Exclamation Hairs Falling Out

I am waking up with large amounts of exclamation hairs on my pillow for the past few weeks. Is it normal for it to be falling out all at once like this?

Sorry if this is a stupid question.

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Permalink Reply by Seadra on May 8, 2010 at 10:21pm
Of course that's not a stupid question!!! When I had exclamations they would all fall out too. As far as normal, there's not much that's normal with alopecia :)
Permalink Reply by BaldGirlsDoLunch.org on May 8, 2010 at 10:48pm
Good question. It's not uncommon for a large shedding to occur at one time. It doesn't happen to all cases of AA, though.

The hairs that are "exclamation hairs" are the stumpy remainders from hairs that have broken. The hair has a larger root end and a tapered, narrower other end. Some dermatologists use it as diagnostic for alopecia areatas, but it can be a symptom in other hair disorders, too.

These kinds of hairs can be seen with electron microscopic scanning as strangely configured: the keratin is there, but the way it's arranged can be irregular and other oddities can be seen like hairs without a cuticle or hairs that have keratin deposits in odd clumps or hairs with lengthwise cracks. They're weak, sometimes narrowly constricted and break off.

Thea
join us at www.baldgirlsdolunch.org
Permalink Reply by Mayte on May 9, 2010 at 10:01pm
What exactly are "exclamation hairs"? I've noticed lately that many of the hairs that fall off have a white end. Is that it?
Permalink Reply by Max W on May 9, 2010 at 2:42pm
I have been getting some exclamation hairs on my pillow mixed with what appear to be normal dead hairs...I currently have a small patch as big as a dime that seems to be getting bigger. I am trying to stop obsessing over my dead hair follicles but man is it tough. Be strong and lets ride this thing out!
Permalink Reply by Jade Martinez on May 10, 2010 at 6:05am
thanks for your replies all. i was trying to see whether i'm on the road to AT or AU, but you're right, there is nothing 'normal' about alopecia and there is no point in me trying to predict what's next.
Permalink Reply by Heather Bloom on May 11, 2010 at 12:28am
Exclamation hairs are exactly what they sound like. They look like exclamation marks(!) The hair is narrower closer to the root and expand or wider at the other end. I have tons of them.

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