new thread
I have something of a sensitive question to ask, and hope some of the experts here might offer helpful advice. I am 29 years old and have worn wavy brown hair that I have enjoyed wearing long (to just below my shoulders) since high school. At 19 or 20 I noticed that my temples had moved back somewhat, but in the decade since then they've not moved, and so I assumed I was just coming into my mature hairline (which was not a bad hairline at all).
Fast forward to 2013. Without going into too much detail, I suffered that fall a major and life-threatening medical crisis that, in the short term, left me unable to work. Following the near-death experience, I became depressed and began having panic attacks that were quite severe, so I was prescribed three psychiatric medications to stabilize my mood, reduce anxiety, and ward off depression. I also drank heavily in this period in a misguided effort to cope with my reduced endurance, chronic fatigue, depression, and major, rapid weight gain.
In around March 2014, I noticed that the part of my hair looked very slightly wider than it previously had. Between March and November it didn't appear to move but didn't appear to repair itself, so in panic in November 2014 I went out and bought S5 cream, which I used until I noticed, last week, that in the area where I'd been applying it the hair had noticeably thinned.
Now I'm not sure what to do. I'm 29; could this just be male-pattern baldness? Then again, I went through all of these things. What are your thoughts? I'm seeing a dermatologist this week and will be sure to share her observations.
Could be MPB.
Or it could be medications, stress, or something else entirely. There's no way to diagnose this over teh interwebz. Only time will tell.
MPB hit my grandfather by age 28, my hair stuck around until age 39. I have friends who didn't make it to their 20s. There's no way of saying.
MBP is not the end of the world. It also doesn't have to be the end of wearing your hair long.
I've also heard it often mentioned that whatever degree of MPB hair loss a guy has experienced by age 30, after that age, it's mostly just continued hair-thinning that occurs. This has been true in my experience, at least. My hairline used to go strait across my forehead when I was a teen and into my early 20s; but by the time I reached 30, I had a receding hairline in front that formed indents near the temples. Of course, in an ideal world, I wish the receding hairline had never happened; but, as you said above, "MPB is not the end of the world!"
Also, in spite of whatever the notorious Hair Fashion Police say, MPB does not have to mean the end of wearing your hair long. If we listened blindly to that so-called "police", then we will also hear them say that you or myself are "too old" to have long hair, or that I'm "too fat", or maybe you're "too skinny", or that somebody else has the "wrong" shaped face to look good in long hair... Blah blah blah blah... ad nauseum!
Hi Jered,
In addition to my reply to Bruce, below (which of course I also hope you'll read), my comments about your medical concerns can be summed up with the following advise: best to focus on getting well in general (I have medical issues as well; so am trying to take my own advise also - LOL), including regularly consulting with your doctor(s) and other health care professionals, to give yourself the best chance at a healthy, strong, and properly nourished body, FIRST; then your hair health will just naturally follow...
I also don't have a clue what S5 cream means. So, since I don't know what it is (or worse: what it DOES), I would stay as far away from any product that you do not completely understand, or know what bad side-effects its ingredients might cause you, as you can possibly do.
I hope my comments have been helpful -- and Welcome to MLHH!
- Ken in San Francisco
I'm so sorry you were sick ,that sounds really tough.
My sister got very sick a few years ago and nearly passed away. She struggled through and was in recovery for several months. About six months after her recovery, a lot of her hair fell out. The doctors said that sometimes months after a stressful situation, your hair falls out. Fortunately, it all grew back...but this time it was wavy and thick, whereas before it was fine and straight.
Also had a girlfriend loose her hair after a stressful breakup--so emotional pain can have an effect too. It also grew back.
In both cases, they just had to take time to heal. Hang in there and take care of yourself.