What visual differences can differentiate FPHL and CTE? (Photo)

Question

I was diagnosed with TE, and I raised concerns with my Derm Re; possibility of misdiagnosis. Diffuse shedding for 9+ months, 0 regrowth, now finding “Velus” looking hairs falling. Derm didn’t diagnose CTE, still says it’s TE, but everything online says otherwise. Lost so much hair it’s nearly impossible to conceal

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

You need a formal evaluation to see what type of hair loss you may have. when you have hairless its best to do a full hormonal workup for internal optimization plus scalp biopsies or scrapings to rule out any stress related, inflammatory, autoimmune or infectious causes of hair loss. In general most people with early hair loss have telogen (stress related) and/or androgenetic (normal aging) and both can be treated with in office treatments like steroid injections, PRP/acell, Exosomes and at home treatments like oral medications, oral vitamins like Viviscal, topical exfoliating sprays like Restorsea, and weekly growth factors like anteagemd.  See an expert for an evaluation. If hair loss is significant it may requires hair transplant (follicular unit translation).

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

This is one of my favourite subjects and I could go on forever about this. I can’t offer all that much because I don’t have enough information (Your story is left out). There are a few key points. First if you are losing hair equally all over the scalp, TE is possible. If it seems that it’s mostly the front and top, AGA becomes more of a possibility. AGA often favours the middle of the scalp and other areas are less affected. The key to AGA is miniaturization of hairs and this does not occur in TE and does not occur in CTE. A biopsy can help if a physician is not skilled in figuring this out with dermoscopy. AGA and TE are easy to mix up and misdiagnose. I see probably 3-5 patients per week with AGA that have gone doctor to doctor with a diagnosis of TE.

What visual differences can differentiate FPHL and CTE? (Photo)

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What visual differences can differentiate FPHL and CTE? (Photo)

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Everything you need to know about Hair Loss Treatment

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.