Tech Question re: end of growth cycle/thinning towards root

[flux]

I have gone through major sheds lately,. a huge setback in my fight. The sheds seem to have slowed down / stopped, but my hair has paid the price. I can no longer spike my hair with confidence. It must be dry to get decent coverage. I am praying that this was propecia sheds, and it also may be due to me not being terribly vigilant about minoxidil applications. (Still, I havent been that bad about things)

But thats not the only depressing part. Heres the quesiton:

Looking at my hairs, most are thinning towards the root, starting at 3/4ths of an inch down to the root. Now I know hair thins out as it ends the cycle, but looking at healthy shedded hairs, the length of this end phase is about 1/4th an inch. Soo, is this 3/4ths an inch of thinning a sign that things are getting worse, or is it just the end of the growth cycle, streched out for some reason (such as a slower curve to the end of the growth cycle)? A straight honest answer would be appriciated.

BTW, This is at about 6th months of propecia and minoxidil. I am praying things turn back around, as it seemed they had.

 

[ShedMaster]

I think that bombscience noticed the same thing, I would PM him and ask him about his research. He posted some photos a ways back which clearly showed the same thing.

 

[flux]

I know Bomb did. I dont believe he knows how 'normal' this is, or what to make of it.

I suppose I would like to hear somebody tell me they noticed this too, but is still maintaining/regrowing hair. Thats what I would like to hear,. though only if its true.

 

[bombscience]

Yeah I have no freaking idea what the hell is going on with my hair. When i described my hair quality to Dr. Lee at his office he said thinning of hair over the length of the shaft was considered "abnormal". Words out of his mouth. I didn't ask any follow-up questions.


I would like to hear Bryan Shelton or HairLossTalk.com elaborate on whether this is a sign of a hair follicle not functioning properly or a natural occurance. Hey I know i'm balding, so I can take the bad news if that's what it is...

Here is a picture for reference.
http://www.bombscience.com/HairLossTalk.com/root-tip.jpg

 

[elguapo]

DAMN GOOD QUESTION, one which I've asked myself as well. I have the same thing, sort of. It's half and half: Some hairs that I find in the sink/on the pillow are same diameter up to the short (telogen) root, while some are thicker at the end and thinner at the (again short, telogen) root.

I read somewhere that hair grows in cycles, and "thinning" is the process by which the hair comes in thinner and thinner each CYCLE (not within the same growth cycle). To me that means that hair should grow at a certain diameter, be shed (telogen), then grow at a smaller diameter during the next anagen phase, and so on. But that would mean that we would never have receding hairlines or bald spots at all, just a completely covered head of thin-*** hair!! =)

I think the thicker at the root hairs are from "induced" anagen, from minoxidil or finast, while the other thin-at-the-root hairs are entering the telogen phase naturally, not induced (and not being replaced by an up-coming hair). Does that make sense? Not trying to sound authoritative, just help with my opinion. But this makes sense to me.

On this assumption, hopefully we have more hairs that are thick at the root. Or the ones thin at the root are just not being pushed out by immediate new hairs, but they will regrow eventually. That's what I would like to think. Otherwise we're making little progress, seeing those thinning little hairs.

Please post if you find something more substantial. Thanks.

 

[Stingray]

minoxidil and propecia usually induce a TELOGEN phase. Not an anagen phase. This is why a shed is experienced, and then a period of nothing, usually 2-4 months, before any regrowth is experienced. Sorry to shred your theory there bro =\

 

[Cassin]

Yeah I have no freaking idea what the hell is going on with my hair. When i described my hair quality to Dr. Lee at his office he said thinning of hair over the length of the shaft was considered "abnormal". Words out of his mouth. I didn't ask any follow-up questions.


I would like to hear Bryan Shelton or HairLossTalk.com elaborate on whether this is a sign of a hair follicle not functioning properly or a natural occurance. Hey I know i'm balding, so I can take the bad news if that's what it is...

Here is a picture for reference.
http://www.bombscience.com/HairLossTalk.com/root-tip.jpg

Looks like my hair whenever I find one of those bastards in the sink. I dunno bomb, looks normal to me from my own experiance.

EDIT: Some of the hairs I lose look exactly like bomb's (they look healthy/thick and then get sharply thinner towards the bottom), and I am having very good success with stopping male pattern baldness and so far regrowth looks like it is woking as well.

Bomb, could you post a pic of your hairline with it pulled back?