Terrified I caused damage to my hair!

LegacyUser

I'm a male (20) and I used to have long hair, which I styled in a ponytail for at least 3 years. After getting it cut short I noticed that there was a small bald patch up on the left corner of my brow area (just on the edge where hair would normally start receding from). Strange thing is, the other side does not have this and is really well filled in. The location of the small bald patch on the left side makes it look like my hair is receding while looking at me from that side, which it can't be.

I'm convinced I completely killed the hair roots in that small area due to my constant wearing of very tight ponytails..

I have read about tight hair styles causing this, but apparently the hair is supposed to recover and grow back after stopping the tension. Thing is I have had my hair cut short now for over half a year and that little patch is still there!!

I'm extremely upset and stressed out over this and I'm wondering if anyone knows if/when this bald patch will fill in again! Or is this permanent!?

up for anything

If you look up [URL="http://www.google.ie/search?hl=en&q=traction+alopecia&aq=0&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=traction+alope&gs_rfai=]traction alopecia[/URL] you will find lots of information but beware of snake oil cures.

LegacyUser

up for anything wrote: »

If you look up [URL="http://www.google.ie/search?hl=en&q=traction+alopecia&aq=0&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=traction+alope&gs_rfai=]traction alopecia[/URL] you will find lots of information but beware of snake oil cures.

Thanks, but I have already done research on that. Seems to be a lot of conflicting information on whether or not it's permanent or reversible, which is what is frustrating me. As my hair grows, it becomes less noticeable but I prefer it very short.

Here are some photos of the area (both sides for comparison):





I'd appreciate if people could tell me honestly if that looks odd and if the affected side (second pic) resembles a receding hairline. Thanks.

up for anything

I know it's easy for me to say but from the photos it doesn't look too bad. You didn't say how long it's been since you stopped wearing the pony tail. I would give it 4-6 months before getting too stressed as stress wouldn't help anyway. In the meantime you could try taking some hair nutrition vitamins and doing a bit of local massage to get the blood flowing well.

My son suffered from Alopecia Areata five years ago before his First Communion. I ended up taking him to a nutritionist in Dublin at the Holistic Healing Centre in Dame St. and he put him on a number of supplements (A, B, Calcium and Halibut Liver oil capsules). His hair grew back within about three months but then according to the doctor it might well have done so anyway.

Taltos

OP - as someone who has receding hair from something similar to you - let me honestly say - Chill - from your photos - looks perfectly fine - you sure your not fishing for compliments

Your hair looks fine - and stressing about it will just make your life hell.
Wish mine was even a small bit like yours

Just keep your hair healthy - don't overdo any treatments, maybe treat yourself to a scalp massage from your local barbers. And try not to focus on it as much - unfortunately our hair continues to change as we get older, I used to obsess on how it was shedding - now I am alot more ok with it - keep it at a blade 1, neat and tidy - don't even have to brush it.

Am I happy that it is receding? No - but I have learnt to accept it for what it is - and am happier in myself for doing so.

From what I know of traction alopecia, it mainly affects women who wear their hair in those really tight braids for years on end, it should be difficult to ever be able to tie your pony tail up so tight to cause this! Though I only know what I've read about types of alopecia online. It might be very noticable to you, but totally honest, it looks absolutely fine!

LegacyUser

up for anything wrote: »

I know it's easy for me to say but from the photos it doesn't look too bad. You didn't say how long it's been since you stopped wearing the pony tail. I would give it 4-6 months before getting too stressed as stress wouldn't help anyway. In the meantime you could try taking some hair nutrition vitamins and doing a bit of local massage to get the blood flowing well.

My son suffered from Alopecia Areata five years ago before his First Communion. I ended up taking him to a nutritionist in Dublin at the Holistic Healing Centre in Dame St. and he put him on a number of supplements (A, B, Calcium and Halibut Liver oil capsules). His hair grew back within about three months but then according to the doctor it might well have done so anyway.

Well I got it all cut off about 8 months ago, so it's been without that tension for quite a while now.. Thing is I did noticed other areas of my hairline change a bit a few months after getting it cut, like the front tip of my fringeline coming forward a bit (growing some more hair further forward).

I used to tie my hair very tight though and made a huge amount of effort to do so everyday as I was self conscious of my head size.

I just desperately want both sides to be symetrical (ie. normal). When I look in the mirror I can't help but notice I look older from the affected side compared to the normal side..

If this is here to stay then I think I will have no choice but to change to longer cuts where the patch is almost invisible. Shorter cuts last longer though so it's a real pain.

Or the other option is to spend a lot more and go back to the hairdresser I used to go to..

Taltos

OP - one other thing to try is to talk to your GP about how you feel.
I know --- but the reason I am suggesting this is that very few people have symmetric heads - normally one side is different to another. Eyes will be at different levels, angles, eyebrows will not match, ears slightly off - it goes on.

The fact that you are obsessing on this - might mean that you just need to talk to someone to learn how to accept how you actually are. I do not doubt that the hair change shocked you - but maybe it has triggered a condition that you need guidance from a medical professional on.

LegacyUser

Taltos wrote: »

OP - one other thing to try is to talk to your GP about how you feel.
I know --- but the reason I am suggesting this is that very few people have symmetric heads - normally one side is different to another. Eyes will be at different levels, angles, eyebrows will not match, ears slightly off - it goes on.

Yes I know but that bald patch is not natural so I do not see it as part of how I am. I just feel so depressed thinking that I caused this. I did this to myself and if I hadn't been so blind and stupid my hair would be as it's supposed to be.

Irish Guitarist

I also recently had long hair in a ponytail which I got cut off. My situation was kind of the reverse, I noticed a bald patch before I had it cut. About a year and a half ago I lost a small patch of hair which subsequently grew back, although when it grew back it was grey (which is better than no hair). Obviously the regrown hair was shorter than the rest of my hair and wouldn't tie back so I decided to get it cut last week.

I lost the patch because of stress. Maybe that's your problem too? Are you worried about anything? (that's a rheterocical question, I'm not asking for an answer). I also think ponytails do damage but hopefully now that your hair is short it will be healthier. I'm no expert but I think male pattern baldness usually starts at the back of the head.

Irish Guitarist

I just noticed the photos you uploaded. The 'bald' patch is barely noticeable. I think everyone with shaved hair has something like that. I know I did when I got my hair shaved when I was a teenager. I bet if you look at anyone elses head who has shaved hair you'll notice a short patch or two.

Adamisconfused

Perhaps, it's the start of your adult hairline. You're at the right age for it to recede a little.
http://www.baldingblog.com/2006/10/06/juvenile-vs-mature-hairline-am-i-going-bald-with-photos/


Anyway, if those photos are accurate and show the worst of it, then you have nothing to worry about. Honestly, I doubt anyone would even notice it unless you brought it to their attention.

LegacyUser

Adamisconfused wrote: »

Perhaps, it's the start of your adult hairline. You're at the right age for it to recede a little.
http://www.baldingblog.com/2006/10/06/juvenile-vs-mature-hairline-am-i-going-bald-with-photos/


Anyway, if those photos are accurate and show the worst of it, then you have nothing to worry about. Honestly, I doubt anyone would even notice it unless you brought it to their attention.

But if it was natural receding then surely it would be apparant on both sides, not just the one? I have never heard of anyone have their hair recede on just one side.

My father had a full thick head of hair up until his mid forties or thereabouts and although he's thining now, it's occuring only in the center of his head. I'd be horrified to find I'm starting to thin out at my age!!

The patch is not noticeable at all once my hair reaches the length of about half an inch, I think it's very noticeable at it's current length though. Also I can't be certain, but I think I can feel a slight lump in the bald area.

Irish Guitarist, thanks for your input, you seem to have been in a similar situation.

Taltos

No.28 wrote: »

But if it was natural receding then surely it would be apparant on both sides, not just the one? I have never heard of anyone have their hair recede on just one side.

Mine receded faster on one side - where I used to part it when younger.

Did it freak me out - absolutely. Luckily I came to the stage where I no longer obsessed about it and now accept that I am going bald. Saved me a fortune on those lotions and things and now I keep my hair short - blade 1 to 2 max. Even cut it myself with one of those new hand-held shavers.

Have you asked your GP if this is natural or if you can do anything?
Or even for a referral to a specialist?
The risk of getting input from all of us - is that while we may have had similar things happen - that does not mean it is exactly the same for you.

Adamisconfused

No.28 wrote: »

But if it was natural receding then surely it would be apparant on both sides, not just the one? I have never heard of anyone have their hair recede on just one side.

My father had a full thick head of hair up until his mid forties or thereabouts and although he's thining now, it's occuring only in the center of his head. I'd be horrified to find I'm starting to thin out at my age!!

The patch is not noticeable at all once my hair reaches the length of about half an inch, I think it's very noticeable at it's current length though. Also I can't be certain, but I think I can feel a slight lump in the bald area.

Irish Guitarist, thanks for your input, you seem to have been in a similar situation.

On the link I gave you, it states, "This maturing process occurs between 17 and 29 years of age and it is not uncommon to find one side go up faster than the other side".
"The mature hairline is about 1/2 to 3/4th inch higher in the middle than where the youthful hairline is and as one moves away from the midline to the corners of the hairline, the gap between the mature hairline location and the youthful hairline location is slightly over 1 inch, changing the overall shape of the hairline to its characteristic ‘V’ shape."

It doesn't necessarily mean this is happening to you, but it is one possibility. If you're that concerned then follow the advice of Taltos and get a second opinion from a hair specialist. There are several hair transplant doctors in Dublin who can tell you whether it is balding, a mature hairline or something else.
BTW, I wouldn't consider you to be in anyway balding, if you're concerned at it being mentioned. There isn't any serious signs of that quite yet.

LegacyUser

Taltos wrote: »

Mine receded faster on one side - where I used to part it when younger.

Did it freak me out - absolutely. Luckily I came to the stage where I no longer obsessed about it and now accept that I am going bald. Saved me a fortune on those lotions and things and now I keep my hair short - blade 1 to 2 max. Even cut it myself with one of those new hand-held shavers.

Have you asked your GP if this is natural or if you can do anything?
Or even for a referral to a specialist?
The risk of getting input from all of us - is that while we may have had similar things happen - that does not mean it is exactly the same for you.

But I just can't accept that I am going bald when it just isn't in my genes. The men on my mothers side all have a full head of hair now in their 50's. And apart from my dad, most of the men in his family also have good hair.

I do plan to see my doctor soon, but even after that I don't think I'll know much more than I do now. I think it may just be something nobody can explain and I'll have to play the dreaded waiting game.

Right now best case scenario to me is that it just remains in this state.

Supercell

Op, I recently cut my hear really short and was shocked to see two completely bald patches on either side of my head above my ears. They were not small either, I was shocked and they looked really weird.
I eventually realised that i was unconsciously scratching my scalp there when I was concentrating on something. I was convinced I had damaged the roots and i was going to be bald there forever!
That was about two months ago.
I made a concious decision to stop that scratching habit and eventually really fine hair started to grow back.
Then the odd dark hair and by now its completely filled in.
So i reckon its highly unlikely its permanently bald, are you sure you are not just poking and rubbing the bald patches too much? I had to try really really hard to not even touch them!