Massaging My Scalp Causes Hair Loss!

Hi,

My hair has been thinning and falling for a few years now (I’m probably too late in asking for help), and now I can see that the hairline has receded quite a bit and the scalp is easily visible. The loss/thinning is limited to the top of my head in a horse shoe pattern. If I massage my scalp on the top, hair falls out. If I massage the side of my scalp, nothing falls out.

I also suffer from a very oily scalp/ face….

The question is, can I treat the situation or is this genetic? Is oily scalp a culprit? It does feel like hair falls out faster when my scalp is oilier.

thanks

Oily scalp is not the reason for your loss. Genetics are. It is likely not too late to start on medication like Propecia, which can help to halt the hair loss and possibly regrow some.

If you rub the side of your head and no hair falls out, yet when you massage the top of your head you’ve seen hair loss, this sounds like a classic situation of male pattern baldness (MPB). The sides and back of your head retain your hair permanently (which is why you see so many men with the “horseshoe” of hair) and will not come out like you describe with a massage, and it sounds like when you put any traction on the top of your scalp, even gentle massaging, it’s causing those weak hairs on top to fall out faster.

You indicated in your email form that you were in the San Francisco bay area. I have an office in San Jose and you should consider making an appointment with either Dr. Pak or myself by calling 800-NEW-HAIR for a consultation.