diffuse thinning , diffuse areata ? or what?

[3milio]

Hi, I need you to help me identify my type of hair loss.

I started losing hair in the middle of 2022, I thought it would be something temporary. However, in December 2023 my brother told me that I lost a lot of hair on the crown of my head.
In January 2024 I went to the doctor, after a trichoscopy examination he saw yellow spots, hair in the shape of an exclamation mark and red spots due to inflammation. Since then I started treatment for diffuse alopecia areata. in the span of 11 months I used dexamethasone, methotrexate, clobetasol, triamcinalone injections without much success, I did not see significant improvement.

In November of last year I went back to the dermatologist and this time he prescribed me oral minoxidil 5mg and clobetasol. I am 2 months into the treatment and I feel that I have improved somewhat.

Researching in different sources, I feel that in spite of having the symptoms of alopecia areata. My problem is a diffuse androgenetic alopecia. And I need help to help me confirm that.

I am 39 years old, I don't have receding hairline, I don't drink alcohol and I don't smoke. Healthy life in general. In 2021 I had long hair down to my waist. Since 2022 I had some problems that generated stress. No one in my family has a baldness problem. Neither my parents nor grandparents. My father told me that in his 30's he had an episode of alopecia areata but in patches.

Pictures removed via member request.

 

[Understanding Hair]

Diffuse thinning is more common than thought. It´s easier hidden when the hair is long enough to cover the surrounding hair, giving the look of fullness.

While only a potential cause, the hair loss condition, telogen effluvium (TE) is the second most usual form of hair loss, behind male genetic hair loss. It occurs when there is a change in the hair growth cycle. Consequently, the number of hair follicles that are growing reduces, which increases hair shedding. It commonly affects the top of the scalp and triggered in many ways. These include environmental, physical, and psychological trauma, to name three.

There can also be a weakening of the hair, resulting in varying degrees of hair quality growing at the same time, from strong terminal hairs to finer miniaturised hair growth. This adds to the diffuse thinning look. See this image, there is obvious loss of hair, like yourself, but also a greater variant in the hair growth quality. Unlike androgenic alopecia, simple male pattern baldness, there are no open areas of hair loss, like a temple recession or an open crown.

If it´s possible to improve the hair growth cycle again, there is a chance the condition may reverse to a degree. That encourages the finer, miniaturised hairs to improve in quality and stimulate the dormant laying hair back into the growth phase.

Minoxidil is a good start, you may also want to research PRP treatment, the traditional form, which spins a sample of your blood to isolate the wound healing, or growth factors in your blood, then injected back into your scalp. There are no miracle cures with treatment, they can take time to see results and need used correctly. Also, there will be a degree of continued use to maintain the net result. Ask to see similar case results to yourself when researching treatment such as this, if a clinic has successfully treated the condition they will be able to show case their results.

 

[mania]

Diffuse thinning can be described as diffuse alopecia areata or other types of diffuse hair loss. Diffuse alopecia areata is a rare variant of alopecia areata where hair loss occurs all over the scalp rather than in distinct patches. Diffuse thinning can also be caused by conditions like telogen effluvium or female pattern hair loss