Alopecia Areata 1 week in...

[VA90]

Hi all,

I have just found out within the last week that I have alopecia areata. It started with a trip to the hairdressers where she noticed a couple of patches. I made a doctors appointment the next day and he confirmed it was alopecia, although I am still to have a blood test to check my thyroid.

Since finding out I have been googling a LOT! trying not to but I just want to find out as much as I can.

The patches seem to be coming thick and fast, right at the back or towards the back and around 2 inches in diameter. But I've noticed in the past couple of days I have one starting right at the front in my fringe and one that is around an inch above my ear. at the moment, they aren't noticeable with my hair down as it's quite thick (for now!) but I don't think it will be long until they are visible.

if I lose all of my hair, I want it to be my choice. I was just wondering how long people have waited before deciding enough is enough and braved the shave?!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

[jayfo]

Hello - my 15 yr old daughter has had Alopecia since the age of 4 and a half. She wore a wig for the first time yesterday. Alopecia is a mighty tricky blighter - it behaves differently in every single case, making it hard to predict what might happen next. If i have learnt anything at all over the last 11 years, it is stop and breathe. Don't try and second guess what or when things will happen. First, get yourself some hair fibers ( we use techtrich - which covered the hair loss until she was nearly 75% bald. Second - look at hair pieces now - put your mind at rest that if the worst thing happens you can disguise it well ( we used Hair Whispers in Devon because she is an Alopecian and totally got how important it was to get the right covering) - hair pieces do take time - ours took about 3 months to get - not ideal if you leave it till the last minute. Your doctor can give you topical steroid cream and you can use it in conjunction with Regaine - you can go down the oral steroid route too. There are no 'one size fits all' cures. I wish you all the luck in the world - it can be a bit of a roller coaster ride - there are many people out there who will really help you out. Best wishes x

[VA90 in reply to jayfo]

Thank you for this. Very informative, I appreciate you taking the time to reply to me. I have been looking into the hair pieces and some wigs. I actually feel quite excited to try one now! I am 28 and a mother of two so I'm thinking this could be a great time saver for me in the mornings just trying to keep looking at the positives! Thanks again, all the best to you and your daughter x

[Xizzy]

HelloYou must be feeling very anxious right now. I too am newly experiencing Alopecia and have probably lost 85% of my hair since December. I’ve yet to be officially diagnosed since even my HP consultation was over the phone !

I believe I will lose it all. Presently when I wear a scarf some hair peeks out and naturalises the look a bit so not in a hurry to shave that off yet.

I liken the process to losing someone in death. You know they are terminally ill, you know they will die, but you don’t want them to go.

Of course our hair is keratin and without feeling but I still feel it’s like a bereavement and at the mo want to keep what little I have.

That’s my current experience