im sorry but you really need to shut the fuck up and stop getting people all worked up and worried over hair loss! it is temporary and i am living proof of that fact! my hair is growing back and i stopped about 6 months ago. Yours will soon grow back if you would just stop worrying about it, stress actually makes the problem worse. So go out get a life and have fun and just don't think about it

Thanks!

This is one of a few various threatening messages, this one being from andrea17, that i've recieved on here recently because of our on going discussion. let me first and foremost say that in no way should we listen to these people and let them dictate our behaviors on this board. Despite what she and others have to say such as hockey guy etc these are our TRUE experiences that we are dealing with ourselves from the drug. If my hair loss wasn't true trust me I could think of lots of better things to do with my time than constantly post on a message board about it. Also, I'm not trying to overly worry or fear monger other people out of taking the drug, if people want to take accutane go ahead and take it i could care less. I come here to talk of others dealing with the same thing and to hopefully try to figure out an answer or get insight about what is currently going on with my hair. If nothing else, messages like this motivate me to post more and share my experience with others. Like I said before I really think what we are doing here is very important and it gives other people who may deal with accutane hair loss in the future or are concerned about it a base of experiences and insight to learn about it. It's something I wish was around for me at the current moment. So guys I think it's very important that we keep on posting and keep this up no matter what happens. Whether I go bald from accutane or regrow my hair I can promise you one thing for the next year of my life or as long as it takes I will make every effort to learn more about the subject and will keep posting on here.

Sincerly,

Evan

member of the accutane hair loss club

well said Evan, although at first i did not like how you used to post, i think you are much better these days and your just telling it how 99% of people in your position would.. My hair is still overall looking worse by the day, my shedding has been massive the last week and a half. Like you though i will not just piss off as soon as it stops or resolves, i will make sure people know what eventually happens to me, be it a year or several years down the line.

I don't think this is sad or whatever and i have a life that i would be perfectly happy in at the moment if it wasn't for a few things first and foremost being my hairloss!!

I just don't know anymore, guys. The problem I have is that the hair right above my hairline is diffusing away. And I wonder: is that hair supposed to disappear? And what will happen to my hairline?

I wrote to the author of the report about telogen effluvium I linked to a few pages ago. I just took a chance. And I asked:

"Hi

I wonder if this address still works and whether you have the patience to answer my question. I have telogen effluvium due to taking Accutane. Is this "pure" telogen effluvium, or is there another mechanism at work?

Thanks in advance,

Andy"

She (surprisingly) wrote back:

"It is a drug induced TE which can unmask an under lying Hereditary alopecia, prematurely.

Wilma Bergfeld, M.D.

The Cleveland Clinic"

I just have no idea what to think anymore.

OK, I've done some investigating this morning. About the "unmasking" problem. To "unmask" implies that we had already lost some hair before Accutane, but didn't notice. Then we lost some more hair due to Accutane, which compounded the previous loss, making it noticeable. I am including some great stuff to read, which was somewhat hard to find. Check this out:

http://books.google.com/books?id=shP_ZfPRr...Q#PRA1-PA147,M1

http://books.google.com/books?id=E5Sh4EgbX...KVdTmplfk7oAJus

Note that there's a difference between if you loss the hair right after you start taking the drug and if you lost it a few months after.

"Note that there's a difference between if you loss the hair right after you start taking the drug and if you lost it a few months after. "

The difference being what Andy?, i don't want to read the articles incase they bring me down lol...

"Note that there's a difference between if you loss the hair right after you start taking the drug and if you lost it a few months after. "

 

The difference being what Andy?, i don't want to read the articles incase they bring me down lol...

Ha! Yes, in fact I was reluctant to post them because I don't want to depress anyone.

Here is what is depressing about the article:

+ Hair growth is supposed to start immediately after shedding.

+ TE fully recovers unless AGA is in the mix.

Here is what is less depressing about the article:

+ Shedding that starts immediately after taking a drug means the drug affected the hair matrix.

+ Shedding that starts months after means the drug affected the hair cycle.

The articles also have pictures of people who got their hair back after losing hair at the front. It also confirms that TE usually takes place in the front of the scalp.

"Note that there's a difference between if you loss the hair right after you start taking the drug and if you lost it a few months after. "

 

The difference being what Andy?, i don't want to read the articles incase they bring me down lol...

 

Ha! Yes, in fact I was reluctant to post them because I don't want to depress anyone.

 

Here is what is depressing about the article:

 

+ Hair growth is supposed to start immediately after shedding.

+ TE fully recovers unless AGA is in the mix.

 

Here is what is less depressing about the article:

 

+ Shedding that starts immediately after taking a drug means the drug affected the hair matrix.

+ Shedding that starts months after means the drug affected the hair cycle.

 

The articles also have pictures of people who got their hair back after losing hair at the front. It also confirms that TE usually takes place in the front of the scalp.

 

i do not know if that's 100% true, because my derm had some women that experienced hair loss and didn't grow their hair back. perhaps accutane induced TE is different.

also, what does it mean if i started shedding 4 months into my treatment?

"Note that there's a difference between if you loss the hair right after you start taking the drug and if you lost it a few months after. "

 

The difference being what Andy?, i don't want to read the articles incase they bring me down lol...

 

Ha! Yes, in fact I was reluctant to post them because I don't want to depress anyone.

 

Here is what is depressing about the article:

 

+ Hair growth is supposed to start immediately after shedding.

+ TE fully recovers unless AGA is in the mix.

 

Here is what is less depressing about the article:

 

+ Shedding that starts immediately after taking a drug means the drug affected the hair matrix.

+ Shedding that starts months after means the drug affected the hair cycle.

 

The articles also have pictures of people who got their hair back after losing hair at the front. It also confirms that TE usually takes place in the front of the scalp.

 

 

i do not know if that's 100% true, because my derm had some women that experienced hair loss and didn't grow their hair back. perhaps accutane induced TE is different.

 

also, what does it mean if i started shedding 4 months into my treatment?

 

According to the article, that means that it is less likely that the cell mechanism of the hair was affected. Just the cycle, or the growing rate of the hair. But not the "hair matrix."

I dunno how old the article is, but a month or so ago i remember reading that shedding is not always caused by new growth pushing in, but explained that it can often be due to some other factor (this is only recently been discovered). so i dunno if growth should be seen straight away. Either way all i know is that i see regrowth (alot of it on the top of my head) not so much on my temples, but the growth on top of my head didn't appear anywhere near the begining of my hairloss so...

P.s. David has your hairloss still slowed significantly?

ok, so i just washed my hair. i lost around 20ish hairs. my mom says this is normal, but i'm still waiting to see less hair in my drain. my hair is longer than i've ever had it. (usually it's shaggy, but not really long) so who knows. i'm pleased that it's slowed, but i'd love to take a shower and lose 10 hairs tops. also, after showering my hair looks thicker and i still have a shitload of hair. perhaps i've had regrowth since my hair loss started, because you really can see no noticeable difference in my hair now and the way it was. i'll try to take some pictures to show.

Is it weird that I started noticing the hair loss after only 1.5 months of accutane? Most other people seem to notice it later on or months after treatment.

 

no i noticed shedding a little over two months into accutane once i jumped up to 40mg. the thing is though i wasn't that concerned cause i had a lot of hair to begin with and i only lost some hair in the shower around 10-15 and i heard it was temporary and that once you ended the medication it would stop. then with about a month left into the accutane my hair started coming out just everywhere and all and not just in the shower but throughout the day as well. I think there is a difference between the hair shedding which is medically induced by accutane than the TE that a lot of us are going through now. but yea the whole texture of my hair has changed and everything. however, and i do want to say this over the past week my hair loss has gotten a lot better. i'm only losing around 30 hairs a day now compared to the ton i was losing before. hope this helps.

 

Man actually i'm in the same place here as you are! I am sheding since november+- almost no regrowth at all... but now it comes down normaly as 30-40 hairs per one day for past two months, most of it in the shower also my hair thinned everywhere but of course mainly at my front area.. my front did not reced but my tempels thined the most! I'm pretty sure that is from accutane couse it was my not so smart derm who gave it to me for wery long time!! I'm scard couse many of accutane side efects are still presenting in me for the whole 7 months!

Is it weird that I started noticing the hair loss after only 1.5 months of accutane? Most other people seem to notice it later on or months after treatment.

 

no i noticed shedding a little over two months into accutane once i jumped up to 40mg. the thing is though i wasn't that concerned cause i had a lot of hair to begin with and i only lost some hair in the shower around 10-15 and i heard it was temporary and that once you ended the medication it would stop. then with about a month left into the accutane my hair started coming out just everywhere and all and not just in the shower but throughout the day as well. I think there is a difference between the hair shedding which is medically induced by accutane than the TE that a lot of us are going through now. but yea the whole texture of my hair has changed and everything. however, and i do want to say this over the past week my hair loss has gotten a lot better. i'm only losing around 30 hairs a day now compared to the ton i was losing before. hope this helps.

 

 

Man actually i'm in the same place here as you are! I am sheding since november+- almost no regrowth at all... but now it comes down normaly as 30-40 hairs per one day for past two months, most of it in the shower also my hair thinned everywhere but of course mainly at my front area.. my front did not reced but my tempels thined the most! I'm pretty sure that is from accutane couse it was my not so smart derm who gave it to me for wery long time!! I'm scard couse many of accutane side efects are still presenting in me for the whole 7 months!

 

Ron,

Which side effects are still present, in addition to the hair loss?

Dryness of eyes redness everywhere weird skin rush now and then.. my mouth and nose still dry and docs cant figure it out..

today finaly i was told that i should stop consuming vit A!

allso it was my third time taking accutane meybe 4.. I was so stupid i guess couse my acne was cleard at the first time and she gave me to counter any outbreak!

I also lost hair after my first time.. not so bad and it all regrew! now I'm Scared.

Dryness of eyes redness everywhere weird skin rush now and then.. my mouth and nose still dry and docs cant figure it out..

today finaly i was told that i should stop consuming vit A!

 

allso it was my third time taking accutane meybe 4.. I was so stupid i guess couse my acne was cleard at the first time and she gave me to counter any outbreak!

 

I also lost hair after my first time.. not so bad and it all regrew! now I'm Scared.

Where is the rash? Do you have any mouth sores?

Also, when you lost hair the first time around, how long did it take for it grow back!?

I lost IT two years ago meybe three... it took meybe half a year or a year but it wasn't that noticble.

And yes i do have un explained mouth sores with dryness(doc's tryed almost evrything).

damn it! in sunday i will begin my army service in the infantry:((was healthy guy a year ago!)

I lost IT two years ago meybe three... it took meybe half a year or a year but it wasn't that noticble.

And yes i do have un explained mouth sores with dryness(doc's tryed almost evrything).

damn it! in sunday i will begin my army service in the infantry:((was healthy guy a year ago!)

Ask the doctor about the possibility of lupus. Accutane can cause lupus, which causes mouth sores, poor circulation in your fingers, weird rashes, fatigue, joint pain, and hair loss.

I lost IT two years ago meybe three... it took meybe half a year or a year but it wasn't that noticble.

And yes i do have un explained mouth sores with dryness(doc's tryed almost evrything).

damn it! in sunday i will begin my army service in the infantry:((was healthy guy a year ago!)

Ron would you say your mouth sores are like ulcers, or are they different from that?

She(my new doc) suspected it but no it isn't it! she took blood tests and it ruled lupus out(today).

but i did get very cold hands and feet in the cold months.

I have no history of male pattern or female pattern baldness.. my dad thinned after 65 and still got hair(not much but it is not mpb)he is 69!.. my grendfathers died old with full grey hair.

Fuck my life pretty much lost after this(all this)...

ulcer? sorry I don't realy know what is it.. my seem like a cold! with dryness and almost no saliva but the thik gelly stuff(as in cold) my eyes sufferd some kind of chronic inflammation and tried many stuff that didn't work!..

sorry for my English I'm From other country..

My mouth ulcers have been becoming less and less as time goes on, one thing i have noticed is ive had a few again since i have been taking a hair and nails supp. I think i will be stopping this and i will let you all know what happens....

My mouth ulcers have been becoming less and less as time goes on, one thing i have noticed is ive had a few again since i have been taking a hair and nails supp. I think i will be stopping this and i will let you all know what happens....

my problems also seem to be self limiting as it gets better with time.. I'm afraid of my hair and realised my stupid new derm gave me retin-A gel! which I am using after stopped accutane! damn it stupid docs..(accept my perents)

I also dont want to lose my medical profile as I mediclally skipped some SF classification tests couse of the so calld "cold".(again i was a healthy guy when i got my army exmes done).

well my hair loss behaves as your hair loss! so I'm in the club! hopefully we all will get our hair and health back as the retinoids leave our system! also biotin helps! i got some regrowth that was thick and darker then the original hair i lost.. but nevertheless i still can't see substantial regrowth!

Ron,

How much hair did you lose the first time you lost it? And you really can't remember if it was 6 months or a year?

Ron,

 

How much hair did you lose the first time you lost it? And you really can't remember if it was 6 months or a year?

I can't remember sorry but it was like no more than 10-20% overall...

now i lost something like 50%/60% couse the shedding was bad for the first 5-6 months.. my hair looks just like that 29 year old female in that book that was mentiond!

strangly my skin is very noticeable around my ears and i find there also many Telogen hair!(not usual in mpb)..

i noticed the hairs that have been falling out on me have continuesly gotten finer and thinner. Like the hairs i was losing two monthes ago were much thicker.Anybody else notice this?Is this MPB?

i noticed the hairs that have been falling out on me have continuesly gotten finer and thinner. Like the hairs i was losing two monthes ago were much thicker.Anybody else notice this?Is this MPB?

Are they shorter, too? I have a few theories about the finer hairs you see falling. One is that it could be MPB. Another is that the Accutane didn't just stop the hair growing all at once. It reduced each hair follicle's ability to keratinize well, i.e, it hampered the follicle's ability to build the hair. So that finer hairs are actually hairs that were beginning to grow just as you started taking the drug. If that makes sense.

i noticed the hairs that have been falling out on me have continuesly gotten finer and thinner. Like the hairs i was losing two monthes ago were much thicker.Anybody else notice this?Is this MPB?

 

Are they shorter, too? I have a few theories about the finer hairs you see falling. One is that it could be MPB. Another is that the Accutane didn't just stop the hair growing all at once. It reduced each hair follicle's ability to keratinize well, i.e, it hampered the follicle's ability to build the hair. So that finer hairs are actually hairs that were beginning to grow just as you started taking the drug. If that makes sense.

 

It does make sense. I'm too losing bunch of hairs some are thick black(TE regrowth couse my hair is lighter and thinner than that usualy) some are mine and some are samller thinner (all from the same place if i pool them).

my doc (not derm) said it as well may regrow couse i do have many possible TE trigers in my past 6 months so it should take time.