Alopecia World
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6 year old son recently diagnosed
My little boy was recently diagnosed (loss of eyebrows, half of eyelashes gone, and now scalp patches). We are just starting topical steroid and Rogaine-type product now. I am very worried about how this will affect him and how bad it will get. It's been 6 months and only getting worse. I know I have to give the treatment some time, but can anyone tell me about other things they have tried that may have improved their child's Alopecia (vitamins, accupuncture, anything....?). Also, what is the best way to talk to your child about it?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by BaldGirlsDoLunch.org on
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childrensalopeciaproject.org is a wonderful resource of information for families. They will also respond promptly with information you can share with family and friends and schoolmates.
Essential is educating the people you know and making it easily understood what aa is and what it isn't. Parents who are the most open and factual with everyone seem to have the most well adjusted process through this. 80% of new diagnoses resolve on their own within a year...so during that time there's a lot of repetitive explaining to others. It takes patience as one after another will try to say you need a different doctor or different treatment. There are basic treatments that can be tried while the condition is waited out...to turn itself off...there is no evidence that any alternatives make any difference, though they do keep parents and patients occupied doing "something" while they wait. There is no prediction other than that most cases are self-limited.
I would not make a huge deal about it. I wouldn't go to the extent of getting videos and showing them to the whole classroom. No need to turn it into a disproportionate issue. You just want to be able to say this is it..he's healthy. Just reassure that he's not getting chemo, etc. To those who want to know more, refer them to the CAP site and giveout the CAP booklet on alopecia basics which is more appealing than other older materials.
And most of all, take your lead from your child. If it's no big deal to him, don't make it one. If he senses that his parents think this is something to be very worried about, it will make him think it's worse than it is. Hope that helps.
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Permalink Reply by Mandy ( Bradyn's Mom) on
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My little one is 5 and the best thing I have found is to let her see what her hair looks like ( she has ophiasis pattern ) so its not as noticable. I have also let her take control of the treatment. She puts her foam on everynight after her bath after I either apply it on her hair for her, or into the cap. The more I give up to her the better it makes her feel.
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Permalink Reply by kmunro on
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Mandy,my son is also following the ophiasis pattern, and I am concerned that this pattern has little hope for self-containment, so to speak. My son's Alopecia started with his eyebrows, then eyeslahes (partial loss) and now one (getting larger) patch and the ophiasis pattern on the front hairline. It's been over 9 months and getting worse. I haven't found any other kids with the Ophiasis pattern, who ended up with a great outcome. I know everyone says it's unpredictable, and each case is different, I'm just wondering if you are seeing progress?
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