Hair Loss Related to Stress

[bupolo]

Anyone here have hair loss related to stress? I've been slowly thinning out a little for the past few years. I started thinning more when I started law school, got the stress under control, stopped losing hair, and didn't think I had any problems. I actually started practing 5 months ago, and ever since have been losing lots of hair.

Not only has it gotten pretty thin on top, but it's also not receding evenly (more on the right side than the left, at least up front). The problem is I'm not really stressed about my job, but now I've started to become very concerned about my hair on a daily basis. Part of the reason is my scalp itches throughout the day (never used to do that). I also don't have any dandruff.

I'm not sure if it's psychosomatic or not, because when I'm concentrating on something else, my scalp is not itching. But when I start to think about it, it starts itching again (yes, I've tried to "not thing about it," but it's more easily said than done).

I guess my question is has anyone else gone through this? Has anyone else lost a bunch of hair because of stress, and did it come back once the stress went away? What about long term stress, such as a few months? Also, what about the itching scalp thing? Anyone go through that?

 

[RaginDemon]

it could happen, if its indeed related to stress, it will reverse itself without treatment when the stress factors disappear.

 

[barcafan]

It CAN Be onset by stress but i wouldn't try to delude myself into thinking its NOT male pattern baldness and that it'll just go away. Chances are your stress triggered your male pattern baldness gene and now its in full gear. Thinning on top and recession are CLASSIC signs of hereditary hairloss, stress induced hairloss would likely be in much more 'weird' areas such as the the back of your head etc.

 

[bupolo]

I do have a lot more thinning on my right side then my left side. I think my dad on my mom's side may have been bald (but I'm not certain).

 

[s.a.f]

It CAN Be onset by stress but i wouldn't try to delude myself into thinking its NOT male pattern baldness and that it'll just go away. Chances are your stress triggered your male pattern baldness gene and now its in full gear. Thinning on top and recession are CLASSIC signs of hereditary hairloss, stress induced hairloss would likely be in much more 'weird' areas such as the the back of your head etc.

Good post, how long before someone asks the stress question again though.... :roll:

 

[bupolo]

So it's normal male pattern baldness to go from hair that looked fine to very thin in 4 months?

 

[s.a.f]

Yeah, can be. :agree:

 

[astral week]

So it's normal male pattern baldness to go from hair that looked fine to very thin in 4 months?

no, that is not "normal". Losing hair is usually a long process, 4 months is extremely accelerated. Not that it can't happen, but only rarely. More likely it was thinning long before you noticed it (most sources say you won't notice your hair thinning until 30% or more is already gone). Stress can be a huge factor, but if you're losing hair in a male pattern baldness pattern, then you have male pattern baldness, even if it's in conjunction with stress-related hairloss.

 

[bupolo]

Ok, so off to Propecia, Rogaine and Nizoral for me?

Also, if I start using Rogaine to regrow hair, and it does regrow, but then I stop using rograine (but continue using propecia) my understanding is I will lose the hair that I regrew via rogaine?

If that's the case, would it be advisable just to head off to the hair club for men, and continue to use propecia?

 

[astral week]

I'd get on nizoral and finasteride, but rogaine is up to you. doctors often recommend it to patients with Telogen Effluvium, as it does help grow it back and if the hairloss was NOT male pattern baldness related then you don't need to take minoxidil forever. But since it sounds like you do have male pattern baldness, realize that minoxidil is a lifelong committment, or at least however long you want your hair.

and forget about hair club for men, waste of money.

 

[bupolo]

I know this isn't the hair transplant board, but if Hair Club for men is no good, which one is good? Also, how much does it cost?