a little more, I would say if you want to regrow some of the thinness, get started with minoxidil as well as propecia. I am not an expert at these things by any means, but if your hairloss isn't noticable and you just want to maintain where you are right now, Propecia should do that for you. Then if Propecia somewhere down the road looses it's effectiveness, you could always add Rogaine to keep your hair around that much longer.

Isnt minoxidil (minoxidil) and Rogaine the same thing?

You make a valid point about "noticing" hair loss. Hopefully the Propecia will keep what I have..At the momment, people aren't noticing, but it is making me wonder whether or not the Rogaine is making more hair hit the pillow? I seem to have more hair falling out now then what I did before I started taking the Rogaine (or maybe I'm just more paranoid now).

I've decided that I will stop taking the Rogaine for now and just take Propecia and use the Nizoral 2% every 3rd day.

[quote:d92d1]Anytime of day is ok to take your pill, the medicine is so strong that it is effective for more that 1 day. I take my pill in the morning, and then eat 240mg of saw palmetto at night to mostly ease my concious.

Can I ask what is "saw palmetto"?

I'm going to take some photos and compare them in 6 months time. Hopefully I'll have an afro

Thanks again,
Dave[/quote:d92d1]

Wow, I overlooked that you had already began treatment with minoxidil(Rogaine). If you have already experienced results from this, you will want to continue using it, or you will most likely loose any hair your have maintained in short time.

Saw Palmetto is an herbal berry extract that many men use as a suppliment when treating Prostate cancer. It has been studied and shown to reduce the levels of DHT in the prostate (the same thing Finasteride/Propecia does). However there is no hard evidence that it slows or prevents hairloss.

 

[tank]

Wow, I overlooked that you had already began treatment with minoxidil(Rogaine). If you have already experienced results from this, you will want to continue using it, or you will most likely loose any hair your have maintained in short time.

Saw Palmetto is an herbal berry extract that many men use as a suppliment when treating Prostate cancer. It has been studied and shown to reduce the levels of DHT in the prostate (the same thing Finasteride/Propecia does). However there is no hard evidence that it slows or prevents hairloss.

Thanks Bombscience,

I haven't seen any results with the Rogaine (not any that I can notice anyway). I am going to stop with the Rogaine and see what happens with the Propecia and Nizoral alone. I'll post an update in 3 months. Also, I anticipate my stress levels will ease a little by that time so any immediate hair growth may be associated with that as well.

Thanks.

tank[/quote]

 

[maddoc23]

Tank,

The stress needed for you to lose hair is traumatic, ongoing stress. For example, being debilitated from a car accident one month after being divorced. The stress must be very severe and continuous before it has a deleterious affect. I think the propecia and nizoral option is the best one for you. After a years time you can add minoxidil if you have not reached your goals.

D

 

[tank]

Thanks for your advice maddoc,

Whilst I have currently a lot of stress, I do not believe it is traumatic as a car accident or a divorce...

I will do exactly that (stop the minoxidil and take the Nizoral and Propecia).

If I can keep what I have, then I will be more than satisfied... If I can even grow more thicker hair, than I will be very happy.

One more quick question.

I remember someone saying that he noticed more "sheds" on Propecia whilst he was taking multi-vitamins. I have stopped taking my multi-vitamin pill for that reason now... Should I stop being so cautious and keep taking my multi-vitamin pill or do you think I should stop stressing so much about contributing factors and stop counting hair and keep trying to maintain a healthy attitude and keep taking my multi-vitamin (daily) pill?

Thanks again,

tank

 

[bombscience]

Thanks for your advice maddoc,

Whilst I have currently a lot of stress, I do not believe it is traumatic as a car accident or a divorce...

I will do exactly that (stop the minoxidil and take the Nizoral and Propecia).

If I can keep what I have, then I will be more than satisfied... If I can even grow more thicker hair, than I will be very happy.

One more quick question.

I remember someone saying that he noticed more "sheds" on Propecia whilst he was taking multi-vitamins. I have stopped taking my multi-vitamin pill for that reason now... Should I stop being so cautious and keep taking my multi-vitamin pill or do you think I should stop stressing so much about contributing factors and stop counting hair and keep trying to maintain a healthy attitude and keep taking my multi-vitamin (daily) pill?

Thanks again,

tank

I wouldn't stop taking multivitamins. Shedding is independent of this. If and when you shed, make sure to stick it out, it's emotionally trying, but in theory it's just a process of folicle growth cycles adjusting.

 

[tank]

I wouldn't not stop taking multivitamins. Shedding is independent of this. If and when you shed, make sure to stick it out, it's emotionally trying, but in theory it's just a process of folicle growth cycles adjusting.

Thanks for the advice bombscience,

I just noticed your using Nizoral 1% (as opposed to 2%)...any reason why?

Thanks
tank