I Could Really Use Some Advice (itching/hair Loss)

[Tom van Gele]

Hello! This is my first time posting on this forum. I'm a male 22, blonde, and I have lost a terrible amount of hair in a relatively short time and I'm honestly very worried. A couple months ago my scalp started itching quite bad and didn't try to scratch but sometimes it got so excessive that I did, resulting in a couple little wounds in some spots which have healed in the meantime but my hair is so thin right now. When I would comb or take a shower I would find so many hairs.

Just today I was taking a shower and I watched in horror as I looked in the mirror. I'm not good looking, and the only thing that kind of compensates for that is/was my hair, I'm quite short and my forehead if pretty big. I might have some sort of condition because I don't think it's natural. I should've went to the doctor earlier I fear, it might be too late now. Unfortunately the doctor in my town is not present this week so I can't go on to visit.

My question is what could this be and what should I do? It's still itching although I never scratch anymore, I made that mistake already and I wish I would've known this earlier. The hair loss has more or less stabilised but it's pretty thin compared to what I had. I also find these white flakes in my hair. If this is a condition could there be ANY chance of my hair ever growing back after taking some form of medicine or if it's some kind of infection? It's still itching as I'm typing this. I'm really depressed about this, some advice would be great.

 

[itchymadscalp]

Hello ... I feel sorry for you, because you're losing your hair and because you still want to believe there is another reason behind it. We all do and did in the beginning. It must be something else, something that can be cure with a pills for 2 weeks and voilà !
But ... maybe I'm wrong, if you're losing your hair and have itchy scalp, obviously it's because you have androgenic alopecia. For the itchy, for a rapid relief you can try very cold shower. Then to be more efficient, Ketoconazole (didn't work for me) or Zinc Sulfate Lotion.
If no improvement you can follow the hormonal route with Finasteride, and maybe Dutasteride if still no success. When you hair loss is halted you can add Topical Minoxidil and pray for regrowth.

 

[Tom van Gele]

Hello ... I feel sorry for you, because you're losing your hair and because you still want to believe there is another reason behind it. We all do and did in the beginning. It must be something else, something that can be cure with a pills for 2 weeks and voilà !
But ... maybe I'm wrong, if you're losing your hair and have itchy scalp, obviously it's because you have androgenic alopecia. For the itchy, for a rapid relief you can try very cold shower. Then to be more efficient, Ketoconazole (didn't work for me) or Zinc Sulfate Lotion.
If no improvement you can follow the hormonal route with Finasteride, and maybe Dutasteride if still no success. When you hair loss is halted you can add Topical Minoxidil and pray for regrowth.

Ouch, I guess I'm in phase 1 then. I googled "androgenic alopecia", hoping that it didn't come down to just balding, unfortunately I was wrong. Thank you for your advice. I might try those although the itchiness isn't really something I care too much about to be honest. I'm a student so I should be a little selective in my spending as well. I always had very fine hair, a little breeze of wind and I look like Cruella the Ville now. Finasteride does look promising.

 

[Tom van Gele]

My best advice to you is to consult a derm who specializes in hair (loss). He will assess the situation: whether it's Androgenetic Alopecia, fongic, both... You could try to wash your scalp with ketoconazole shampoo 2 to 3 times a week to help with the @itchymadscalp and basically follow the advice of the guy named after this^^

Then, if it's Androgenetic Alopecia there are unfortunately no pills one could take to regrow what he has lost. You would have to try things (one by one to know what works for you or not) and have patience and stick to those treatments. We are all in this crazy boat, but we have to take our minds out of it sometimes and keep enjoying life the best we can.
Hope it helped and people are going to advice away.
Good luck to you

Thank you for the wise words. I did some searching and I think I saw at least a hundred different products being advised, all promising the same thing with neat little before and after pictures but I'm too sceptical too just buy away and I don't have a lot of money. Maybe a hair transplant might work when I have money although the thinning is everywhere! You're probably right about consulting a dermatologist first. He/she might advice finasteride or something else although I guess I just have to accept it eventually... Well, this is gonna be a hard pill to swallow and it's only now that I begin to see it on other men too. So in a way that's comforting a little, at least I only really notice it now I'm balding myself. Good luck to you / anybody here, we're all in the same boat indeed.

 

[Tom van Gele]

As a girl it really took me time to realise I had bloody hair loss! Now I can spot norwoods miles away (lol) and in my head I always tell myself "I feel you bro".

Exactly what I am thinking lol. Well as a girl I can imagine it's not that obvious in the beginning because (I assume) you wore your hair in a longer fashion. Honestly if that's you in the picture then it looks very good. It really looks full!

 

[CopeForLife]

where pictors

 

[Tom van Gele]

I am missing more than 50 % of hair, that's not me lol

Ah well let it slip that's just me trying to be nice and failing as usual lol.

 

[Tom van Gele]

where pictors

I don't know what to make of that. Are you asking for pictures?

 

[Tom van Gele]

Hello ... I feel sorry for you, because you're losing your hair and because you still want to believe there is another reason behind it. We all do and did in the beginning. It must be something else, something that can be cure with a pills for 2 weeks and voilà !
But ... maybe I'm wrong, if you're losing your hair and have itchy scalp, obviously it's because you have androgenic alopecia. For the itchy, for a rapid relief you can try very cold shower. Then to be more efficient, Ketoconazole (didn't work for me) or Zinc Sulfate Lotion.
If no improvement you can follow the hormonal route with Finasteride, and maybe Dutasteride if still no success. When you hair loss is halted you can add Topical Minoxidil and pray for regrowth.

I took your advice and I ordered me some finasteride / procecia if that's what you meant. Unfortunately the doctor is not present like I told you earlier so I had to order it online. 1MG for about 30 days for 110 euro. Yep, quite expensive here. I might get it cheaper after consulting my doctor and getting a recipe. Can I ask if you have any experience with this? I'm a bit worried about the existence of www.propeciahelp.com to be honest and the surrounding stories of class action lawsuits. So do I really lose my hair once I stop taking it? And does that sort of 'guarantee' that I will keep my remaining hair or is that not even a given?

 

[Tom van Gele]

Haha. He does not even care making sentences anymore!
You don't have to post pictors if you don't wunt to!

Strange that I didn't notice your message until now. Ah well it probably drives him crazy as much as others because holy moly, I now understand the name "itchymadscalp"!! I will do it in a week or so to better emphasise the contrast as I'm losing hair as we speak and I'm trying to put my head off of it in the meantime until I get my medicine. I only have a 'before' picture right now but that won't suffice of course lol.