Hair thinning above ears and neck line

[hdude46]

It seems I'm experiencing some thinning above my ears/sideburns area and around my neckline. The hair there is getting very wiry and kinky. Its not as noticeable when its cut shorter but when it grows out I can tell. The area also happens to itch somewhat frequently and it seems I can pull 1-2 hair out each time I try to in the area. I'm going to have a biopsy and some blood work done in the not to distant future but was wondering if anyone has/had experienced this? thanks!

[Bill - Seemiller]

hdude46,

 

You could be experiencing DUPA or diffuse unpatterned alopecia. But I do think a good first step is to consult a physician like you're doing. You may also consider consulting a hair specialist like a dermatologist/trichologist.

 

Let us know how you make out.

 

Best wishes,

 

Bill Seemiller

[Dr. Glenn Charles]

Most dermatologists will only be able to offer a biopsy which would be a good idea in your case. However, you may want to at least get a second opinion from a hair restoration specialist and make sure you bring your biopsy results.

[hdude46]

well i could be wrong but i dont think its dupa. ive kinda noticed it just happens on some gus with mpb, ive attached a few pics though for u guys to see. what u cant see is that my hairline has receded a bit as well over the last 5-6 yrs. im almost 26 yrs old fyi.

Edited May 26, 2010 by hdude46

[mahhong]

Definitely a good idea to see a specialist but I believe thinning around the bottom of the hair (neck/ears) can be attributable to MPB. My father went thin around that area (as well as the traditional crown/temples) and I've heard a few people refer to the are as the "second hairline" because of the potential for it to also thin.

 

The tests are a good way to rule out any other potential problems but I feel it could just be part of the natural thinning/balding process. My father still has hair in this neck/ear region but it's thinner and more diffuse than the rest of his "donor region", so although I can't offer any expert advice I can say I've seen something similar happen first hand.

[the B spot]

Do you wear a hat alot? I've seen some guys thin in those spots and many wear a hat...if nothing else, quit wearing the hat for a while and see what happens.

 

Hope things work out for you mate.

 

Jason

[ScottishGuy]

I have had the same thinning around the ears for quite some time. It's hard to say whether it has got any worse over the past 5 years, but you can see it in my 5 month pre-op photos and probably some of the photos up to the 3 month post-op mark where I was taking pictures around the scar.

 

When my hair is long the hair around the ears is lacking in volume compared to the rest so it looks a bit unbalanced (and contrasts quite a lot with the HT hair). It's also kind of kinky so it sticks out. When its short it looks better, but patchy.

 

Anyway, good luck with your tests.

[hdude46]

could this be a thyroid problem??

[hdude46]

anyone have anything to add? i will say that it seems like its gotten worse since when i started taking finasteride almost a yr ago. the fin seems to have stabilized things on top i think but the area above my ears has definitely gotten worse. anyone know what this could be from?

Edited June 13, 2010 by hdude46

[Megatron]

your looks fine to me from looking at your pics. if you do a search of DUPA or diffuse unpatterned alopecia I think you'll see some hair pics that look way worse than yours. only way to know for sure is to have a qualified HT doctor take a look.

[Jotronic]

What this looks like to me is retro-grade alopecia. This is where the hair at the bottom of the scalp, along the edges (above the ears and at the nape), thins upward. It is fairly common among those that suffer from MPB but is generally not really too much to worry about as it doesn't continue going up to the top of the head. Careful planning however is paramount as I've seen many strip scars and FUE taken from these areas. This is why nape hair FUE for the "finer" hairs is generally a bad idea.