Hayley
New Member
- Reaction score
- 0
Hello. I am 28 years of age and from the UK.
I'm not sure if this is true or not by my hair appeared to get thin in texture overnight. I had long, thick shiny dark hair and sometimes used to wish it was a bit thinner so that it would be more manageable. On holiday i used a more powerful hair dryer supplied by the hotel and that seemed to make it thinner, and sleeker. I'm not sure if thats a coincidence or not. Or even if it has any relevance at all.
But a few months later, early 2003, i had a passport photo taken and i didnt notice anything at the time but when my hair was alot thinner more months later, i noticed that my hair in that photo was getting thinner behind the hairline, ie, the very hairline was really standing out. My hair dresser had also noticed a thinning on the crown and had tried to style it to hide it.
In late 2003 / early 2004 i had a very thin ponytail and the area behind my fringe and along my parting was very thing and noticeable. I then suffered badly with a breakup and couldnt take the state of my hair any longer. I went to the doctor and although she was very good otherwise, i was pretty much fobbed off. I was told about how hair grows in cycles and that as i'd suffered a period of stress, i just had to wait for the next cycle for it to grow back. Or something like that.
In the summer of 2004 (i think) i paid for a consultation with a tricologist and although he couldnt think of a reason for the hair loss he suggested dianette and minoxidyl and suggested i ask my GP to do a load of tests. So i went back to the GP and had loads of blood tests done for iron, thyroid, pcos and others i cant remember. Everything came back normal, although iron levels were on the low side of normal. I was referred to a dermatologist at my local hospital.
September 2006 i saw the dermatologist and he was at a loss. I have no history of baldness in the family, no pregnancies and no medical problems. I had androgen tests done and those showed a "very mild abnormality, but nothing significant". He put me on dianette and referred me to a chemical pathologist.
November 2006 the chemical pathologist did a "supression test of androgens" where i was told would turn off my hormones, then turn them on again and see if there was a blockage. Basically, on the friday i was told to take some tablets, turning the hormones off. Then on the Monday i went back and had some blood taken. Then i was given an injection to turn the hormones back on and had two more sets of blood taken after to measure my hormone levels. Results came back perfectly fine. I was referred back to the original dermatologist.
The dermatologist had no idea as to the reason for my hairloss but prescribed 5% minoxidyl to go with the dianette
I was referred to apparently a top Harley Street dermatologist who also works on the NHS at St Thomas' hospital in London. I had more blood tests along with hair strand tests where they basically pulled clumps of hair out at different places on my head. I was diagnosed with androgenetic alopecia and "a significant telogen effluvium with a raised shedding rate of 19% on the top of my head, and 47% (normal is 8-10%) shedding rate at the back / crown". I was told to stay on the minoxidyl and it was suggested that the idianette could be masking any hormone imbalances.
This dermatologist has suggested i take a course of intramuscular biotin and beta-pantothenic acid. I am now struggling to get this.
I have been on dianette for a year and a half, and minoxidyl for 9 months. I have photos that show a good improvement after the first three months and continuous improvement since then. I'm really pleased. I have no signs of thinning on my crown anymore but i have not much fringe at all and the hair overall still has no weight or thickness to it. I wear a wig which gives me a tremendous amount of confidence but it restricts my life quite a bit. Not as much though as my lack of confidence without it used to restrict me.
I'm not sure if this is true or not by my hair appeared to get thin in texture overnight. I had long, thick shiny dark hair and sometimes used to wish it was a bit thinner so that it would be more manageable. On holiday i used a more powerful hair dryer supplied by the hotel and that seemed to make it thinner, and sleeker. I'm not sure if thats a coincidence or not. Or even if it has any relevance at all.
But a few months later, early 2003, i had a passport photo taken and i didnt notice anything at the time but when my hair was alot thinner more months later, i noticed that my hair in that photo was getting thinner behind the hairline, ie, the very hairline was really standing out. My hair dresser had also noticed a thinning on the crown and had tried to style it to hide it.
In late 2003 / early 2004 i had a very thin ponytail and the area behind my fringe and along my parting was very thing and noticeable. I then suffered badly with a breakup and couldnt take the state of my hair any longer. I went to the doctor and although she was very good otherwise, i was pretty much fobbed off. I was told about how hair grows in cycles and that as i'd suffered a period of stress, i just had to wait for the next cycle for it to grow back. Or something like that.
In the summer of 2004 (i think) i paid for a consultation with a tricologist and although he couldnt think of a reason for the hair loss he suggested dianette and minoxidyl and suggested i ask my GP to do a load of tests. So i went back to the GP and had loads of blood tests done for iron, thyroid, pcos and others i cant remember. Everything came back normal, although iron levels were on the low side of normal. I was referred to a dermatologist at my local hospital.
September 2006 i saw the dermatologist and he was at a loss. I have no history of baldness in the family, no pregnancies and no medical problems. I had androgen tests done and those showed a "very mild abnormality, but nothing significant". He put me on dianette and referred me to a chemical pathologist.
November 2006 the chemical pathologist did a "supression test of androgens" where i was told would turn off my hormones, then turn them on again and see if there was a blockage. Basically, on the friday i was told to take some tablets, turning the hormones off. Then on the Monday i went back and had some blood taken. Then i was given an injection to turn the hormones back on and had two more sets of blood taken after to measure my hormone levels. Results came back perfectly fine. I was referred back to the original dermatologist.
The dermatologist had no idea as to the reason for my hairloss but prescribed 5% minoxidyl to go with the dianette
I was referred to apparently a top Harley Street dermatologist who also works on the NHS at St Thomas' hospital in London. I had more blood tests along with hair strand tests where they basically pulled clumps of hair out at different places on my head. I was diagnosed with androgenetic alopecia and "a significant telogen effluvium with a raised shedding rate of 19% on the top of my head, and 47% (normal is 8-10%) shedding rate at the back / crown". I was told to stay on the minoxidyl and it was suggested that the idianette could be masking any hormone imbalances.
This dermatologist has suggested i take a course of intramuscular biotin and beta-pantothenic acid. I am now struggling to get this.
I have been on dianette for a year and a half, and minoxidyl for 9 months. I have photos that show a good improvement after the first three months and continuous improvement since then. I'm really pleased. I have no signs of thinning on my crown anymore but i have not much fringe at all and the hair overall still has no weight or thickness to it. I wear a wig which gives me a tremendous amount of confidence but it restricts my life quite a bit. Not as much though as my lack of confidence without it used to restrict me.