Hi folks,
For those who don't know, trichotillomania involves the compulsive pulling out of hair. I have had this condition since I was 17 (I'm now 30), having started by removing all the lashes on one of my eyes (!), but I have managed to get it more under control in the last few years. Nonetheless, eventually it started having an impact on my hairline, about two years ago, causing some small but quite irregular patches of hair loss.
Since then I've managed to largely leave the hairline alone in terms of my pulling, but there's been some continued deterioration. I assume this is male pattern baldness kicking in, but what I've also found is that the deterioration has also happened in the irregular areas initially affected by the pulling. This could by the effect of the pulling playing out over a long period of time, or it could be some combination of weakening by the pulling and then the onset of male pattern baldness. I wonder if anyone here has any ideas which of these two explanations is more likely.
In terms of treatment, to the extent that the areas of thinning are a result of pulling, then my guess would be that the products that affect levels of DHT would be irrelevant. For that aspect of my hair loss (to the extent that the two causes can be distinguished), I'm guessing that I'd need a transplant. Or am I wrong about this?
Sorry this is slightly complicated!
For those who don't know, trichotillomania involves the compulsive pulling out of hair. I have had this condition since I was 17 (I'm now 30), having started by removing all the lashes on one of my eyes (!), but I have managed to get it more under control in the last few years. Nonetheless, eventually it started having an impact on my hairline, about two years ago, causing some small but quite irregular patches of hair loss.
Since then I've managed to largely leave the hairline alone in terms of my pulling, but there's been some continued deterioration. I assume this is male pattern baldness kicking in, but what I've also found is that the deterioration has also happened in the irregular areas initially affected by the pulling. This could by the effect of the pulling playing out over a long period of time, or it could be some combination of weakening by the pulling and then the onset of male pattern baldness. I wonder if anyone here has any ideas which of these two explanations is more likely.
In terms of treatment, to the extent that the areas of thinning are a result of pulling, then my guess would be that the products that affect levels of DHT would be irrelevant. For that aspect of my hair loss (to the extent that the two causes can be distinguished), I'm guessing that I'd need a transplant. Or am I wrong about this?
Sorry this is slightly complicated!