Does everyone have some vellus hair on their scalp even if not balding?

[EvilLocks]

Hi

I had a scalp biopsy taken a few weeks back and got the results today. It says that I have 1 vellus hair on the spot the biopsy was taken from, and 7-8 follicular units (or whatever). This surprises me because I can clearly see so many miniaturized hairs everywhere when I press my hair down to my scalp and inspect the part line. I had suspected to see more vellus hairs on the biopsy because my hair has gotten really thin. But then again maybe the biopsy was taken from the "wrong" place, after all it's just a 3mm spot they cut out from your scalp, and doesn't represent the entire head. But what I was wondering, is it normal to have some vellus hair on your scalp even in non balding people? I read about vellus hairs and it says they are everywhere on the body except for the palm of your hands and under the feet. So that means that there are vellus hair on normal people's scalp, or? Am I onto something or just grasping at straws?

 

[hellouser]

Hi

I had a scalp biopsy taken a few weeks back and got the results today. It says that I have 1 vellus hair on the spot the biopsy was taken from, and 7-8 follicular units (or whatever). This surprises me because I can clearly see so many miniaturized hairs everywhere when I press my hair down to my scalp and inspect the part line. I had suspected to see more vellus hairs on the biopsy because my hair has gotten really thin. But then again maybe the biopsy was taken from the "wrong" place, after all it's just a 3mm spot they cut out from your scalp, and doesn't represent the entire head. But what I was wondering, is it normal to have some vellus hair on your scalp even in non balding people? I read about vellus hairs and it says they are everywhere on the body except for the palm of your hands and under the feet. So that means that there are vellus hair on normal people's scalp, or? Am I onto something or just grasping at straws?

In my temples I see many small vellus hairs as well, this is quite normal. After some time though, the balding area does become slick bald and nothing can be seen. But keep in mind follicles never 'die' or 'disappear' either.

 

[2bald2young]

maybe it is the results of minoxidil, After starting minoxidil I also have tons of vellus hairs in my temples.

 

[EvilLocks]

In my temples I see many small vellus hairs as well, this is quite normal. After some time though, the balding area does become slick bald and nothing can be seen. But keep in mind follicles never 'die' or 'disappear' either.

The biopsy was taken from the crown of my head. Should this be vellus-free zone in non-balding people? Anyway my diagnosis was not conclusive, for telogen effluvium, pattern baldness or alopecia areata. I see lots of miniaturized hairs sticking up from everywhere on my scalp though so I'm quite sure it's Androgenetic Alopecia I'm dealing with :/ I just wondered if normal people also have some vellus hair across their scalp, or if they simply just exist in people with Androgenetic Alopecia.

- - - Updated - - -

maybe it is the results of minoxidil, After starting minoxidil I also have tons of vellus hairs in my temples.

I think it's more likely that it's the baldness who's claiming more and more terminal hair, turning them into vellus :/ Minoxidil is supposed to reverse vellus hair and turn it terminal, not the other way around...

 

[kirk]

Don't mean to sound ignorant Evilocks, but what causes your specific type of hair loss. Is it the same as us guys or a some kind of mystery?

I hope you get sorted out. At least your not last on the list for finding a cure cause that would be the male pattern baldness crowd

Oh, and I do still have vellus hairs on my balding areas.

 

[maher]

I remember you said you were on some medications for years. It could be some of this meds messed up your dopa and your follicle cycle. I ran into this study the other day when I was researching on nofap:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23176199

"These data provide evidence that dopamine is an inhibitor of human hair growth, via the promotion of catagen induction, at least in vitro. This may offer a rational explanation for the induction of telogen effluvium in some women treated with dopamine agonists such as bromocriptine"

case study:
http://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(05)03175-0/fulltext

Telogen effluvium pathophysiology is not well understood, but results from hair follicles' synchronous entry into exogen, the shedding phase of the hair follicle cycle.[SUP]6[/SUP][SUP],[/SUP] [SUP]7[/SUP][SUP],[/SUP] [SUP]8[/SUP] Dopamine agonists' effects on this cycle may be mediated by decreased serum prolactin levels. In healthy volunteers, a 0.3-mg dose of pramipexole decreased prolactin levels nearly 50%; levels remained lower than those in control patients 8 hours later.[SUP]9[/SUP] Multiple observations provide evidence for prolactin's role in hair follicle cycling. Clinically, hyperprolactinemia causes hirsutism; treatment of hyperprolactinemia with bromocriptine, a dopamine agonist that inhibits prolactin, can result in alopecia.[SUP]10[/SUP] Experimentally, prolactin and prolactin receptor are present in human hair follicle epithelium in hair-cycle-dependent levels.[SUP]10[/SUP][SUP],[/SUP] [SUP]11[/SUP] Prolactin receptor knockout mice molt and replace hair earlier and grow longer, coarser hair than wild-type mice.[SUP]11[/SUP] Furthermore, in vitro experiments have demonstrated that supraphysiologic doses of prolactin accelerate catagen development in murine hair follicles.[SUP]10[/SUP]


They did scalp bio. They probably should be able to tell you if you have Telogen Effluvium or not.

 

[EvilLocks]

Don't mean to sound ignorant Evilocks, but what causes your specific type of hair loss. Is it the same as us guys or a some kind of mystery?

I hope you get sorted out. At least your not last on the list for finding a cure cause that would be the male pattern baldness crowd

Oh, and I do still have vellus hairs on my balding areas.

If I have female pattern baldness, which is the most likely diagnose in my case based on the miniaturized / vellus hairs and pattern, it is simply the female version of male pattern baldness. So, I'm not in a better spot than any of you when it comes to finding a cure. It is basically the same process in both male and female pattern baldness, but the pattern of loss is usually more diffuse all over the scalp rather than in men with the horse shoe pattern... That said I'm npt 100% sure what causes my hair loss but I suspect it to be female pattern baldness / Androgenetic Alopecia

- - - Updated - - -

I remember you said you were on some medications for years. It could be some of this meds messed up your dopa and your follicle cycle. I ran into this study the other day when I was researching on nofap:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23176199

"These data provide evidence that dopamine is an inhibitor of human hair growth, via the promotion of catagen induction, at least in vitro. This may offer a rational explanation for the induction of telogen effluvium in some women treated with dopamine agonists such as bromocriptine"

case study:
http://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622%2805%2903175-0/fulltext

Telogen effluvium pathophysiology is not well understood, but results from hair follicles' synchronous entry into exogen, the shedding phase of the hair follicle cycle.[SUP]6[/SUP][SUP],[/SUP] [SUP]7[/SUP][SUP],[/SUP] [SUP]8[/SUP] Dopamine agonists' effects on this cycle may be mediated by decreased serum prolactin levels. In healthy volunteers, a 0.3-mg dose of pramipexole decreased prolactin levels nearly 50%; levels remained lower than those in control patients 8 hours later.[SUP]9[/SUP] Multiple observations provide evidence for prolactin's role in hair follicle cycling. Clinically, hyperprolactinemia causes hirsutism; treatment of hyperprolactinemia with bromocriptine, a dopamine agonist that inhibits prolactin, can result in alopecia.[SUP]10[/SUP] Experimentally, prolactin and prolactin receptor are present in human hair follicle epithelium in hair-cycle-dependent levels.[SUP]10[/SUP][SUP],[/SUP] [SUP]11[/SUP] Prolactin receptor knockout mice molt and replace hair earlier and grow longer, coarser hair than wild-type mice.[SUP]11[/SUP] Furthermore, in vitro experiments have demonstrated that supraphysiologic doses of prolactin accelerate catagen development in murine hair follicles.[SUP]10[/SUP]


They did scalp bio. They probably should be able to tell you if you have Telogen Effluvium or not.

I do not have telogen effluvium as this means shedding. My hair appears to shed at a normal rate and this was also confirmed via pull test. My biopsy simply came back inconclusive and they found one vellus hair in the sample. I don't know why but they couldn't give me a diagnose based on the sample. But they did find some kind of bacteria infection in my scalp and prescribed nizoral, which I have used before with no luck :/ Ahh, this is too frustrating!

 

[maher]

I do not have telogen effluvium as this means shedding. My hair appears to shed at a normal rate and this was also confirmed via pull test. My biopsy simply came back inconclusive and they found one vellus hair in the sample. I don't know why but they couldn't give me a diagnose based on the sample. But they did find some kind of bacteria infection in my scalp and prescribed nizoral, which I have used before with no luck :/ Ahh, this is too frustrating!

I think you need a second (or third) opinion. You need to treat this infection asap.

 

[EvilLocks]

I think you need a second (or third) opinion. You need to treat this infection asap.

I guess *sigh*... But here in Norway you have to wait at least 3 months for dermatologist appointments and when it comes, you have to wait another month for a biopsy... I guess I could spend some $$$ on going to a private clinic though. Anyway the dermatologist who did the biopsy said there was no treatment for my bacteria infection besides Nizoral. I don't know what to believe though as my scalp pain is *real* and driving me crazy, that can't be normal? :S

 

[2bald2young]

I did a quick google search on scalp infections.

[h=2]Sebhorreic Dermatitis came close to what you described.[/h]

Sebhorreic dermatitis takes the form of painful and itchy inflammation. It is associated with fungal infection and can occur on various areas of the skin, including the scalp. When sebhorreic dermatitis occurs on the scalp, it can contribute to temporary hair loss. This disease is common in children and older adults over age 50, but uncommon in younger adults. It is also more common in men than in women. Many cases of sebhorreic dermatitis can be effectively treated with medicated dandruff shampoos available over the counter. Antibiotics may also be prescribed.

 

[maher]

I guess *sigh*... But here in Norway you have to wait at least 3 months for dermatologist appointments and when it comes, you have to wait another month for a biopsy... I guess I could spend some $$$ on going to a private clinic though. Anyway the dermatologist who did the biopsy said there was no treatment for my bacteria infection besides Nizoral. I don't know what to believe though as my scalp pain is *real* and driving me crazy, that can't be normal? :S

If nizoral doesn't relieve the itch, try ciclopirox shampoo. Ever tried taking cetirizine?