Telogen Effluvium or male pattern baldness? Feeling lost and without access to good doctors

chapin89

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I first noticed my hairloss after moving to Latin America 2 years ago. A shed that stopped a month later. This past january I started to shed again, and it hasn't stopped (although sometimes I think its starting to get better). I visited a dermitologist when I was visiting the US, and she diagnosed me with Telogen Effluvium. The diagnosis seems to make sense--stomach parasites can cause Telogen Effluvium, which there are plenty of here. And a few foreign friends here have suffered the same hairloss and eventually recovered. But I have a few lingering questions, and am not sure if I have male pattern baldness or Telogen Effluvium. Input would be very, very helpful as I don't have reliable doctors here!


  • I feel like I lose most hair where I scratch my head (often compulsively, hoping that I won't find any hair falling out afterwards), above my ear and on my neck. My hairline has not receded at all, and I have no bald spots, but a general thinning. Does this sound like it could actually be male pattern baldness?
  • the itch! holy ****! all over, is this normal for male pattern baldness?
  • I loose all kinds of hair: long, short, thin, normal.
  • I only loose hairs in the shower (20-30) and when i scratch my head. about 50% of the time that i scratch my head I'll pull a hair out.
  • I'm going to get thyroid tests/blood work soon (for a mysterious, seemingly unsolvable stomach issue... but could be the source of my Telogen Effluvium). Is there anything in particular I should ask the Doctor to test me for?

I'm ready to start finasteride/rogaine if I have male pattern baldness, but if its Telogen Effluvium then I'll wait it out. Any advice or input?? thanks in advance!
 

zzzzz

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those symptoms are all consistent with male pattern baldness, and probably Telogen Effluvium as well except for "general thinning" If the thinning is occurring equally on sides and back it is probably Telogen Effluvium. Pics would help
 
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