Just wanted to share my story to see if anyone could shed any light on my situation. Several months ago I noticed my balding spot becoming a little more visable and receding of the hairline a little. I was far from balding, just losing a little in the male pattern baldness areas. Then I went on a 30 day water only fast. I know this sounds very severe, but I have been doing fasts for a number of years (usually only 2 weeks max). It is quite good for cleansing your system, reseting your metabolic clock and also your palette so you crave healthier foods. This time I just wanted the full experience. Sure enough, about 2 1/2 months later, I started noticing a lot of shedding and these areas became quite prominent. I kinda freaked out thinking i was going bald really fast. Now my question is this: I know that nutrition, or other stressful events will trigger episodes of Telogen Effluvium (causes a reset in the growth cycle so that growing hairs become hairs that are in the fallout phase - this usually lasts about 6 months and may take a little longer for hair to grow back). I ordered Propecia with the thought I was going bald really quickly. My question is did my fast cause a Telogen Effluvium episode because of malnutrition or could it have something to do with hormone fluctuation? I know that when you fast your Testosterone levels and estrogen levels drop dramatically. I also know that Propecia often causes massive shedding. (My shedding happened before I took my first propecia pill). Nobody has really explained why finasteride causes shedding only that it sometimes does. There is also a hormone fluctuation when starting propecia (in this case an elevated level of testosterone). So in theory, couldn't propecia be really causing a Telogen Effluvium episode by causing dramatic hormone fluctuations. There seems to be confusion on this point. Some people say that sheds are really a result of propecia shifting the growing hairs into a shedding phase, but by all practicality, this is the same definition as Telogen Effluvium. Any thoughts or insight?
Fasting and hairloss
- Thread starter snailboy
- Start date
I know what you mean about fasting - it's a very tempting proposition to kick the junk out of your system.
I was officially disgnosed as suffering from malnutrition last year after successive bouts of fasting over an 18 month period. I did not really lose any hair that I noticed during fasting, but began to shed massively after beginning treatment for malnutrition.
Personally I believe repeated fasting severely undermined my health and kickstarted my male pattern baldness which had only been a very slow process up to that point. I had hoped it was a case of Telogen Effluvium but I think if the hair hasn't started to recover within a year then it's wise to assume the worst - male pattern baldness.
I bitterly regret my attempts at self-starvation now which were, of course, related to a mental disorder. I did not seek treatment for the mental disorder - now I'm screaming to the world about male pattern baldness.
The fact that the latter is visible and the former is not is an attractive irony.
Basically, assume the worst, get on the proven three treatments (finasteride, minoxidil, nizoral) and stay on them. And no more fasting, unfortunately.
I was officially disgnosed as suffering from malnutrition last year after successive bouts of fasting over an 18 month period. I did not really lose any hair that I noticed during fasting, but began to shed massively after beginning treatment for malnutrition.
Personally I believe repeated fasting severely undermined my health and kickstarted my male pattern baldness which had only been a very slow process up to that point. I had hoped it was a case of Telogen Effluvium but I think if the hair hasn't started to recover within a year then it's wise to assume the worst - male pattern baldness.
I bitterly regret my attempts at self-starvation now which were, of course, related to a mental disorder. I did not seek treatment for the mental disorder - now I'm screaming to the world about male pattern baldness.
The fact that the latter is visible and the former is not is an attractive irony.
Basically, assume the worst, get on the proven three treatments (finasteride, minoxidil, nizoral) and stay on them. And no more fasting, unfortunately.
I said kickstarted, IBM - I was destined to lose my hair anyway - I just helped it along a little (or a lot) by being so foolish.
Regarding junkies and tramps, they may lead terrible lifestyles but unless they have that fatal male pattern baldness gene it won't make a blind bit of difference. They'll keep their hair regardless.
Regarding junkies and tramps, they may lead terrible lifestyles but unless they have that fatal male pattern baldness gene it won't make a blind bit of difference. They'll keep their hair regardless.