Aggressive Balding. Zero Loss To Noticeable In Under Three Years

[bluecyclone]

Looking for others that had no prior issues at all with hairloss that experienced a rapid onset, aggressive shedding, and decline in density/hair quality.

I was lucky this hit at 40 and I had a crazy dense baseline, but the speed is daunting. Heavy shedding, miniaturization with no response to treatment.

I am meeting with one of the top hair loss dermatologists in the country in a few weeks and plan to share any insights or ideas that I gain.

 

[ScienceofHair]

Longtime lurker, I keep seeing your panic stricken posts and your problems seem obvious to me.

You likely started with Telogen Effluvium and triggered AA. It's a vicious cycle you are perpetuating with the ridiculous amounts of hair drugs you are on that are obviously not working.

Stop trusting doctors so much, they're mostly idiots. Trust your body and get off the drugs. Be realistic as well. Accept you will probably never have the hair you once had, and that things may need to get worse before they get better.

 

[brownhair]

Exactly the same as you @bluecyclone however, mine has happened in the space of 10 months. It's as though finasteride miniaturised all my existing hairs and caused me to shed, and nothing has replaced the fallen hair. My hair pretty much went from black to brown.

 

[-Synergy-]

Yeah I lost more than half my hair in 10 months too. Luckily I know exactly what’s going on with my hair now. Unfortunately I have no idea how to fix it and doctors are ABSOLUTELY useless in every way possible.

Top hair loss dermatologist like to imagine they are on top so that they can sleep at night. All they do is hair Transplants and pimp treatments any doctor can prescribe. You best bet is to get a biopsy and then take it from there unless you need a transplant.

Longtime lurker, I keep seeing your panic stricken posts and your problems seem obvious to me.

You likely started with Telogen Effluvium and triggered AA. It's a vicious cycle you are perpetuating with the ridiculous amounts of hair drugs you are on that are obviously not working.

Stop trusting doctors so much, they're mostly idiots. Trust your body and get off the drugs. Be realistic as well. Accept you will probably never have the hair you once had, and that things may need to get worse before they get better.

Started with telogen effluvium and triggered alopecia areata or Androgenic alopecia? I’m guessing you mean pattern hair loss triggered by Telogen Effluvium.

 

[brownhair]

Yeah I lost more than half my hair in 10 months too. Luckily I know exactly what’s going on with my hair now. Unfortunately I have no idea how to fix it and doctors are ABSOLUTELY useless in every way possible.

Top hair loss dermatologist like to imagine they are on top so that they can sleep at night. All they do is hair Transplants and pimp treatments any doctor can prescribe. You best bet is to get a biopsy and then take it from there unless you need a transplant.

What did you figure out about your hair? I'm not even sure I'd be able to get a transplant as you need to be stablised on Finasteride for atleast a year? It's finasteride that caused my aggressive balding. And I've thinned on the back and sides too. I don't want to touch anything stronger because of the side effects finasteride has caused me, I'm not even suffering with the typical sexual sides or brain fog. I have every symptom of reflex hyperandrogenicty but apparently that doesn't officially exist.

I'm currently in contact with doctors but it's a bit of a joke where I am, I had to wait a week for a telephone appointment to be prescribed some medicated shampoo for the tingling / irritation. So they haven't even looked at my head/hair, getting a biopsy will be difficult!

 

[ScienceofHair]

Yeah I lost more than half my hair in 10 months too. Luckily I know exactly what’s going on with my hair now. Unfortunately I have no idea how to fix it and doctors are ABSOLUTELY useless in every way possible.

Top hair loss dermatologist like to imagine they are on top so that they can sleep at night. All they do is hair Transplants and pimp treatments any doctor can prescribe. You best bet is to get a biopsy and then take it from there unless you need a transplant.



Started with telogen effluvium and triggered alopecia areata or Androgenic alopecia? I’m guessing you mean pattern hair loss triggered by Telogen Effluvium.

Persistant hiar shedding out of the blue that is not common for someone is usually a sign of Telogen Effluvium and not Androgenic Alopecia, but It can be triggered by Telogen Effluvium.

They commonly both run concurrently in men and absolutely destroy hair if you throw drugs into the mix that cause additional shedding. They are not designed to stop hair shedding, just miniaturization in the case of finesteride or dutesteride, and regrowth in the case of minoxidil, they all cause more shedding, and if you are also experiencing rapid miniaturization, or a paradoxical drug reaction, you are bad candidate for these drugs and should stop all of them immediately.

Most doctors have a very primitive way they diagnose and treat hair problems. The look to the most common problems and solutions and say, hey this guy has some hair shedding. He's probably going bald. Give him some finasteride or min and get him out of the office, you come back with more shedding because your doctor went with the assumption that you're just a balding male, and misdiagnosed you. Or worse yet they may suspect Telogen Effluvium and think these meds will actually help you. Then you inevitably came back complaining that you are shedding more hair and they'll eventually try a more heavy duty meds like duta.

So if you go in with preexisting Telogen Effluvium + worsen it with meds + are not a responder to positive attributes of drugs like finasteride (like halting miniaturization), the doctor sent you from something that probably would have cleared on it's own within months and torched your hair instead, because as I said most doctors are stupid and way too quick to prescribe drugs.

Anyone experiencing sudden shedding should give it at least 6 to 12 months before they pull the trigger on hair meds, and that means minoxidil as well not just finesteride and dutesteride. The meds will usually only make the shedding significantly worse and complicate matters significantly.

 

[ScienceofHair]

Exactly the same as you @bluecyclone however, mine has happened in the space of 10 months. It's as though finasteride miniaturised all my existing hairs and caused me to shed, and nothing has replaced the fallen hair. My hair pretty much went from black to brown.

The loss of color and hair shaft length and density are all symptoms of miniaturization.

You are a bad responder to these meds I would get off immedately if you haven't yet.

 

[brownhair]

The loss of color and hair shaft length and density are all symptoms of miniaturization.

You are a bad responder to these meds I would get off immedately if you haven't yet.

Yeh, I'm off of them and have been for some time. This happened within the first 6 weeks of me being on the drug. Sometimes I feel the shedding has decreased since being off finasteride, other times I feel as though there isn't any change from being on them.

Not only am I a non responder but I didn't have any of the symptoms I have now before finasteride, only minor unnoticeable hair loss which could have been happening for a while prior to me noticing it. Finasteride put my hair loss into overdrive.

I don't want to hijack this thread but from what I've read from bluecyclone it seems as though these drugs have had a similar effect on him too

 

[Slid]

There are few people on these forums who are experiencing the same issue, including me.I literally tried everything, nothing works.Im not really sure how much each shed lasts since I always buzz my head when it starts.My shedding also started like yours, than each shed more and more of those little hairs were coming out.It must be chronic tellogen.Visiting your derm will waste your time and money, you know why?Because you probably know more than him/her...You probably also have shedding on the nape of your neck right?Few of us also have it.I thought it was because of enlarged lymph nodes, so I tried multiple anti-inflammatory drugs and diets,probiotics, nothing helped again.There is simply no answer on how to stop it...Please man share with us what your derm said, if she says something other than what Im used to hearing, I will be surprised.

 

[brownhair]

I don't suppose anyone reading/responding to this thread has a constant burning/tingling sensation on their scalp which seems to have been brought on by these drugs? It's driving me crazy

 

[-Synergy-]

@brownhair
@Slid

Alright slid I don’t know if your talking to me or not but since we are all here and f***ed up in the same way I will explain what I know about my hair. I have 25% telogen hairs on average, 25% vellus hairs on average and the rest of my hair is intermediate or terminal. I have lost realistically 75% of my hair but it is really feeling these days like 100%. My theory is that we all triggered a telogen effluvium like Scienceofhair is saying. Instead of these treatments working for us though the hair cycling (Anagen, catagen, telogen, whatever) from telogen effluvium has caused rapid miniaturization in a sense. More or less rapid miniaturization for some of us others more telogen.

@ScienceofHair

I agree with everything you said and definitely the part about doctors. Let me ask your opinion on this though. I started some rogaine and various other minoxidil products and after two months my shedding from male pattern hair loss reduced significantly 90%. I was getting results and small hairs gaining pigment on tempols. Then inflammation came out of nowhere and flaking. I lost all my gains and quite because the minoxidil was hurting my skin. Do you think I should try minoxidil with a corticosteroid? Whenever I bring it up to a dermo they act like I’m asking for a hidden potion hidden Inside an underground Aztec tempol.

@brownhair

Absolutely and you need to kill that sh*t as fast as possible with steroids, laser, shove your head in a freezer.

 

[Slid]

I don't suppose anyone reading/responding to this thread has a constant burning/tingling sensation on their scalp which seems to have been brought on by these drugs? It's driving me crazy

Im not really sure, nizoral really helps me because back when my hairloss started I had severe dermatitis, itching and burning usually doesn't bother me unless I use too much minoxidil.

 

[Slid]

@brownhair
@Slid

Alright slid I don’t know if your talking to me or not but since we are all here and f***ed up in the same way I will explain what I know about my hair. I have 25% telogen hairs on average, 25% vellus hairs on average and the rest of my hair is intermediate or terminal. I have lost realistically 75% of my hair but it is really feeling these days like 100%. My theory is that we all triggered a telogen effluvium like Scienceofhair is saying. Instead of these treatments working for us though the hair cycling (Anagen, catagen, telogen, whatever) from telogen effluvium has caused rapid miniaturization in a sense. More or less rapid miniaturization for some of us others more telogen.

It did not.I had it even before hopping on treatments.AA triggered dermatitis and than dermatitis triggered telogen,I was losing around 300-500 thick hairs back than.My father started losing hair at the same age.I would be probably just losing the same amount every single day 70-100 but I'm shedding in cycles instead.But again,im still not sure how things would look without minoxidil.Finasteride did absolutely nothing to me, just gave me some sides.

 

[brownhair]

Im not really sure, nizoral really helps me because back when my hairloss started I had severe dermatitis, itching and burning usually doesn't bother me unless I use too much minoxidil.

I'm currently using something called betacap to try and treat these sensations. I did try Nizoral but probably wasn't consistent enough with it as another side from finasteride was my hair dried out completely to the point of it actually snapping, and I figured nizoral was also contributing to that too. My hair quality has improved a bit since then so I'll try Nizoral again

 

[ScienceofHair]

I don't suppose anyone reading/responding to this thread has a constant burning/tingling sensation on their scalp which seems to have been brought on by these drugs? It's driving me crazy

It's a symptom of Telogen Effluvium that appears in some people or possible dermatitis. It's also possibly from the drugs. Have your scalp analyzed by a trichologist or you can do it yourself. If it appears healthy it is probably just from the Telogen Effluvium.

 

[ScienceofHair]

@brownhair
@Slid

Alright slid I don’t know if your talking to me or not but since we are all here and f***ed up in the same way I will explain what I know about my hair. I have 25% telogen hairs on average, 25% vellus hairs on average and the rest of my hair is intermediate or terminal. I have lost realistically 75% of my hair but it is really feeling these days like 100%. My theory is that we all triggered a telogen effluvium like Scienceofhair is saying. Instead of these treatments working for us though the hair cycling (Anagen, catagen, telogen, whatever) from telogen effluvium has caused rapid miniaturization in a sense. More or less rapid miniaturization for some of us others more telogen.

@ScienceofHair

I agree with everything you said and definitely the part about doctors. Let me ask your opinion on this though. I started some rogaine and various other minoxidil products and after two months my shedding from male pattern hair loss reduced significantly 90%. I was getting results and small hairs gaining pigment on tempols. Then inflammation came out of nowhere and flaking. I lost all my gains and quite because the minoxidil was hurting my skin. Do you think I should try minoxidil with a corticosteroid? Whenever I bring it up to a dermo they act like I’m asking for a hidden potion hidden Inside an underground Aztec tempol.

@brownhair

Absolutely and you need to kill that sh*t as fast as possible with steroids, laser, shove your head in a freezer.

You could look for an alternate way to score a mild steroid and then mix it with the minoxidil during flareup and see what kind of results you achieve, problem is as a long term treatment this will thin the skin and cause rebound inflammation when you cease using the steroid.

Doctors don't usually stray away from their usual preparations.

You would probably be better off looking for potent natural anti inflammatory agents.

 

[ScienceofHair]

I'm currently using something called betacap to try and treat these sensations. I did try Nizoral but probably wasn't consistent enough with it as another side from finasteride was my hair dried out completely to the point of it actually snapping, and I figured nizoral was also contributing to that too. My hair quality has improved a bit since then so I'll try Nizoral again

Nizoral is actual a pretty bad shampoo for male pattern baldness because it contains harsh ingredients. It will leave your hair looking like sh*t. Why it's part of the "big 3" is because it contains ketoconazole.

There are second and third generation ketoconazole shampoos like Regenpure DR that will much better for your scalp and hair if you have male pattern baldness.

 

[brownhair]

It's a symptom of Telogen Effluvium that appears in some people or possible dermatitis. It's also possibly from the drugs. Have your scalp analyzed by a trichologist or you can do it yourself. If it appears healthy and white it is probably just from the Telogen Effluvium.

Unfortunately I haven't, it's an absolute nightmare seeing the doctor where I am and even when I spoke to him on the phone he classed my case as 'low threshold' despite telling him the distress it's putting me in.

I've been prescribed some steroid solution called betacap which I'm currently using. No change as of yet though.

 

[ScienceofHair]

Yeh, I'm off of them and have been for some time. This happened within the first 6 weeks of me being on the drug. Sometimes I feel the shedding has decreased since being off finasteride, other times I feel as though there isn't any change from being on them.

Not only am I a non responder but I didn't have any of the symptoms I have now before finasteride, only minor unnoticeable hair loss which could have been happening for a while prior to me noticing it. Finasteride put my hair loss into overdrive.

I don't want to hijack this thread but from what I've read from bluecyclone it seems as though these drugs have had a similar effect on him too

What was your shedding like pre finesteride and how long have you been off?

 

[brownhair]

What was your shedding like pre finesteride and how long have you been off?

I've been off of it since December. I was only on it for 6 weeks which I know is nowhere near enough time for results but the sides I was getting- burning/itching, oily skin, increased libido, depression and panic attacks, shedding, dry brittle hair,complete thinning of hair- no word of a lie I could physically feel my hair getting thinner in the space of a few days around 2 weeks into treatment. I had to come off of it.

My shedding before I started wasn't too bad, I was starting to see more hair around but now it falls out when I run my hands through it which didn't happen before.