Getting worse I think@

[Jandy59]

About 18 months ago I started seeing bald patches at the back of my head. Then around my ears. Since I had covid I now have a bald patch at the front of my head. I have seen a scalp specialist who has told me it is alopecia. I haven't been to the Doctors as yet because I don't want to take medication. I'm quite emotional about this as I used to have lovely thick hair. My husband is wonderful and reassures me all the time. But I still feel very conscious all the time.

[butterflyEi]

Hi Jandy59

I also have a lovely husband who is reassuring but like you I still feel very conscious of my balding head. The media present many balding men and it is somehow more acceptable but rarely is there a bald female and historically hair is our crowning glory that is why I feel it is more difficult for us to accept the changes to our beautiful hair.

I take hydroxychloroquine, I had an optician's appointment before starting it and now just recently. There are a lot of warnings with this medication which are quite scary but I have not (as yet) experienced anything. The lady I saw yesterday suggested that symptoms affecting the eye do not show up until you have been on hydroxy for a long while and if you stop the symptoms go away. Something to do with crystals forming on the front of the eye. I also have a steroid shampoo which again has not caused any adverse reactions. My diagnosis is Lichen Planopilaris.

I am going out with "friends" tonight, it is to hot to wear my wig and I am not looking forward to it. One of the husbands is undiplomatic to say the least and I know I will have a battle ahead of me to either keep my temper or not get hurt so I can totally understand your feelings.

I hope you are feeling better and have recovered from the COVID, such a dire virus.

best wishes

[paw1]

Hi there are facebook groups if you are into that type of thing. Alopecia UK has a private group. Also could be useful to have a diagnosis from a dermatologist within the NHS who specialises in hair/alopecia if not already.Sometimes hair loss at the front could be frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) though should always get official diagnosis. Again there are private facebook groups that can offer all sorts of support and ideas on how to manage and deal with this though no one perfect solution.