| Author | Message | ||
     Anonymous |
I started losing hair at 24 and now at 27 my hair on the top of my scalp is very noticeably thin. It takes me a long time each morning to "disguise" my thinning hair as best as I can. I have gone to two different dermatologists who both had me take all kinds of tests such as thyroid and hormone tests. I even went to an endocrinologist who just tested me again and told me that I was very healthy and that my hair loss was not too noticeable. One dermatologist I went to sort of attributed my hair loss to Epstein Barr virus which I was suffering from at the time. The other dermatologist I went to took a quick look at my hair and told me it was female pattern baldness and if I use Rogaine she doubted I would ever go bald. I have used Rogaine on and off through out the last few years, but it is very expensive and since I am not sure that it even works, I go through times when I don't bother using it. I just want to know if their is anyone else out there like myself that is losing the hair on the top of their head who is under 30 years old. I do not have a genetic predisposition to this, everyone in my family has thick hair. My grandma started having some thinning hair in her late 60's. I don't understand, I wish there was another answer besides female pattern baldness at 27 years old. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: I'd like to ask you a few questions. 1. Are you very thin? Women who are less than 17 percent body fat often have hair problems. 2. Are you a jogger? Many women who are long-distance joggers experience hair loss. 3. Have you been on a crash diet recently losing a pound or more a week? This type of diet can trigger telogen effluvium. 4. Are you a vegetatian? Often premenopausal women who are vegetatians are low in serum ferritin. This is a form of iron stored in body tissues. Women with low serum ferritin sometimes have trouble getting back lost hair. 5. It's unusual, but even prolonged stress can cause temporary hair loss. Have you gone through a period of painful stress? | ||
| Anonymous |
Thanks for the response! 1. I am not thin, I am probably a good 25 lbs overweight. 2. I very rarely jog. 3. As far as crash dieting, I havent always had the best eating habits, at the time when the hair loss started, about 3 years ago, although I don't remember specifically, it is possible that I may have crash dieted a bit. I also used Metabolife, but that was not until after the hair loss began. 4. I was a vegetarian when the hair loss began, and had been one on and off my whole life. That is what I initially thought could have started the hair loss but I started eating meat soon after the hair loss started and havent noticed any big difference, it has been over two years now since I started eating meat. I guess my hair was falling out more drastically at the beginning. 5. I have also thought stress could be the cause because I tend to be a very high stress type. Although I havent experienced a loss or very specific stress, when my hair loss started was not long after I got out of a 4 year, very abusive relationship. Stress is a big problem for me so it makes sense that the hair loss could be attributed to that. The fact that it has been three years since this started is discouraging though. Since the hair loss started the amount of stress I have due to job situation, etc. is the same so I suppose if stress is causing this it may not get better until I drastically change my job (work less or in a less stressful position perhaps). It does give me hope to think that my hair loss could be the telogen effluvium rather than female pattern baldness. Have you ever heard of someone having the telogen effluvium for three years though? It at least makes more sense than female pattern baldness which does not run in my family. I have two older sisters that do not have a hair loss problem as well as two younger sisters, a brother, mom, dad, and not one of them is bald or has thinning hair. Except for my 87 year old grandma but like I said before her hair didnt start thinning until she was in her sixties and she still has plenty of hair left even now. I have had a hard time accepting that I have female pattern baldness when my family does not have a history of it. Why would it suddenly show up in me. Thank you for your help! | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: I've seen many posts on discussion forums by women who have lost hair after using Metabolife for a period of time. Read the following: "August 15, 2002, Washington (AP) - The Federal Drug Administration disclosed Thursday that it has recommended a criminal investigation of whether a leading ephedra seller [Metabolife] lied about the dietary supplement's safety. The FDA also criticized Metabolife International for belatedly offering to turn over 13,000 health complaints from its consumers years after federal health officials sought the records." You wrote, "Have you ever heard of someone having the telogen effluvium for three years though? There's a condition called chronic telogen effluvium (CTE) that can last from six months to six years. The hair loss is over the entire scalp although thinning at the temples and the frontal hairline is unusual. It is not progressive like female pattern baldness. Women with CTE do not go bald. Chronic telogen effluvium often occurs when a woman is between 40 and 50. The optimistic thing here is that this condition is not permanent. At least it's not permanent if you stay from crash diets, and from "natural" herbal supplements. | ||
| Anonymous |
Would you suggest that I use Rogaine while the hair loss continues? | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: Rogaine is mostly effective for female pattern hair loss. If you or your doctor think you have telogen effluvium, it might be best to do nothing. Just keep healthy and wait. And of course no more triggers for hair loss like crash diets or herbal supplements. | ||
| Gina |
I too started losing my hair in my 20's. I am 42 now and have been through all the testing, doctors, dermatologists, nutritionists and have had all the same questions asked as you. I've tried Rogaine, iron, follic acid, stress reduction, protein and scalp massage and still have a thin, see-thru head of hair. People who don't know me often say I am a beautiful woman if I"just had hair". This hurts, but it's the truth. I now wear a very realistic long hair piece that makes me feel more confident. Have you considered this? Gina | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Gina: I read your message many times. I would like to respond with something helpful or hopeful, but I don't know what to say. You seem to have done everything you can and "still have a thin, see-thru head of hair." I have no suggestions. People think that you're a beautiful woman. That certainly is a plus in this image-oriented world. Yesterday I watched a segment (one segment is all I can handle) on Dr. Phil's program. He said that the "wrapper does not matter; it's what's indide." My opinion is that the wrapper does matter. People often judge you by the way you look. "If a man is not interested in the way a woman looks, he's usually not interested." I wish I could tell you that the scalp exercise program that I advocate for men would help you, but I can't. There is no evidence that it has any positive effect on women. My only recommendation would be a great diet - getting your nutrition from real foods instead of from pills (even though I take some pills, like vitamin E). Again, though, there is no evidence that good nutrition helps hair problems, but I think it does. Sorry for the rambling. | ||
| Anonymous |
I am 25, and my hair is thinning on the top of the head and at the cown. I am really scared that it may be femail pattern baldness. Doctors don't seem to take me seriously cause the thinning is only notisable in bright light. Is female pattern baldness reversable if treated at an early stage? | ||
| Tom Hagerty |
Anonymous: Female pattern baldness is reversible if treated at an early stage. There are statistics that show that Rogaine is even more effective for women than for men. I'm not specifically suggesting Rogaine because there are other options available. My suggestion is that you visit Keratin.com and do some reading about female pattern baldness and the treatment options. You have to have some knowledge about your condition before you select the course of treatment that will be right for you. | ||
| Anonymous |
I have read that once one stops using Rogaine the hair that was gained is lost within 3 months. Does this mean that I will have to use it all my life? (I have not started using it yet) I have had a look at the URL you have posted, and I could not find my pattern of hair loss. The hair seems to fall out from all parts of the head, but I noticed that it has thinned more at the hairline in the middle of the forehead area (about 4cm across, and 5cm high) and at the crown. In general the top of the head thinned more that the back of the head. My doctor is still not taking me seriously, she thinks I am on a diet because I am slim - but I eat like a horse! | ||
| Tom Hagerty |
Anonymous: When you first start using Rogaine you will probably have initial shedding for a few months. After this there is about a 40 percent chance that you will regrow some of the hair you have lost in the crown area but not in the frontal hairline area. If you quit using Rogaine you will lose all that you have gained in a matter of months. "Does this mean I will have to use it all my life?" If you want to keep the hair you may have gained, the answer is yes. You probably have diffuse hair loss. This is not the kind of pattern baldness that men have. Women usually have an overall thinning instead of the pronounced pattern of men. | ||
| Anonymous |
I am 25 and I am experiencing an extreme thinning of my hair. I started taking Metablolife around the same time my slow thinning began.Is there any new evidence that metabolife can cause hair loss? Also, if metabolife is to blame, will my hair grow back if I stop taking it? | ||
| Tom Hagerty |
Go to Search, first heading under Utilities on the left. Type in "metabolife" and read what I wrote a few months ago. Metabolife has caused hair loss in many people. The product and the company are under investigation. Will your hair grow back when you stop taking the product? It probably will but I'm not a prophet. | ||
| Anonymous |
I have been thinning since 18 and am now 33. Off and on, I saw that the density in my hair seem to improve at times, but now it's gotten worse. I never went to a dermatologist. My mother and sisters all have low density hair, but at not thinning like I am. At 23, I married, started on low estrogen BC (Birth control). Took it about 2-3 years off and on, then stopped, then started. I began talking the pill about a year later, after the birth of my daughter at age 29. The thinning speed increased. I blame myself, because I would start a pack of BC, then forget, then start again, then forget. Currently I am off until I figure what's going on. I think this messed up my hormones or something. Anyway, around the time before I got pregant, I used Rogaine for about two months, but stopped because I was afraid of the possible side affects and wanted to start a family. Well, now I am still afraid of using any drug. Many sites say that rogaine grows hair, but does it help enough to get you back to where one can say, "There, now I don't look like I have a thining problem"? If not, then what's the point. Please, if there is someone out there who's used any kind of treatment who can say this, I wish to know. Otherwise I guess wigs is my only hope. | ||
| Tom Hagerty |
Anonymous: Going on and off BCPs or changing BCPs can cause abrupt changes in hormone levels just like the changes that occur after a women gives birth. These changes in hormone levels often have a disruptive effect on the hair cycle, shortening the growing (anagen) stage of the cycle. When this happens many hairs that were in the growing stage of the cycle enter the resting (telogen) stage of the cycle and eventually fall out. This causes a rapid thinning of the hair - telogen effluvium (TE). Sometimes this telogen effluvium becomes chronic telogen effluvium (CTE). I'm not an advocate of the drug option for male pattern baldness or female diffuse thinning, but many have had success with Rogaine for women. In fact, there is some indication that women respond better to Rogaine than do men. But there are other causes of diffuse thinning in women like thyroid problems, low iron, especially serum ferritin level. You say you never went to a dermatologist. It might be a good idea to visit one and have a few tests. Self-diagnosis or Internet diagnosis can be misleading. Even posts by a few well-meaning women giving you their suggestions might also be misleading. | ||
| jwls |
Tom, In researching the internet, I've come across two web site - Hairlosstalk.com and Hairlosshelp.com. Both these sites offern chat forums as well. I'm curious as to why only these two site seem to talk alot about products like Tricoomin, Folligen, Revivogen, etc. Some of the "chatters" give their opinons about them. Some are good and others are bad. In this website, there is no mention of these products or any other than perscribed medications. What is you input on this. Would I be wasting my money on these products. Do you know of anyone benefiting from them. They sound like they do a pretty good job, but are expensive. I need all the help I can get. Thank you for your reply. | ||
| Tom Hagerty |
Jwls: I'm sure you've noticed that www.hairlosstalk.com and other Web sites that "chatter" about the various products you mention, also sell these products. These are commercial Web sites. I get emails all the time offering me "opportunities" if I place banner ads or popups on my site selling products that "stimulate hair growth in 95.5 percent of cases" or produce penile enlagrement, or enable one to "quit smoking in one week's time." If I accepted these ads or sold these products from my site, there would be plenty of chatter about the benefits of these products on my discussion forum - even if I had to write them myself. But you asked about three products specifically. Save your money. | ||
| Lisa |
Tom, I have thinning hair in the front which started in my early 40's. Im a female, age 53. Can you tell me what type of hair thinning Im experiencing & what I can do about it? Here are my details. On my 40th birthday I started on HRT. I was on HRT for 4 yrs., but have not taken since then. Im done with menepause. Around that time I started to have my hair professionally colored to hide the gray's, but there wasn't too many at that time--just some in the front. Since semi-permanent dye wouldn't cover, the stylist used a permanent one. She said once permanent dye is used, you can't switch back to semi-permanent. My color was done at headquarters of Matrix/Biolage in their evaluation salon. Services were free because they use me and a # of women to test 2 different formulations of hair spray, mousse, etc. on l/2 of hair to see which held better after my coloring. 2 years ago L'Oreal bought them out and stopped the program. I'm coloring myself now. At the end of program, my hair is about 80% grey in front, while the back is about 20%. My hair strands are fine by genetics, but I've always had a lot. So much so that I used to have the front thinned occassionally due to bulk. I still have a lot in the back/crown, but my top has thinned. The sides have become even thinner, so that when I pull the hair back you can see the scalp. As long as the roots are dark it isn't too noticable, its when the grey shows that it looks really scalpy. I've always had short pieces of hair on the top corners of hairline (right above the sides). I never liked to pull my hair back because of those whisps even when I was a teen. I still have those. A few yrs. ago I noticed a lot more hair in the drain catcher after shampoo/conditioning. As I would rinse out the conditioner, that's when I'd really experience the hair coming out in my hands & in the drain. At first I paid it no mind since my hair had grown long, and one strand looks like a lot of hair compared to 1 short hair. But then I saw more on the floor, and the kids complaining about hair in the food! Despite the fall-out I still have an abundance of hair in back and at the crown. The hair coming out in my hands has slowed recently when I switch from Pantene conditioner for damaged hair to a light one for normal hair. Can you tell me what type of hairloss this is and can it be improved. Oh, one more thing. My hair in the area that's not exposed to public viewing is also much thinner. | ||
| Tom Hagerty |
Lisa: I read your message carefully several times. You've given a lot of specific information about yourself and your hair loss. I can't give you a helpful answer to your central question though - "Can you tell me what type of hair loss this is and can it be improved." Have you seen a good dermatologist for your problem? And by good I mean someone who will spend time with you giving you tests and getting to know about your problem in depth. Going on then off HRT was a long time ago and has no effect on your current hair loss problem. Of course being on the other side of menopause may have some effect, but this is a complex endocrinological area that I'm sure you've read about. The reason I'm sure is that you're a good writer who has obviously read a book or two. The permanent dyes that Matrix/Biolage were experimenting on you with is another matter though. Did you ever have any burning sensation or actual pain when your hair was being dyed? Was there any allergic reaction to the dyes as far as you can remember? Permanent dyes can damage the hair follicles but this is extremely rare unless you felt real pain or burning when you were in the Matrix/Biolage evaluation salon. Are you still using a permanent dye? Do you believe what the stylist told you - once you use a permanent dye you can't switch back to a semi-permanent? Many women especially with fine hair have problems with hair loss after using permanent dyes or getting permanent waves. A very close friend of mine (also named Lisa) had the same kind of hair loss that you are now experiencing after she had her hair dyed with a permanent dye. Most of her hair has now grown back but not all - and it took over two years for the improvement. I don't think you should look for a definitive diagnosis of your hair-loss problem on the Internet. Too many self-styled hair gurus are willing to give you advice. The advice may be well-meaning but it may also be misguided. You really have to get the advice of a professional for your problem. | ||
| Lisa |
Many thanks Tom. Yes, I am an avid non-fiction reader, but unfortunately endocrinology is one topic I haven't researched! No, I haven't seen a dermatologist specifically for this problem. I was waiting to see if it would take care of itself after menepause. I can't be certain its over because I had a partial hystorectomy (30's), and I don't experience a monthly cycle. I figured since the hot flashes stopped it must be over. Perhaps I misunderstood the stylist when she told me I could not use semi-permanent again. She may have meant "in order to stay in the program" I had to stay with the permanent dye. Can you switch back? Matrix was very stringent about testing beforehand for allergic reactions. They always gave me a small vile of dye to place on the inside of arm 2 days before coloring. If it wasn't there, you didn't get colored. I never experience burning or an allergic reaction during my pre-tests or appointments. Well, Im off now to study endocrinology. Tom, where do you get all your wisdom? You're amazing! I have a feeling you're a good judge of character, too. It must have something to do with livin' the country life down there in Athens! | ||
| Layla Geoffrey |
Hello, I have low iron and have had hair thinning occuring. I was wondering if taking iron, B12, eatign more red meat or using any sort of oil( almond, coconut, mustard seed) would help. Thank You | ||
| Tom Hagerty |
Layla Geoffrey: If you're low on iron, especially the kind of iron that is called serum ferritin, I think it's best to build up your reserves by eating lean meat. You'll get both iron and B-12 from the meat plus complete protein - meat contains all 22 amino acids. You can also get these nutrients from pills - at least the nutrients will be in the pills. The human body, though, does not assimilate nutrients from pills very well. According to the Physicians Desk Reference (PDR) the body assimilates from 10 to 20% of minerals and vitamins from pills, so this preference for real food instead of pills is not just some personal idiosyncrasy. Many people say that organic flaxseed oil is good for the hair. It has both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Walnuts are also a good source of fatty acids. | ||
| Anonymous |
So I am a vegetarian and I am not willing to start eating meat to get rid of thin hair, but I noticed that you said this could be a cause of hair loss and I am wondering how to check this and what can be done about it. | ||
| Tom Hagerty |
Anonymous: From the tone of your message, I gather that you are a vegetarian for idealogical reasons. I'm almost a vegetarian but I eat liver several times a month for the iron and the trace minerals. If I were a complete vegetarian I would take a good iron supplement. By "good" I mean a synergistic iron formula like Iron-All from www.puritan.com. This supplement has 19 mg of iron plus the B-complex, vitamin C, and vitamin B-12. These other nutrients help in the assimilation of iron. | ||
| Anonymous |
I'm 20 and about a month ago my hair started falling out. When I run my fingers through my hair,anywhere from 5 to 10 strands are in my fingers every time. When i brush my hair, my brush is filled with hair. When i shower it falls out in abundance. I've always lost quite a bit of hair but I normaly have fairly thick hair. My hair has thined dramaicly! My OBGYN swiched my BCP about two months ago. So i figured the change of pills brought this on. When I went in to be seen they said the new pills are the exact same BCP as I had before, only a different brand. I've made a appointment with a doctor. My iron levels were good last time they were checked two months ago. I'm not under weight, no crash diets, a vegetarian. At the rate i'm loseing hair it seem like i will be bald by summer! Any advise? | ||
| Anonymous |
try the hairmax laser comb www.hairmaxforum.com | ||
| Tom Hagerty |
Yeah, the laser comb. I'm sure that'll do the trick.  | ||
| Tsmith |
I am also 27 years old and started losing hair within the last 4 years. I had first developed seborrheic dermatitis and use a special seleniun shampoo once it flares up but I get sebum and scaling often. The hair then thinned and stopped for a while but since a very stressful time in my life recently it has started falling out a lot. I had texturized my hair (semiperm) and use a curling iron once a week. I have a thickening agent but I generally can't part my hair down the middle and have a comb over female-wise so it doesn't look that noticeable unless you knew me in my younger days when my hair was long, full and strong. I fear that it's going to get worse though. I don't want to use Rogaine but I researched the hair loss topic on webmd and it said that if I'm generally healthy with normal menstrual cycles and no fertility issues it's more hereditary than disease related. I on the other hand have had an abscence of menstrual normality for a while with occasional cyst formation and I have not been able to get pregnant naturally in my 6 years of marriage. My thyroid is fine and doctors generally say I'm healthy but they never had answers as to why these problems occurred. Anyone with hairloss and similar problems that maybe experienced a breakthru? I find it hard to believe that I have female pattern baldness since I'm the only female in my family (on either side)who got it. I feel I have a genetic, hormonal problem that is yet to be understood. Too bad we're still so medically neanderthal. If anyone has suggestions let me know. I'm about ot embark on a medical investigation starting with a 2nd,3rd however many opinions. | ||
| Tom Hagerty |
Tsmith: I read through your message several times. There are so many things that trigger hair loss that it would be hard to make an intelligent comment about your hair thinning and scalp condition. One sentence in your message caught my attention though: "I had texturized my hair (semiperm) and use a curling iron once a week." I don't know if this is harmful to hair follicles or to the hair shaft (the cuticle), but one woman who does know about women's hair problems is Paula Begoun. Her book Don't Go Shopping for Hair-Care Products Without Me is long (706 pages), but if you read the first 111 pages, you might find answers to many of your questions, and some questions you never even thought of. Click here if you want to get it. Paula's book It cost less than $15. "I find it hard to believe that I have female pattern baldness since I'm the only female in my family (on either side)who got it. I feel I have a genetic, hormonal problem that is yet to be understood." I wish I knew what your diet is like. Do you get enough iron from meat? Have you lost a lot of weight fast? Do you take antidepressants or use Accutane? But these are boring questions - unless you're really concerned with your hair. | ||
| Anonymous |
I am 29 yrs old Indian female. I have come to Singapore 3 years back and since then hair loss is drastic. I was working in stressed environment earlier.I have left that job also. I have recently seen a homeopathy doctor and was told female pattern baldness. my hairs are thinned down at the frontal portion and frontal hair parting is also broadened. I have started doing some home treatments like applying egg yoke curd etc and hoping for the best. Started doing some exercises also and maintaining very healthy diet like taking multivitamin pills and protein diet. Any suggestion are most welcome. | ||
| Tom Hagerty |
Anonymous: You wrote, "I have started doing some home treatments like applying egg yoke curd etc and hoping for the best." You may have to do a lot of hoping. The reality is that applying egg yolk curd and taking a multivitamin probably won't do much to halt hair loss or stimulate the growth of new hair. I wonder what kind of diet you had prior to your hair loss. A diet low in nutrients, especially iron, can trigger a certain form of hair loss in premenopausal women. | ||
| Anonymous |
hi i dyed my hair twice within a week of each other and now my hair just seems to be comeing out every time i brush it i get a brush full it comes out when ever i pull my fingers through it u can tel that its getting thinner wot can i do ?> | ||
| Tennille |
Hi - I am 29 years old and have noticed thinning hair behind the bang area and on the crown of my head in general. My derm said female pattern balndess b/c of a family history - mostly my mom. And possibly Tellogen Effluivium. I am actually very interested in getting a hair transplant and would like to know if anyone has any experience with them. They take the hair from the back of your head, and mine is thick all around the head except for the top where i work to disguise the thinning area. Any feedback on hair transplants would be great! | ||
| Tmac |
all I can say is do a TON of research on not only the procedure but the doctor as well. GL | ||
| Paul z |
Tennille: I've had a transplant, so i know a bit about it. Before submitting to transplant surgery, you need to be concerned about the possibility of diffuse thinning which is more common in women than men. If this happens, then it ruins your propects of a good result. Also, how wide of an area needs work? There are limits in so far as achieving a good result, however, most doctors tend to sugar coat the expected outcome. If your hairloss remains restricted to the the top of the scalp, then you might be a good candidate for the surgery. There are two things you need to do before allowing a transplant doctor to touch you. One is to make sure he is reputable. There are alot of bad hair transplant doctors out there. In the USA it is said that there are probably less than 100 good surgeons. The rest can ruin you with disfigurenment or just plain bad results. Go to this website and read more about it. There are several different procedures today. They list doctors that they consider to be tested and experienced. The site is www.thebaldtruth.com . The only other thing you might want to do is to get another opinion about your hairloss. Go to another dematologist and see if he/she agrees that your hairloss is of the hereditary type rather than a medical condition. | ||
| pete1 |
For female hairloss Id suggest : 1) Look into your lifestyle 2) progesterone levels 3) DHT levels Regards Pete1 |
