PATIENT 1

Dear EBHF Participant,

I am a 20 year old female. I have been experiencing hair loss for around 8 months now. It came on very suddenly. Some triggers I had before the hair loss started were - extreme stress that last 1 year and a half. Taking omeprazole about 2 months before hair loss started which then caused an issue with B12. My levels were at 150. All other aspects of the blood tests were okay. I also moved countries for university. My hair loss did not progress slowly, I was and am loosing handfuls of hair everyday. After a couple of months I went to a dermatologist who told me based on my story and amount of hair I’m loosing and after looking at my scalp that I have TE.

They decided to then do a scalp biopsy. The results came back with androgenic alopecia- however they could not explain why as it did not match up with the examination. I then decided to go see a trichologist. After examination they stated that I have TE and that I don’t have any signs of AGA. About 3 months into my hair loss I started 5% minoxidil and the dread shed was awful. It never slowed down and within the 3 months I lost about 25% more of my hair density.

After consultation with the trichologist (this was now my 6th month of hair loss) I was told to stop the minoxidil. Stopping it didn’t increase shedding- it’s starting to return closer to the rate it was at before the minoxodil.

I am now at a point where I am very confused.

How is it possible to get a biopsy that says AGA but after examination from trichologists and dermatologist they say it looks like TE? It would be great to hear your opinion. Thank you.

I am 20 years old and have diffuse hair thinning. My shedding is around 150-200 hairs a day. Currently on the birth control pill however used to have the Mirena IUD coil which was removed incase it was causing hair loss. Also used to be on omeprazole which was stopped two months into the hair loss.