Hey everyone, I’d really appreciate some guidance because I’ve gotten conflicting diagnoses and I’m not sure what to do.
I’m 26. In April 2025, I had a strange episode that lasted about 4 weeks:
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brain fog
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mild dizziness
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headaches
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a “feverish” feeling (no actual fever)
After that, around mid-July, I noticed my left temple looked less dense. Over the following months, I also noticed thinning on the left side of my scalp (above the ear), which feels unusual. The density has decreased, but I can still hide it since my hair is thick.
Important: I haven’t had noticeable shedding (around 30–50 hairs/day).
Doctors:
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October: trichoscopy showed slight miniaturization (within normal range). Diagnosed seborrheic dermatitis
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December: second trichoscopy → diagnosed early androgenetic alopecia, prescribed dutasteride (0.1 mg) + oral minoxidil (2.5 mg)
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February: another dermatologist disagreed, thinks it’s acute telogen effluvium, prescribed topical minoxidil and ordered blood tests
Blood results:
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Vitamin D deficiency (18.24 ng/mL)
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TSH borderline high (4.18 mIU/L) – endocrinologist said possible future hypothyroidism
Also since October:
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small “pimples” on my scalp
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occasional stinging/pin-like sensations
At this point I’m unsure what to do:
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Start dutasteride + minoxidil?
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Treat this as telogen effluvium first?
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Consider a scalp biopsy?
I’m worried about starting treatment and masking another issue, but also scared of losing time if this is early AGA.
Any advice or similar experiences would really help 