Please, has anyone else dealt with this, I need some help

[hairybastard]

Both during and now even after taking propecia, I have experienced repeated cycles of telogen effluvium where I shed an enormous amount of hair from everywhere I my head and then grow everything back 9 months later only to shed it again in another 3 months. This has happened for 4 years now and even after stopping propecia. Needless to say it is a very depressing situation having to be bald 9 months out of the year and have a very good amount of hair for only 3 months. When I shed, the sides of my head (around the ears) become almost slick bald! It's unbelievable! Then when I regrow they are shaggy and thick as ever! My life gets put completely on hold for those 9 months out of the year when I have no hair and so I have to squeeze as much living as possilble into the other 3 and it's all very stressful and painful to go through over and over again each time believing this is the last one. But it never is. The worst part of it all is the misunderstandings it causes between me and others. My parents think I'm not in school because I'm lazy and selfish when It's really because I'm severely depressed and waiting for the next growth cycle to arrive however many months away it may be. Others think I don;t like them because I dont hang out with them. Am I the only one who has been affected by propecia in this way? Please help.

 

[cosmo gene]

go see a doctor/dermatoligist

 

[Pibb]

Woof, man. That sounds pretty rough, and I'm really sorry for your situation. Have you seen a doctor/dermatologist/specialist for it? If not, I would suggest you look into it as soon as you can. Also, try posting on as many forums as possible - http://www.keratin.com has a forum that often discusses non-pattern baldness, and the admin there knows what he's talking about. Hopefully he can lead you to the right direction.

Keep us posted.

 

[jvantin1]

I'm a newbie, and nobody can diagnose you over the net, but it SOUNDS (but can't be sure) that it MIGHT be alopecia areata. You can find information on this condition at the national areata foundation to see if your symptoms match up. the "slick bald on sides of head" is a symptom. but again, I'm no doctor--you really should go see a derm.

 

[richlocks]

It's not areata .. it's just what he said, Telogen Effluvium.

Propecia sometimes synchronizes your hair cycles.. unfortunately for you it has somehow synched all your hairs into the same cycle.. but them being asleep for "9 months" seems a bit odd.. i'd think it'd be the other way around (3 months bald, 9 months hair).

I'm in a weird stage now myself.. after 1 year of propecia i'm having a shed (moderate one) but with horrible cosmetic differences.. I did have a horrid shed at month 2 as well (went on till around month 3-4).. but it's happening again and all my gains are gone.

I suggest you get your *** to a dermatologist pronto.. and use some minoxidil to help those hairs out of the "sleep" phase.. I really would think minoxidil would be the answer to this one.

 

[hairybastard]

Guys, Thanks a lot for your input. Actually I'm hoping this is in fact chronic telogen effluvium because according to experts it never lasts longer than 7 years so at the most I have only 3 to go. Sometimes I hear guys on these forums complaining about a "shed" or Telogen Effluvium episode and all I can think is 'sh*t, I should be so lucky.' Remember, it can ALWAYS be worse, much worse.

 

[umab]

Telogen Effluvium?

hello,
i am newbie, i dont now what Telogen Effluvium is, please, explain it to me.
thanx

 

[Guest]

hairybastard,

Tell people you have Telogen Effluvium whenever it comes up or you get a good chance. Tell them you have hair 6 months out of the year (an exageration). Balding has a stigma (unfortunately), and telling people that you are not bald removes that stigma and should alleviate the social pressure a little bit since you won't be trying to hide it from your friends.

If they ask why this happens say you don't know. Because you don't, we just have likely suspects in mind.

 

[bombscience]

Re: Telogen Effluvium?

hello,
i am newbie, i dont now what Telogen Effluvium is, please, explain it to me.
thanx

read this for all the info you could ever want
http://www.hairlosstalk.com/research/al ... luvium.htm

 

[Guest]

hairybastard,

Tell people you have Telogen Effluvium whenever it comes up or you get a good chance. Tell them you have hair 6 months out of the year (an exageration). Balding has a stigma (unfortunately), and telling people that you are not bald removes that stigma and should alleviate the social pressure a little bit since you won't be trying to hide it from your friends.

If they ask why this happens say you don't know. Because you don't, we just have likely suspects in mind.

Hairy...

I'd take Yeddies advice. Ive read your sitauation and it seems a bugger, especially as you are still at school. However, if I was going through your situation, I'd pluck up the courage to do what yeddie has posted.

By telling the people around you that, they'll realise that you arent really *offically* bald and this will take presure off the situation. A few of them will cringe, yes, but in the end you'll feel better for mentioning it.

Good luck