Am I balding? One minute I think yes, the next I think no!

[cloherty123]

Hello!

So I am not sure if I'm balding!

My hair is dry and I lose in the shower but I'm not sure if its normal. It doesnt feel normal to me

The reason I ask is that I have curly hair. Big curls so my hair clumps together in large sections and I can see my scalp. My partner also has curly hair and his scalp is also visible but he doesn't lose any hair - that he notices anyways. I've never had my hair this long so I'm not sure if its all in my head. I've noticed hair falling out for about a year and a half now.

I've tried minoxidil and It's not really helped (that I can tell anyways).

Any advice would help greatly. I'm considering propecia. I have also attached pics. Hair wet and dry.

Thanks,
Mike

WET

DRY

 

[TD500]

You expect to see some scalp when wet, dry you hair looks normal. Really the only way to see if your losing hair is to buzz it down low to see your scalp a little better, BUT I think your fine for now and shouldn't worry.

 

[Tottenham]

Looks fine to me. Any baldness in your family?

 

[Gxm100]

I would say it's nothing to worry about! You see a little scalp when it's wet, but it looks perfect dry. My advice would be to not stress over it because no one would notice that but to keep an eye on it every now and then after a year just to make sure.

 

[parisienne]

Hi

Looks like your hair is really okay, but if you KNOW it was not looking like that before there might be a problem. I have also very thick hair to begin with (I'm a girl btw) and my hair looks okay (even beyond okay) to anyone except me. I've been called paranoid, but went to a derm who did a trichogram and actually saw miniaturization. You might want to do the same. I strongly hope everything is fine for you, but if you worry better check this out professionally and start a treatment as the earlier you begin the better the results.

 

[Cantloseanymore]

What???????? So much hair!!!

 

[science_d]

Hello!

So I am not sure if I'm balding!

My hair is dry and I lose in the shower but I'm not sure if its normal. It doesnt feel normal to me

Hi Mike. Your hair not "feeling" normal might indeed be a legitimate sign of the early stages of balding, as I have read that it is possible for a man to lose about HALF of his hair before it becomes AESTHETICALLY noticeable. That means you might "feel" it becoming thinner even before it becomes obvious in the mirror or to other people. I am not saying that is definitely what is happening to you, but it might be, so keep a close eye on it and be prepared to act. For me, I noticed temple recession FIRST, then a general thinning of my hair afterward, but any general thinning could indeed mean something in your case.

You mentioned that minoxidil "hasn't helped"; however, you have not specified how often you use it or how long you have been using it for. This is important, because if you have only used it for a month or two (for example), one wouldn't EXPECT to notice any effects, because of the timing of the human hair growth cycle. Typically, one has to use a treatment for at least 4 - 6 months before effects become visible and noticeable. In addition, a treatment like minoxidil requires correct application to the scalp as well as usage twice daily.

Also, starting a treatment (such as minoxidil) can cause an initial shedding of hair. Have you started minoxidil recently? If so, that also could be a cause of your hair not "feeling" normal. Hair might not feel normal during the early stages of treatment, but if the treatment is effective, hair will grow in and feel thicker over time.

 

[cloherty123]

Thank you for your advice. I started minoxidil in November/December. So about 5ish months. My hair is super long (Afro/curly) so maybe I'm not seeing any regrowth because it's hidden under the long hair. That's what I'm hoping

 

[Pray The Bald Away]

Hi

Looks like your hair is really okay, but if you KNOW it was not looking like that before there might be a problem. I have also very thick hair to begin with (I'm a girl btw) and my hair looks okay (even beyond okay) to anyone except me. I've been called paranoid, but went to a derm who did a trichogram and actually saw miniaturization. You might want to do the same. I strongly hope everything is fine for you, but if you worry better check this out professionally and start a treatment as the earlier you begin the better the results.

Any amount of miniaturization up to 20% is considered normal, even in the donor zone. Often times dermatologists have absolutely no clue what they're talking about when it comes to hair.

 

[Thespain]

My hair looks a lot like yours and I am balding.

 

[science_d]

Thank you for your advice. I started minoxidil in November/December. So about 5ish months. My hair is super long (Afro/curly) so maybe I'm not seeing any regrowth because it's hidden under the long hair. That's what I'm hoping 

No problem. Maybe just continue using minoxidil for at least a full six months, and even if your hair STARTS to feel or look better at that time, that is a good sign.