M33, no experience with any hair loss / shedding before last year.
Starting Sept 2021 I suddenly had huge daily shedding (>200 hairs per day, not counting the ones I didn't collect). They were in my food, on my desk, all over the shower, it was a shock. I saw several skin doctors and did extensive bloodwork that came back normal aside from low-ish iron level. I was talked into 3x PRP treatments, which had no noticeable effect. The shedding continued all over my scalp, but particularly the temple areas - I went from a NW1 in August to >NW2 in November (photos attached).
In December I got desperate and did a biopsy, which claimed "findings consistent with Androgenic Alopecia and seborrheic dermatitis". Since the hairline change was so rapid, the doctor guessed that Telogen Effluvium had kick-started the AA (in July I had a bad covid vaccine reaction and a minor surgery).
It's now March 2022 and the shedding has somewhat decreased to >100 hairs collected per day. My hair is noticeably thinner/weaker, and I'm very stressed about what to do. The shock has pretty much been all-consuming over the last few months.
I was prescribed 2% Nizoral shampoo and Finasteride which I plan to start 1mg EOD soon, however I cannot understand why I have NO regrowth at all. My understanding of AA miniaturization is that follicles progressively fall out and regrow thinner over a period of time (usually years). How did my temple areas fall out once in September and have 0 regrowth? There is no sign of small hairs, and the doctor has no answer for me. I want to avoid starting Minoxidil at the same time as Finasteride since both are lifelong and it's then difficult to see which is working, but it's now been 6 months and I am seeing no hope for regrowth.
Any advice what to do from here?
Starting Sept 2021 I suddenly had huge daily shedding (>200 hairs per day, not counting the ones I didn't collect). They were in my food, on my desk, all over the shower, it was a shock. I saw several skin doctors and did extensive bloodwork that came back normal aside from low-ish iron level. I was talked into 3x PRP treatments, which had no noticeable effect. The shedding continued all over my scalp, but particularly the temple areas - I went from a NW1 in August to >NW2 in November (photos attached).
In December I got desperate and did a biopsy, which claimed "findings consistent with Androgenic Alopecia and seborrheic dermatitis". Since the hairline change was so rapid, the doctor guessed that Telogen Effluvium had kick-started the AA (in July I had a bad covid vaccine reaction and a minor surgery).
It's now March 2022 and the shedding has somewhat decreased to >100 hairs collected per day. My hair is noticeably thinner/weaker, and I'm very stressed about what to do. The shock has pretty much been all-consuming over the last few months.
I was prescribed 2% Nizoral shampoo and Finasteride which I plan to start 1mg EOD soon, however I cannot understand why I have NO regrowth at all. My understanding of AA miniaturization is that follicles progressively fall out and regrow thinner over a period of time (usually years). How did my temple areas fall out once in September and have 0 regrowth? There is no sign of small hairs, and the doctor has no answer for me. I want to avoid starting Minoxidil at the same time as Finasteride since both are lifelong and it's then difficult to see which is working, but it's now been 6 months and I am seeing no hope for regrowth.
Any advice what to do from here?
