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well the best thing for everyone who is experiencing hair loss is to first get a blood test done to check for iron levels, thyroid, hormones, and antibodies (in case you have lupus). That's what I did last week and luckily, I don't have either of those conditions. But I asked my dermatologist to give me a scalp biopsy so we can finally determine the exact cause of my hair loss, and so he did.
Basically before you start any sort of regimen or Rogaine use, first get a blood test and scalp biopsy done to determine the exact cause of your hair loss.
I'm crossing my fingers because I will have the biopsy results next week and I hope hope hope it's not MPB. If it is, I won't even bother with the Rogaine/Proscar, I'll just shave my head and learn to accept it.
20% would be a realistic figure. If it would stop I could go on living life, every day I look in the mirror and I feel it's getting worse and it sickens me.
Trust me, the hair loss is a bigger deal to you than it is to anyone else.
Most people could care less, have a look around, most men are thinning or bald... its unfortunately a fact of life.
For folks like us that had no hair loss initially to suddenly lose a large percentage of hair, its pretty depressing.
My hair is totally messed, my shedding is excessive and I've lost more than 60% of the hair on the top of my head. I shed upwards of 200 hairs a day, and see hairs falling out all over my desk at work, on my pillow, and all over my clothes.
Its a horrible experience for those who are concerned about their appearance.
However I am convinced that with time it does resolve, many people I have spoken to have seen most if not all their how grow back. Even I have seen my hair get denser on the sides of my head.
There is always hair regrowth if you are shedding, you may just not notice it. If you continued to shed and didn't regrow the hair, then you would go bald. There are just some areas that hairs seem to be more heavily affected (namely your temples or one side of your head more than the other.)
I think the best thing is not to think about it, if you can avoid mirrors, and perhaps wear a hat to make it less of an issue, then all the better. You just need to wait it out.
I also wanted to mention that I did the colon cleanse as was recommended by a poster, but it had no affect.
Best Regards,
Matt
One thing you're right about is that the more I fixate on my appearance the worse it appears to get. I just don't like that my self worth is tied into how I look and I can't for the life of me stop thinking about my hair. It's my new obsession and controls all my thoughts and actions.
I do see a lot of balding guys in real life but they're a lot stronger than I am, I can't bring myself to smile or laugh at anything.
SClippers: If you have hair loss that is progressive and cyclical (hair grows, falls out prematurely and shedding) and the hair loss persists (more than 6 to 9 months) and/or you have tingling and itchy sensations in the affected area and/or redness, and is in a diffused format, this is alopecia areata and is in fact an auto immune disorder.
Locally suppressing the immune system slows down the shedding and the topical steroid itself also induces hair growth.
I've completed the first month of this steroid, I won't have definitive results to provide until about 3 to 4 months when I should start to see the results.
My shedding has slowed down recently but there are days when it sheds more than others. The amount of hairs I lose is still considerably higher than pre-accutane, before taking accutane I never noticed a hair falling from my head, now I probably lose about 200-300 hairs a day, which has made me progressively more thin.
I have continually regrowth and shedding, so there is hope for recovery.
From discussions with many others that experience this depressing side-effect, most recover about 2 to 3 years post-accutane.
What topical steroid are you using?
SClippers, I feel your pain bro, I really do. I started taking accutane on November 1, 2009. To give you a little background, I never had severe or even moderate acne, just a few pimples here and there (2 or 3 maybe), so very very mild. I am, or should i say was after the accutane ruined my life, an aspiring actor. A week into the tane my hair started to shed diffusely, I stayed on the tane for 2 more days (9 days total) before calling it quits. It is now July 1, 9 months after I started the tane and my hair is still shedding in large amount all with white clubs on the end. My hair is dead it seems, it is so thin and lifeless. I used to have insanely thick, curly hair, that all the girls were attracted to haha. Now I have lost atleast 40% of it and it continues to shed more by the day. I cant even do anything with it anymore, styling it just makes it look worse as you can see how thin it really is. My hairline has also receded quite a bit, especially around the temples. They are getting pretty bad....I'm starting to see the classic M or V shape with my hairline and it is making me more depressed by the day. By taking a pill for 9 days has really changed my life for the worse in so many ways. My confidence is completely shot and have fallen into major depression because of this. I am 21 years old, the prime of my life, with aspirations to be a hollywood actor and I am going bald! Is there any hope for me that this TE will pass in the near future (ie. 6 months or so) or should I just start shaving my head and accept the fact that I will lose hair for the rest of my life? If it does pass, will my hair grow back to its previous state? Just looking in the mirror everyday sickens me as does rubbing my head and seeing 5 hairs fall onto my piece of paper. I'm begging you guys for some input and advice, I'm practically on my knees at this point
^ That post=how I feel except I doubt anyone on this site is nearly as depressed/sickened as I am. Imagine not having the strength to even look at yourself anymore... even catching a glimpse of my reflection walking past a street car or store window will ruin my day.
My heart is rotting inside...
^ That post=how I feel except I doubt anyone on this site is nearly as depressed/sickened as I am. Imagine not having the strength to even look at yourself anymore... even catching a glimpse of my reflection walking past a street car or store window will ruin my day.
My heart is rotting inside...
I wanted to be a hollywood actor man, now i have a terrible hairline with shitty ass hair. My temples have receded so much as has the top of my head. I used to have thick curly hair and a perfect hairline. My hairline is god awful to put it mildly. All because of taking accutane for 9 days
Why did you stop at the 9th day? was your hair falling out the 1-9 days when you were taking it or did it start falling out weeks or months after you stopped?
^ That post=how I feel except I doubt anyone on this site is nearly as depressed/sickened as I am. Imagine not having the strength to even look at yourself anymore... even catching a glimpse of my reflection walking past a street car or store window will ruin my day.
My heart is rotting inside...
I wanted to be a hollywood actor man, now i have a terrible hairline with shitty ass hair. My temples have receded so much as has the top of my head. I used to have thick curly hair and a perfect hairline. My hairline is god awful to put it mildly. All because of taking accutane for 9 days
Man, I still have this growing patch of hair loss right behind my widows peak, so I still have some hair in the widows peak but behind it is an obvious patch of hair loss. Why the hell out of all places does it have to do it here? It's going to look retarded if I cut my hair.
Accutane is really slowly screwing me over. It's like everything has gone so slowly that it hopes I don't notice or something. I swear I had no problem of hair loss here on my head a month ago and now it's like I just noticed it recently. I don't get it. At least let me lose hair normally at the temples and not some random patch above my widows peak. It better be Alopecia that regrows eventually.
Why did you stop at the 9th day? was your hair falling out the 1-9 days when you were taking it or did it start falling out weeks or months after you stopped?
^ That post=how I feel except I doubt anyone on this site is nearly as depressed/sickened as I am. Imagine not having the strength to even look at yourself anymore... even catching a glimpse of my reflection walking past a street car or store window will ruin my day.
My heart is rotting inside...
I wanted to be a hollywood actor man, now i have a terrible hairline with shitty ass hair. My temples have receded so much as has the top of my head. I used to have thick curly hair and a perfect hairline. My hairline is god awful to put it mildly. All because of taking accutane for 9 days
started to notice it falling out on day 4-5, then ultimately decided to stop on day 9
Man, I still have this growing patch of hair loss right behind my widows peak, so I still have some hair in the widows peak but behind it is an obvious patch of hair loss. Why the hell out of all places does it have to do it here? It's going to look retarded if I cut my hair.
Accutane is really slowly screwing me over. It's like everything has gone so slowly that it hopes I don't notice or something. I swear I had no problem of hair loss here on my head a month ago and now it's like I just noticed it recently. I don't get it. At least let me lose hair normally at the temples and not some random patch above my widows peak. It better be Alopecia that regrows eventually.
I feel the same way, if I'm going to lose hair at least let it be normal... random thinning spots make me look fucking 
What topical steroid are you using?
Betamethasone 0.1%
I can't attest to its effectiveness for another 3 months, but it is mild enough that it will not kill your scalp like some stronger steroids.
My itchiness and scalp pain have gone away with the use of the steroid and the anti-histamine.
Matt
SClippers, I feel your pain bro, I really do. I started taking accutane on November 1, 2009. To give you a little background, I never had severe or even moderate acne, just a few pimples here and there (2 or 3 maybe), so very very mild. I am, or should i say was after the accutane ruined my life, an aspiring actor. A week into the tane my hair started to shed diffusely, I stayed on the tane for 2 more days (9 days total) before calling it quits. It is now July 1, 9 months after I started the tane and my hair is still shedding in large amount all with white clubs on the end. My hair is dead it seems, it is so thin and lifeless. I used to have insanely thick, curly hair, that all the girls were attracted to haha. Now I have lost atleast 40% of it and it continues to shed more by the day. I cant even do anything with it anymore, styling it just makes it look worse as you can see how thin it really is. My hairline has also receded quite a bit, especially around the temples. They are getting pretty bad....I'm starting to see the classic M or V shape with my hairline and it is making me more depressed by the day. By taking a pill for 9 days has really changed my life for the worse in so many ways. My confidence is completely shot and have fallen into major depression because of this. I am 21 years old, the prime of my life, with aspirations to be a hollywood actor and I am going bald! Is there any hope for me that this TE will pass in the near future (ie. 6 months or so) or should I just start shaving my head and accept the fact that I will lose hair for the rest of my life? If it does pass, will my hair grow back to its previous state? Just looking in the mirror everyday sickens me as does rubbing my head and seeing 5 hairs fall onto my piece of paper. I'm begging you guys for some input and advice, I'm practically on my knees at this point
You have to remain positive. This thing lasts a few years, and the first year is the toughest.
I took 40mg/day for 3 weeks, after a week I noticed my hair thinning at one temple. I went off voluntarily because I developed bad eczema and felt horrible. 3 months later on vacation in the carribean, my hair fell out immediately and a lot.
I can rub my head as we speak and have about 50+ hairs fall out in one shot on my desk. I shed about 200 hairs a day and its very depressing every time I see hairs in the shower, on my clothes and on my desk at work.
I am not convinced that Accutane induces MPB, I think if you already saw signs of MPB before Accutane, it will be worse during the period of time that you are shedding. But ultimately, if your hairs that grow back in long to be the same diameter as before, it is unlikely that it is MPB.
There is no doubt that your hair will get extremely thin, but if you take care of it the best you can, you defininately will not go bald.
I would not recommend shaving your head, you think you will feel better until you do it, then you will be stuck with a shaved head because your hair regrowing in thin will look worse.
I've grown my hair out from being short and spikey to about 6 inches long, it covers my scalp well and doesn't make it obvious that my hair has thinned out.
Over time you will get used to it and it won't feel so bad.
I was lucky enough to get depressed afterwords and thought my life was over.
Spending time with family and friends helped made me feel a lot better. Getting out and doing things to take my mind off of it.
If you are obsessive compulsive, as I am, it makes it all that much worse. You obsess over and over about your hair and then you start thinking about all kinds of things.
The best thing is to avoid looking at your hair in the mirror, and keep it out of your thoughts. It does nothing to help the problem obsessing over it and you will just get yourself more and more depressed.
Honestly, life is not about your hair, and there are people who have it a lot worse in this world and they don't get themselves down about it. There are people who have taken Accutane and have it a lot worse, imagine having irritable bowel disease, Lupus, etc..
Think positive and in time the problem will pass.
If you spend your timing watching hair grow your life will pass you by before you know!
Take care
Matt
I don't think hair regrows once it dies.
SClippers
Your hair will regrow. I'm not sure what you mean by it won't regrow once it dies. Hair itself is not living organic material.
Hair follicles can go dormant for indefinite amounts of time.
If you want to take an active role in recovering your hair, start by using some of the treatments suggested in this thread.
I would recommend Polytar shampoo and Nizoral Shampoo twice a week each on different days.
A good conditioner, I like the Emu Oil conditioner, because its soothing and adds volume to make your hair look thicker.
And a topical steroid such as Betamethasone can cause hair to grow after several months of use.
If you read through this thread, most people have recovered and never return.
You can only be patient my friend and stay positive. Even being depressed and stressed out can contribute to hair loss, so its in your best interest to stay positive.
The body has a remarkable ability to correct itself.
I had chronic asthma and eczema as a child, spent many years of my life on a respirator in the hospital and had cracks on my arms and hands so painful I would cry myself to sleep at night.
As I got older those disorders started to go away. Now, I have no symptoms of either and those days are forgotten memories.
One day soon the sadness you are feeling about your hairloss will go away and you will remember your experience but it will be nothing but a memory.
Hang in there!
Matt
I don't think hair regrows once it dies.
SClippers
Your hair will regrow. I'm not sure what you mean by it won't regrow once it dies. Hair itself is not living organic material.
Hair follicles can go dormant for indefinite amounts of time.
If you want to take an active role in recovering your hair, start by using some of the treatments suggested in this thread.
I would recommend Polytar shampoo and Nizoral Shampoo twice a week each on different days.
A good conditioner, I like the Emu Oil conditioner, because its soothing and adds volume to make your hair look thicker.
And a topical steroid such as Betamethasone can cause hair to grow after several months of use.
If you read through this thread, most people have recovered and never return.
You can only be patient my friend and stay positive. Even being depressed and stressed out can contribute to hair loss, so its in your best interest to stay positive.
The body has a remarkable ability to correct itself.
I had chronic asthma and eczema as a child, spent many years of my life on a respirator in the hospital and had cracks on my arms and hands so painful I would cry myself to sleep at night.
As I got older those disorders started to go away. Now, I have no symptoms of either and those days are forgotten memories.
One day soon the sadness you are feeling about your hairloss will go away and you will remember your experience but it will be nothing but a memory.
Hang in there!
Matt
Good post! Love the positivity. Thanks for the help. Can topical steroids be used as a sort of treatment to "jump start" the hair follicles again similar to what some people say minoxidil can do for Accutane-induced hair loss?
I don't think hair regrows once it dies.
SClippers
You can only be patient my friend and stay positive. Even being depressed and stressed out can contribute to hair loss, so its in your best interest to stay positive.
The body has a remarkable ability to correct itself.
I had chronic asthma and eczema as a child, spent many years of my life on a respirator in the hospital and had cracks on my arms and hands so painful I would cry myself to sleep at night.
As I got older those disorders started to go away. Now, I have no symptoms of either and those days are forgotten memories.
One day soon the sadness you are feeling about your hairloss will go away and you will remember your experience but it will be nothing but a memory.
Hang in there!
Matt
Reading that made me feel a little better but I'm still certain my hair will only get worse, I'm 22 and should be ugly and bald by the age of 25 with no female prospects whatsoever.
What do I do then? I'm going to die a depressed lonely man. Hair loss ruined my life and I'm partially serious.
Have I told I'm also experiencing sideburn hair loss? It's one thing for my hair to get thinner but my sideburns now?!
lol so I can't grow a beard and I can't grow any scalp hair. This can't be life.
I don't think hair regrows once it dies.
One day soon the sadness you are feeling about your hairloss will go away and you will remember your experience but it will be nothing but a memory.
Hang in there!
Matt
Hi Matt -- I just wanted to say that I love your positivity. I've spent the last week really depressed about my thinning hair. I keep telling myself that I just have to fight through this and know that I will be ok no matter what! It's nice to hear your encouragement and how you're dealing!
Amy
How is everyone holding up?? I know its hard people but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE STAY POSITIVE! it doesn't do anybody any good if your constantly down and depressed about your hair. its alot easier said than done i know. but everyone on this forum who is feeling down remember it not the end of the world. SClippers can i ask y u dont just shave your head?! shaved head looks good on most guys. i would love to shave my hair all off again like i did a month ago but i have recurring folliculitus on the back on my scalp which is quite painful. as soon as it gets better i might just shave my hair all off again. SClippers i really advise you to shave ALL your hair off, sideburns and all! you will look good unless yo have a funy shaped head or summin or wierd facial features lol but assuming you dont then BE A MAN AND GO FOR IT! 
can anybody out there give me some POSITIVE advise please. like i said before my hair is not shedding but the hair on the top of my head has significantly reduced than to what it was pre-tane. i dint notice any shedding ie no hairs on pillow etc but my Dr assumes i probably lost most hair in the shower. Since my hair is not shedding and my scalp feels normal should i be worrying? Do i need to do something? Im thinking about buying some minoxidil to get the hairs back but iv only been off accutane for 6 or 7 weeks. any advise out there?
i do have hope my hair will come back because most people on this forum have stopped posting after their hair has grown back. either that or they have realised hair loss is not such a big deal. keep your head up people and dont lose faith!
you guys still shedding? This is what I found, from Keratin.com, referenced study:
"This form of hair loss [i.e., Chronic Telogen Effluvium] is not permanent although Whiting reports it can last up to 72 months."
That's SIX YEARS! I am currently at mark 4 years STILL SHEDDING, but REGREW NEW HAIR!!! My center hair line went down and form new hair wow, but my temples are still receding and hair strands are so spaced out and less dense than what I originally had.
Edit: Quote is from http://www.keratin.com/ao/ao018.shtml