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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Deneb on October 5, 2009, at 16:57:40
I asked a question about my hair on AllExperts. I showed the expert a picture of my part and I got this answer.
http://www.allexperts.com/user.cgi?m=6&catID=1012&qID=4888915
ExpertPeter J. Panagotacos, M.D.
SubjectIs this female pattern balding?
QuestionMy Part
I'm a 27, soon to be 28 year old female. I never gave my hair much thought, but recently I decided to grow my hair long and I am noticing things more. I've counting shed hairs in the drain and so far I've counted 80 hairs and about 180 hairs per wash. Here is a picture of my part. Please tell me if I need to worry and if monoxidil would help me.AnswerThis does look like early female pattern baldness or AGA - Androgenetic Alopecia. This is more likely if your father is bald or if your mother has thin hair. Minoxidil may make it look better but that doesn't stop the hormonal stimulation causing the loss. Speak to your doctor about starting on Yasmin to prevent more loss.
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My Dad went bald at an early age and some of my aunts have very thin hair. I don't know if my Mom's hair got thinner over the years because she perms her hair.Good thing I discovered this hair thinning right away. Now I can use midoxidil and other treatments to stop my thinning. My ponytail circumference is still normal. It is 9 cm. I hope the midoxidil will thicken up my ponytail diameter even more.
Posted by Kath on October 5, 2009, at 19:07:12
In reply to Oh no, I am going bald, posted by Deneb on October 5, 2009, at 16:57:40
Your hair looks very thick from other photos. I wonder if it might be normal to loose a lot of hair if ones hair is thick?
K
Posted by Phillipa on October 5, 2009, at 21:53:52
In reply to Oh no, I am going bald, posted by Deneb on October 5, 2009, at 16:57:40
Deneb your hair is beautiful, thick, long and this person is trying to sell you something. I'd love to have your hair. Love Phillipa
Posted by Tabitha on October 6, 2009, at 0:50:33
In reply to Oh no, I am going bald, posted by Deneb on October 5, 2009, at 16:57:40
I think your picture may be deceptive because it's a closeup of your part rather than the entire top of your head. He's trying to judge the width of your part, but he can't, because without the edges of your head visible, there's no scale.
Posted by Deneb on October 6, 2009, at 23:25:31
In reply to Re: Oh no, I am going bald, posted by Tabitha on October 6, 2009, at 0:50:33
I hope you're right. There are treatments for thinning though, so I hope I will be OK even if he is right. Maybe I will send him another picture of my part from further away.
Posted by Kath on October 7, 2009, at 21:33:58
In reply to Re: Oh no, I am going bald » Tabitha, posted by Deneb on October 6, 2009, at 23:25:31
> I hope you're right. There are treatments for thinning though, so I hope I will be OK even if he is right. Maybe I will send him another picture of my part from further away.
>
>~ I think that might be a really good idea.
Kath
Posted by manic666 on October 9, 2009, at 7:42:58
In reply to Re: Oh no, I am going bald » Deneb, posted by Kath on October 7, 2009, at 21:33:58
IM , GOING BALD , so lets swap i think i would love to have yours
Posted by Nadezda on October 11, 2009, at 16:29:06
In reply to Re: Oh no, I am going bald, posted by manic666 on October 9, 2009, at 7:42:58
It's perfectly normal to lose up to 125 or even 150 hairs a day. More than 200 a day might be an indication of a problem. However, no one can actually tell from a photo, because it depends on how your part looked a few years ago, and whether there's any change. Which this doctor can't tell.
And monoxidil has serious side effects, so I strongly recommend against using it at this stage, since you'd have to use it for the rest of your life, essentially.
If you're really concerned, go to a doctor who knows you and can look at you face to face. And ask what if anything can be done. Your hair does look quite thick, too.
Nadezda
Posted by Kath on October 11, 2009, at 19:10:32
In reply to Re: Oh no, I am going bald, posted by Nadezda on October 11, 2009, at 16:29:06
I totally agree about seeing a doctor - preferably your family doctor who knows you.
When I part my hair there is a lot of skin showing & it's been like this all my life. And I haven't gone bald & I'm over 60.
If you're concerned, Deneb, I'd say go to your doctor. I think that most (possibly all) medications have side effects.
:-) Kath
Posted by Deneb on October 13, 2009, at 14:47:13
In reply to Re: Oh no, I am going bald, posted by Nadezda on October 11, 2009, at 16:29:06
My hair is still thick. I am just afraid it will go thin like with my aunts or bald like my Dad. Baldness is definitely in the genes in my family. I am especially concerned because I want to grow my hair very long.
I don't really have a doctor who sees me enough to know what my hair looks like, except my pdoc. She sees me a lot. I don't think my hair has gotten much thinner and at this point I don't think anyone can tell.
I feel like I should minoxidil as a preventative treatment, since once the hairs are lost, often they don't grow back.
I found a pretty cheap source of minoxidil, just $60 including shipping for a year's worth. Minoxidil doesn't have many side effects and when used topically doesn't really affect my body.
Maybe I will ask someone if minoxidil would be harmful at this point.
Posted by Kath on October 14, 2009, at 13:14:43
In reply to Re: Oh no, I am going bald » Nadezda, posted by Deneb on October 13, 2009, at 14:47:13
As far as I know Deneb, putting something on our skin is pretty much the same as putting it into our body.
I always remember the story of the farmer who got pesticide on his hand straight from the bag & died. (Not sure if it's true, but I'm not taking any chances.)
I really like having a family doctor who knows me; knows my history, etc. I know there are lots of walk-in clinics, but I prefer to have someone who knows me. Even thought of getting a regular family doctor?
Our livers have to deal with a lot of toxins even in regular daily life.....exhaust fumes, residual pesticides on our foods, preservatives in food products, chemicals in perfumes/shampoos/scented products. I guess unless there's a really strong reason, I don't add yet another one unless I have to, but that's just me.
luv, Kath
Posted by Phillipa on October 14, 2009, at 20:04:26
In reply to Adding to our liver's load » Deneb, posted by Kath on October 14, 2009, at 13:14:43
Just think of meds that are delivered by creams as nitroglycerine or patch form. Estrogens homones, scopalamine. What is on the skin enters the body. Phillipa
Posted by Jay_Bravest_Face on October 15, 2009, at 17:22:51
In reply to Re: Oh no, I am going bald » Nadezda, posted by Deneb on October 13, 2009, at 14:47:13
> My hair is still thick. I am just afraid it will go thin like with my aunts or bald like my Dad. Baldness is definitely in the genes in my family. I am especially concerned because I want to grow my hair very long.
>
> I don't really have a doctor who sees me enough to know what my hair looks like, except my pdoc. She sees me a lot. I don't think my hair has gotten much thinner and at this point I don't think anyone can tell.
>
> I feel like I should minoxidil as a preventative treatment, since once the hairs are lost, often they don't grow back.
>
> I found a pretty cheap source of minoxidil, just $60 including shipping for a year's worth. Minoxidil doesn't have many side effects and when used topically doesn't really affect my body.
>
> Maybe I will ask someone if minoxidil would be harmful at this point.Deneb:
Yes, Minoxidil can and will affect your internal organs, and in particular, hormones. That is why the warning goes that Minoxidil should never be EVER in *contact* with pregnant women. And you want to use this every day? You must know from your biology knowledge that the skin, including the scalp, is permeable.
Plus, the gene for balding is passed on by the mother. And, *YES*, get a family doctor! Going to walk-in clinics where the doctor knows almost nothing of your history or you, is not a good idea.
Jay
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