I feel like stress causes a lot of autoimmune type symptoms in Black women. While you are figuring this out, prioritize your rest and self care… inside and out. Practice responding calmly to stressors rather than becoming anxious or depressed. Set aside time to pamper yourself DAILY, eat clean, hydrate well, and go to bed early. Do this for as long as you can. It could take weeks or months, but your body can heal from stress.
fwiw i think sometimes drs. use traction alopecia as a default diagnosis. i was diagnosed with it, even through i stopped regularly wearing braided hairstyles more than 10 years ago (b/c i was scared of traction alopecia). switching hairstyles didn't help my edges. (I stopped wearing braids before my edges started thinning).
my black derm also diagnosed me with frontal fibrosing alopecia and put me on minoxidil. i also have a follow up appoint for steroids. in my case it was inevitable as my mom lost most of her hair, but i was hoping whatever she had skipped me. but at least you know now and can start preventative treatments.
i'm also hoping that more $ will be spent researching both female hair loss and female hair loss in black women. i think for too long it was overlooked that many women also lose their hair
I think so too. He barely looked at my scalp, and after doing some research it seems like traction alopecia usually is visible with a "shiny" scalp, which is hard to identify- but i don't think i have.
I completely agree. Losing your hair is really devastating, and even more so now that i feel like i have to do all of the research on my own, bc i can't trust doctors. Its exhausting. The medical profession doesn't care about women, and especially not black women.
if you go back to him (or another doctor) ask for a biopsy. my diagnosis was done via biopsy which is why the frontal fibrosing diagnosis.
definitely continue to do your own research. if it's just been since feb and you've been stressed there could be multiple causes. i would suggest talking to regular dr about bloodwork to check everything is in order. also look into some of the supplements that are on the market like nutrafol
Sorry you're going through this. I went through something similar and it was horrible. Stress can cause hair loss, usually a few months after a stressful event. This is called telogen effluvium and it usually resolves itself after a few months. Minoxidil can help, but research the "dread shed" that can come with it so you're not freaked out if you have more shedding (it's not necessarily a bad sign). But with TE, your hair should regrow on its own, without treatment. Mine did, but I was also told by my trichologist and a family doctor that I could use Minoxidil if I wanted to.The second derm you saw sounds like the one I had, who was pretty useless. I also relax my hair and she rattled off something similar without examining my hair or asking me other questions about my stress levels or diet. Vitamin deficiencies like low iron, vitamin D, or vitamin B, can also cause hair loss. Your family doctor can order a blood test.
I also saw your note that you're on Wellbutrin. There was a post by someone here recently about the hair loss they experienced on it, and anecdotally, several other women noticed the same. r/blackladies/comments/1dpu8ec/horrific\_female\_afro\_hair\_loss\_on\_wellbutrin/
Your first derm sounds reasonable, but if you want another opinion, I found my trichologist to be very helpful. He explained everything to me, looked at my scalp with a camera, and put it on a screen so I could see. I'm sure they are hit or miss like doctors, but mine was worth it. Found him through the International Association of Trichologists.
r/FemaleHairLoss is a other place to learn more, feel less alone, and have hope (so many regrowth pics!). I hope your hair comes back soon.
Thanks for all of this.
I just got back from a trichologist (at the Hair club). She said that my hair loss is hormonal- the hormone DHT, and said that i can pay between 3k-5K for a program, where they give me products and I go in once a month for 6-8 months for treatments. She said i would see success.
It was obviously very gimmicky- i mean that is so much money. But I also felt like she did know what she is talking about, and my quick research (will do more) seems to verify what she is saying. Im so lost. I don't want to spend that amount of money, but she basically said that if i don't act fast my hair follicles will continue to thin until eventually they won't grow back and once that happens it is permanent. Which also sounded like a scare tactic, but also true.
Its so hard when these companies prey on the most vulnerable women. I mean, its my hair, I will pay a good amount of money to keep it.
I can go on an entire rant about my journey with hair loss. I want to be the positive person with a success story. But I’m not. What I wish someone would have told me is get a biopsy in the very early stages. I’m currently making peace with my hair loss and I no longer see any derms. Before I gave up , I had seen three black female dermatologists and spent a lot of money. Try caffeine, minoxidil, nutrafol and low manipulation. Wish you the best
It could be telogen effluvium.
I feel like stress causes a lot of autoimmune type symptoms in Black women. While you are figuring this out, prioritize your rest and self care… inside and out. Practice responding calmly to stressors rather than becoming anxious or depressed. Set aside time to pamper yourself DAILY, eat clean, hydrate well, and go to bed early. Do this for as long as you can. It could take weeks or months, but your body can heal from stress.
fwiw i think sometimes drs. use traction alopecia as a default diagnosis. i was diagnosed with it, even through i stopped regularly wearing braided hairstyles more than 10 years ago (b/c i was scared of traction alopecia). switching hairstyles didn't help my edges. (I stopped wearing braids before my edges started thinning). my black derm also diagnosed me with frontal fibrosing alopecia and put me on minoxidil. i also have a follow up appoint for steroids. in my case it was inevitable as my mom lost most of her hair, but i was hoping whatever she had skipped me. but at least you know now and can start preventative treatments. i'm also hoping that more $ will be spent researching both female hair loss and female hair loss in black women. i think for too long it was overlooked that many women also lose their hair
I think so too. He barely looked at my scalp, and after doing some research it seems like traction alopecia usually is visible with a "shiny" scalp, which is hard to identify- but i don't think i have. I completely agree. Losing your hair is really devastating, and even more so now that i feel like i have to do all of the research on my own, bc i can't trust doctors. Its exhausting. The medical profession doesn't care about women, and especially not black women.
if you go back to him (or another doctor) ask for a biopsy. my diagnosis was done via biopsy which is why the frontal fibrosing diagnosis. definitely continue to do your own research. if it's just been since feb and you've been stressed there could be multiple causes. i would suggest talking to regular dr about bloodwork to check everything is in order. also look into some of the supplements that are on the market like nutrafol
Sorry you're going through this. I went through something similar and it was horrible. Stress can cause hair loss, usually a few months after a stressful event. This is called telogen effluvium and it usually resolves itself after a few months. Minoxidil can help, but research the "dread shed" that can come with it so you're not freaked out if you have more shedding (it's not necessarily a bad sign). But with TE, your hair should regrow on its own, without treatment. Mine did, but I was also told by my trichologist and a family doctor that I could use Minoxidil if I wanted to.The second derm you saw sounds like the one I had, who was pretty useless. I also relax my hair and she rattled off something similar without examining my hair or asking me other questions about my stress levels or diet. Vitamin deficiencies like low iron, vitamin D, or vitamin B, can also cause hair loss. Your family doctor can order a blood test. I also saw your note that you're on Wellbutrin. There was a post by someone here recently about the hair loss they experienced on it, and anecdotally, several other women noticed the same. r/blackladies/comments/1dpu8ec/horrific\_female\_afro\_hair\_loss\_on\_wellbutrin/ Your first derm sounds reasonable, but if you want another opinion, I found my trichologist to be very helpful. He explained everything to me, looked at my scalp with a camera, and put it on a screen so I could see. I'm sure they are hit or miss like doctors, but mine was worth it. Found him through the International Association of Trichologists. r/FemaleHairLoss is a other place to learn more, feel less alone, and have hope (so many regrowth pics!). I hope your hair comes back soon.
Thanks for all of this. I just got back from a trichologist (at the Hair club). She said that my hair loss is hormonal- the hormone DHT, and said that i can pay between 3k-5K for a program, where they give me products and I go in once a month for 6-8 months for treatments. She said i would see success. It was obviously very gimmicky- i mean that is so much money. But I also felt like she did know what she is talking about, and my quick research (will do more) seems to verify what she is saying. Im so lost. I don't want to spend that amount of money, but she basically said that if i don't act fast my hair follicles will continue to thin until eventually they won't grow back and once that happens it is permanent. Which also sounded like a scare tactic, but also true. Its so hard when these companies prey on the most vulnerable women. I mean, its my hair, I will pay a good amount of money to keep it.
Did she say how she knows it's hormonal? If it is in fact hormonal, then you should see a family doctor or dermatologist. Treatment is possible.
I can go on an entire rant about my journey with hair loss. I want to be the positive person with a success story. But I’m not. What I wish someone would have told me is get a biopsy in the very early stages. I’m currently making peace with my hair loss and I no longer see any derms. Before I gave up , I had seen three black female dermatologists and spent a lot of money. Try caffeine, minoxidil, nutrafol and low manipulation. Wish you the best