I have a question concerning today’s blog post. you mentioned that “exclamation point” hair is a sign of a disease but isn’t that what happens when miniaturization occurs in general? doesn’t the shaft get smaller, generally at the root first? that’s what’s happened to me. does this mean i have a disease? i doubt it. i got my thyroid checked when i first noticed hair loss and everything seems fine. i guess what i’m asking is, what’s the difference? thank you!

The term “exclamation point hair” is a term of medical art (see more info and a diagram at American Academy of Family Physicians). You are correct that as the miniaturization progresses (it would have to be rapid progression) one could theoretically see the reduction of shaft size, which is normally a very, very gradual process. It rarely can be picked up visually as you report.

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