DoneWithIt
Established Member
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Hi ya'll. I know this is the men's forum but I see there is more activity here than on the women's forum so I decided to post here in hopes of some clarity.
I have posted on a few women's hair loss forums in the past but this is my first post here.
I am 21 years old, and have been suffering hair problems for the past year and a half.
It started as shedding, which lasted a good 9 months. It was horrible, but my hair never seemed to lose density the whole time I was shedding, keeping in mind I was born with extremely thick, beautiful hair that hairdressers "fought" over when I went to get my hair cut. They would literally be in awe when I let down my beautiful long mane, it was that thick.
Now, a year and a half later, I barely recognise what used to be my best feature.
I started thinning in October-November of 2012, at the end of my shed. When the hair stopped shedding I thought my nightmare was finally over! But it was just starting. I started having this weird sensation in my scalp, like a very light sunburn. And my hair got increasingly oily. I had always had oil prone hair but this was extreme, my hair would be dripping in oil after less than 24 hours, it was disgusting.
It was soon after I started noticing thinning in my hair, very slight in the bang area. At first I thought it was the effects of my shed (CTE), but a few months went by and it got increasingly worse. I started noticing a thin spot on my crown as well, and the pain in my scalp slowly escalated and got worse - and worse.
So I finally decided to visit a dermatologist in February 2012. My hair was still thick by then but I noticed the problem so I decided it was best to have it checked. The dermatologist couldn't see anything wrong with my hair and sent me off. At this point I had a weird feeling something was wrong, but was still hopeful it would fix itself. But I started reading up on hair loss on the internet, and especially androgenic alopecia. One day I decided to inspect my scalp for miniaturisation and was horrified when I found these super-thin, wiry looking hairs then loosened from my scalp easily. I added up my other symptoms, like oiliness and mild hirsutism (growing hair where women don't normally do), and became increasingly more afraid I was suffering from androgenic alopecia. So I booked an appointment with another dermatologist, and explained my concerns to him. But he could not see anything wrong either, and wrote me off. He told me not to worry about the miniaturised hair. But I couldn't let go as the problem got worse, and my hair got thinner. I visited a third dermatologist, the same happened there. I went for a hormone panel at my doctor, and my testosterone levels were fine. Not high. I payed nearly 300 dollars for an endocrinologist only to be told my hair was telogen loss, it would come back. But it is not coming back. Since february my hair is THAT much thinner, and my hairline is receding and crown is balding exactly in a MALE pattern, not even a female pattern hair loss. I am exhausted and left with no answers, and my hair has finally reached a point where I need concealing. This has taken what, 10-11 months? My first derm told me that IF I had Androgenetic Alopecia, it would take 30 years to become noticeable. And I'm on the verge of looking like a balding man as a woman over the course of 11 months. It's unreal! Yet all my tests are fine, I even went to a gyno to check for PCOS cysts which turned out, surprise surprise! FINE!
My iron is fine, my vitamins are fine, the ONLY thing is my thyroid but it is only slightly low and has been stable for a long time due to being on medication. Also thyroid does not cause pattern loss.
I have been on Rogaine foam 5 % for men for close to 2 months, and still I never had the dread shed which would imply it was working. MY hair has got steadily thinner while on Rogaine and the last few weeks the texture has totally changed from being coarse to silky-fine, falling completely flat and needing a dosen of volume products to look OK. The entire top of my head is thinning while the thickness remains in the back and sides. But the thinning is way worse in the hairline and some on the crown. It seems like I can see my hairline thin/recede. Why is this happening to me? I was a healthy, 20 year old woman before it started. Yes I was depressed and has been since 17 but now the hair loss has made me suicidal. If nothing helps I WILL kill myself. What man would date a balding woman? I used to be called attractive, and I had boyfriends. Recently I quit school and broke up with my boyfriend because I was ashamed and felt the hair loss is becoming noticable to others, and would rather hide in my bedroom before it gets that bad.
What am I supposed to do? There are no options for women suffering hair loss, we can't use propecia because the doctors will not give it. We cant have transplants because who knows, but I read that we cant. I don't wanna wear a wig I would rather just die. And the friggin scalp pain on top of it, which has turned to a constant, agonising pain in my thinning areas only, haunt me 24/7 and remind me of my hair loss every single day. Any advice out there? Is there hope for me to find someone who will accept me? I have lost all confidence. Hair loss can rob any man of confidence, but think of the women going through this. it's even worse for us. then add being only 21 and there is a recipe for disaster. sorry for the long post but I needed to get this out. I would appreciate is so much if anyone read this whole thing and would give me some advice on what I can do. would ordering propecia online be something? i am desperate, and feel like my life is hanging in a thread cause i would rather die than look like a balding man as a 21 year old woman who should be in her prime!!!
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Sorry for the negativity but I am just so insanely depressed. I used to be confident and the guys would flock to me. But I no longer recognise myself, not the person I see in the mirror, OR the person I've become. I no longer laugh or smile, I just cry and throw temper tantrums at the people who care about me. I have lost my sense of humour, my sensuality, my womanhood, everything because of the damned hair loss! I wish I could make it all go away
Is there ANY hope for me or should I just jump off a building?
I have posted on a few women's hair loss forums in the past but this is my first post here.
I am 21 years old, and have been suffering hair problems for the past year and a half.
It started as shedding, which lasted a good 9 months. It was horrible, but my hair never seemed to lose density the whole time I was shedding, keeping in mind I was born with extremely thick, beautiful hair that hairdressers "fought" over when I went to get my hair cut. They would literally be in awe when I let down my beautiful long mane, it was that thick.
Now, a year and a half later, I barely recognise what used to be my best feature.
I started thinning in October-November of 2012, at the end of my shed. When the hair stopped shedding I thought my nightmare was finally over! But it was just starting. I started having this weird sensation in my scalp, like a very light sunburn. And my hair got increasingly oily. I had always had oil prone hair but this was extreme, my hair would be dripping in oil after less than 24 hours, it was disgusting.
It was soon after I started noticing thinning in my hair, very slight in the bang area. At first I thought it was the effects of my shed (CTE), but a few months went by and it got increasingly worse. I started noticing a thin spot on my crown as well, and the pain in my scalp slowly escalated and got worse - and worse.
So I finally decided to visit a dermatologist in February 2012. My hair was still thick by then but I noticed the problem so I decided it was best to have it checked. The dermatologist couldn't see anything wrong with my hair and sent me off. At this point I had a weird feeling something was wrong, but was still hopeful it would fix itself. But I started reading up on hair loss on the internet, and especially androgenic alopecia. One day I decided to inspect my scalp for miniaturisation and was horrified when I found these super-thin, wiry looking hairs then loosened from my scalp easily. I added up my other symptoms, like oiliness and mild hirsutism (growing hair where women don't normally do), and became increasingly more afraid I was suffering from androgenic alopecia. So I booked an appointment with another dermatologist, and explained my concerns to him. But he could not see anything wrong either, and wrote me off. He told me not to worry about the miniaturised hair. But I couldn't let go as the problem got worse, and my hair got thinner. I visited a third dermatologist, the same happened there. I went for a hormone panel at my doctor, and my testosterone levels were fine. Not high. I payed nearly 300 dollars for an endocrinologist only to be told my hair was telogen loss, it would come back. But it is not coming back. Since february my hair is THAT much thinner, and my hairline is receding and crown is balding exactly in a MALE pattern, not even a female pattern hair loss. I am exhausted and left with no answers, and my hair has finally reached a point where I need concealing. This has taken what, 10-11 months? My first derm told me that IF I had Androgenetic Alopecia, it would take 30 years to become noticeable. And I'm on the verge of looking like a balding man as a woman over the course of 11 months. It's unreal! Yet all my tests are fine, I even went to a gyno to check for PCOS cysts which turned out, surprise surprise! FINE!
My iron is fine, my vitamins are fine, the ONLY thing is my thyroid but it is only slightly low and has been stable for a long time due to being on medication. Also thyroid does not cause pattern loss.
I have been on Rogaine foam 5 % for men for close to 2 months, and still I never had the dread shed which would imply it was working. MY hair has got steadily thinner while on Rogaine and the last few weeks the texture has totally changed from being coarse to silky-fine, falling completely flat and needing a dosen of volume products to look OK. The entire top of my head is thinning while the thickness remains in the back and sides. But the thinning is way worse in the hairline and some on the crown. It seems like I can see my hairline thin/recede. Why is this happening to me? I was a healthy, 20 year old woman before it started. Yes I was depressed and has been since 17 but now the hair loss has made me suicidal. If nothing helps I WILL kill myself. What man would date a balding woman? I used to be called attractive, and I had boyfriends. Recently I quit school and broke up with my boyfriend because I was ashamed and felt the hair loss is becoming noticable to others, and would rather hide in my bedroom before it gets that bad.
What am I supposed to do? There are no options for women suffering hair loss, we can't use propecia because the doctors will not give it. We cant have transplants because who knows, but I read that we cant. I don't wanna wear a wig I would rather just die. And the friggin scalp pain on top of it, which has turned to a constant, agonising pain in my thinning areas only, haunt me 24/7 and remind me of my hair loss every single day. Any advice out there? Is there hope for me to find someone who will accept me? I have lost all confidence. Hair loss can rob any man of confidence, but think of the women going through this. it's even worse for us. then add being only 21 and there is a recipe for disaster. sorry for the long post but I needed to get this out. I would appreciate is so much if anyone read this whole thing and would give me some advice on what I can do. would ordering propecia online be something? i am desperate, and feel like my life is hanging in a thread cause i would rather die than look like a balding man as a 21 year old woman who should be in her prime!!!
- - - Updated - - -
Sorry for the negativity but I am just so insanely depressed. I used to be confident and the guys would flock to me. But I no longer recognise myself, not the person I see in the mirror, OR the person I've become. I no longer laugh or smile, I just cry and throw temper tantrums at the people who care about me. I have lost my sense of humour, my sensuality, my womanhood, everything because of the damned hair loss! I wish I could make it all go away
Is there ANY hope for me or should I just jump off a building?
