Telogen Effluvium, BCP, rogaine
Hi Kerrydiane,
Unfortunately, you are in a difficult position. While it is possible that you may have Telogen Effluvium that will resolve itself, I am a little skeptical. I will tell you my story, and perhaps you can go from there. Here's my story:
In July of 2002, I began shedding significant amounts of hair everyday--200-300 a day. I went to the derm, who proclaimed it Telogen Effluvium and told me it would resolve itself and grow back in 6 months or so. Unsatisfied with this answer, I went to see my GP, who tested my thyroid--everything was fine.
Around September, the shedding stopped, returning to a "normal" 75-100 hairs/day. This was the level it stayed at for about 3 months. In December/January, I experienced another, shorter but equally intense shed.
The entire time I was shedding my hair away, I could see evidence of regrowth, so I figured my system was just readjusting for some reason.
By mid-February, I realized that my hair was not improving. Not only was I losing more hair again, but the texture of my existing hair was different--kinky and dry, or fine and wispy--to a much larger degree than ever before.
I called my doctor practically in hysterics. I had just gotten my hair cut, and the degree of my thinning had become even more apparent to me, since I have curly hair, and had it flat-ironed at the salon. She called an endo and ran all the appropriate tests. They came back demonstrating elevated androgens--testosterone and DHEA-(s) in particular. However, the endo seemed unconcerned, because it was all in the "range of normal". At this point I switched my birth control pill from Ortho tri-cyclen to Yasmin, because I'd heard it might help my hair.
I finally found a dermatologist knowledgeable in female hair loss in March. She looked at my scalp, took my history (lots of baldness in my family--both sides), and gave me the bad news: Androgenetic Alopecia. She prescribed spironolactone, florisene (for my low ferritin), minoxidil 5%, and omega-3 essential fatty acids.
For the most part, I've been faithful to this regimen for 9 months. I have half the hair I had when I began treatment. Overall, I'd say I've lost about 60% of my hair. I had a lot to begin with, but that's little consolation.
In retrospect, I wish I'd started the minoxidil in August, when the first derm I saw mentioned it off-handedly to me. Perhaps I would still be able to style my hair.
I truly hope that you do in fact have Telogen Effluvium and not Androgenetic Alopecia, but I think it might be better to take the approach of treating the hair loss with rogaine rather than waiting, in case things continue to worsen.
I hope this helps you make your decision.
Cheers,
-maya