Hello, I just joined today to hopefully help put *some* mens worries to bed. Im a hypochondriac with an anxiety disorder and extreme insecurities with my body image. Perfect storm for going bald..thankfully Im not going bald though.
Anyway, for the last 5-6 months or so Ive been extremely worried about balding. Constantly checking my hand for hairs stuck to it after i Run my hand through it, checking hands in shower, checking my collar for hairs, checking my pillow int he morning.
And I do lose a lot of hairs. I just turned 20 years old. I would say I easily lose more than 100 per day. I could see up to 30 hairs on my hand after shampooing. And yet no signs of balding what so ever, 6 months after noticing this high shedding of hair. I shaved my head because I was so worried about balding, I did this and there was no patch of even slightly thinning hair noticeable . I thought I might be a diffuse thinner because the hairs fall off everywhere on my head. If I pull at my hair at the nape of my neck, at the vertex or at temples I could pull 2 or 3 hairs out of that spot. It scared the **** out of me. I have a big nose and weird ears and a boyish-innocent looking face so balding would just not be a good look on me.
Anyway I went to see a trichologist who assured me that I was not balding. She viewed my scalp under a microscope and took sample hairs , I was overjoyed. If I shook my head over a white towel SO many hairs would come out . A month ago I tried this and I started crying, literally 20-30 hairs fell out after shaking my hair over a white towel for 30 seconds.It was a very scary time.
But I don't know why I have such a high shed that doesn't results in hair loss. I have thick curly hair, that might be a factor . Maybe the curls catch loose/fallen hairs and so when I shake my head all the hairs come out together. Where as hairs might fall out unnoticed from thinner straight hair. I also study architecture, which is an incredibly stressful course. It could reduce me to tears at times and with all the all nighters Ive done this semester I probably lost a full 2 weeks of sleep overall! Combined with the social anxiety I think this stress may have increased my hair loss.
I also had a heavy shed even as a child, when doing my homework I used to play with my hair and would notice 2 or 3 hairs on my exercise books, this was when I wa like 13 year old too.
Anyway I just wanted to tell guys who fear they are balding due to increased hair loss not to worry, yet. Please save yourself the emotional struggle and wait to see a trychologist. They will be able to tell you and either confirm the worst or put your fears to rest. And if you are suffering from male pattern baldness then you can begin treatment right away. But please please please don't use the numbers of hair falling from your head to measure whether you're balding or not. In my case it was a complete waste of time that resulted in extreme stress anxiety and sadness that was so unnecessary. This is my first post but I hope I helped somebody, I wish I could have heard this from somebody a few months ago. Everyone on this forum is so bloody negative, I heard countless times things along the lines of 'if you think you're balding then you ARE' 'lots of hairs int he shower obviously means you're balding' 'do you think men not suffering from male pattern baldness actually lose 100 hairs per day, not a chance'
Its all bull**** . I was so worried I actually deluded myself into thinking I was seeing thinning hair on parts of my scalp and hair miniaturisation at the fringe . Neither of which I had in any way shape or form!
If you think you have male pattern baldness PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THE INTERNET! It is completely detrimental to your mental health and is of absolutely no help what so ever. A doctor can help you.
If you are confirmed to be suffering male pattern baldness then resort to the use of this forum, but for now stay away.
Anyway, for the last 5-6 months or so Ive been extremely worried about balding. Constantly checking my hand for hairs stuck to it after i Run my hand through it, checking hands in shower, checking my collar for hairs, checking my pillow int he morning.
And I do lose a lot of hairs. I just turned 20 years old. I would say I easily lose more than 100 per day. I could see up to 30 hairs on my hand after shampooing. And yet no signs of balding what so ever, 6 months after noticing this high shedding of hair. I shaved my head because I was so worried about balding, I did this and there was no patch of even slightly thinning hair noticeable . I thought I might be a diffuse thinner because the hairs fall off everywhere on my head. If I pull at my hair at the nape of my neck, at the vertex or at temples I could pull 2 or 3 hairs out of that spot. It scared the **** out of me. I have a big nose and weird ears and a boyish-innocent looking face so balding would just not be a good look on me.
Anyway I went to see a trichologist who assured me that I was not balding. She viewed my scalp under a microscope and took sample hairs , I was overjoyed. If I shook my head over a white towel SO many hairs would come out . A month ago I tried this and I started crying, literally 20-30 hairs fell out after shaking my hair over a white towel for 30 seconds.It was a very scary time.
But I don't know why I have such a high shed that doesn't results in hair loss. I have thick curly hair, that might be a factor . Maybe the curls catch loose/fallen hairs and so when I shake my head all the hairs come out together. Where as hairs might fall out unnoticed from thinner straight hair. I also study architecture, which is an incredibly stressful course. It could reduce me to tears at times and with all the all nighters Ive done this semester I probably lost a full 2 weeks of sleep overall! Combined with the social anxiety I think this stress may have increased my hair loss.
I also had a heavy shed even as a child, when doing my homework I used to play with my hair and would notice 2 or 3 hairs on my exercise books, this was when I wa like 13 year old too.
Anyway I just wanted to tell guys who fear they are balding due to increased hair loss not to worry, yet. Please save yourself the emotional struggle and wait to see a trychologist. They will be able to tell you and either confirm the worst or put your fears to rest. And if you are suffering from male pattern baldness then you can begin treatment right away. But please please please don't use the numbers of hair falling from your head to measure whether you're balding or not. In my case it was a complete waste of time that resulted in extreme stress anxiety and sadness that was so unnecessary. This is my first post but I hope I helped somebody, I wish I could have heard this from somebody a few months ago. Everyone on this forum is so bloody negative, I heard countless times things along the lines of 'if you think you're balding then you ARE' 'lots of hairs int he shower obviously means you're balding' 'do you think men not suffering from male pattern baldness actually lose 100 hairs per day, not a chance'
Its all bull**** . I was so worried I actually deluded myself into thinking I was seeing thinning hair on parts of my scalp and hair miniaturisation at the fringe . Neither of which I had in any way shape or form!
If you think you have male pattern baldness PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THE INTERNET! It is completely detrimental to your mental health and is of absolutely no help what so ever. A doctor can help you.
If you are confirmed to be suffering male pattern baldness then resort to the use of this forum, but for now stay away.
