Needing Some Advice / Opinions Please

[Advice]

(Hi, even though I have been told otherwise I feel like there is something not right with my hair. I know I could just be overreacting / being paranoid but I am very unsure at the moment).

My problem started in February of this year. My scalp became really itchy and dandruffy and then A LOT of my hair began to fall out. Eventually I went to the dermatologist who said that I had seborrheic dermatitis and due to this also telogen effluvium. She prescribed 1% nizoral, Neutrogena t-gelshampoo and elecon drops as well as minoxidil. Eventually after a couple months the dermatitis symptoms began to recede and since then I have had had some minor recurrences. However, my hair has continued to keep falling out. Where I once had very thick hair, my hair is now thin in certain areas while my hair also feels unhealthy often. Even now (on bad days) I can lose up to 100 hairs just from showering / brushing my hair.

At the same time, even though the dermatologist prescribed me minoxidil I was weary of using it due to the negative side effects I have read about it and therefore haven’t used it. After I visited the dermatologist, the pharmacist / chemist told me it isn’t necessary as if my hair is naturally thick it should go back to normal eventually. However, I also went to my regular doctor a couple of months ago to get her opinion on how my scalp was going and although she said the dermatitis was mostly gone, she too recommended minoxidil to allow me to retain more of my hair and also possibly help with the regrowth. BUT the day after that when I went to my hairdresser to get a trim he recommended against using it as he said that it would only ruin my hair as he believed I wasn’t going bald / have male pattern baldness or anything of the sort. Therefore due to these 4 differing opinions (along with what I have read) I am very unsure what to do in regards to minoxidil?
Although I cant be 100% sure, I think my hair line has also begun to recede somewhat. Therefore, I am just worried that I am beginning to bald or that the telogen effluvium has caused permanent damage to my hair. I also have some questions which would be great if anyone could answer:

- should I continue to use t-gel shampoo? For me it is the shampoo that I think works best yet the bottle says it is not for prolonged use. I have been alternating between nizoral, t-gel and sulphate free shampoo and conditioner, however was wondering if this too is bad for my hair.
- how much longer should I expect to keep losing my hair due to telogen effluvium (if that’s what I have) and how long should it take for new hairs to begin growing back?
- should I be using minoxidil or is it indeed not necessary in my case?

Thankyou for any advice. I know that compared to other people my situation is not that bad, but I would just appreciate some other peoples opinions / advice due to all the differing things I have been told / read. I will also add pictures later on in case this helps. Thanks

- - - Updated - - -

Just some photos of my hairline as well as a spot at the back of my head that is sort of bald / has become very thin since this started (sorry for the low quality).

Thanks.

- - - Updated - - -

Just some photos of my hairline as well as a spot at the back of my head that is sort of bald / has become very thin since this started (sorry for the low quality).

Thanks.

 

[californiaoceans911]

(Hi, even though I have been told otherwise I feel like there is something not right with my hair. I know I could just be overreacting / being paranoid but I am very unsure at the moment).

My problem started in February of this year. My scalp became really itchy and dandruffy and then A LOT of my hair began to fall out. Eventually I went to the dermatologist who said that I had seborrheic dermatitis and due to this also telogen effluvium. She prescribed 1% nizoral, Neutrogena t-gelshampoo and elecon drops as well as minoxidil. Eventually after a couple months the dermatitis symptoms began to recede and since then I have had had some minor recurrences. However, my hair has continued to keep falling out. Where I once had very thick hair, my hair is now thin in certain areas while my hair also feels unhealthy often. Even now (on bad days) I can lose up to 100 hairs just from showering / brushing my hair.

At the same time, even though the dermatologist prescribed me minoxidil I was weary of using it due to the negative side effects I have read about it and therefore haven’t used it. After I visited the dermatologist, the pharmacist / chemist told me it isn’t necessary as if my hair is naturally thick it should go back to normal eventually. However, I also went to my regular doctor a couple of months ago to get her opinion on how my scalp was going and although she said the dermatitis was mostly gone, she too recommended minoxidil to allow me to retain more of my hair and also possibly help with the regrowth. BUT the day after that when I went to my hairdresser to get a trim he recommended against using it as he said that it would only ruin my hair as he believed I wasn’t going bald / have male pattern baldness or anything of the sort. Therefore due to these 4 differing opinions (along with what I have read) I am very unsure what to do in regards to minoxidil?
Although I cant be 100% sure, I think my hair line has also begun to recede somewhat. Therefore, I am just worried that I am beginning to bald or that the telogen effluvium has caused permanent damage to my hair. I also have some questions which would be great if anyone could answer:

- should I continue to use t-gel shampoo? For me it is the shampoo that I think works best yet the bottle says it is not for prolonged use. I have been alternating between nizoral, t-gel and sulphate free shampoo and conditioner, however was wondering if this too is bad for my hair.
- how much longer should I expect to keep losing my hair due to telogen effluvium (if that’s what I have) and how long should it take for new hairs to begin growing back?
- should I be using minoxidil or is it indeed not necessary in my case?

Thankyou for any advice. I know that compared to other people my situation is not that bad, but I would just appreciate some other peoples opinions / advice due to all the differing things I have been told / read. I will also add pictures later on in case this helps. Thanks

:worthless:


Don't listen to the hairdresser for one thing, I doubt they have as much knowledge about this as your doctors do. From what I hear Nizoral is pretty harsh. I would try to go with Lipogaine Big 3 Shampoo, it is $25 a bottle on amazon. The directions say to use it twice when you shower but this is a waste. Use a mild sulphate free shampoo first, wash it out, then apply the Lipogaine shampoo. Massage it in for a minute, then leave in it for 3-5 minutes and rinse thoroughly. Apply your conditioner and leave that for a few minutes and rinse it out.

Doing this about 3 times a week will help keep the Telogen Effluvium at bay (I think, someone else chime in please if it needs to be more often). As for the minoxidil, it won't ruin your hair, but initially you'll lose some hair. This is common as it is restarting the growth cycle. Then thicker hair will come in. I suggest Rogaine foam, but many people use other brands as well.

We can't comment on your receding hairline or Telogen Effluvium because you haven't posted any pics, please do so that way we can hopefully give some advice.

- - - Updated - - -

Ah you posted pics, and I what I feared was correct. You aren't losing your hair, you're losing your mind. What hair loss? I don't see any hair loss lol, your hair is thicker than mine ever was in my life. The hair in the drain only looks like a lot because you have long hair. I lose more hair than that in the shower, and losing 100 hairs isn't a problem as long as you're regrowing them back.

 

[Advice]

Thanks very much for the reply

I know I might be overreacting but the amount of hair I've lost due to Telogen Effluvium has caused the thickness of my hair to decline so much, which has made me very paranoid, while its also hard to tell how my regrowth is going due to my long hair.

I think I'll buy Lipogaine cause from what I just read it seems like it could be very helpful but just one more question, would you recommend I use minoxidil in your opinion? Or should my hair go back to normal eventually on its own without it? And is Finasteride another option or is that more suited for male pattern baldness?

Thanks again!