Bald Left Side-- pic included

[ChasingBliss]

It has taken me YEARS to find the guts to do this. But here goes....

I started doing my own hair from the age of 10. My mom used to do it but I fought her tooth and nail to do my own hair because she was always doing "baby" hairstyles. I got tired of big braids and ribbons, I wanted ponytails, bangs and straighter hair all the time. Eventually she got fed up with me and let me have control....over the years I have abused my hair to no end especially with the tight ponytails--my favorite. When I finally woke up in my 30's it was too late. My left side had been destroyed from all the pulling...the pic below was a result. Please excuse the matted down look, I had just taken my scarf off and snapped the pic.


I have been on this board for several years, managed to grow my hair to waist length, became feature of the month (was HLD at the time) grew beautiful healthy hair over all. HOWEVER, this left side has always been the bane of my existence. I wear my hair in such a way to cover it up until I can figure something out. I think I have the kind of alopecia that no topical treatment can help. Has anyone experienced anything like this? Would I be better off with hair transplants? Anybody with some suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm ready to do something serious, provided there's actual hope.

 

[Miz_Complexity]

Checking in I have the same problem but on the right side. I have seen a dermatologist and she says it not alopecia, she looked at my edges with toughs microscope head glasses and can still see hair coming out my scalp. I don’t have hair loss in any other area. She also suspects that it is friction from sleeping on that particular side. I have not consistently changed what side I sleep on. If anyone else have some answers or solutions for this problem please let me know. I also would like to know what you have tried and what are the best methods to grow the hair in fuller in the areas.
I have tried temple balms, massages and just leaving it alone and it just won’t fill in.

 

[Truth]

My first suggestion....see a derm to make sure its alopecia or a type of alopecia and not just thin edges. It will bring u peace of mind...

My 2nd suggestion is.... try massaging that spot with oil to stimulate growth. There are a host of threads on here.

Sent from my SGH-T839 using SGH-T839

 

[divachyk]

ITA, see a derm first if you are concerned it is a medical issue. My thinner side is the right side, the side I sleep on. Massaging jbco in that area helped when I was consistent. IMO, it is temporary thickness and it goes away if you are not consistent with oiling and massaging.

 

[ebonyseas]

I agree with Truth. Oil therapy does help. Lots of people on this site (including myself) have seen progress using stimulating oil mixes. I use homemade hairdrenalin (the castor oil, cayenne, tea, biotin, garlic and onion mix) mixed with Rosemary EO, peppermint EO, lavender EO and emu oil. It didn't make my hair grow any faster but it def woke my edges up after i had some loss from wigging. There was a noticeable improvement after a few weeks of regular use. It won't hurt to try it out. You've already waited this long to see a derm, and can still get medical help if there's no improvement.

 

[ChasingBliss]

Thanks for your responses. I will revisit the oil therapy and I am making an appointment for the dermatologist on Monday. Over the years I've done some online research of alopecia and it seemed like I had the one there was no real help for. That discouraged me.

Regarding the oils, I've been well aware of which ones to use for a while and have even tried them....I just never stuck it out. I guess from being discouraged over all...I really wish I had taken this serious a long time ago.

I will start with the derm though...and take it from there. I really hope I dont have to go the transplant route, but if it is possible and the only option....I will.

 

[kab]

Hello,
I am a first time poster, year plus long lurker. I hope that my experience will help someone. After googling info on protein powders, I happened upon this forum and hit the mother lode. I began reading and eventually found a thread on MN. My hairline was almost identical to yours on the same side and the right side was damaged though not as bad. My initial damage began in the temple area with relaxers and spread as long and as wide as yours (to the ear) after a disastrous flirtation with the Hawaiian Silky dry curl eons ago. After childbirth, the damage was worsened from post partum shedding. I tried the MN and within 7 days I had fine hairs sprouting. Moved on to JBCO after about 7 weeks and the hairs thickened slightly. I then used sulfur oil and noticed the hairs grew longer quickly and then tried mega-tek. The mega-tek did exactly as I read that it would do. The hairs began to shed almost immediately but were replaced with hairs that were darker, thicker and stronger. My hair is closer to it was before it was damaged than it has ever been. I don't believe that the sulfur and megatek would have helped as much had I not cleansed my scalp of yeast and bacteria with the MN and JBCO. My hair was so damaged from the dry curl that it would shed regularly and copiously and the the hairs were so fine they were almost see through. I was never tender-headed but after the damage my scalp was so tender that it hurt to blow dry in some areas so I simply wore an air dried puff for YEARS. My hair is much stronger now and I am SO thankful to have found this forum.

 

[virtuenow]

How long has your hair been like that? Can you pin-point exactly when your problem started. I believe the cause will help in identifying the solution. However if its been years, it makes me think you have a problem beyond topical applications & that there is some damage (either that or stress). That is Unless you constanly bind that area w/headbands/wigs etc. On another note, some peoples edges are naturally thin b/c of babyhair. I don't see any obvious baldness but seeing the other side will help to see what its supposed to look like.How does the other side look? Do you have a pic that is further back?

 

[ChasingBliss]

Hello,
I am a first time poster, year plus long lurker. I hope that my experience will help someone. After googling info on protein powders, I happened upon this forum and hit the mother lode. I began reading and eventually found a thread on MN. My hairline was almost identical to yours on the same side and the right side was damaged though not as bad. My initial damage began in the temple area with relaxers and spread as long and as wide as yours (to the ear) after a disastrous flirtation with the Hawaiian Silky dry curl eons ago. After childbirth, the damage was worsened from post partum shedding. I tried the MN and within 7 days I had fine hairs sprouting. Moved on to JBCO after about 7 weeks and the hairs thickened slightly. I then used sulfur oil and noticed the hairs grew longer quickly and then tried mega-tek. The mega-tek did exactly as I read that it would do. The hairs began to shed almost immediately but were replaced with hairs that were darker, thicker and stronger. My hair is closer to it was before it was damaged than it has ever been. I don't believe that the sulfur and megatek would have helped as much had I not cleansed my scalp of yeast and bacteria with the MN and JBCO. My hair was so damaged from the dry curl that it would shed regularly and copiously and the the hairs were so fine they were almost see through. I was never tender-headed but after the damage my scalp was so tender that it hurt to blow dry in some areas so I simply wore an air dried puff for YEARS. My hair is much stronger now and I am SO thankful to have found this forum.

kab
Wow, thank you for coming out of lurkdom to share your advice and experience. Btw, what is JBCO and MN? I'm way out of the loop on acronyms.

 

[ChasingBliss]

How long has your hair been like that? Can you pin-point exactly when your problem started. I believe the cause will help in identifying the solution. However if its been years, it makes me think you have a problem beyond topical applications & that there is some damage (either that or stress). That is Unless you constanly bind that area w/headbands/wigs etc. On another note, some peoples edges are naturally thin b/c of babyhair. I don't see any obvious baldness but seeing the other side will help to see what its supposed to look like.How does the other side look? Do you have a pic that is further back?

Thanks for your response...

This has been building up over the years and it is definitely stress on hair related...tight ponytails, etc. As I said before since being here for the last 8 years my hair has made a complete turn around on all other fronts, but this side thing....I've never seen any progress. The other side is perfectly fine. I'm thinking it's beyond topical help as well. But I will check with a derm to be positive.

 

[abcd09]

The main thing I notive about traction alopecia is the longer you wait, the more doomed your hairline is. I say this because I have it from when I was a child (I was natural, but my mom pulled my hair tight in plaits, ponies, etc. I remember my scalp hurting during class) and it has not turned around. I've read success stories but it always seemed to be women who had a thin side for 2 or less years, or had a very recent indicident. My guess is the only thing that will work is hair transplants. I've seen pics with black women who got them for the same reason and it looks very natural. Other than that, it wouldnt hurt to keep putting oils on your side.

 

[tHENATuRALhAiRpRoJEcT]

one of my friends also has what I would consider to be traction alopecia
of course each case (like genetics) is different, but for now non-RX (over the counter) Rogaine & Dr. Miracle temple balm (used interchangeably) seems to be working extremely well for her

both left & right side has large amounts of regrowth after years of straight baldness

 

[ChasingBliss]

The main thing I notive about traction alopecia is the longer you wait, the more doomed your hairline is. I say this because I have it from when I was a child (I was natural, but my mom pulled my hair tight in plaits, ponies, etc. I remember my scalp hurting during class) and it has not turned around. I've read success stories but it always seemed to be women who had a thin side for 2 or less years, or had a very recent indicident. My guess is the only thing that will work is hair transplants. I've seen pics with black women who got them for the same reason and it looks very natural. Other than that, it wouldnt hurt to keep putting oils on your side.

Yeah, your mom did what my mom refused to do. I thought all those pulled hairstyles were cute on other girls and I was always upset when she put those, what we now would call, healthy protective styles in my hair. God how I regret not letting her continue doing my hair until I was smart enough to care for my hair and scalp myself. *smh*

About those transplants, I'm going to do a search on black women with them...Thanks for your response.

one of my friends also has what I would consider to be traction alopecia
of course each case (like genetics) is different, but for now non-RX (over the counter) Rogaine & Dr. Miracle temple balm (used interchangeably) seems to be working extremely well for her

both left & right side has large amounts of regrowth after years of straight baldness

While I wait for my appointment, I may try the temple balm....cant hurt. Thanks.

 

[kab]

mn is miconazole nitrate and jbco is jamaican black castor oil.