[communityaccount]

I'm a 23 year-old female and it seems like I might be slowly losing my hair. Although it is not visible, I frequently grab my hair into a ponytail with one hand and I keep thinking that the ponytail is getting smaller.

I graduated from university last June and have been working full-time since then, so I have been stress-free since university. It wouldn't make sense to lose hair now that I'm out of school. I work at an office job which is not stressful, in case you're wondering if it's the job that's causing stress.

It all started when I discovered a bald patch on the side of my head in late November. I think it might be about an inch long. That's when I started becoming anxious and started becoming obsessed with the amount of hair that I have (by grabbing my hair into a ponytail with one hand). I thought it might be due to the fact that I pick my scalp (I am a guilty obsessive scalp picker) but it seems like a pretty big bald spot so I don't think I could have picked that big of an area on my scalp. I did a bit of Google searching. I'm kind of scared that it might be alopecia areata (an autoimmune disease where your immune system attacks its own tissue causing bald spots). But then again, I try to reassure myself that it only affects 2% of the population.

Being an obsessive scalp picker, I am guilty of constantly running my fingers through my hair to find something to pick at. Usually it's a dry "grain" of either fat or protein at the root where the hair meets the scalp (I have no idea what the name is). I try to find ways to stop myself from picking, like wearing a hairband and sticking a tiny Stop sign on my desk to remind myself to stop.

I've been finding a lot of dry "grains" on my scalp along the hairline of my forehead and temples and as I pull them out, sometimes the hair comes out too. I noticed (if I look really hard and close-up in the mirror) that my temples and forehead are slightly more exposed afterward. Honestly, it's so hard to stop running my fingers through my hair/scalp picking!

I suffer from anxiety and perfectionism, so that probably explains the scalp picking. Since my pre-teen years, I had a lot of hair. I don't know if I'm imagining this hair loss because I'm no longer in school thus I have more time on my hands to keep feeling/touching my hair. I keep worrying if I keep losing my hair to the point that it's noticeable.

Could it be hormonal? I had blood work done last May (because I've always had irregular periods) and I have higher levels of androgens (male hormones) than normal. I'm going to see an endocrinologist next week so I'm hoping to get answers.

Sorry for rambling on with no rhyme or reason. I'm getting anxious over this and I don't want to lose more hair from stress and anxiety.

Thank you.

[splitimage]

Have your iron levels tested. I was loosing a lot of hair, and freaking out about it, and my Dr. checked my iron. My blood work came back extremely low in Ferritin. I've been taking a high dose supplement since then, and it's at least stopped the hair loss, but it hasn't started to grow back yet.

splitimage

[sriracha]

I agree with splitimage about checking your iron, and perhaps Vitamin B as well. If you do (and you really should) go to an endocrinologist to talk about hormones, see if they can check your thyroid as well. They might be hesitant to because you're so young, but I am 22 and have had an autoimmune thyroid condition since I was a kid, and what you're describing sounds like what happened to me when I first got alopecia a few years ago (related to thyroid issues), which was a single dime-sized bald area that gradually spread outwards. I can totally relate to the fear, it's pretty nerve-wracking to watch. The good news though is you're recognizing it early, and so there is a lot more you can do at this stage with medical and cosmetic treatments, especially if it's only a nutrient deficiency that you could take supplements for. Talking to a hairdresser might help too because they know about hair-regrowing shampoos and other products (and can sometimes get you a discount!) But seriously, just focus on right now and don't let yourself react until you have an actual diagnosis, if there is one, because it's probably not a sign of a horrible disease or something. Even if it is alopecia, most people do not lose all their hair, and something like 80 or 90% regrow it within 6-12 months.