Hey, guys. I just stumbled across this forum and figured I would introduce myself and attempt to obtain some info about hair loss. This is all fairly new to me. I'm 27 years old, and Im not sure what's causing me to seemingly lose my hair. After being overweight as a teen I have embraced a healthier lifestyle for almost ten years. A few years back I noticed a widows peak developing but didn't worry about it too much as my father has the same hairline but still has a nice head of hair. My brothers also have excellent hair. Ive had a cowlick since childhood which has made the hair on my crown part and hard to manage. A few months back a friend of mine began to razz me about having a "monkey patch" and it was at that point I began to worry. I asked my barber and he said it was just my crown; it's funny because some days it's hardly noticeable. Yesterday, my friend snapped some photos of me and it appeared as if I had a full blown bald spot. Needless to say, I felt as if someone kicked me in the stomach.
I guess what I'm getting at is, what steps should I undertake to diagnose my hair loss and then what preventative steps should I take to prevent any further hair loss? Preferably, I would like to try an herbal or dietary remedy before undertaking a more rigorous medical route. I consulted a dermatologist but 125 dollars and 5 minutes later I was told I could try rogaine.
I can't see the problem being dietary as I eat a higher protein diet consisting of eggs, egg whites, whole grains, and other lean protein sources such as chicken breast and lean beef. I did recently go through a bad breakup which was high stress and quite depressing. During this time I also hit the gym pretty hard and gained a bit of muscle.
Perhaps a consultation with a specialist would be prudent before I purchase any products which could lead to more hair loss. I would appreciate any input and advice you guys could lend me. Thanks in advance!
-Jonathan