I have strange scalp hair issues, so no HT for me? Please help!

[Tembo]

I started seeing thinning scalp hair about 13 years ago when I turned 20, but it really became visibly thin in around 2006 since I had great hair to being with and the thinning seemed to reverse slightly for a while before reprogressing. I then started on and off Proscar therapy in 2006, and Rogaine once a day too with no significant treatment breaks. I think the Rogaine did an excellent job for about five years. I have been more regular with Proscar lately, but it seems to not be making a difference.

 

This year, I started seeing my hair becoming extremely brittle and curling in very unusual shapes, sometimes almost like pubic hair at the ends (gross) and sometimes with two curls at the lower one-third area of the follice! My hair itches so bad that I have to pull it out (especially if I have not had a haircut for more than 5-6 weeks), and almost every hair that I pulled out was damaged and excessively curly and is on its deathbed.

 

I FEEL LIKE THIS IS ROGAINE INDUCED HAIR GROWTH THAT HAS REACHED ITS END OF LIFE.

 

The thing that bothers me the most is that my donor hair is also somewhat curlier than normal and no longer has the same quality as in my younger years. i.e., my donor hair is probably half as thick and maybe two-thirds as plentiful as it was when I was younger. I seem to be getting hair thinning in the "permanent" donor zone. My mother's father had almost no donor hair in his 80s, and I think he got there many years ago. Maybe even in his 50s.

 

Even more bizarre, I have fine dark body hair (that is terminal in my opinion) all over my back, and most of the rest of body is covered in thick hair. But I have no thick or long back hair except in my lower back. The fine terminal hair on my back is really strange.

 

I mention my body hair because I am convinced that most men with excess body hair (especially chest, back and ear) tend to go balder much sooner and more frequently than men with little to no body hair. Most surgeons are unwilling to make this conclusion, but I am certain of it.

 

Anyway, sorry about the long post that might not even make much sense. Just venting and hoping to hear if any board member or surgeon has seen such a case.

 

The hair I pull out is not due to the hair pulling disease, since its only the dying hair that I pull out. I never feel the itching and urge to pull out my stronger noncurly hair of which I have little left. I always had slightly curly hair, but nothing like this at the root/end of the follicle.

 

The areas where I have pulled out hair are now visibly bald. I feel like Rogaine will not help me anymore.

 

Is it worth transplanting donor hair that is getting curlier, might not last for more than 5-10 years, and that might not even grow more than one inch once moved to the front of the scalp?

Edited June 27, 2011 by Tembo