I'm 20. I first started noticing hair loss at maybe around 15 or 16. I would run my hands through my hair and 5 to 10 hairs would fall out. I have dandruff so I just blamed it on that. I spoke to my parents about it, they said it was normal and hair has to fall out and replace itself. I accepted this.
Over time, I began to notice my hair pattern changing...but I didn't pay much attention to it. When I needed to go out, my hair was spiked and looked good. I have always obsessed over my hair...it had to be spiked perfectly or I wouldn't go out. And I had really thick, really full hair that could be spiked to perfection - it was really one of my best traits.
Then one day I went to get a haircut. I was 19. My barber lifted some hair on the sides with a comb and uttered words that will now live in my head forever: "It's not growing here anymore." WHAT??!? Surely he was crazy. I looked over at a bald 30something guy who had just finished getting his cut. No way this could be me. My hair is everything.
Even though I had great hair, I had always secrelty been afraid of losing it but until then I kept it out of my mind. My great grandfather was bald, my grandfather was bald, his son is not and has fantastic hair. On my fathers side, my father has hair and so did his dad...but his brother is bald. I was hoping it would skip me.
I walked out of the barbershop and met up with a balding friend of mine. His father is completely bald. His brother is nearing it. Assuming he was the expert on this, I asked his opinion. He told me that only very little if any was gone. I rejected his idea. I told myself I wasn't going bald and to prove it, I would not cut or gel or moose or over wash my hair for the next 4 months.
I did just that. Then the painful reality set in: I am going bald. I'm thinning and hair is becoming softer as well as not growing on my temples. I don't know what to do. I'm depressed. I'm angry. I can't go a day without looking at hair in the mirror for hours, trying different hair styles. I keep asking everyone if they think I'm going bald. I even bought a bandana. Yesterday, I spiked my hair and it just doesn't look the same -I'm missing parts. It looks like a V. I feel so helpless. I'm only 20. I want my perfect hairline back. I want it full. I want to cry.
I have spent the last several hours reading various threads on this forum. It appears as if there is really nothing one can do other than take many many drugs each day or get transplants - and even that is a temporary and ungauranteed solution. I don't want to be stuck taking daily pills with side effects for the rest of my life! I don't want to get a scar from a transplant after which the hair will fallout anyway.
This isn't fair! My father is not bald his father was not bald. My mother is not bald, her brother is not bald. It's just my grandfather!!!
I don't know what to do...I don't know where to start...all these names of drugs and abbreviations..side effects...what works...what doesn't...rigorous scheduals...failed transplants...unnatural looks...unknown to me abbreviations....I JUST WANT TO HAVE MY HAIR BACK! I'm running around looking at other peoples perfect hair...argggggg! I"M ONLY TWENTY!
Look at me, I'm whining, I'm crying...I'm pathetic.
Another thing is...I've noticed a lot of shedding...more than ever...up to 5 hairs everytime I run my hands through my head...mayeb up to 20 or 30 total while shampooing. *Sigh*
I have not been to a doctor yet. Thanks for letting me vent. Thanks for reading, any and all advice is appreciated.
Over time, I began to notice my hair pattern changing...but I didn't pay much attention to it. When I needed to go out, my hair was spiked and looked good. I have always obsessed over my hair...it had to be spiked perfectly or I wouldn't go out. And I had really thick, really full hair that could be spiked to perfection - it was really one of my best traits.
Then one day I went to get a haircut. I was 19. My barber lifted some hair on the sides with a comb and uttered words that will now live in my head forever: "It's not growing here anymore." WHAT??!? Surely he was crazy. I looked over at a bald 30something guy who had just finished getting his cut. No way this could be me. My hair is everything.
Even though I had great hair, I had always secrelty been afraid of losing it but until then I kept it out of my mind. My great grandfather was bald, my grandfather was bald, his son is not and has fantastic hair. On my fathers side, my father has hair and so did his dad...but his brother is bald. I was hoping it would skip me.
I walked out of the barbershop and met up with a balding friend of mine. His father is completely bald. His brother is nearing it. Assuming he was the expert on this, I asked his opinion. He told me that only very little if any was gone. I rejected his idea. I told myself I wasn't going bald and to prove it, I would not cut or gel or moose or over wash my hair for the next 4 months.
I did just that. Then the painful reality set in: I am going bald. I'm thinning and hair is becoming softer as well as not growing on my temples. I don't know what to do. I'm depressed. I'm angry. I can't go a day without looking at hair in the mirror for hours, trying different hair styles. I keep asking everyone if they think I'm going bald. I even bought a bandana. Yesterday, I spiked my hair and it just doesn't look the same -I'm missing parts. It looks like a V. I feel so helpless. I'm only 20. I want my perfect hairline back. I want it full. I want to cry.
I have spent the last several hours reading various threads on this forum. It appears as if there is really nothing one can do other than take many many drugs each day or get transplants - and even that is a temporary and ungauranteed solution. I don't want to be stuck taking daily pills with side effects for the rest of my life! I don't want to get a scar from a transplant after which the hair will fallout anyway.
This isn't fair! My father is not bald his father was not bald. My mother is not bald, her brother is not bald. It's just my grandfather!!!
I don't know what to do...I don't know where to start...all these names of drugs and abbreviations..side effects...what works...what doesn't...rigorous scheduals...failed transplants...unnatural looks...unknown to me abbreviations....I JUST WANT TO HAVE MY HAIR BACK! I'm running around looking at other peoples perfect hair...argggggg! I"M ONLY TWENTY!
Look at me, I'm whining, I'm crying...I'm pathetic.
Another thing is...I've noticed a lot of shedding...more than ever...up to 5 hairs everytime I run my hands through my head...mayeb up to 20 or 30 total while shampooing. *Sigh*
I have not been to a doctor yet. Thanks for letting me vent. Thanks for reading, any and all advice is appreciated.