Is this hair miniaturization or turning white/grey? (Photo)

Question

I'm a female with 8 years of CTE. I've been shedding about 200-400 hairs daily for a year without a 2-4 month recovery like previous years. I've attached a photo and was wondering if it is normal for a strand of hair to lose pigment and/or miniaturize while still growing? I do grow some hairs which are dark, turn completely white and then become dark again, or vice versa. This particular strand is blonde rather than white. The diameter of the dark vs light side look similar through a microscope

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

This needs an in-person evaluation. I suggest seeing a hair loss expert now to evaluate and go over your condition and provide you information about your best treatment options. There are great non-invasive options like prp/progesterone and/or hair transplantation. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Benjamin C. Paul, MD · Answer

Miniturization is a process where a large, healthy, "terminal" hair fiber becomes narrower, shallower, and may have a loss of pigment. This very well may be miniturization.  As you have had hair loss for many years, I hope that you have someone you trust guiding your treatment to keep your hair as healthy and dense as possible. Best of luck.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

We don't diagnose miniaturization based on one hair. The only thing that can be said is that one hair is thinner than the other. Miniaturization is a field phenomenon whereby many hairs in a defined area become thinner. It is normal for a few hairs on anyone's scalp to be thinner. The rest of your questions really require an in person exam.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

The hair on the left is clearly thinner than the hair on the right. Miniaturization reflects an entire hair population in a region of the scalp

Is this hair miniaturization or turning white/grey? (Photo)

Answers (4)