I am a 61 year old male sudden hair shedding

I had a thin spot on the crown when I was 31 this was after a divorce. I grew back in. My hair was thinning somewhat at the temples.

In 2010 I still had long hair in the back and sides and in the front.

Since that time I was washing my hair in the sink and saw some gathered hairs in the drain, I didn't pay that much attention to this because my hair looked the same.

Since 2006 after losing a job and not being able to find another I was under constant stress, mental stress.

Suddenly about 4 months ago I noticed more hair coming out from the back , all they way down to the collar . I had my wife cut the back and since then I can see the old longer hairs with the cut end falling out lossing bulk in the back and the sides.

Right after this sudden shed began I got itching that would come and go and tiny white flakes and much more hair falling out.

In the beginning of Jan 2011 the hair was falling less and I could see new short hairs here and there. Then a few months later I became ill had a fever and the chills this lasted a week and now in mid April 2011 the shedding increased once again.

I have no idea what is happening other than the loss is causing more stress.

As I said most of the hairs shedding are older longer hairs, since the hair was cut two months ago I still have about half the old cuts hairs in place but I do lose some 4 inch hairs that were not cut and even the hairs which are not really on the scalp but at the neck line the hairs one would normally shave off as neck hair not scalp hair.


The shedding subsided the increased now in the last few days had slowed a bit yet has not stopped.

I resist scratching at all, the itch will sometime be in one spot anywhere at anytime.

I have never shed hair like this before.

My wife feels it is all due to mental stress and I now hate to even comb my hair I hate to see the hairs fall but I wash it everyday and now use a shampoo with no sulfates which did reduce the oilyness I always had and my hair has always been fine like a dogs hair in texture.

I have read that TE hairs have a white bulb at the end, mine are white bulbs, and other sites claim they have a black bulb , my wifes shed hairs have white bulbs.

I am lost and stressed and need some advice. I have not seen a doctor because I can't afford one. The more I read about TE and MPB the more lost and confused I become.

Editor’s Comments,

Hello there. I am really sorry about your present condition but I am sure that everything will be fine sooner or later. Just take it easy.

Based on what you have mentioned, it’s pretty hard for me to suggest what kind of hair loss condition that you are having so the best way is really to get a professional medical opinion of your condition.

If you don’t mind you can drop Dr. Ivan a mail with some pictures of your scalp to see whether he can offer you some opinion on your hair condition. All the best.