Male pattern balding or something else..?

pushpop · 20-03-2008 03:34PM #1

Hi all

I'm unfortunately the subject of a peculiar form of hair loss. Basically about 70% top of my head from my crown to my fringe is thin. There is still full coverage (i.e. my hairline has not receded ) but from what I can see, a lesser concentration of hairs per square inch or whatever. There are small patches with thicker hair scattered around my scalp. I also noticed last night that the hair on the side of my head which is level to the top of my ears is thinning as well in a very diffuse and undirected way. This does not correspond with male pattern balding from what I can see.

There are two conditions, alopecia areata and telogen effluvium which seem to correspond to these symptoms. I was wondering does anyone else having anything similar? I am trying to organise professional consultation about this, but am concerned that I will be forced to either go to a GP, who will probably dismiss it as a cosmetic (and therefore unimportant) complaint, or a trichologist who will try and peddle some magic new cure to me. Any advice about this?

Thanks

P

Oryx · 20-03-2008 07:31PM

If you do go to your gp, which is the obvious first port of call, do not be fobbed off. It is not petty or cosmetic to you, so get their full opinion on it. Ask if it could be hormonal, or diet related. But alopecia is a tricky condition that doctors often cant or wont treat. (in my experience, having been told with a shrug to live with thinning hair. Im female btw) A trichologist is the expert in this field. You can arrange a consultation without having to buy a single thing, your focus should be information on your condition, which you can decide how to act on, rather than the 'miracle cure'.

Male pattern balding or something else..?

Comments