Hair loss or just paranoid?

[hopetainted]

I want to start with a brief history. As a child I had very straight fine hair up until about the age of 14 when it suddenly changed to a wavy, almost curly shape. A few years later when I started HS I began to grow my hair out very long. I never had it cut or even trimmed from 2004 until just last week. I noticed of course my hair did not look "healthy" in the last couple of years. It looked fried, split and frizzy all over.

When I got my hair cut last week, I got most of it taken off, leaving the main length just above shoulder level. If you can't tell I love long hair, and so I always go for long styles. But I noticed after washing that it looked really thin. In some places more than others.

There seems to be place on the right side of my bangs that seems "blank" where hair should be hanging down over my temple. Even more troubling, when looking at the top of my head, bare spots can be seen in places, much more so when my hair is needing washed. It usually gets greasy and clumpy within 36 hours after washing it, it's very oily. The worst bare spot is my "cowlick", where it looks like my part (I always part my hair to the side from the front) seems to go somewhat down the back of my head, instead of stopping at the top. I don't know how normal that is. My mother had told me once it looked like I parted my hair in the back too. Anyhow, the part where that ends seems quite wide and bare with some very thin growth around the area. I can't tell if the light it playing tricks or if it's true.


If I am experiencing hair loss, I will say that it is not a condition that runs in my family. I do have a poor diet, deprive myself of rest, and suffer from stress and depression, but nothing clinically diagnosed. I have heard also before that thyroid is a possibility for tall and thin people with high metabolism like myself. But really it could be anything I guess.

As of a few days ago, I have started to correct my schedule, eat breakfast (I haven't for years) and eat foods that cover all bases of the food pyramid. I also have began to take Mens Ultra NourishHair multivitamins and Biotine shampoo and conditioner formula from GNC. I have read testimonials that said this actually worked for some people's thinning hair. I'm clueless of where else to start if this is more serious than I'm realizing.

Top view when my hair is dirty, almost looks wet.
http://img819.imageshack.us/i/img0714rs.jpg/

Top view when my hair is clean, looks wire-ish and frizzy.
http://img708.imageshack.us/i/img0734hb.jpg/

This is the amount of hair that comes out in my hand when I gently message shampoo and conditioner when washing.
http://img594.imageshack.us/i/img0735b.jpg/

 

[Thom]

I know how you feel, initially cut off my long hair because it was getting that frizzy look and the thin spot at my crown was becoming noticeable. I can tell you have lost some density there because it is the same way I lost it. It could be your diet (research telogen effluvium) or it could be just natural male pattern baldness). You might want to see a dermatologist to find out.

Btw, it scared me so much I cut my hair short which made it all more noticeable AND I missed my long hair like crazy. I've been growing it back out since November and it looks surprisingly good, covering up the thinning area. If you are diagnosed with male pattern baldness you might want to get on the big 3 like I did.

One more thing to consider is hard water. I think the city chemicals in the water inflame my head a bit more so I invested in a shower filter. Makes my hair look a bit healthier and the itching has gone down.

 

[mothernature]

looks + sounds normal to me

 

[follicle84]

It looks a bit thin on the parting on your hair. However its not advanced enough to tell if its male pattern baldness (male pattern baldness). The shedding you found is normal and is not severe enough to be considered true hairloss.

 

[hopetainted]

I know how you feel, initially cut off my long hair because it was getting that frizzy look and the thin spot at my crown was becoming noticeable. I can tell you have lost some density there because it is the same way I lost it. It could be your diet (research telogen effluvium) or it could be just natural male pattern baldness). You might want to see a dermatologist to find out.

Btw, it scared me so much I cut my hair short which made it all more noticeable AND I missed my long hair like crazy. I've been growing it back out since November and it looks surprisingly good, covering up the thinning area. If you are diagnosed with male pattern baldness you might want to get on the big 3 like I did.

One more thing to consider is hard water. I think the city chemicals in the water inflame my head a bit more so I invested in a shower filter. Makes my hair look a bit healthier and the itching has gone down.

What exactly is "the big 3", and how has that worked for you (if at all)?


Are you saying that the "frizzy" look is a sign of hair loss? I was never too sure why it started looking so frizzy. I actually did use a flat iron to straighten it over the last few years, initially just to get rid of the natural wave because I like straight hair. I thought it might have been damaged by that, but after having it cut I figured most of the damaged hair would be gone if that were the cause.

 

[anxious1]

What exactly is "the big 3", and how has that worked for you (if at all)?

omg do we have to explain everything?, just google it + hairloss, or search for it on this site.

 

[hopetainted]

What exactly is "the big 3", and how has that worked for you (if at all)?

omg do we have to explain everything?, just google it + hairloss, or search for it on this site.

Or in the time you fly off, you could've just told me.

Yes, I am new to this. I know little to nothing about hair loss, that's why I came here.

...oh and my questions are still plenty, and I'd like to have them addressed still yet by real people with experience. Thank you.

 

[Thom]

I know how you feel, initially cut off my long hair because it was getting that frizzy look and the thin spot at my crown was becoming noticeable. I can tell you have lost some density there because it is the same way I lost it. It could be your diet (research telogen effluvium) or it could be just natural male pattern baldness). You might want to see a dermatologist to find out.

Btw, it scared me so much I cut my hair short which made it all more noticeable AND I missed my long hair like crazy. I've been growing it back out since November and it looks surprisingly good, covering up the thinning area. If you are diagnosed with male pattern baldness you might want to get on the big 3 like I did.

One more thing to consider is hard water. I think the city chemicals in the water inflame my head a bit more so I invested in a shower filter. Makes my hair look a bit healthier and the itching has gone down.

What exactly is "the big 3", and how has that worked for you (if at all)?


Are you saying that the "frizzy" look is a sign of hair loss? I was never too sure why it started looking so frizzy. I actually did use a flat iron to straighten it over the last few years, initially just to get rid of the natural wave because I like straight hair. I thought it might have been damaged by that, but after having it cut I figured most of the damaged hair would be gone if that were the cause.

Sorry about the rude people mate. When you first start researching this stuff the terms can get confusing. The big 3 is:

1. Minoxidil "Regaine or Rogaine depending on your part of the world"
2. Nizoral " An int-inflammatory shampoo that aids regimen well."
3. Finasteride "Propecia or Proscar, prescription only"

minoxidil regrows hair, while finasteride helps maintain what you have. I've only been on the big 3 for 4 months and I feel my hair thickening, though now that it's longer again you can't see the thin spots. Btw, I used a straightener too because, though my hair is straight, it will tend to flip out in strange ways. So I've wondered if the straightener was the cause or male pattern baldness myself. Your hair looks a lot like mine so I kind of know what you're going through.

 

[hopetainted]

So I suppose if I have male pattern baldness, the multivitamins and biotine shampoo isn't going to do a thing for me. The next step for me then is to see a dermatologist, I'm guessing they will run some tests?

This is all very strange and sudden to me. How often do people develop male pattern baldness when it isn't a trait among their family?

Another thing I find strange is how I never noticed any of this before I got my really long hair cut off, now it seems so apparent to me. Long hair must do a pretty good job of hiding hair loss. But it's not like the stylist even cut that much from the top crown area (at least I don't think).

 

[Thom]

The vitamins by themselves most likely wouldn't have an effect unless you have a deficiency causing you to lose hair. However, I do think they are good in aiding everything else. At the very least, Biotin, along with Zinc and some others have made my hair grow really fast.

The dermatologist will just look through your hair for miniaturization. Find a good one though because some of them are worthless and you'll waste your money.

I'm not sure how often people get the balding gene when it's not common. I do know the only one on either side of my family who lost their hair is my Dad and it was uncommon there as well because no one else in that family ever had hair loss.

Don't panic just yet, it could be a deficiency or nothing at all. Mine may be that as well as my iron levels are low.

 

[hopetainted]

The vitamins by themselves most likely wouldn't have an effect unless you have a deficiency causing you to lose hair. However, I do think they are good in aiding everything else. At the very least, Biotin, along with Zinc and some others have made my hair grow really fast.

The dermatologist will just look through your hair for miniaturization. Find a good one though because some of them are worthless and you'll waste your money.

I'm not sure how often people get the balding gene when it's not common. I do know the only one on either side of my family who lost their hair is my Dad and it was uncommon there as well because no one else in that family ever had hair loss.

Don't panic just yet, it could be a deficiency or nothing at all. Mine may be that as well as my iron levels are low.

So you haven't actually been diagnosed with male pattern baldness, and you've seen a dermatologist? Or do they just diagnose all evidence of hair loss as such? I figured they'd have a way of testing to rule out causes.

 

[Thom]

Well the only one who diagnosed it as such was in early 09. He told me I was going into "pre" male pattern baldness and it has gotten worse since then. However, he wasn't very good and just took a brief look at my scalp. He seemed more concerned with getting me out of his hair. Very rude guy.

Also, this was about 2 months after I had stated eating under 800 calories every day and using intense activity to lose weight which causes telogen effluvium.

It stayed about the same until last year when I did p90x and ate the same kind of diet for 3 months to lose weight. Now I'm as skinny as I was in high school but with half the density I had before. Anyway, sorry for the long explanation, just trying to give my reasons why I think I have Telogen Effluvium and you might as well. You don't look bad though, I wouldn't go chop it all off. I regretted doing that. It's good to be a long hair again.