Telogen Effluvium in young adult males & male pattern baldness

[Linhgo]

I'm 23 and 5 months ago I had a full and thick head of hair and no receding hairline. Then about 2 months ago, I started to shed heavily with all the hairs being in the telogen phase. The hair loss has been diffuse and the start of it coincided with 1.5 months following a period of a lot of stress. So the clinical picture pretty much points to telogen effluvium. I went to see my doctor and she agreed that it was probably Telogen Effluvium. Hairloss from telogen effluvium usually reverse itself and hair will grow back within a year.

However, male pattern baldness does run in my family but they didn't start losing their hair until their 40s and the loss was never anything past an Norwood 2-3V. Unfortunately, in some males, progression of male pattern baldness is accelerated following an episode of Telogen Effluvium.

So I'm at a dilemma as to what to do. Should I wait 6-12 months to see if my hair will grow back or hop on the finasteride train straight away to halt (and possibly reverse) the damage that's already been done.

Any opinions? Ideas? Has anyone gone through a similar experience?

 

[chino20]

Hey mate. I believe that I suffered from telogen effluvium after incredible prolonged stress, resulting in my hair globally thinning. My suggestion to you, from my experience, would be NOT to use finasteride. My reason for this is that I suffered from stress, and my hair globally thinned, shedded etc, and then I got on finasteride. After several months of being on finasteride it started shedding a LOT again, seemingly another bout of telogen effluvium.

My hair has since pretty much recovered to the pre finasteride state, but the explanation for the shed POST finasteride is that, stress causes hair loss due to it's effect that it has on hormones, if you then take a hormone altering drug you are only further increasing the hormone imbalance within your body, probably leading to another bout of Telogen Effluvium. My reccomendation to you would be either to wait untill all the stress has gone, and give yourself time to normalise, then to decide whether you actually need finasteride or not, or to get on minoxidil now, which I believe should not exacerbate any stress related hair loss like finasteride does/would.

 

[DammitLetMeIn]

wait. i had a similar situation. patience is the virtue.

keep your nutrient intake high.

 

[Linhgo]

DLM, what was your experience? How long did it take for your hair to grow through again after you started shedding?

I think I'll wait on the finasteride and minoxidil for the time being, but I'll start using nizoral a couple of times a week. I have a little bit of dandruff anyway and my scalp's a bit oily so it can't hurt right?

 

[So]

Hey mate. I believe that I suffered from telogen effluvium after incredible prolonged stress, resulting in my hair globally thinning. My suggestion to you, from my experience, would be NOT to use finasteride. My reason for this is that I suffered from stress, and my hair globally thinned, shedded etc, and then I got on finasteride. After several months of being on finasteride it started shedding a LOT again, seemingly another bout of telogen effluvium.

My hair has since pretty much recovered to the pre finasteride state, but the explanation for the shed POST finasteride is that, stress causes hair loss due to it's effect that it has on hormones, if you then take a hormone altering drug you are only further increasing the hormone imbalance within your body, probably leading to another bout of Telogen Effluvium. My reccomendation to you would be either to wait untill all the stress has gone, and give yourself time to normalise, then to decide whether you actually need finasteride or not, or to get on minoxidil now, which I believe should not exacerbate any stress related hair loss like finasteride does/would.

This is a plausible reason as to why some people have moderate to little success with finasteride, etc.

Generally, stress is persistent an exists pre and post the introduction of finasteride. Such hormone altering drugs can further exacerbate your hair loss if underlying stressors are not dealt with.

This could in fact be what is occuring with me, however, knowing whether or not this is ABSOLUTELY correct is a complex matter.

 

[Guest]

It is not as complicated as many people think. Just look whether you have hairline recession or see whether it is thinning on the sides as well.

 

[Johnny24601]

re:

Telogen Effluvium thins hair over the entire head. male pattern baldness only effect hair on the top of the head. What category do you fit into?

 

[So]

My temples have receded. My hair has diffusely thinned, my hair line is in tact (bar the temple recession).

However I lose hair all over my head from the top to the front, sides, back, lower back, lower sides, bottom back, bottom sites.

The thinning is noticeable on top which would suggest male pattern baldness, but I do have good reason to believe that it has been induced by prolong bouts of stress.

I also have good reason to believe that it is in fact one contributing factor to many peoples resultant hair loss.

Many people give no credence to the role of stress in hair loss. It is however grossly underestimated.

Of course if you look at stress in its most simplistic of structures then it is easy to discount it's importance.

 

[goata007]

I have hair thinning all over my head too. You guys think it would wise to start minoxidil since it forces anagen phase?