Wow, I’m so happy I just found this site…I’m 20 years old, have had been genetic hair loss for four years now. About 2 years ago I had a biopsy done and my derm told me it was probably genetic, he put me on Rogaine, Spiro and Yasmin. I was on those meds for about a year… and they did absolutely nothing. Last year in the fall my hair loss was getting really bad and I was getting so desperate for something, so I spent over $1000 on getting Invisible Hair extensions. I was assured by so many people that they would be safe, and definitely the perfect solution. The extensions were great! I loved having so much hair and planned on having the extensions put back in. Well when I got them removed for the first time I was SO devastated, more than half of my already thin hair was gone.
Its been since January now since I’ve had them out and I feel like I’ve hit the bottom. I’m in college and can’t concentrate on anything. I’m always way too focused on everyone else’s hair and I feel like I’ll never feel normal again…I haven’t been able to wear my hair down since I got the extensions taken out. My poor hair is
still falling out like crazy… it’s so thin I can’t even wear it in a ponytail, I feel like I will be bald soon.
I’m so scared, nobody seems to understand. My best friend and my family just tells me to cope with it like its no big deal. I feel like I have no where to turn. That’s why I was so glad I found this forum…I really sometimes feel like I’m the only one experiencing this and it’s comforting to hear everyone’s story. I’m not sure what to do with myself, I hate going out, even going to school because I just feel so ashamed…I don’t even know where to start looking for a wig around here (I’m from Portland, OR). And I feel like seeing another doctor would also be pointless. Anyways, Thanks a lot for listening to my story.
~Veronica
*******************************************************
Dear Veronica,
Thank you for writing and sharing your story, I’m so sorry you are having to go through this. It probably is of mild comfort, but know you definitely are not alone and there are A LOT of women who start to lose their hair at young age. Who knew? I definitely didn’t until I started going through it. Here comes my usual disclaimer I provide on every question I respond to. I am not a doctor and cannot provide medical advice or treatment, this is just my opinion. Ok…
After reading your story I have so many questions. Did your dermatologist put you on Rogaine, Spiro and Yasmin all at the same time? You said you are 20 and have been experiencing hair loss for 4 years, so you started losing your hair at 16 and saw your doctor at 18. Did he provide any explanation as to what might have trigged your hair loss at such a young age? You stated that after a year the medications did nothing, but you didn’t say whether or not you stayed on them or took yourself off. I’m curious because if you took yourself off after a year and the following year noticed a rapid decline in your hair, then perhaps the drugs were doing more than you thought. Sometimes all the drugs can do is slow the hair loss process down and help you maintain the hair you have,. Not all women experience a phenomenal regrowth after treatment. Even after I started treatment, I never regained the hair I had and was pretty convinced the treatments weren’t working so I eventually took myself off of aldactone around 2003… I think. The dates get fuzzy. Anyways, my hair loss increased dramatically. That could have just been from getting off the drug and it may have re-stablized eventually, but that scared me enough to get back on. Not only did I get back on aldactone, but when I got back on, I had my dose increased from 100mg to 200mg a day.
If you would have asked me then about my hair, I would have complained about the hair I once had and that it was so thin and continuing to fall out. But looking back it was doing fairly well after the 200mg increase. I’d say my best hair year since experiencing hair loss, was 2004 (began losing my hair 1999). I definitely had regrowth during that time. Now is different, I’ve had exacerbated shedding since the beginning of 2006. But that may not be from my treatments failing me, rather it could be from the increase in my thyroid medication that took place last year and this year as well. After speaking with several doctors and researching it online, I’ve found out that in some people synthroid causes hair loss. The last doctor I spoke with also confirms my suspicions and believes that it is possible the increase in dose may have been too much for my body. Because of this I have decided to lower the dose back down to where the dose was in 2004-2005. Thyroid problems can cause hair loss, but so can the thyroid drug itself. Why am I telling you all this? I’m repeating what I’ve already written to illustrate that there are so many variables that can contribute to hair loss, so we sort of have to be our own detective and try to figure it out. Hopefully, with the help and guidance of a knowledgeable physician by our side.
Hair extensions… I myself have thought about getting them, but I’ve read and been told that fragile hair can’t withstand the weight and it can cause further hair loss. Even people without hair loss can experience the problem of losing hair from hair extensions. I read an article awhile back about Jennifer Aniston having experienced hair loss after having her extensions taken out. But still I look online for that one hair extension “process” that would be okay. So don’t be hard yourself about making the decision to get them done, you were only trying to be proactive and help yourself. Have you had any regrowth from the hair you think fell out from the extensions?
Veronica, I know the fear of being bald, of never wearing your hair down, of having forgotten what the weight of hair even feels like. You are not alone. I struggle all the time with my sadness and depression. I search the internet constantly for wigs, looking for images of women with shaved heads to know it is okay. I turn into an envious zombie when I’m in public, as I gaze at the beautiful hair of the women around me. In fact I’ve recently purchased 3 wigs online, that didn’t work out. I’ll save that for another post though.
But I am very aware that there are options and there is life after hair loss. I’ve seen the strength of other women on this blog, I’ve seen the strength of other women in society who deal with so much more. We are stronger than we ever imagined… than we give ourselves credit for. You are strong. How do I get through my days? With the knowledge that we get a vote with what happens to us, we are not powerless. We vote with our actions and attitude to not let hair loss take us down. What is the worse case scenario in my mind? The worse case is I lose all my hair. I try and remind myself that if this happens I can always get a bonded lace front wig similar to what Tyra Banks and Beyonce wear. Or perhaps a non bonded regular human hair wig. I can change my hair everyday. Red, blonde, brown, curly, straight, long or short. Or maybe I’ll let it be and reach a point of so much internal strength that I walk out into the world without the security of hair, and just proud to be who I am.
I see shows of people who have lost their limbs, some lose the ability to walk and they seem so positive, they live their life. How have they figured it out? The secret. When I figure that out, I’ll be free, free from the shackles of hair loss.
You are not alone Veronica. I am sorry to hear that your best friend and family don’t understand. Why don’t you point them to this site, why don’t you tell them to read the stories of other women. Maybe seeing it in print will help them realize the devastation hair loss causes and it is definitely a big deal. I guarantee your best friend wouldn’t be so cavalier about it, if it was happening to her. Since you’ve shared your feelings with your best friend, you should talk to her and tell her you need her support. It would be great if she could accompany you to look at wigs should you decide to go that route. Family not understanding, I think that’s common. I used to share my feelings and sadness with my family, but it never really registered, so I stopped talking about it all together. Although, my dad did say if he could he’d give me his hair, too bad I can’t take him up on that, he has great hair! 
I wish I could help you more, I’m glad that reading other women’s stories has been comforting to you, it is for me as well. Thank you again for sharing your story.
Tomorrow isn’t promised to any of us, so we have try and figure out a way to enjoy today.
~Y
Technorati Tags: aldactone, hair extensions., hair loss, hair loss story, spironolactone, synthroid, wigs, womens hair loss, yasmin
October 11th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
dear veronica
i just want to let you know im in the same boat as you! istarted losing my hair at age 29, it wasdevastating for me since i was a hair stylist at the time, i quickly changed my career because who wants to get there hair done by a bald hair stylist right! so now im in nursing!my docs put me on exactly the same meds as you as well as a strong multy vitamine and biotin, and saw palmerro, im still loosing my hair , just not as fast,and it just doesn’t grow either, i havent had a hair cut in 2 years and as for finding a wig well i live in ontario canada, so its very difficult,to find anything here…im glad i read your story about the extention, because i was thinking of getting some myself, but like you my hair is very fragile, so now i don’t think i will…
im presently waiting to see about a hair transplant doctor, i figure if he cant do the surgery mabey he can find out why im loosing my hair, since no one else has been able too as of yet…when i wash my hair it just falls out big time, its worse when its wet, is it the same for you????im also thinking of going to see a natural path doc to see if she can figure it out also…ive you had your iron tested, some say if your iron is low it can cause hair loss or your thyroid????? or sometimes is a poor protein diet also.??/some also say it can be an excess of dht in your system that is attacking your hair follicles, i thinks its a form of testosterone, ??? well i thought i would just let you know your not alone.
take care,
gyspy
October 11th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Thank you ladies for the kind words. It means SO much to be able to communicate with someone who understands this nightmare. When I saw the dermatologist at the age of 18, he performed a scalp biopsy and a few different blood tests. At the time I knew nothing about hairloss, iron deficiency, thyroid deficiencies, AGA… so I did not bother asking what kind of tests they were. I was just told that everything looked normal and that my hair loss was probably hereditary (my father is almost completely bald….) The doctor put me on spiro and rogaine and also sent me to another derm in my area who supposedly specializes in hair conditions. She also performed a scalp biopsy and tested my thyroid and hormone levels… I was told the biopsy showed miniaturization and she upped my dosage of Spiro and also added the yasmin. I was slightly anemic, so I took iron just until my levels were normal. After a year on those meds I didn’t notice a difference in growth or reduction in my shedding. I stopped the spiro, but still to this day use rogaine (2% once a day and 5% foam once a day). I switched birth controls from yasmin to levora (my derm said this was ok) because the yasmin is sooo expensive. I have contemplated about starting the spiro again, but I have lost so much hair and just have not heard enough success stories with it to make it seem like it will be worth it. I am still so young and would love to have kids someday. To my knowledge, nobody knows the long term effects of taking anti-androgens over a long period of time.
To answer your question about having any regrowth from all the damage after the extensions, I honestly don’t think so. Actually, I probably have had some regrowth, however I think the DHT has really severely affected my hair and all of the regrowth comes in so weak and gets shed before it has a chance to even grow… So the density of my hair has probably decreased since I’ve had the extensions removed. To everyone who is experiencing hair loss, please please don’t get any type of hair addition glued, braided, or sewn into your hair. It makes things so much worse… and not to mention their terrible expensive!!
To gypsie- I don’t know much about transplants…but keep me updated on your progress… Also, that must have been a major decision to switch your career to nursing. I have also been thinking about my career. I’m a pre-dental student right now and the thought of leaning over people all day to work on their mouth with a wig on makes me absolutely sick :(. Its just not fair that we have these obstacles in the way of our dreams…
Thanks again for listening.
Veronica
October 12th, 2007 at 9:57 am
hi veronica
there are many really cool wigs out there, and some are very real looking, jsut think you could change your hairstyle and color everyday if you wnated too, and not have to go to a salon…and thye look so real. there is a lady that works with that has a wig , and i never new until she told me, i jsut happend to be talking to her abut hair loss and she has alopicia, so she shared her story with me, and showed me her wig, i was surprised, because ive worked with her fot the past 10 years and didnt even know she was wearing one…she says she bought it in toronto… she says there are some really good shop out there, and they look really good….
so when the time comes im going to toronto….
as for my story i havent had a scalp biobsy yet, but did do alot of blood work witch came all normal, but im not giving up!!!!and no one in my familly is bald , or balding , so it cant be hereditary, i hope not anyway??i think its telogen effluvium, or mabey scaring alopicia, i know when i was in hair dressing school we do alot of experiment s on all our hair, so mabey i just but to many strong solutions on my hair , ive been every color under the sun,and it affected the bulb that grows and protects the hair …
as for hair transplants well im going to give it a try, i dont have much hair to transplant so i dont think im a candidate ,but mabey he can shed some light on my condition and at least i will have a name to it…
have you tried any other products, like shamppoos or lotions?????
im presently trying fallongen, and nioxin shamppoo, the shamppo is suppose to help with dht and the fallogen is suppose to supply nutients to the hair bulb…i would really like to try the hair max but its really out of my price range….im still taking all the other stuff the doc perscribed also…
its so nice to talk to so many ladies with the same problem!!!!!
im so glad i found this site
you take care,
gypsy
October 12th, 2007 at 10:22 pm
hey gypsy,
i’m from the toronto area? what stores did you friend recommend?
October 12th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
btw, veronica have you tried any hair concealers like dermmatch or toppik? i used to use toppik and i really like it, and i have heard good things about dermmatch. i currently use a topper, but that was basically because i hardly wore my hair back due to a scar sustained in an accident on my cheek. i have since had it revised, and now that it has almost healed, i was thinking about being inventive..for example, using a concealer and then buying a fake ponytail, or a 3/4 wig.. those can love very real and can be got a very cheap prices. you could also invest in a topper as well.
i have been using nizoral about twice a wk (i heard it has dht blockers) and i use a shampoo and conditioner from hair support that i have found made my hair feel thicker and definitely stronger.
i can’t say i’ve had any regrowth, but my hair has gotten stronger and i have not had any more hairloss in the last two years!
also i found redken bodyfull hair thickening products to really help my hair seem thicker than what is it and i take the hair support hair vitamins (although i haven’t taken them for the last 1.5 months as i was away on vacation and forget them!)
pls stay positive… some of your hair due to the extension loss may come back.. maybe you just need to strengthen your hair and make sure you are eating right.
but there is hope! and there are ways to live with hairloss. stay strong, i am sure you will find your way!
i hope my post helped..
October 14th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
no ARSH she didnt say where she purchased it exactly..only toronto.. i dont think she really wnated to talk about it too much…she just wnated to let me know i wasnt alone….we work opposites shifts but if i run into her again i will ask ok.
gypsy
October 16th, 2007 at 8:16 am
Thank you for your stories ladies. I was experiencing major hair obsession today and needed to find some kind of help in trying to deal with it. this site is really great because now I don’t feel so alone. I can relate to so many of the stories here. Though I know that I am not my hair and that people love me because of me and not because of my hair, I still can’t help but feel depressed over my thinning hair. i hate the fact that I obsess over it. there is not a day that I don’t think about hair and not worry about my future and how much hair I will have lost by then. I feel so silly because I know that many people have so many major problems that my hair loss issue seems so petty in comparison. But I can’t shake the feeling of being so self conscious. I would like to be able to accept myself a lot more than I do. I know that when I reach this stage, I will be able to be a lot more productive. I am hopeful that this will happen soon enough. In the meantime, it helps me put things in perspective when I think about all the blessings in my life– my lovely family and my many friends who love and support me.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Hi Candy, Welcome to the site! I think it is normal to obsess and feel depressed about something as devastating as hair loss, it’s something that for the most part is beyond our control. Other things that bother me don’t really affect me like hair loss because I feel I can take action. If I gain a few pounds I always feel that I have control over losing them.. I can eat better and exercise more… with hair loss there isn’t that same sense of control. All we can control is accepting ourselves, who we are with or without hair. Much like you I’m extremely self conscious, I let that self consciousness take strong hold of me sometimes and I usually end up shying away from social activities. My hair loss has made me a bit of a recluse.
You are smart to remind yourself of all the things you have in your life to be thankful for, your family, friends, love and support. Those things mean so much more than hair. You definitely are not alone in your feelings about your hair. So many women on this blog have echoed your same sentiments.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
~Y
October 20th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Hi,
I’m new here, just found this site. I wear lace front wigs like Beyonce and Tyra (mine are MUCH MUCH less expensive!!) No one knows I wear them unless I tell them. I will be happy to post information on how and where to get them. Lace front wigs are some what involved and labor intensive if you choose to bond them (use adhesives). I used bond them to but now I just use a wig cap and bobbie pins and take them off at night.
I slick my hair back and wear a phony pony tails during workouts and around the house I just let my scalp breathe. I just decided recently to get back into the fight and see if it is possible to grow my own hair back. I’m going to my OB GYN Friday to explore my medical options again. I have ignored the problem for the past year and just hid under my pretty wigs! Now I would just love my own hair thicker and even in a cute short hair cut. I just hate looking through my hair at my scalp!!
There are alternatives with the wigs and hair peices. I’ll be happy to share what I know about them with any one interested.
October 20th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Hi there,
Are they human hair? Thank you in advance!
I’m interested in lace front wigs and would love to hear any advice you have on choosing, buying and caring for them. If you get them online please let me know and what brand you use also
October 20th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
hi atlanta!
yes please tell me more about the lace front wig… im from canada i hope they sell it here????
gypsy
October 21st, 2007 at 11:07 am
Hi Ladies!!
I’ll be happy to share about the lace fronts. Just so you can take a look and start reading about them I hope it’s okay if I post a link to a couple of sites. I got a unit from one of them, but I am mainly just posting these links for informational purposes only for now. Most vendors will ship anywhere around the world. It would be idea to find a local shop so you can see in person what these “units” look like and decide it they will work for you.
I have to run about 10 errands right now (Sunday afternoon is here already! ugh) But I’ll be back to talk futher about the Lace Front Units. I now order directly from China and the cost is less but some people don’t like to take the risk. It is better to deal with American vendors if possible because they will help with custom measurements, hair texture, color, all the specifications needed to make the unit suited for you.
Mind you these vendors are a little on the pricey side, I just want you to get the general idea of how they look and work.
I don’t use adhesives any longer (I use bobby pins), there are different cap styles that allow you to choose bond the units or partially bond / or bobby pin them on. Bonding allows you to wear the high pony tails, wear the hair pulled back, etc.
http://stores.ladydislocks.com/StoreFront.bok - she is very helpful and can answer questions - these Units come in European and African American hair textures - you have to specify hair type.
http://www.zarawigs.com/
http://www.unikimpressions.com/home.html - I purchased a unit from her she has sales often and a payment plan (Sonya)
There are many sellers on Ebay. you can search on “full lace front wigs” or “lace front wigs” (only the front is lace) The thing is you have to be careful about scammers and poor quality products. I can help with that.
I’ll come back and can tell you more if you are interested after having a read about them.
Hope this helps
December 7th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
Hi everyone, i found this site and read all the post. Am 22 years old and from bangladesh.I had good amount of hair on my head and very light body hair. Since 2004, i grew more and more hair on my body and face but my head started loosing.I have been loosing so much hair,more than half of my hair is gone.It feels like all the hair from my head just traveled to my body.
But on another forum i read a girl posted , on body hair remove,
“Hello my dear! My sister has PCOS, and she has the same problem that you have so my heart totally goes out to you. Luckily we’ve found some stuff that really helps— the last time I saw my sister there wasn’t a single hair on her face:
“Aldactone”- this is an oral medication your doctor can prescribe that will help to block the male hormones in your system, so you won’t grow as much hair.”
When i searched online i saw this is used to treat woman with hair loose problem. I have both, i don’t know what to do. I am so depressed with this all over hair thing in my life, i have hair where i don’t need and don’t where i need it. Its so frastrating and embressing. i feel to kill myslef some times.:’(:”( i feel like i’mm going crazy over hair problems. Does anyone has anythin for me? That will help?
February 10th, 2008 at 4:20 am
Dear Veronica,
I am in Portland and I tried extentions last year as well from Annsmione, Portland Hair Salon - Sparkle Beauty Bar. I spent a lot of money and the next day I felt a horrid pull on my hair. I know extentions are suppose to hurt but this was not okay.
I took them out myself and I was told a lace front would be good. Portland Hair Salon - Sparkle Beauty Bar does them but they only last 6 weeks before they need a touch up and that is if you are not really active. I thought I would wait until my hair gets worse (any time now) before pouring that much money into it.
http://www.annsimone.com/ she does lace fronts too.
A great place in Oregon that fits for wigs (cuts and styles) and has great hats is called Brenda Kay, she is located in downtown Portland. She helps women with hair loss and unlike Annismone has private area for her clients to go into.
Let me know if this helps.
Shanlaree
February 10th, 2008 at 4:22 am
Oh- let me know if you need a good derm, well the one I saw is Janet Roberts in NW Portland. She is suppose to be one of the bests. I just was told that I had AA and to use Rogaine, spiro and Yasmin. Not sure how helpful that was.
February 10th, 2008 at 4:48 am
Shanlaree,
I saw Janet Roberts as well and put me on the same meds as you… I have visited Brenday Kay as well as Annsimone. Annsimone refused to put extensions into my hair because of how weak it already was. She was the first person out of so many places I visited that was actually honest with me. I have been to Brenda Kay as well as a place called HRS in Tualatin.
I recently got an integration piece put in from Annsimone, she just started doing them and I think they are a better option than the lace front wigs. So far I’m pretty happy with it, I wore it for 4 weeks before my first maintenance but I think I could have gone longer…You should definitely look into them, let me know if you have any questions!
February 10th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Can you believe that I cried in Janets office? Oh - geez and not very settle either, now that was embarrassing. I thought it was a hormone or low iron issue and when she told me I had AA a few month back, I think everyone in the waiting room could hear me. Geez.
Is Annsimone doing a private sessions yet? That would really be helpful. Sounds like you have done the same research as I have. Not too much more here in Portland is there? I tried Hair Clubs EXT program and it really was a waste of $1,800.00. Have you ever checked them out?
Would like to get help from Annsimone again but waiting, it was a lot of money that I used on those extentions that only lasted a day becasue it was hurting my hair so much. How much is an integration and where does it cover? I am starting to get more of a gradual thin , especially sides of my hair and it is sooo annoying!
ShanLaree
February 10th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Veronica-
Do youchave a profile on the network? If not you should check it out and sign up. It really is great and I would love to chat more with you.
February 10th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
I’m sorry about your experience at Janets office,I have been there about four times now and have finally just given up on any of the treatments…I too have spent about $2,000 on a hand made wig which was probably the biggest mistake of my life… and about $1,000 on my extensions which were also horrible. I have heard so many bad things about Hair Club and have definitely avoided them.
The integration piece was $450 and it is only 3 inches wide and 4 inches long. It sits about an inch behind my hair line (I do not want to wear bangs) and just covers the top of my head. You can order the piece in any size, shape or color…She pulls my bio hair through the tiny mesh and then sews the piece onto my exsisting hair. It sounds kind of confusing… The piece is very comfortable, I don’t even feel it on my head and the best part is there is no glue, braids, microclips, or anything that could cause traction alopecia…
I will look into making a profile… I too would love to chat more with you, hairloss can be such a lonely experience. I also know a girl who wears a bonded system from HRS and she just loves it! I met her on another hairloss forum and we have had coffee a few times now which really has been great!
February 10th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
That is so great! Thank you for your reply and feedbacks. I think it would be wonderful to have a local support group. Also would be great if the Women’s Hairloss Project decided to get a group together.
Feel free to email me when you get your profile up and would love to have coffee sometime.
April 29th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Hello,
I too am so happy to have found this forum. Since the age of 19 I have slowly lost my hair. I knew my hair was dropping, but my family denied it because I had so much hair to begin with that the slow hair loss I was experiencing wasn’t immediately noticable. I was even chased out of hair specialists offices. Now I am 28 and my hair is SOOOO thin. I have a 5th of my original hair and I too have not been able to wear a ponytail in years. My hair grows fast, and the majority of the strands have their original width. The color has also stayed the same. It’s just I have lost about 80% or my hair density.
Hair loss to this degree does not run thru my family at all, especially in relatives so young.
I recently saw a dermatologist who was wonderful and listened to my story. I was recently diagnosed with Endometriosis and had two giant cysts removed from my ovaries.
My dermatoligst said that my hair loss was diffuse and did not follow the usual pattern of female balding. I took a blood test and found that my ferritin level was 12 (to maintain healthy hair you should have 40 and to have hair regrowth, it is said you should maintain 70). I am also boarderline anaemic.
My dermatologist has started me on a high does of Iron to boost up my levels, and my doctor put me on Yasmin to stop my periods to prevent cyst regrowth.
I noticed my hair loss started a few years after my periods started. Also, as a teenager (15 years old) I became very ill and my iron stores where depleted since then. I just never put Iron deficiency and hair loss together.
My dermatologist said it will take a while, but my hair should start to regrow once my iron is restored and maintained. I look at my scalp and see that it is not smooth, but still has bumps from the follicles.
I had a bad case of sebum build-up where my scalp was covered in these seed things (back in 1999). But it lasted a week and I would only find one or two of these seed things a day. Now I have none.
If any of you have heavy periods, or a history of low iron, get a blood test and ask what your ferritin levels are. They won’t tell you unless you ask.
i am praying so hard that the iron deficiency is the answer. it broke my heart to hear that if I caught this earlier, I could have saved most of my hair sooner. I was just told by my family for years that I was whining. I wish I listened to myself. I have had hair loss for almost 10 years and I am so scared that my hair will not return. I just sit in my office and on the train and compare my hair to the hair of women around me.
it is so tiring to have to be constantly self aware. I just want to think about something else other than my hair loss. My sister has such beautiful thick hair, it makes me sick to look in the mirror and deal with mine.
When I had a head full of hair I never gave it another thought. Now I feel like it is one of the most important things in my life. I have lost my self confidence, and I am so self conscious when I am with my boyfriend, that he can see my scalp, that I try and avoid being intimate.
Take care all of you.
April 30th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Hi Thinning hair girl
I really can relate to how you are feeling, I have been losing my hair at a very slow rate over the past two and half years and I just don’t know if or when it will stop.
I noticed you said you had sebum build-up where your scalp was covered in these seed things. What were they like? Were they white? Only, I have excess sebum and I have little white ball like substance in my hair. Does anyone here know what that is?
Also, does anyone have a red scalp? Mine seems to be slightly red, but there is no signs of any scabs or anything so I don’t think it is psoriasis of anything like that.
Any information anyone has would be a great help.
Thanks - Amanda
May 4th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Hi. I was surfing and I found this page - it is now May, 2008 and I don’t even know if you all are still on this topic, but I wanted to share a little bit of what has been my hair crisis, hopefully to give you all a little hope.
I am 47, and am totally bald. I have suffered with hair loss since I was 14!!!!A high school freshman and my hair started to fall out. First, it was just at the front hairline. Then, it proceeded to go all the way back (on the crown). What began then was a thirty plus year struggle with doctor after doctor. I was told I had male pattern baldness and to be ready for it to get worse. I did the female version of the “comb over” for about ten years and it became so thin that I couldn’t do it anymore. I am a teacher, and the kids started to comment on my “bald head”. I did the typical thing of tying my hair to my self esteem, which pretty much went to the pits.
I began to wear wigs at about 25 and wore them off and on until two years ago. My hair loss would improve, get worse, improve, etc. Finally, about a year and a half ago, it started the Alopecia Areata - falling out with the spots and then, no more.
I think what has saved me, finally, is that I started to go with the “natural” look around people I trusted. I realized that, for once, I am not just my hair, or the lack of it.
The lace wig has saved my life, professionally. They look so real that my students now don’t notice anything. Although, if I choose to, I change the color, the length and just tell the truth: “It is a wig. I don’t have hair anymore.” Most just go “Oh” and move on.
So, I think that it is time that we stop equating hair with our beauty, our worth, our attractiveness.
God bless you all as you struggle.