On Bumps, Baldness and Finding Out I Just Might Be the Victim of Ringworms
I’m going bald. And the worst part about it is that I’m not going bald on my head. I’m going bald on my face.
While washing my face in the shower this morning, I inadvertently pulled a clump of facial hair out of my beard. I now have a very distinctive bald spot on my chin. It’s about the size of a dime and it’s impossible to hide. It’s there for all the world to see.
If I am honest, I knew something was in the works. I’ve had a small bump on my face in that exact spot for weeks. In the past I’ve gotten similar bumps and when they got to a certain point I’d lose a few hairs and the bump would go away. I have never, however, lost this much hair with one bump.
I have no clue what these bumps are. I usually just assume they are ingrown hairs and I go about my life. They don’t exactly hurt. They are not noticeable from the outside. And losing a couple of facial hairs is not that big of a deal.
However, losing enough facial hair for there to be a bright shiny bald spot on my face is a big deal.
I immediately got out of the shower, dried myself off and inspected my new spot in the mirror. It does not appear irritated in any way. It doesn’t hurt. It’s just bald.
I went to my computer and did a quick search on Google. I didn’t find anything that looked overly official in the way of an explanation, but I did find out that plenty of men are facing a similar demise. According the minimal amount of reading I did, I could have one of the following issues:
Stress
Alopecia
Ringworms
Some stuff I read said my hair will never grow back. Other pages said it will. Some reports claim that I’ll grow hair there again, but it will be without pigment.
I should probably see a doctor, but I’m not one to go running to the hospital every time something minor happens in my life. And losing some facial hair is minor in the grand scheme of things. Sure, I look like some kind of unkempt freak with a weird disease, but I can live with that. I can live with it assuming I don’t someday find out I actually do have some weird disease.
Before that day comes, I’ve simply decided to own it. I’m now the guy with the mysterious bald spot on his chin. If anyone asks, my story is that I got a scar in a knife fight and now no hair will grow there. And perhaps someday the hair will grow back and all of this will just be another forgotten post on another forgotten blog.
Here’s hoping.
Very interesting. Of the conditions you list, ringworm is the only condition that can be treated. It is not actually worms, but a fungal infection in the same family as jock itch and athletes foot.
I like your explanation, though, that you got the scar in a knife fight. It has a macho elegance to it.
My husband had a small mole removed from his cheek a few years ago. Since the face is “a cosmetically sensitive area” our family doctor wouldn’t do it. So Superman went to a cosmetic surgeon, who did an excellent job with it. The surgeon gave him some lotion to put on the incision after the stitches came out, but my dear husband isn’t one to fuss with stuff like that. When the surgeon saw him at the check-up a month or so later, the poor doc was in a snit that there was a scar on Superman’s cheek. The doctor told him not to tell anyone who his surgeon was. That scar could sully the doctor’s reputation. I think the doc is overly sensitive, but whatever.
So now, when asked, Superman says he got the scar when he encountered a guy with a knife. Which is technically true.
I think it’s alopecia.
You can get a prescription for steroid cream/lotion that will speed up the growth.
I don’t know how it works with facial hair, but head hair can come in with a different texture. I’m not sure if that’s the best word, but it can come back finer or more wiry, etc.
There are some theorized connections between alopecia and stress. Could also connect to hormones.
Knife fight is a valid explanation. The husbands mustache won’t grow around his scars.
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