Shedding Questions

[typicallyconcerned]

Hello all, I have another question for the good people of this forum. I am seeing some shedding but it is not only of my full length hairs but also of hair that is smaller. What is this a sign of? Help appreciated!

[Spex]

Hair shafts are all in different cycles. They will shed in their own cycle.

if the hair that has shed appears thinner and weaker than the rest of your hair then possibly a sign of it miniaturising however.

[typicallyconcerned]

Great, thanks for the response. I also have a few more questions. What can blood tests tell you about your likely response to fin?

As well, does minox have a chance to show results on the sides/temples?

[2020]

if there is absolutely no inflammation then shedding is good. Otherwise no

[ppxrare]

if there is absolutely no inflammation then shedding is good. Otherwise no

what if I've been on the big 3 for 7 months (which has improved my hair significantly) and now approaching the same time where last year I lost a lot of hair (which made me start treatment) and now I am starting to shed a lot of hair for the first time since the minoxidil shed (after the minoxidil shed, I rarely lost any hair when putting my hands or comb through my hair).

Could this winter shed be different than last years shed where now my scalp is no longer itchy and no longer has a tingling feeling? does that mean that hopefully I wont shed as much as last year and my hair will grow back?

[typicallyconcerned]

Anything in regards to getting a blood test before starting fin?

[BigThinker]

Anything in regards to getting a blood test before starting fin?

Since no one has responded, I will take a shot at this. If I get it twisted, hopefully more seasoned members will correct me. Btw, I'm not physician, but I do have a B.S. in Biology and am about 6 months away from an MS in Health Service Administration

The dermatologist I saw had me take a blood test as a diagnostic tool; to test whether there was an underlying cause to my shedding aside from MPB. A variety of things were tested, and I can rattle them off of my results sheet if you desire. Everything from vit-D to free-Testosterone was tested, from what I remember off the top of my head, in addition to many others.

In regards to starting fin, I think they are most interested in the concentration of certain hormones that will likely be affected by the inhibition of DHT, if any are substantially affected at all. I really can't comment in greater granularity without doing research or making inferences I'm not properly educated to make.

From what I've read on this forum, most people that have had fin sides really wish they had regular blood tests to monitor their levels at baseline and periodically afterwards.

This link is informative, and talks a bit about biopsies (which is what my dermatologist wants me to do, before I start fin):
Mayo Clinic hairloss tests/biopsies

Finally, I think they can do genetic testing to see if you would have a predisposition to suffer from sides from fin. This site claims to be able to test for MPB as well as fin sides, I believe: Hairloss likelihood and sides

Hope these help.

[typicallyconcerned]

Thank you very much BigThinker! Much appreciated! Did you see a derm at Mayo? I live close to there and would be willing to make the trip. Thanks again

[typicallyconcerned]

Also, has anyone gotten this hairdx test? Appreciate the results?

[BigThinker]

Thank you very much BigThinker! Much appreciated! Did you see a derm at Mayo? I live close to there and would be willing to make the trip. Thanks again

Nope, University of Minnesota.