Do I Need to Worry or Is It Just My OCD?
Hi Doctor,
I’ve sent a few blog questions through, so I do apologise for the influx of emails you’ve probably received from me.
I’m 21. I suffer from OCD, and I’ve recently been extremely worried about my hair. I’ve posted numerous pictures on various different forums to try and get an analysis of my hair, and I’ve been told my hair is fine. However, I’m still worried, but am unable to afford an appointment to go to a trichologist. So, I was wondering if you could take a look at my album of photo’s. There’s a fair few in here to get a decent look at my hair.
At first I was worried about my crown area/top of my hair, but was told that I’ve got a natural parting coming from my crown. Then I was, and am worried about my hairline, but was told I have a ‘mature’ hairline. Still, I was wondering if you could take a look for me and tell me how you think my hair and hairline is? What Norwood do you think I am. I also have seborrhoeic dermatitis so my scalp is quite inflamed/red.
Basically, do I need to worry, or is it just my OCD?
Oh, and feel free to post the picture album of my hair if this question get’s published. I don’t mind. Thanks.
Click the photos to enlarge:
Nothing I can say online is a substitute for a medical exam or seeing your doctor in person. As you state you suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), I think you need to have that under control. Since you’ve posted these pictures on numerous forums and have gotten a reply that your hair is “fine”, I do not know how much more I can add. Your hair looks very good to me, but there’s only so much I can tell based on photos. Base don the pictures, the hairline looks strong and thick, as does the crown.
If you are still worried and your OCD is under control, make an appointment with a doctor you trust, especially one who can perform a HairCheck bulk analysis which gives a metric for the presence of hair loss. I’m not going to be able to assuage your OCD and hair loss paranoia, but I do thank you for letting us use your photos.
Your hair looks great. I wouldn’t worry about it
Dr Rassman,
Is hair bulk analysis a commonly performed test by dermatologists or hair transplant surgeons? I’m from the Uk and the dermatologists I’ve spoken to say ‘it’s easy to just tell with the human eye’.
The thing is, I also have really OCD (particularly with my hair) and it would ease my mind to know exactly how things were progressing rather than just questioning myself in the mirror every morning for an hour on end.
I saw a trichologists who said she could see miniaturised hairs at the crown but I have no idea what that means in terms of when I will have a bald spot. I want to stay away from drugs for as long as I can really but if it’s the case that I will be noticeably bald in two years then I might consider it.
thanks
Gareth-miniaturized hairs is how the balding process starts. If you want to save your hair you need to be proactive and do something about it.