I think I may be losing my hair, I'm scared!

**prettylights** · 02-02-2012 09:30 AM

I'm 23 years old. I have always had fine, thin hair. I was born this way (as Gaga would say). Both of my parents have thin hair. One of my grandfathers had alopecia. So I guess it's just genetic. But now, I think I'm losing what little nature gave me!

Lately I've found many hairs after I shower or when I comb. I figured it's normal, since doctors say it's normal to lose up to 100 hairs a day. But today, after my shower, I was moving my hair around, and suddenly I had approximately 10 hairs that came out all together in that moment alone. I kept pulling my hair gently and more and more hairs fell off. I lost approximately 20 hairs right there! I don't know how many I lost during the shower, nor how many I lost when I combed... but in that moment right out of the shower I lost like 20!

I told my mom and she said "That's not normal, go to the dermatologist". But I'm scared they'll just tell me it's genetic (which is most likely) and tell me to try Minoxidil and hope for the best. I feel like this is a cruel joke! I'm too young to lose my hair!!! Especially since I try to take the best care I can, I comb it really gently, I never blow dry, perm, flat iron or dye...

I don't have PCOS. I have insulin resistance, but I know many women with insulin resistance, PCOS plus thyroid problems and they have incredibly thick, healthy hair. My hair *looks* healthy too, it's all shiny and soft, but now apparently it's falling.

I don't know what to do. I mean, I will go to the dermatologist, but I'm so scared of being told there is no solution. I don't know how I'll cope afterwards. I don't wanna wear wigs or other types of hair replacement!! I wish I could just shave it all, but then people would look weird at me, and I'd probably never get a job or a boyfriend. Nobody likes bald women. I don't think this is stress related either, since I had a stressful year, but now all the stress is over so I shouldn't be losing hair! I'm just too scared, and I'm angry that there is no solution, no cure. This just isn't fair!

How can I accept and cope with this situation?

It's heartbreaking!!

**CrystalChord** · 03-07-2012 11:18 PM

I've heard you can naturally lose up to 100 strands of hair a day. What you might want to check out is your thyroid. My mother and sister have hypothyroid (one that is low-acting), and one of the symptoms is hair thinning and fall-out. You can go to the dermatologist as well, but I think a workup for checking your thyroid might help as well, even if it ends up not being the case.

**Cyndie32** · 03-08-2012 06:52 AM

There are numerous things that can contribute to hair loss. I was starting to lose my hair in a triangle shape near my temples. I was almost bald there and I am only 44. I went to my primary care physician and she took a blood test to check numerous things. Could be low protein, low zinc to name a few. My tests came back showing that nothing was wrong. I, like you, had also had a very stressfull year. The doctor suggested that I take 1000 mg of biotin a day, only wash my hair every other day, and when I do wash it, to use a all natural shampoo that has no added chemicals (I got it from my hair dresser). It has been 2 and a half months and the hair is growing back ever so slowly. The baby hairs are about an inch or two long now. There is hope. I think you should start with your primary care physcian and get a total physical and blood work. I understand your worry, trust me but you need to investigate the problem, not just give up and accept that you are going bald. Hang in there.