19 years old and losing my hair

[sammibaby123]

I'm a 19 year old female and I'm losing my hair. It's depressing me extremely and I don't know what to do about it. It's not like bald spots or anything, its just thinning and getting shorter everywhere. It started around December 2009 and isn't getting any better. Its scaring me, and I haven't felt good about the way I have looked in months. I don't know what to do, or what is causing it.

[meniere135]

Also when you go to the doctor, make sure he checks your thyroid and a serum ferritin level.  Also have the doctor check your hormone levels, especially free testosterone.  Take inventory of your recent past:  Any birth control started or stopped, weight loss, tendency for obesity, stress in the three months before the hairloss started,  acne, hair where there shouldn't be hair on a female.  There are many things to consider.  If the hairloss runs in the family, it's possible you just inherited the hormonal imbalance that leads to it. Sometimes this can be dealt with.  Hang in there.  I'm in the process of trying to find the answers for my three kids who have inherited a diffuse hair loss pattern from their dad.   If you would like to ask me questions, just leave me a note.  Good luck!

[MDGreaves]

Hm, I know it must be hard for you, but don't stress out yourself, stress can also be the cause of you losing hair or probably it's genetic. Speak to your doctor about it.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms telogen effluvium needs to be ruled out. It is nonscarring alopecia characterized by diffuse hair shedding, often with an acute onset. There is a chronic form also which persists for a longer duration and starts with insidious onset. Chronic telogen effluvium is hair shedding lasting longer than 6 months. Treatment consists of medications like Minoxidil, surgical approach(hair transplantation) and improvement in diet.

My sincere advice is to consult a trichologist. It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.