Hair shedding, NOT MALE PATTERN BALDNESS

by Oz

First off, I'm a healthy, 21 year old male. It all started when I began losing weight. I stopped eating much of the fattier foods I used to enjoy on a regular basis. I started running, going to the gym, and restricted my diet so that I was suddenly on whole grains, fruit, and boiled chicken.

Within a month I went from 165 lbs (I'm roughly 6'1) to 145 lbs. The hair loss however, started very quickly. Maybe a week or two into this whole fiasco. I started shedding hair in the shower, anytime I brushed my hair, and at night (I'd notice hair follicles on my pillow). In the shower, I'd lose as much as 100 follicles at a time. I noticed these strange dandruff looking flakes coming out so I researched it and thought it was one of two things – Seborrheic Dermatitis or Psoriasis.

I started using coal tar and Salicylic acid. The flakes lessened however the hair loss remained the same. At times a lot of hair would fall out. At times, not much would fall out. I've visited 4 different dermatologists, gotten a biopsy, blood work done, and my weight and diet are back to normal.

My hair is STILL shedding and it's been about 3 years. My hair has considerably thinned at the crown and it is not male pattern baldness (this has been agreed by all dermatologists).

It is extremely frustrating and I have NO idea who to turn to as this has not even been diagnosed yet. It may be Telogen effluvium however I do not think you develop flaky looking things on your scalp and it tends to end within a couple of months.