Hey everyone, I’ve been dealing with hair loss for about 4-5 years now and could really use some input from this community.
Current situation:
Experiencing thinning and diffusion primarily on one side only (see photo - I’ve outlined the affected zone)
Some patchy spots where hair density is noticeably lower
Been on finasteride and liquid minoxidil for 4-5 years with minimal results
The complication: My scalp in the thinning area has become extremely sensitive, dry, and irritated - possibly eczema, psoriasis, or dermatitis. I think the minoxidil overuse over the years may have contributed to this inflammation.
I’m at a complete loss on what to do from here. Should I be thinking about saving for a hair transplant or focus on fixing my scalp first? Any advice appreciated.
go see a dermatologist, the pattern does not match the male-pattern baldness. i have diffuse thinning and when looked very closely even you can see slight mpb pattern formation. you may have alopecia areta incognita though the regions adjacent to the thinning area also seem to have thinned a bit, with your hairline being intact. given that diffuse thinning even in the context of AGA has MPB patterns and is rare and that you did not respond well to the finasteride and mention “patchy” areas could mean that you have some form AAI. I would strongly urge you to see a proper dermatologist, choose a good one with hair microscope if possible. Ask him whether 1)there exists formation of dark circles around your follicles 2)whether miniaturizing hairs exist, dark circles is sometimes seen in AGA but not present in you judging from the pictures, but cannot be sure as I am not a doctor so better see a derm. You I suppose don’t have male pattern baldness but some other type of alopecia. Get your bloodwork done if possible.
