Help! :( Bald spot! Has anyone else experienced this?

[Raven85]

Hi guys,

I'm so distressed. I have recently discovered a bald spot on the top back of my head, thankfully it's just underneath where hair can still cover it. I was prescribed anti-fungal shampoo but it's gotten bigger. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

It feels smooth in an area the size of my finger in the middle and the rest feels like it's been shaved :S.

I'm so upset - I've been growing out my hair for the last four years. After lots of over-processing and bleaching I just stopped and it's just this year gotten healthy and it's almost completely virgin hair just passed my bra strap!

I think if it gets any bigger it will be noticeable as I have dark hair, how do I get around it without cutting my hair off?

[Madora]

Perhaps a visit to a trichologist (hair doctor) might prove helpful?

In the meantime, if you don't already, you might want to investigate using a silk pillowcase cover to protect your ends at night.

I'd also keep away from anything that constricts the hair..i.e. ponytails..or placing clips/hairsticks in the affected area.

You might want to try gentle scalp massage and stay away from anything potentially damaging..i.e. blow fryers, straighteners, curling irons, chemicals.

Good luck! I have thinning hair in two places and while I can camoflage it fairly well, it's a pain to deal with.

[Narya]

Something similar happened to me, but I knew the cause (even though I was too embarrassed to tell): trichotillomania. If I am stressed, I pull my hair out from the roots. It turns out I had eczema on that spot, too, and the doctors didn't even bother to go deeper than that (so they did not know about my trich). I suppose, then that it can happen with a simple eczema / fungal infection.

My spot was on what I understand yours is too: on the far back of my part, just before the point where my bones started to slope down. To hide it, I did a french braid: it was the only updo that worked. You say yours is still hidden naturally by your hair, so maybe you can find other hairstyles that work for you (mine was very visible). When hair was growing back, I had to just give up and accept I had a very teletubby-like curly antenna. Now, 5 years later, it is barely noticeable (unless on very bad-hair days, that there's a lock about shoulder length that acts up).

About the shampoo, I'd take into consideration for how long have you been using it. If it is fungal, could it be that the shampoo hasn't had enough time to work against it and that's why it still works?

Whatever it is, I hope you find a solution soon.

[Raven85]

I already use a silk pillowcase. I feel like I've been so good to my hair lately and then this happens. I oil it occasionally, only blow dry if completely necessary and don't wash it excessively. I wish it was only thinning, it's a circle of about an inch and a quarter completely bald!

[Raven85]

Ahhh 5 years it is 'barely noticeable'. I'm going to cry.

That sounds horrible! I don't think it is trick, unless I'm pulling my hair out at the same spot in my sleep and hiding it somewhere I don't know.

[Narya]

You would notice if it was trich, so I wouldn't worry about that. I certainly did know it, even if I was on denial at first ("me?? NoooOOoo! I never do thaaaat ")

I think I might have expressed myself not quite well with the "barely noticeable", so I'll try again. When the regrown hair was shorter, up until 8in or so, it curled a lot, and would stand up like an antenna. When it was finally lying down, it was way curlier than the rest, too, so you could easily tell that there was something going on there (a spiral curl out of nowhere? weird!). Now I'm at a point where I normally can't notice it even if I look for the lock of hair, unless I have a lot of frizz or static, and then there are more shorter hairs in that area. My scalp hasn't shown through since before the antenna curl days, though.

ETA: If you can see my signature pic, you can see a bit of what I mean. On the top-right part of my head (top- left corner of the image) you can see a slightly lighter spot, similar in color to the greenish background a bit higher up or close to my neck. That's how my spot showed 3 years ago (2 after the completely bald point) if I did not think about it at all while combing/brushing/braiding/etc.

[ktani]

Hi guys,

I'm so distressed. I have recently discovered a bald spot on the top back of my head, thankfully it's just underneath where hair can still cover it. I was prescribed anti-fungal shampoo but it's gotten bigger. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

It feels smooth in an area the size of my finger in the middle and the rest feels like it's been shaved :S.

I'm so upset - I've been growing out my hair for the last four years. After lots of over-processing and bleaching I just stopped and it's just this year gotten healthy and it's almost completely virgin hair just passed my bra strap!

I think if it gets any bigger it will be noticeable as I have dark hair, how do I get around it without cutting my hair off?

There is no reason to cut your hair off. I suggest that you go back to the doctor that prescribed the shampoo or as Madora suggested, see a tricologist for a second opinion and better medication. In the meantiime as she also suggested do not stress your hair, especially in that area more than you can.

When I had my hair short and layered, a too layered cut allowed me to see through to my scalp. Right now you can cover this. I would not try to self-treat it. You have to find out the cause and then remedy it. A dermatologist may be helpful too. Do not delay on this if it is getting worse and do not panic. It is most likely treatable.

[Raven85]

Thanks girls.

I will be going back to the docs. Might inquire about cortisone injections. I can't stand it. The worst thing about it is that I hate wearing my hair up. It's always down and it's already noticeable if there's not enough hair pulled over to cover it and I fear that it'll worsen.

[Quisquis]

Hi, Raven85 --

Are you worried that your hair loss may be due to alopecia areata? I have two family members with alopecia, and they were fortunate to find a specialist for treatment.

One thing I remember the doctor saying was to look at the root ends of your shed hair under magnification. If the hair is thinner toward that end and there is not a distinct root bulb, this is a possible indication of alopecia.

I just want to add that there are lots of effective treatment options for alopecia beyond cortisone. My family members had significant-to-full regrowth by applying DNCB in either aquaphor or propylene glycol topically. This treatment was experimental at the time (fifteen years ago or so); it may not be still available. In any event, I hope you find a good dermatologist who can help you discover what is going on.

Hugs and best wishes,

Quisquis

[louwulf]

I have a similar spot in the same area that's getting dangerously thin. Now that Madora mentions the hairclips etc. I'm wondering if that could be my problem as I do clip my hair up on most days since it is so fast.