Post Dengue Hair Loss - Is This Telogen Effluvium Or male pattern baldness?

[Romanuncle]

Hi all,

So a little background about me -
Hair type - extremely thick, fluffy and curly hair.
Mid October - Revovered from dengue which required me to be admitted to a hospital for the first time in my life. Hair became very frizzy and also felt it grew too much in that one week of continuous fever.
October end - Started to notice hair shedding and could see thinning at the crown and top of the head. With no hairline recession.
Nov 20th - Went to a derm, he said its Telogen Effluvium. Gave me minoxidil 2% and a multivitamin.
Hair shed increased.
Dec 20th - Went back to derm. He said he cannot see much thinning so but gave me minoxidil 5% to be applied EOD.
Hair shedding continued and has gotten even worse.

I can easily pull out hair from my top, sides and back easily. On my pillow I see a lot of short hairs some of which appear miniaturised.

Pictures - (Series of 03 - Late October. Series 04 - November. Series 06 - December)

Here for help as I think it's male pattern baldness and my Derm think it's not. What do you guys reckon? Should I change me derm?


Currently shedding - 300+ hairs.

 

[Romanuncle]

Anyone ?

 

[buckthorn]

Image 0676 shows apparent thinning at the back of your scalp which suggests you have Telogen Effluvium. However, you also appear to have excessive thinning at the crown which is most likely androgenic. It's possible that you have both conditions and Telogen Effluvium will only exacerbate things. Was there anything prior to your fever that could have triggered your Telogen Effluvium. I ask because Telogen Effluvium doesn't generally kick in for months after a trigger event.

^this

 

[buckthorn]

Are you sure? I think I had Telogen Effluvium after stopping Diane 35. I was lossing like 300+ hair/day for several months!

Most sources say the actual hair loss doesn't occur for 3-4 months post trauma, but I think it can definitely happen two months after. I've had this happen to me before. I would say the HIGHEST amount of hair loss is usually expected 5-6 months post trauma.

 

[Romanuncle]

Image 0676 shows apparent thinning at the back of your scalp which suggests you have Telogen Effluvium. However, you also appear to have excessive thinning at the crown which is most likely androgenic. It's possible that you have both conditions and Telogen Effluvium will only exacerbate things. Was there anything prior to your fever that could have triggered your Telogen Effluvium. I ask because Telogen Effluvium doesn't generally kick in for months after a trigger event.

No, nothing at all. Regarding the crown thinning, no one has ever told me anything about it, not even a single barber.

 

[Romanuncle]

^this

If I do have male pattern baldness + Telogen Effluvium. Will my hair lost due to Telogen Effluvium in male pattern baldness areas return eventually?

 

[buckthorn]

If I do have male pattern baldness + Telogen Effluvium. Will my hair lost due to Telogen Effluvium in male pattern baldness areas return eventually?

now THAT is the million dollar question. I think I am right now on my FOURTH bout of Telogen Effluvium (broke my leg this time). It has definitely gotten thinner throughout all this, but I am still not completely bald. The first time, most of it grew back. The second time, like 70%. The third time, like 50%... and so on. It's almost like a math equation for me.

For you? Probably, yes, because you're still young and haven't had aggressive hair loss. If it IS Telogen Effluvium AND it resolves as it should, then I would expect you to regrow most of it.

 

[Romanuncle]

now THAT is the million dollar question. I think I am right now on my FOURTH bout of Telogen Effluvium (broke my leg this time). It has definitely gotten thinner throughout all this, but I am still not completely bald. The first time, most of it grew back. The second time, like 70%. The third time, like 50%... and so on. It's almost like a math equation for me.

For you? Probably, yes, because you're still young and haven't had aggressive hair loss. If it IS Telogen Effluvium AND it resolves as it should, then I would expect you to regrow most of it.

I'm dreading this. I'm going to change countries in a few months so I think this will occur again. FML.

 

[denguehairloss]

I had post dengue hair loss in the year 2015 I had hair loss for about 4 months to 5 months before it actually stopped. I would say that my hair generally feels thinner and weaker than before but the difference is not obvious. Do not worry too much about it as the hair fall should eventually stop. I've written a full article (feel free to read - denguehairloss.com) about my hair loss issue and hope you'll feel better after knowing someone went through the 'same boat' as you

 

[Jolterix18]

I had post dengue hair loss in the year 2015 I had hair loss for about 4 months to 5 months before it actually stopped. I would say that my hair generally feels thinner and weaker than before but the difference is not obvious. Do not worry too much about it as the hair fall should eventually stop. I've written a full article (feel free to read - denguehairloss.com) about my hair loss issue and hope you'll feel better after knowing someone went through the 'same boat' as you

Same thing happened to me man, dengue in 2016 hair falls off easily. Now hair fall has reduced but I'm losing body hairs, I'll be seeing a derm in the coming time so I'll let you know if I gather some information.