I don't think I'm shedding right now, but I want to know what to look for when I am. Currently I lose about 5-10 hairs when I shower, and I don't notice a lot of hair loss other than that. I am worrying, however, because I'm noticing I'm losing short hairs, and the only short hairs I have are on my sideburns and where my minoxidil is regrowing hair, so I'm worrying that the recession is killing the follicles that the minoxidil is nourishing (I have shoulder length hair). Should I be worried? If not, when should I worry?
How do you know when you're shedding?
- Thread starter kpat
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orangetree
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To answer your first question about shedding: "I want to know what to look for when I am".
Well, you may begin to see a lot more than 5-10 in the shower. What about outside of the shower as well? You should consider this, too. Are you finding hairs everywhere?
For me... I've been using propecia for 16 years and, while it's maintained much of my hair, I still shed for several months. My bathroom floor and bedroom quickly become littered with fallen hairs of various length and thickness. I lose about 20 or so hairs in the shower every day. When i towel dry, another 5-10 fall out. When I comb... same thing. Then I also have random hairs that fall onto my shirt, pillow, wherever. The point I'm trying to make is, when you are shedding, you will see hairs falling/accumulating in many more places than the shower. It will be noticeable.
The one main difference I would say between my first shed and every shed thereafter, is that with my first shed, hairs were not being replaced... which sent me into a panic. However, at the 3-4 month mark after that first shed, density began to pick up. This gave me hope and confidence that my treatment was working. Thankfully it was.
I'm not sure how long you've been on your regimen, but stay at it consistently (this is key) for 3 months and evaluate. As for minoxidil, I have only brief experience. I stopped using minoxidil after about 2 months because my system was too sensitive (e.g., increased heart rate, headache were my side effects). On the other hand, propecia (finasteride) I've used pretty much non-stop for 16 years (missed only 4 days) with 2% ketoconazole shampoo every once in a blue moon.
Best of luck!
Well, you may begin to see a lot more than 5-10 in the shower. What about outside of the shower as well? You should consider this, too. Are you finding hairs everywhere?
For me... I've been using propecia for 16 years and, while it's maintained much of my hair, I still shed for several months. My bathroom floor and bedroom quickly become littered with fallen hairs of various length and thickness. I lose about 20 or so hairs in the shower every day. When i towel dry, another 5-10 fall out. When I comb... same thing. Then I also have random hairs that fall onto my shirt, pillow, wherever. The point I'm trying to make is, when you are shedding, you will see hairs falling/accumulating in many more places than the shower. It will be noticeable.
The one main difference I would say between my first shed and every shed thereafter, is that with my first shed, hairs were not being replaced... which sent me into a panic. However, at the 3-4 month mark after that first shed, density began to pick up. This gave me hope and confidence that my treatment was working. Thankfully it was.
I'm not sure how long you've been on your regimen, but stay at it consistently (this is key) for 3 months and evaluate. As for minoxidil, I have only brief experience. I stopped using minoxidil after about 2 months because my system was too sensitive (e.g., increased heart rate, headache were my side effects). On the other hand, propecia (finasteride) I've used pretty much non-stop for 16 years (missed only 4 days) with 2% ketoconazole shampoo every once in a blue moon.
Best of luck!
I.D WALKER
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I was a heavy shedder and may still be, but for the last 5 years I've bitterly buzz my head so it's much less noticeable ( out of sight, out of mind). Over the years I've had a battery of blood tests performed to rule out any underlying culprits so to speak and they all checked out ( "normal"). Which was good for me over all yet still failed to explain why I was losing an average of 300-350 hairs per day. I suspect the sheds have peaked by now , oh yes I'm still madly receding, and my sides as of lately are taking the hardest hit. Obviously some of my fallen hairs are slow and more slowly replaced. Although I was never diagnosed with exhibiting T.E. related hair lose, I have/had seb. derm., it has often caused me to suspect a correlation. Who knows? We are told that hair loss is a harmless disease. Never that that statement is only 1/3 true. For if we are not careful we may find out super fast that the emotional and psychological side effects of hair loss can be deadly.