Okay so I'm new to this site. Im just hoping some one could help me. I am 22 years old and started to lose hair about a year ago. I mean I've lost about 3 quarters of my hair on the top and infront of my head in one yearish . I've gotten blood tests twice and they showed up normal. I don't have anykind of deficiencies. No one in my family suffer from male pattern baldness as well. I've finally gotten to talk to a dermatologist ( months of waiting), and with out taking any tests he just told me I have telogen effluvium. And prescribed me rograine 5 percent. He seemed to be in a hurry and wanted me to leave so he can go onto the next Person. Also he didn't even look at my scalp. My question is, is it possible for them to actually know with out taking any kind of tests if it's telogen effluvium? Cause if its Telogen Effluvium then I'll gladly take rograine 5 percent to increase recovery. But if I'm balding from male pattern baldness then I'll just let nature do its thing and not waste money.
I'm currently not taking any fen or minoxidil.
I stress quite often for little things and inxiety gets the best of me at times. I wonder if this affect my hair loss as well
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My whole head is receding gradually at once evenly and not in certain areas
Hey brother,
I have had Telogen Effluvium a few times and I feel for you - it's horrible. If you TRULY lost 3/4 of your hair in one year, with no prior loss, then you need to get to the bottom of it. This is obviously not "normal". It is very unlikely that male pattern baldness alone would kick it that strong, that quick and all of a sudden. Here are some things I would advise for you, based on what you've provided.
1) look into your history over the past year - what has drastically changed that could induce Telogen Effluvium? -medication, serious illness, injury, surgery, traumatic depression or chronic stress???
2) try to correlate this with your hair loss. Telogen Effluvium works like a clock most of the time. You have some serious physiological trigger (like the ones mentioned above), and 3-4 months later, you start to lose an excessive amount of hair. This can last for 4-7 months and if chronic can repeat itself. therefor, from the trigger being initiated, it can sometimes take up to a year after until your Telogen Effluvium finally resides, with the peak of hair loss usually occurring within the middle of Telogen Effluvium. Chronic Telogen Effluvium occurs when the trigger remains (i.e. you don't stop a medication or have a severe hormonal imabalance)
3) research thoroughly and find a BETTER doctor. Telogen Effluvium presents with hard to recognize symptoms. The most noticeable symptom is obviously thinning all over the head, that can be more drastic on the top. If you do have male pattern baldness, you may fail to regrow hair in the male pattern baldness prone areas, like the crown and temples. Or it may regrow, just thinner. The only way you can get a guaranteed diagnosis is through a scalp biopsy. A small punch is used to remove a tiny section of scalp tissue. The hair follicles are then analyzed to determine a telogen/anagen ratio. Normally about 10-15% of hairs are in telogen. With Telogen Effluvium it can be as much as 50% of follicles that have transitioned to telogen.
- If you have male pattern baldness and you get Telogen Effluvium, the impact can be multiplied. I know, because it has happened to me. Please consult a couple dermatologists and try to get to the bottom of what is causing this.
- do you have pics?
