Begstealborrow's Story - (age 25, high hairline)

[begstealborrow]

Hiya all,

Im a 25 man who has experienced hair loss for the last couple of years. From the age of about 21 I've had my hair brushed forward, in bangs (at like 22/23 it was really long down to my eyes - I've always had quite a high hairline (bloody forehead) and that, plus fashion, inspired me to have it cut that way.My hair has always been fine and ive always had trouble with it being greasy.

Anyway, for the past two years I've experienced loss in the temples, but moreover diffuse thinning all over. Its not that bad yet but it has and is affecting my confidence. So far ive taken some supplements - MSM and Zinc but i dont think theyve had any real impact - not so much that the loss has stopped/slowed.

Coupled with the hair loss ive had really bad itching, which has gone from my temples and forehead to, more recently, my crown. I have used nizarol and t-gel for this but without much difference. I have spoken to my GP about this, she has examined the scalp but tells me that it doesnt look like dermatitus

My hair also seems to have become even greasier, and it looks awful in the mornings when its pressed down (i look so bald it frightens the sh*t out of me).

Anyway, hes the pics...





I wasnt sure whether i could upload them here direct...I do have a few questions. There is so much flying around about hair loss, treatments and side affects that i just want some advice form you quys...

1. Does this look like male pattern baldness or Telogen Effluvium? my hair loss doesnt look as diffuse front on here because i cant really show it in this light, but does the fact that its diffuse thinning imply Telogen Effluvium?

 

[RaginDemon]

go to see a derm and he will give you an answer.

 

[begstealborrow]

Not sure you necessarily can in the UK? Not like clinics in the US

 

[RaginDemon]

Not sure you necessarily can in the UK? Not like clinics in the US

I see...I guess it's harder to get a professional opinion in the UK. Foam will help you regrow some hair regardless if its male pattern baldness or Telogen Effluvium. I am not sure if you should start it at this stage however, since your not sure if your hair loss was caused by Telogen Effluvium or male pattern baldness. Sorry I am not of much help here.

 

[person]

Ok when you started to lose the hair which you think may be a Telogen Effluvium were you ill approximately three months prior? Or did you experience psychological stress around the time time prior? Also does your hair on the sides and back of your head fall out. If all of the above answers are no then it is male pattern baldness. Generally it can take up to a year for someone to heal from a Telogen Effluvium and even then this may trigger the male pattern baldness. I myself had a Telogen Effluvium and I got ym density back after 8 months however I was already a male pattern baldness sufferer. It is very difficult for a dermatologist to diagnose a Telogen Effluvium. I can't remember how long you have said this has been going on for but if it goes on for say mroe than four months then it is male pattern baldness.

 

[astral week]

well Telogen Effluvium can also appear in chronic form which is characterized by a slow thinning of all the scalp, and in unusual cases has even caused the hairline to recede. But honestly it sounds like male pattern baldness. You should probably get on finasteride just in case

 

[RaginDemon]

well Telogen Effluvium can also appear in chronic form which is characterized by a slow thinning of all the scalp, and in unusual cases has even caused the hairline to recede. But honestly it sounds like male pattern baldness. You should probably get on finasteride just in case

Telogen Effluvium caused receeded hairline? are you sure?

 

[begstealborrow]

Ok when you started to lose the hair which you think may be a Telogen Effluvium were you ill approximately three months prior? Or did you experience psychological stress around the time time prior?
Kind of, i suffered barrotrauma (tinnitus through flying, which i still have, think thats kind of a loose link though.

Also does your hair on the sides and back of your head fall out?
Yes, theres definite thinning there, not as much as on top probably, but there is thinning

Thank you for your help. Do you ever think it can be too early to start taking Propecia/using rogaine - i.e. that the increased shedding isnt worth it in case it doesnt prompt re-growth?

 

[wbeast]

I'm almost completely uninformed about how the UK health care system works, but if you are able, go see a hair transplant specialist. No no, I'm not saying you need a hair transplant, but often they will map your hair for miniaturization and assign you a Norwood rating for free (hoping you'll come back and have a hair transplant). Certainly they would be able to tell you if you are experiencing male pattern baldness or Telogen Effluvium.

Again, no idea if this is possible in the UK.

 

[begstealborrow]

I'm almost completely uninformed about how the UK health care system works, but if you are able, go see a hair transplant specialist. No no, I'm not saying you need a hair transplant, but often they will map your hair for miniaturization and assign you a Norwood rating for free (hoping you'll come back and have a hair transplant). Certainly they would be able to tell you if you are experiencing male pattern baldness or Telogen Effluvium.

Again, no idea if this is possible in the UK.

my stomach was nearly in my throat after reading that first line! I may try and do this, theres a few clinics offer laser treatment in the nearest city so perhaps their consultation would be a good bet. Im guessing Norwood wise at the moment im probably 1.5-2. Going on what Dr Zoidberg or whatever is name is (the one with the blog) tells me and frowning, my hairline is only about 1cm about that as you can see on the pic.

I was reading your post earlier, your hairline is really similar to mine when dry - how are you finding your regime?

 

[Nick4441]

UK

See a Trichologist. They are not that expensive and if you get on like mine then attractive too .

They make a check of your scalp and check your hair condition and mine gave me a nice head massage.

They will recommend a Blood test with your doctor

Check for Iron levels, DHT, Tsstosterone and Estrogen.

Then come back and tell us how you got on and lots more advice depending on your results.

 

[astral week]

well Telogen Effluvium can also appear in chronic form which is characterized by a slow thinning of all the scalp, and in unusual cases has even caused the hairline to recede. But honestly it sounds like male pattern baldness. You should probably get on finasteride just in case

Telogen Effluvium caused receeded hairline? are you sure?

Yes, in some very few cases chronic Telogen Effluvium has caused a receding hairline in addition to generalized thinning, although only chronic Telogen Effluvium. Also, it is more likely to happen in women than men; this chances of this happening in men are pretty small. I don't want to make everyone think that Telogen Effluvium caused all their hairloss, but it has happened. I've had Telogen Effluvium for about 18 months now, and apart from all my scalp hair thinning dramatically, my eyebrows, facial hair, really all my body hair has thinned. Probably sped my male pattern baldness up like 10 years

 

[RaginDemon]

[quote="astral week":8285a]well Telogen Effluvium can also appear in chronic form which is characterized by a slow thinning of all the scalp, and in unusual cases has even caused the hairline to recede. But honestly it sounds like male pattern baldness. You should probably get on finasteride just in case

Telogen Effluvium caused receeded hairline? are you sure?

Yes, in some very few cases chronic Telogen Effluvium has caused a receding hairline in addition to generalized thinning, although only chronic Telogen Effluvium. Also, it is more likely to happen in women than men; this chances of this happening in men are pretty small. I don't want to make everyone think that Telogen Effluvium caused all their hairloss, but it has happened. I've had Telogen Effluvium for about 18 months now, and apart from all my scalp hair thinning dramatically, my eyebrows, facial hair, really all my body hair has thinned. Probably sped my male pattern baldness up like 10 years [/quote:8285a]

so your saying that your having male pattern baldness and Telogen Effluvium at the same time? How do you know it wasn't the male pattern baldness getting more aggresive over time?

 

[astral week]

haha don't think I didn't consider that. I was unsure and kept changing my mind over what i thought it was for months. But basically, I know it's not just typical male pattern baldness because of my drastic hair loss over every inch of my scalp, and I had all the appropriate stressors and was basically anorexic for almost 2 years. male pattern baldness also does not cause thinning of the eyebrows and eyelashes and body hair. My mom also had this happen to her during a bad period in her life. None of the men in my family have male pattern baldness in this pattern either. I did have short "recovery" periods for about 2 months a couple of times, and a few months afterward was when I didn't shed nearly as much. Then, during the next bad shed, I would shed lots more short hairs that were going through truncated growth cycles.
male pattern baldness is really pretty simple. It affects your temples and hairline, and/or the crown and top, and/or diffuse thinning. There is DUPA of course, and the rare alopecia univeralis, but usually male pattern baldness follows the norwood scale. Losing my eyelashes and pubes wasn't listed in the Norwood scale haha.
It wasn't any one thing that made me come to a conclusion, it was hours upon hours stressing and obsessing and scouring the web and looking at things in retrospect that made me finally come to my realization.

 

[astral week]

oh and Telogen Effluvium with male pattern baldness is pretty common. that's how a lot of men first realize they have male pattern baldness, b/c Telogen Effluvium speeds it up. Really sucks, b/c if you have Telogen Effluvium then you already probably had something really shitty happen to you, and then male pattern baldness comes along to rub salt in the wound.

 

[barcafan]

It's male pattern baldness, all of those symptoms you described are perfect male pattern baldness symptoms.


Big 3 ASAP is my reccomendation. or at the very least a DHT inhibitor.

 

[RaginDemon]

haha don't think I didn't consider that. I was unsure and kept changing my mind over what i thought it was for months. But basically, I know it's not just typical male pattern baldness because of my drastic hair loss over every inch of my scalp, and I had all the appropriate stressors and was basically anorexic for almost 2 years. male pattern baldness also does not cause thinning of the eyebrows and eyelashes and body hair. My mom also had this happen to her during a bad period in her life. None of the men in my family have male pattern baldness in this pattern either. I did have short "recovery" periods for about 2 months a couple of times, and a few months afterward was when I didn't shed nearly as much. Then, during the next bad shed, I would shed lots more short hairs that were going through truncated growth cycles.
male pattern baldness is really pretty simple. It affects your temples and hairline, and/or the crown and top, and/or diffuse thinning. There is DUPA of course, and the rare alopecia univeralis, but usually male pattern baldness follows the norwood scale. Losing my eyelashes and pubes wasn't listed in the Norwood scale haha.
It wasn't any one thing that made me come to a conclusion, it was hours upon hours stressing and obsessing and scouring the web and looking at things in retrospect that made me finally come to my realization.

male pattern baldness sometimes cause pubic/body hair loss as well.

 

[begstealborrow]

Re: begstealborrow's story

Okay about a year or so on....

Started generic finasteride (quarter of 5mg tablet) on April 1st.

First set of photos from early May, the second taken this evening.

Opinions please...

 

[begstealborrow]

Re: begstealborrow's story

And the now photos.

 

[tn-Looser]

Re: begstealborrow's story

You hair looks awesome stop worrying about it.