hair falling out due to alopecia, need a friendly chat and some advice please :)

Skin, nail and hair health
21

Hi Vanessea, I think you've hit the nail on the head. People of a sensitive nature usually are also sensitive in other ways too......such as allergies and intollerances with products and food and chemicals....etc. The best way to tackle all this is to use products that dont have all the harming chemicals and additives in them......such as using 'Faith In Nature' Rosemary shampoo and the conditioner. You will only find these in a health shop. Rosemary helps regrowth of hair.

Also using a dark colour on the hair has a common allergic reaction.

Relaxation methods will be an added bonus to reduce or elliminate stress......perhaps reviewing what else is going on in and around your life.

By sorting out these issues from the outside and also from the inside.....things then usually resolve themselves eventually.

Shan

22

Hi Shan

Thanks for your help!

I will try the rosemary shampoo and conditioner and see if that helps. I'm feeling positive that it will grow back as it has done before with patches but its just worrying that its a different pattern of hair loss.

Anyway, I'll follow your advice and let you know if it works, thanks again.

Vanessa x

23

Hi Vanessa!

What you just described is exactly what my hair is like! It started off as a small patch about the size of a 50p and now I'm completely bald where the nape of my neck is. If you send me your email address in a message, I will send you a picture of what mine looks like x

24

Hi Alexandra

That sounds like the same as me! Ill send you my email address in a message now, it's good knowing you're not alone! Have you been to see a doctor or specialist about it and if so what did they say?

Vanessa x

25

Hi,

Hope everyone is okay. I had been thinking of things that could have caused my hair to fall out as the specialist said a shock can cause it then last night I was talking to a friend about an investigation I had at the hospital in September, where they tried to do it without pain killer! Anyway the pain they put me through actually made my body go into shock, I was white and could not stop shaking and couldn't walk, they were giving me sugar to bring my blood sugars back up. Eventually had the investigation under anaesthetic with no problems but I'm thinking that this shock is what brought my hair loss on. Shan said to think back but I couldn't at the time. Has anybody else been through something they think could have brought it on?

Bev x

26

Hi Bev, just read your message......although you could be right....and shock can cause hair to fall out, like mine did.....however, in your case, the patch is itchy, red and inflamed. I really think that you should be concentrating on reducing the reaction as it could scar....and then NO hair will grow on scar tissue, EVER. I believe in your case, it could well be the red/brown hair colour that has caused a reaction on your scalp initially....and then when patches appear....this on its own causes stress and anxiety....which may make things worse for a while.

Shan

27

Hi Shan,

Thanks for your reply. Yes it was itchy, red and inflamed while it was falling out (think i made it worse scratching it in my sleep) The redness has gone now and the specialist said there was no scarring. The tiny black hairs that are growing back are only growing round the edge though, there is nothing in the middle! Strange as it may sound when it first happened I used to worry about it all the time and wake up a lot in night in case I was scratching but now have learnt to live with it and got used to the idea to an extent I find I don't worry as much and now the tiny hairs have appeared.

Thanks

Bev x

28

Hi Bev

Sounds like maybe it was that incident then that caused it all. I was really stressed a year ago when mine starting falling out and I'm sure it was that because as soon as I got a new job, it grew back, but it hasn't seemed to grow back at the back by my neck and has got worse around my ears so I have no idea what's caused this now because I'm no longer stressed!

I'm taking some vitamins and I'm going to change my shampoo to see if that helps! Fingers crossed for us all smile

Vanessa x

29

Hi Alexandra,

I suffered exactly the same thing, and it terrified me as I thought I had started to go bald - and the patch was on the front of my head, about the same size as you described, so very visible. I went to a dermatologist and he also asked me whether I was under some stress etc etc, and then decided it was alopecia. He prescribed me a medicine from the Regaine brand (I was sceptical) but after some days I noticed some specks of hair coming through on the skin; it took a few weeks, but now it's back to normal.

That said, it re-occurred a couple of times since; about a year later on my head, but in a different position - I bought the same medicine again, and it worked again. Since then, it has occasionally re-occurred (smaller patches, though) on my face and I could see a bald patch in my stubble (yes, I'm a guy :-))) When it happened in my beard area - and it's happened fairly regularly, I'd said once a year since the first outbreak about 3 years ago - I never applied the medicine and it seemed to go away through its own accord.

Now I know that I am not going bald (as least not yet smile and I'm much more relaxed about it - which seems to help a lot as it now re-occurs much less often, and even when it does - the patches are much smaller and go away quicker.

All that said - I know how you feel, and I know its easy for people to say 'Relax! Don't be stressed!' - but when this happens to you - it's not easy to be relaxed about it! You're young, and you're doctors are right to point out the need of a healthy diet to get all the vitamins your body needs - so you WILL be ok, I put my money on it :-)

Keep smiling :-)

30

Hi All

i have just come on for a moan...I was feeling positive that my hair had started to grow again then last night my mum found another patch at the back of my head, it's the size of a 50p at the moment but finding lots of hair everywhere again. Not sure I can cover this one. Sorry to come on and just grumble. Hope everyone ok

Bev x

31

hi everyone!

hi bev, so sorry to hear that my hair is always everywhere too, my patch has also got bigger.. have been emailing vanessa, our patches are very similar. its so difficult to keep positive when this is happening but if we are down it'll only get worse! you've got my email if you ever need a chat, my emails come through to my phone so i can always reply! take care x

32

Hi everyone

Aw Bev I'm sorry to hear that too! It's normally a stress thing so try ad keep yourself as relaxed as possible and I know it's easy to say but try not to worry about it, at least you have us all here too talk to who are going through/have gone through the same thing!

Thought I'd let you all know too that I've got an appointment in January to see a specialist so ill let you know how that goes (was going to email you again Alexandra but I guess you'll read this on here anyway)

Hope everyone's ok!

Vanessa x

33

Hi.

Thanks for your replies. I had actually stopped worrying about my hair and learnt to live with it so cant think what is causing it at the mo. Im also away from home and work so very relaxed.

Sorry to hear yours is getting bigger Alexandra.

Yes it is nice to know there are others we can talk to who understand.

Thanks for all your support

Bev x

34

Hi All,

I've read through all the posts, I've had hair loss for about twenty years, but it's only recently has it become debiltatingly bad! This after my usual colouring - nearly had a panic attack!!

Now at a loss what to do - too frightened to wash it !! Even felt 'crushed' with the doctor's diagnosis -

'male pattern baldness' - what's the point any more!

35

Hi Alexandra31, I don't know whether your problem has resolved itself yet, but just thought I would make you aware of a new treatment for Alopecia Areata. It was featured on the TV programme 'Embarrassing Bodies',

don't know whether you watch this programme, but it was the one where the team of doctors were in Australia. It showed a very effective treatment regime where the patient has a course of steroid treatment injected in to the area on the scalp with hair loss, and it apparently works very well. I am sorry I haven't got a link for this treatment, but you could more than likely google it and find appropriate information.

If you still need help and you are still looking at the forum may be this might help. Your GP may be able to give you advice or point you in the right direction for help with the above too. I don't know whether this treatment is just operational in Australia or whether it is done here too.

36

Hi Alexandra,

I'm currently also suffering from alopecia areata, I've got one spot in front of my head like 9 months. I woke up in a morning with a spot on my head, after a stress. At the beginning was very slow, but it started to extend very quicly. I've done a lot of analyses and I advise you also to follow them. Those are:

Thyroid- TSH, T4, T3, T2 hormones

Pancreas analyses- amylase and lipase. The pancreatis can cause hair falling and alopecia.

Differential blood count, HB, HT, Indices, ESR

Intestinal microflora

Serum Calcium

Serum Iron

Zinc

Doppler test

Encephalogram test

Spine radiography

The last 3 test will show if there is any blood perifical circulation problem.

In my case, revealed problems with the pancreas(high amylase and lipase), low hemoglobin and bad blood periferical circulation.

I made an intensive threatment with homeopatic injections advise by my dermatolog, some pills for liver detoxification and pancreas normalization, pills to improve the blood circulation+ calming pills. Additional to this I made a few therapies: Corticosteroid therapies (which include intralesional injections); darsonvalization and  Cryotherapy With Liquid Nitrogen. On a daily use, morning and evening I used Minoxidil solution of 2%. All this threatment helped me, and in 1,2 weeks since starting it, my hair started to grow. Also it stopped falling so heavy.

The most precious advise (the doctor migh indicate it), keep a good diet for a few moths.

Now my spot is all cover with hair, some of it is big and colored, other white and small by the moment.

I hope my advise helps you.

37

My story is I'm 21 female. And have been losing my hair for a week. I've been diagnosed with alopecia areata and had a thumb sized patch last week. Now I have lost a significant amount , I am not one to preach as I am probably the least experianced person on here when it comes to this subject matter but I find the more I speak with people the more it is helping me deal with it. Maybe ask doc for some steroid cream as mine is convinced it's the best option but certainly doesn't infinately promise hair regrowth but maybe. 

I've ordered a wig &quot and wear headscarfs all the time. You can find some beautiful designs on YouTube so that of it is more noticeable like it is for me , you can hold your head u p a little. I find it hard especially right now but if you need someone to speak to please message me on here &quot I dont mind ranting with you about how annoying it is &quot and if I get anymore tips I will let you know. 

Hope you are well xxx

38

Hi Vanessa, 

I know you wrote this post over a year ago but I am just wondering how your hair is? I have Ophiasis and unfortunately it is spreading to my crown. I can just about cover it at the moment but I'm scared that it's going to get worse. Did yours grow back?

39

I too have two bald patches at the back of my head also first noticed by my hairdresser.It is very upsetting but I've had for 2 years now and have tried so many things.Sometimes it appears to be growing back but then falls out again.

It has been diagnosed by a dermatologist as alopecia areata.She explained their is no cure as such and they think it is caused by the immune system attacking the hair follicles.

It did start when I had a lot of stress in my life but I've reduced the stress but still have the problem.So far Ive tried the prescribed cream a type of immune suppressant cream.Seemed to make it worse?Now have a steroid cream to try from the dermatologist.Have also tried a multivitamin for hair.Garlic and rosemary hair oil.Follicle shampoo and conditioner.

Thinking of trying Minoxidil lotion which is used for female pattern baldness but have been told that this just produces the fine type of hair you get on your arms?

I have also bought a wig just incase it all falls out but haven't worn it as it doesn't suit me and feels hot and itchy !

Anyone found anything that works ?I think maybe it is better when I don't look at it ! Perhaps not worrying about it is the first step?But so hard!

40

Hi ale alexandra, I am experiencing the same thing, I noticed your post was written over a year ago, I was wondering how you got on / what you tried. I am a 23 year old female and having a very tough time with it only being diagnosed 3 weeks ago with two patches one large one slightly smaller.

Thank you!