Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michelle on March 30, 2011 at 5:15pm

Hey Alice, I did have two biopsy's and they confirmed FPB. They think the stress started the TE that turned into early FPB. I am only 29. Really about the body hair? You were told that chronic TE can cause body hair loss? In started in the end of Oct. I just started losing hair in my eyebrows and eyelashes. Others have told me they think it is AU starting. I don't know what to think. I am also not taking anything, cause we're trying to get pregnant.

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Permalink Reply by Julie G on March 30, 2011 at 8:58am

Michelle, like you I have androgenic alopecia(FPB). I have had it for 15 years though. I have very thin eye brows and eye lashes, but that is pretty much the other other spot that I have hair loss(other than my head of course). They originally told me 15 years ago that it was due to stress, but I never really believed them. But now I know the truth.
I have tried a few medications and had steroid injections also, but nothing really helped with mine. Although there are people that have had some success with treatments. I have PCOS and hypothyroidism which I think is where my AA stems from, but genetics I am sure are a play too, but who knows.
Join the androgenic alopecia group on here, we have a few members and they may be able to answer more questions for you too.

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Permalink Reply by Michelle on March 30, 2011 at 5:16pm

Thanks for your reply.

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Permalink Reply by Adrian Theopulos on March 30, 2011 at 12:16pm

Did you by any chance very recently go on the pill?

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Permalink Reply by Michelle on March 30, 2011 at 5:16pm

No, have been off of it for 5 years.

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Permalink Reply by barbara on July 15, 2011 at 5:16pm

HI ADRIAN,
IM JUST READING YOUR PROFILE FOR THE FIRST TIME. I TOO HAVE ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA since my teen-hood years. I went on the pill in october 2009, and i do believe it triggered a massive hairloss and burning scalp syndrome in spring 2010.This hairloss still continues. i just want to find peace with the hairloss thing- but cant!
Barbara

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Permalink Reply by Adrian Theopulos on July 15, 2011 at 6:11pm

Hey Barbara,

Totally. When I think back, my hair definitely started thinning in my late teens when I went on the pill. But I didn't think about it because it wasn't at all noticeable, just very gradual, so I stayed on the pill for almost 10 years not thinking that one could possibly have to do with the other. The hair loss started to be noticeable about 4 years ago and now I can't stand it. I went off the pill a few months ago and I want to see if anything happens. Dermatologists say to stay on it because at this point the pill is actually helping you hold on to the hair you have. But I don't buy it. Even if there's a little more shedding at first, I want what caused this out of my body and to at least give it a chance to recover. We'll see, so far things are just exactly the same, not better or worse.

If I can't have my hair back then I would at least like to find peace with all of this, but I'm definitely not at that point yet. Not even close.

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Permalink Reply by barbara on July 31, 2011 at 4:02pm

Hi-Rose
cyproterone acetate is actually a component of diane and dianette. These are low androgen pills as they do not contain progestins (progestins are potentially androgenic as progestins are converted to testestone & dheas).
Cyproterone acetate is available as a stand alone medication. It is usually prescribed to women with hirsuitism (excess facial hair) a characteristic feature of polycystic ovarian syndrome.. However, I thing "the jury is out" in its potential to prevent hairloss.
Apparently, spironlactone may have the potential to prevent further hairloss. In Europe, Doctors will not prescribe this drug to women of childbearing age as it could potentially cause ambiguous genitalia in a male baby.

Barbara

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Permalink Reply by barbara on July 31, 2011 at 3:53pm

Hi Adrian, Just your reply. Thanks for replying. I know exactly how your feeling!!! Ironically I used to have the nicest hair in my school- chestnut brown, poker straight, past my waist with a mirror shine!! It was "my thing" and for some hormonal/stress reason it had been snatched away from me.
Like you, My hairloss was just centered around my crown, I used to be able to disguise it- but this last episode of loss is all over my scalp... So looking bad!!
At this stage, I feel any medication that is hormonal-based has the potential to cause hairloss. Hair-growth cycle is influenced by hormones, and obviously some people are more sensitive to androgens (the baddy hormone in hairloss!). I also believe, that stress had a role to play in my hairloss (stress also can switch on hormones like cortisol).
At the moment I'm seeing a psychologist in relation to this loss- I want to start to enjoy myself again. I find it really helpful!!! I know that there are positive options out- there, not perfect options, but ones that potentially can make a difference to my life at my moment. I have decided to go down "this freedom hair" piece route.
I cannot accept my loss. I never will. But my hair thoughts has consumed too much valuable time.I think that you and I have to find a remedy (let it be hair integration for you or "freedom" for me.).
I would love to be be friend!
Barb

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