21 year old male just diagnosed with alopecia. Confused and seeking advice

Hi everyone--I am brand new to the website. Last week, I was getting a hair cut and my hairdresser found a bald spot on the back of my head. After she mentioned it in a worrisome way, another was found on the top of my head...then a small one on the side. I am a perfectly healthy 21 year old, so I could not comprehend what it could be. I had a haircut 3 weeks prior and there were no spots. I immediately went to my dermatologist who told me I had alopecia. The next thing I know, I am having blood drawn and being given information on steroid shots. I would love someone to share their experiences similar to mine. I mostly want to know if it will stop at these 3 patches, will more keep showing up, etc. Basically, is this something that I need to worry about getting worse, or am I overreacting. Thanks in advance for the responses!

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Hi Itz5.. I know you got a lot of awesome replies, but i thought 1 more wouldnt hurt.

im 37 yr female, my husband saw a bald patch on the back of my head about 8months ago, and i of course, freaked out. Went to my Dr, had blood draw, and also had a high ANA result. Went to the rheumetologist (sp) and all seemed okay. 

I use a topical steroid on my scalp (the spot started as about half dollar size, is now almost half of my right scalp). But, i am happy to say that after almost 6months of treatment, an injected steroid at my dermatologist, my hair is growing back. It grows back white and baby fine, but it is growing. 

The whole thing stinks, wicked bad. It hits you emotionally. Hang in there though! =)

You have received now quite contradictory advices: I told you, go for treatment, whilst others say there is no chance, or "no cure". Usually you hear from people who have lost the battle themselves, that treatment makes no sense and has only side effects.

Well, whilst it is true there is no cure, I have to say there is no reason to be that pessimistic. I have AA myself for more than two decades, with a quite devastating prognosis, however it is well under control, i.e. I have no single patch due to full treatment and if they occur, I treat them until they are all gone. And patches do appear, yes, but they disappear if treated early. Also I have a child with even the most devastating prognosis: (1) early onset of AA, (2) a first line relative with AA and (3) another autoimmune issue acting simultanously. Just like me, the child has not a single patch, and if they appear I treat them until they are gone. I removed 5 in one go with Prednisolon on fairly low dosage, against no side effects whatsoever.

Many having lost the battle hope for JAK inhibitors to be developed or approved for the disease. Unfortunately it is not guarateed that this will ever be the case. In addition they only work in 65% of cases, and relapses do occur far too often, you just need to read the relevant thread about their use her in Alopeciaworld. Also they are unlikely to work of the full disease is persistent for more than a decade.

Therefore I would rather work and treat the AA now. It is worth it by all means.

I felt this might be helpful for everybody being afraid about the disease, in particular those having affected children. It is worth treating the disease and it pays back.

Sucks man 

get on xeljanz fast.

losing your hair means your dating life is over.

women hate bald guys.  Don’t listen to people on this forum. Get on xeljanz quick. 

Dont listen to any woman’s advice on here. They have it easy. Bald women get dates just like women with hair. Bald men don’t get any dates.

Thanks for the clear language.

What I can confirm is that professional careers are heavily affected by this. I came across various men with the most severe form of the disease during the last decades.

Nobody takes them serious and I feel sorry for them. They are written off as “incapable to handle stress” by others - because the disease is generally  considered as “caused by stress”. 

I will suggest you to try natural treatment, lifestyle change, diet, exercise. I have written in my blog what I have done to regrown my hairs after 3 years of suffering from Alopecia Areata with more than 15 patches.

http://shareownxp.in/healthcare/

Thanks for reaching out as hair loss at any age can be quite stressful let alone 21 years old. 

Based on the symptoms you described it does sound like you have Alopecia Areata. This is an autoimmune type of hair loss that causes the T-cells in your immune system to attack your hair follicles, and can be triggered by stress, illness, or medication.

You might want to review your recent life events. Have you experienced any traumatic events? Go over what has occurred within the last 6 months or so, and try to recall if there have been any possibly traumatic events that have taken place. Generally, stress or a traumatic incident can trigger Alopecia. Also new medications or dietary changes can as well.

Very little is known about how you can effectively treat this condition or how you can prevent future onsets from occurring because many people wrongly view it as a cosmetic disorder. Unfortunately, the vast majority of dermatologists still share the outdated belief that diet and compromised body systems are unrelated to the etiology of Alopecia. Big Pharma drug products being sold (like Rogaine) take full advantage of the public's lack of knowledge on the subject. Steroid shots are not recommended. 

You don't have to worry as you can halt and reverse Alopecia Areata hair loss but you must get to the root of the cause as opposed to trying to treat the symptoms. Here are some recommendations that will be a good starting point for those needing help. You can get them through food sources but utilizing them in supplement form will probably be easiest. They address the most critical elements in Alopecia Areata hair loss and are proven through scientific research. Also keep in mind that reversing any type of hair loss is a process, requiring a search into your whole body. What factors effecting one person’s body may not effect another which is why some people recover quicker. Discovering these factors can make all the difference.

1. The first one is to supplement with a combination of curcumin & trans-resveratrol. Research shows that Alopecia areata is driven by cytotoxic T lymphocytes and is reversed by JAK inhibition Natural substances such as curcumin & trans-resveratrol can naturally modulate the Jak stat pathway. In layman’s terms, this means that this a key physiological regulator of inflammation and is an important regulator of adaptive immunity in the body. Taking one of each per day in the morning is highly recommended.

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25129481

2. Additionally, some physicians think alopecia areata may also be a result of a deficiency in the immune system, since in many cases the hair can and does often re-grow spontaneously. As a matter of fact, Scientists are now discovering that almost all chronic auto-immune diseases are directly tied to stress and inflammation which can cause deficiencies in the immune system. And alopecia areata hair loss is no exception. Eating a diet rich in omega-3 fats and low in omega-6 fats is the very best way to reverse chronic inflammation damage and return our bodies to a state of balance. Taking an omega-3 supplement every day should help speed your recovery along even more. We recommend Krill Oil.

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23808570

3. Vitamin D has a well-established effect on the immune system and is linked to a variety of autoimmune diseases. Recently, researchers at the Şişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital in Turkey conducted a study to determine if vitamin D levels relate to Alopecia Areata and how vitamin D may affect disease severity. They found that Deficient Vitamin D levels are present in patients with Alopecia areata and inversely correlate with disease severity We recommend supplementing with vitamin D on a daily basis to help with your recovery.

[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24655364

4. The 4th supplement is called Quercetin. Quercetin, is a flavanoid found in apples, grapes, and onions. In human studies, it has been shown to block the manufacture and release of inflammation-causing substances. In the case of Alopecia Areata (AA) there is an established correlation between the onset of AA and the release of Heat Shock Protein HSP70, involved in the inflammatory response. In a study HSP70 was inhibited by both local and systemic administration of Quercetin, and effectively helped prevent the onset of AA, and helped resolved AA. Additionally, it helps reduce anxiety and corticotrophin releasing hormone and modulates the hypothalmic pituitary-adrenal axis so it’s a win-win supplement for anybody suffering from alopecia areata. We suggest taking 500 mgs in the morning.

[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22042611

5. It’s always critical to use a topical aid to boost your hair and help alleviate the hair loss until you get your body hormones under control. The supplements help your body from the inside out, and an effective topical directly addresses the scalp and hair from another front. Avoid chemicals and opt for a natural topical that does not create dependent hairs but rather thickens and strengthens hair in a natural way. You may have heard that certain essential oils topically are effective against alopecia areata hair loss by stimulating hair growth, eliminating bacteria build up on your scalp, and helping calm inflammation. Well this is true, a study conducted by the department of dermatology in Aberdeen, United Kingdom conducted a 7 month study proving essential oils can successfully help treat Alopecia Areata. Another recent scientific study even showed that Rosemary Essential Oil (just by itself) outperformed Minoxidil which is the ingredient in the mainstream product Rogaine. You should consider adding essential oils into your nightly routine. 

[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9828867

6. The last but not the least step is to avoid traditional shampoos and only use natural hair care products. You can probably pick out shampoo faster than it takes you to read our recommendations, but accidentally snagging a bad one can strip your hair of protective oils, cause breakage, and even contribute to hair loss which means choosing one with no sulfates or parabens. This is especially true when you are suffering from alopecia areata. It’s critical that you wash every day to remove buildup so the new hairs can come in. So really make sure to avoid sulfates and pick out a great shampoo. If you’re wondering what a good shampoo is anything with essential oils or biotin.

Let us know if you have any questions. Good luck. 

Great info! 

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