Category: Hair Loss Causes

Hi Dr.
I’m a 20 year old male and a type 1 diabetic. I’ve been type 1 for 5 years since 15. Since diagnosis, I have never taken care of myself, at all! my blood sugars were terrible for 5 years (denial of diabetes) and my hair is receding also.

I was wondering if constant bad blood sugars would cause hair loss?

The most important thing here is to take care of yourself.

At 20 years old, it wouldn’t be surprising if your genes were just as responsible for your hair loss as your diabetes. In other words, you could very well have diabetes along with genetic hair loss. Diabetes is a systemic disease and it can impact all parts of your body if you leave it untreated. See a good hair doctor so that you can find out what is going to happen to your hair and what you are going to do about it.

I think I’m suffering from CTE, without any obvious triggers. I’m 30 years old. Only on my fathers side is there a history of hair loss, which for all the males started after age 50.

A year ago I had two back-to-back surgeries, and several months later noticed shedding and that my hair was noticeably thinner. Thinking TE, I decided to let it run its course. 8 months later I decided to get an evaluation as although the shedding had abated, I wasn’t seeing visible improvement. Under a microscope the levels of miniaturization were found to be well under 10% across my scalp. However, the hair count on the top was noticeably less.

The hair-pull was positive (I had washed that morning) and I got an HMI reading of 84 on my vertex. The next month I saw a massive shedding increase and went in for another check. HMI then 59, exactly 2 months later – a 30% drop. Miniaturization was still found to be low. Neither that hair specialist nor a dermatologist could offer anything other than CTE. However, other than the dandruff I’ve had most of my life (which has been under control, although it flared in that 2 month period), I haven’t had any other stressors. I recently had blood work for iron, thyroid, CRP, and autoimmune markers: all clean. At the suggestion of both doctors I started minoxidil to help “kick start” the growth. However, the CTE (if it is) without an obvious trigger is worrisome.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, as I’ve read there are several alopecias that can mimic both CTE and AG

Chronic telogen effluvium (CTE) has no cure. Sometimes minoxidil works and this is frequently recommended by many doctors. You may have to just wait it out.

Hello,

I am curious about something. I have read several of your blog entries where you write something like “if at this age somebody doesnt look like pattern X, fully advancing to pattern Y seems unlikely”. I would consider myself looking like Norwood 1, perhaps a bit from 2. I have to completely pull back my hair to notice a tiny hint of a corner recession, and I have had that since I was 17 (I am 29 now). Men from the mother’s side all have full hair, men from the father’s side tend to start balding. However, my father started to bald at something like 23, and never had hair as strong as mine. On top of that, I can still see a few (rather thick) hairs left from what used to be my juvenile hairline (which was really low).

Now, I know a definitive needs to be done with scalp mapping and bulk measurement, but statistically, with the hair status I have, how likely is it that my final pattern will be norwood 3 or higher?

At the age of 29, I can not tell you what is going to happen to you over the next 10 years. It’s possible the tiny bit of corner recession you see is actually just a matured hairline. Without photos, I have no way to know what you’re seeing. I don’t have a statistic to give you, but it is possible to remain a Norwood class 1 for years.

The best way to estimate what will happen to you is to look at your family pattern. If neither side has balding and you are presently a Norwood 1, then it would be likely that you will remain without any significant loss for years. But since your father’s side has some balding, you very well could have the genes. That said, I wouldn’t worry about unless you start to see some thinning.

Dear Dr Rassman

I am a 19 year old who has had temple recession since the age of 17. I am a norwood 3 with a strong window peak (My right temple has a larger bald surface area than the left). I have the following questions.

1) Do happiness and relaxation levels have anything to do with triggering hair loss?

2) I am very conscious of my hair thinning, and sometimes have slight sensations in my head when I think my hair line is receding, is this possible or could this all be triggered by anxiety?

3) My hair line is definitely not symmetrical. If someones balding is only a norwood 3 and not higher, does it have to be symmetrical, or can people stabilize at norwood 3 have unsymmetrical hair lines for the rest of their lives?

thank you for your help

Stress is a cause of hair loss. So if you’re stressed, you’re not going to be relaxed. In that sense, they are related. As for the sensations you feel at your hairline, I’d guess it was probably anxiety.

The fact that your hairline is asymmetrical indicates that the lower side will rise to the level of the higher side eventually. The higher side may also rise.