Diffuse unpatterned alopecia (DUPA) - who else has this?

[replicator]

Hi all,

I'm 29 years old, and always had thin hair since I think I was around 19/20 years old. I never thought much of it, as nobody in my family has had hair issues, and didn't think it will continue to progress. Over the years, it did start to get much worse, but I was very busy with life to be concerned with it - though I wish I took some action sooner. Now, it's progressed to the point where it is affecting my self-esteem, although I'm trying very hard not let it get to me. I shaved it down to level 1 everywhere, but it doesn't look very good because my hairs are so thin and sparse on top. Soon I'll have to go without the guard. Not only do I have a rare form of hairloss, I also don't have a nicely shaped head (very flat back), so it sucks - otherwise I would just accept the bald look.

I started Propecia about 2 weeks ago, and have been on minoxidil for about a month (thinking about discontinuing minoxidil until I figure out if Propecia will work for me).

Who else here has DUPA, and what are you using to slow it down? Has finasteride worked for anyone? I hear conflicting stories about how well it works for us diffuse folks.

Thanks.

 

[Obsidian]

While I do not have it, I do have regular diffuse thinning but it is nothing compared to your plight. I wish you all the luck in the world.

 

[replicator]

I think it is so true that the process of balding is worse than being bald.. I just shaved my head down again today, and I don't really care that much anymore.

Fighting balding is futile for the most part. If finasteride/Rogaine works, great. If not, that's ok. I still have a healthy body, good looking face, my job, and my intellect. All of these I'd rather have than my hair. I think we too often lose sight of what is really important.

I think it is pretty foolish how much I've let this affect my psyche - screw it! If people judge me by my lack of hair, screw them. I'll live.

 

[johnrts]

I believe i may have this, im getting little spots of baldness in my sides. If not, i think its because i shaved my head too many times...

 

[Jay102389]

Hi, came across your post. I also suffer from DUPA. I know it's been a long time but I would really appreciate if you can shed some light on your situation over the past few years

 

[coalfire]

Hi, came across your post. I also suffer from DUPA. I know it's been a long time but I would really appreciate if you can shed some light on your situation over the past few years

I just read on on one of your other posts that you loss 60% of your hair in 3 months, if this is indeed the case, you should go to a doctor/dermatologist to get some blood test done, i think losing hair that quickly is unusual, don't jump to any conclusions till you get some blood tests done.

 

[Jay102389]

60% of my density**, sorry. But I have done bloodwork done twice and everything came back fine. I live in Abilene and have been seeing on of the best hair specialist in the country and he (with a heavy heart) told me I have DUPA. I've even done PRP therapy twice in the last two months with no avail. My hair started thinning everywhere about 8 months ago but no shedding. It wasn't until 3 months ago that the shedding began and got worse week after week. I used to never shed, even in the shower. In the first month I'd lose around 30 hairs a day but now it's in the 150-200 range. Falls out for no reason, doesn't even have to be in the shower. I had a ful head of hair and no my scalp is visible all over and lost about an inch of my hairline. I'm having a hard time dealing with everything that's going on because of how fast it's happened. Did you have an success with treatment for DUPA?

 

[coalfire]

60% of my density**, sorry. But I have done bloodwork done twice and everything came back fine. I live in Abilene and have been seeing on of the best hair specialist in the country and he (with a heavy heart) told me I have DUPA. I've even done PRP therapy twice in the last two months with no avail. My hair started thinning everywhere about 8 months ago but no shedding. It wasn't until 3 months ago that the shedding began and got worse week after week. I used to never shed, even in the shower. In the first month I'd lose around 30 hairs a day but now it's in the 150-200 range. Falls out for no reason, doesn't even have to be in the shower. I had a ful head of hair and no my scalp is visible all over and lost about an inch of my hairline. I'm having a hard time dealing with everything that's going on because of how fast it's happened. Did you have an success with treatment for DUPA?

William Rassman who was the first to write about DUPA says that in about 50% of patients the use of finasteride or dutasteride might be of benifit, DUPA is still classed as an androgentic hair loss, you might want to try finasteride and minoxidil.

be mindful that losing 100-150 a day can be normal for some individuals, how often do you wash your hair?

 

[Jay102389]

I understand its normal as an average. However, in my case until a few months ago I would only lose at most 5 a day. I know this because I've always been very aware of my hair. I wash my hair every because it gets oily if I don't. I use revenge pure twice a week and an an expensive Aveda Invanti shampoo that worked very well for me before this came on.

 

[coalfire]

I understand its normal as an average. However, in my case until a few months ago I would only lose at most 5 a day. I know this because I've always been very aware of my hair. I wash my hair every because it gets oily if I don't. I use revenge pure twice a week and an an expensive Aveda Invanti shampoo that worked very well for me before this came on.

Be aware that DUPA can coexist with male pattern baldness, so this could be contributing to the loss of hair that you see, as you have been officially dianosed with DUPA, i would think about taking finasteride, perhaps half a pill for the first month then a full dose afterwards, i would give it 14 months before coming to any conclusions, minoxdil can work on many different kinds of hair loss, so it's probably worth giving 5% minoxidil a try for at least one year, in the meantime, you could try using concealers like toppiks.