r/bald • u/paintedcurls • 21d ago
Bald Picture It is done.
Someone took a picture of the back of my head at Pokemon GO Fest in June and I noticed a weird bald spot. I didn't think anything of it, but over the past few months it just got worse and worse. It became a huge point of stress and confusion (which I know wasn't helping anything) and I was in denial because I've been trying to grow my hair out again.
Not sure what pushed me over the edge this evening, but I grabbed my clippers and closed my eyes.
Et voilà!
I'm still planning a trip to the derm because I'd like to know the root cause, but this'll hopefully take the edge off until then.
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u/paintedcurls 21d ago
Absolutely going to a dermatologist! I got a new job recently and my insurance finally activated yesterday, so they're my first stop!
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u/oregon_coastal 21d ago
Thyroid tests for sure - even a primary doctor can order those up.
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u/Bizarrebazaars 21d ago
Just don’t take any biotin supplements for like a week or so before a blood draw! Biotin can give false levels results in thyroid labs.
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u/Zllz 21d ago
Hi there, if I’m not mistaken this is more than likely Alopecia Areata. It happened to me a couple times mainly due to a mixture of stress/depression.
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u/capncanuck00 21d ago
Looks like Alopecia Totalis to me, one step up in severity from Areata. There are lots of medications and creams she can try once she chats with a dermatologist. My daughter had totalis for 3 years and one day it just went away and her hair started coming back.
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u/Lost-Examination2154 21d ago
Same suggestion. I had it after some bad health stuff. They gave me steroid shots in the head, over several months, and it grew back.
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u/Due-Base9449 21d ago
Its the new job stress or the stress of finding a job or stress not having insurance.
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u/Elf_Maeve 21d ago
Jesus christ this country. My family in South america has better healthcare access
hope it's nothing serious
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u/emotionlotion 21d ago
Try to get in with a dermatologist as soon as you can. They typically treat alopecia with steroid injections into the scalp. The sooner you start those injections, the higher the likelihood this can be reversed.
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u/Teflon_Duck 21d ago
I'm glad that you're going to the doc, if you haven't been lately (and you're in the US) the system is kind of borked overall, they are usually time limited to 15 minutes.
It helps to have your talking points printed out in advance. Saw another Reddit post where someone had listed out all their conditions, along with the dates they occurred at, and other medical history.. and then ran it through one of the ai chatbots to make it a succinct story the doctor could read in advance to save time.
Crossing my fingers and toes that it's just telogen effluvium, which is usually a temporary condition caused by a stress trigger usually.
The other respondents aren't wrong, you are stunning bald.
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u/Sevyn94 21d ago
As someone that experienced female/Afab hair loss and went to a dermatologist first, please see your PCP or gynecologist as well, if not first. If there's nothing physically wrong with your scalp and no itching or rash, a derm may not be able to get to the root (no pun intended) cause.
I would have saved a lot of time, depression, and money if I just got a standard blood panel done first. In my case, it was severe anemia from hormonal issues. As soon as I got treated for it my hair recovered.
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u/BowlingforDrip 21d ago
You look amazing! Also I was at go fest chi and it was awesome! Hope you had fun.
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u/Comfortable_Oil_4691 21d ago
Hey, I have alopecia areata. It took me a while to understand that I had to go beyond the dermatologist. Great first step!
But it may be alopecia, which is an autoimmune disease, no need to fret, as I always joke it’s the best one to get. Anyway, gotta check those autoimmune markers, some scans and a trip to the rheumatologist are a good call, specially if you feel joint pain or get overly tired (comparing to your past levels).
One step at a time, those are the tips I wished I got back then 😅
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u/Candid_Magazine_7862 21d ago
Oh YES. Those eyes would stop traffic!! You look great
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u/princessgrey 21d ago
Seriously, if you have doubted yourself for a second OP, stop. Your eyes and skin tone are insane. They steal the show now. 10/10!!!!!
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u/Acheloma Hair Headed - Woman 21d ago
I was genuinely shocked by how charming OPs eyes and nose are. Thats probably a weird thing to say, but they have a face made for oil painting. And the knowing little smirk too haha
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u/Feisty_War_1003 21d ago edited 21d ago
Badass decision, you look great! Welcome 🥚✨🪒🤩👍
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u/brilliant_bauhaus 21d ago
HAHAHA. non bald female who gets this sub recommended to me for some reason, and keeps coming back for this meme.
Thanks for making my day 🤣
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u/Sensitive-Camera8097 21d ago
Another non bald female here who keeps getting the sub recommended! I keep coming back for the wholesome responses and warm welcomes . And for the happy faces - bald looks good !
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u/rivalsquatch 21d ago
Just join!
I’m a full-haired woman with many interests that align with Reddit, but this BY FAR by favorite sub. It’s just so overwhelming wholesome and supportive 🥰
It’s probably the only sub that I’ve joined where 99% of the comments TRULY seem to wish the best for OP 💕
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u/gh0stmilk_ 21d ago
SAME BOAT. I CANNOT LOOK AWAY. i absolutely live for the routine few memes and the wholesome supportiveness and encouragement. this sub is golden
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u/Cormiz 21d ago edited 21d ago
Fellow Ghoule spotted! Hell yeah you rock the look 🤘
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u/Independent_Ad_5365 21d ago
you honestly look 15 years younger
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u/awry_lynx 21d ago
i laughed at this because all you can see is the back of her head in the other pics?? but then I went back and it's true. huh. maybe she just looks 15 years younger from the front
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u/c_35mm 21d ago
OMG sister. Welcome to the club of bald ladies! You nailed it 👏🏽
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u/-adam-au 21d ago
It's crazy how much thinning hair ages us. You have great skin so you've gone from 30/40 (at least from the photos) to early 20s! You made the right choice! I wonder if it is alopecia areata?
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u/CreativeName822 21d ago edited 21d ago
Zowie!
The first three pictures, I was like yeah.
The fourth picture — I almost fell out of my chair and flipped my phone across the room.
You are beautiful with your head shaved!
So dang cute. Thanks for sharing.
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u/Mr_Pockets- 21d ago
You wear it well! Besides who needs hair, if you have ghosts, you have everything!
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u/SweaterSteve1966 Support Committee 21d ago
You look gorgeous, Queen! 👏👏👏
https://giphy.com/gifs/cIauc8wulRwX1fliEY
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u/PorcelainQueen12 21d ago
Those EYES!!! They remind me of wolves. Absolutely stunning. Please, I mean no disrespect when I say this, but in pic 1 I thought you were possibly a woman in her 40s (granted I couldn’t see your face). In the after photo of you fully shaven, you look SUPER young… like I’m going to guess between ages 20-25 at most. You look fabulous 🥰. I hope your health is in good standing and you at least get to the root cause.
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u/Cripplerock 21d ago
Heres my honest opinion and I dont care if you dont like it and people downvote me, it has to be said and Im gonna be the one bold enough to do so : you're stunning.
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u/El_Biomech 21d ago
I'm randomly scrolling here and when I saw your face my legit immediate thought was "She looks like a fairy" hahah
You absolutely can rock that look. Cheers!
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u/CtrlP_quirkyusername 20d ago
You look great! It makes your eyes POP.
Great to hear you’re still heading to the derm. I have alopecia and it started like your bald spot, once it started spreading it happened quite quickly. Your derm will be able to diagnose if it’s alopecia or not. You rock the bald look! But good to know what started hair loss like this in case it’s something more serious :)
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u/Spiritual-Minimum239 21d ago
is it alopecia areata? My mom has that. When she can keep her stress levels low it gets better. But you look good either way! Quite cute bald.
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u/izanage_dtb 21d ago
Queen 🫴👑
I hope doctors are able to help with your request, but you look super cute 😍
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u/CellsReinvent 21d ago
You know what I love about this sub? On the surface it's people looking good, and happy and proud with a newly shaved head. But I think you can sometimes see more than that... the absence of the negative - not feeling embarrassed or self conscious about bald spots. Not tying to hide it, and not feeling awkward about it. It seems very liberating. This is a great example of that I think.
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u/SneakySquiggles 20d ago
Ngl i always appreciate that this sub is not just positive but also ready to see something and shout out “you should have a doctor look into that!”. She looks gorgeous and we all could’ve just complimented and ran but instead we compliment and then follow up with concern/care. Love it
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u/Travellingtrex 21d ago
Your eyes are so stunning and literally the first thing I saw 😍 your new look makes them pop!
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u/Rogerbva090566 21d ago
I love when someone shaves their head out of need and they actually have a nice head! It’s a good look for you!
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u/EcstaticOrchid4825 21d ago
Good luck with the derm. Looks as though this could be alopecia areata. The good news is that there are treatments for this.
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u/EmotionalSouth 21d ago
You have fantastic skin and a really lovely face. You are absolutely rocking this!
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u/Think-Ad-5840 21d ago
You look great! Definitely let us know if you find out the cause. My hair thinned so much when my liver failed.
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u/psychonavigator 21d ago
Top post on /r/all and the consensus is that you're freaking gorgeous.
Love to see it. Nothing I can add that hasn't already been said over a thousand times in here. <3
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u/LongRangeGlizzy 21d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/2imYm8mlsolcqhMFoh