Alopecia started after being on antibiotic

If anyone's child has recently been diagnosed with alopecia areata, could you tell me if your child was on an antibiotic prior to the first sign of hairloss?? My daughter was on Arithromycn three weeks before her first bald patch appeared. She had a cold that we were treating. I wonder if this is linked to her hairloss?

Thanks for any help you could provide :)

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Permalink Reply by Carol on February 7, 2009 at 9:18am
Alopecia is such a funny thing because noone is sure about what causes it. It is now assumed that it could be a combination of things including genetic disposition and stress to the immune system. I got alopecia at 1, around the same time vaccinations were administered which was apparently enough stress to my immune system to confuse it. There is a woman that I know who has alopecia and all three of her children have it too. Her two older children also got alopecia around vaccination times so she held back on the third child who wasn't vaccinated until she was nearly a teen who suddenly lost her hair once vaccinated. Now I'm not blaming vaccinations specifically, it's just a good example of something that would cause stress to the immune system. Many people begin hairloss at other times in their lives such as puberty, pregnancy and menopause to name a few. There have been a few who have gotten alopecia after being quite ill as well. It was probably not the medicine that caused this and I can't say what did cause like I said, no one knows for sure but I'm sure the illness probably didn't help. Hope that helps!
Permalink Reply by Andrew on February 8, 2009 at 2:53am
I was on an antibiotic prior to developing Alopecia Areata at the age of 9. My parents and I have always wondered if the antibiotic helped to induced the onset of AA. I am sure there is no definitive answer....and honestly there probably wont be for some time. Just have to smile and enjoy life! Hope you and your daughter are well.

-Andrew
Permalink Reply by Andrea on February 9, 2009 at 12:36pm
My daughter (5 yrs. old) was diagnosed about 1 year ago at the age of 4. We tried to think of everything that could have caused her hair to start falling out but couldn't come up with anything. Her Dr. told us that most triggers occur about 3 months before the hair will start to fall out, now that doesn't mean that it was the antibiotic, but it could very well be something completely different. With my daughter I noticed when she was just a baby that she had weirdly shaped fingernails...they were pitted and she has been on treatments for ezcema since aobut 4 months of age. She has been seeing a pediatric dermotologist regularly since about 1 yr. of age and both the pitting and ezcema are linked to Alopecia. Does your daughter display either of these? If so it is more than likely linked to her immune system and no one knows what causes that. At my daughters last appt. last week her Dr. said they are finding that more and more cases of Alopecia are linked to ezcema and the more controlled the ezcema the more controlled the hair loss.
Permalink Reply by Beth Breslow on February 9, 2009 at 3:28pm
That is really interesting....my daughter does have ezcema which we treat with hydrocortisone. She does not have the nail issue but i've read about that as well. I am taking her to an allergist this week because I feel that maybe she has a gluten or milk allergy which could be behind all of this. How is your daughter now? Melaina is losing lots of strands of hair daily since the initial bald patch on the underneath of her head. Right now the whole right side of her head is thinning. I just wish it would slow down but it hasn't yet. Thanks for your information...good luck with your little girl :)
Permalink Reply by Toni on February 12, 2009 at 9:16pm
Hi my daughter (4 yrs old) was diagnosed with AA when she was 3 yrs old. I read your story and could not believe how much it sounded like my daughter. She has ezcema as well and I had a feeling the two where related but the docs can not really say. Also, she did receive a strong Antibiotic and was sick 3 months prior to the patch of AA appearing. Her patch has been contained and small amounts of hair around the edges are growing back but it is very stubborn. The docs also recommended vitamins that contain biotin, zinc and iron. Also lots of sun light. I also believe stress and eating habits are linked as well. I am so glad to hear the same story as mine. I have been watching the internet for over a year and have not seen anyone link it to Ezcema, I am glad I am not the only one. Take Care.
Permalink Reply by jackieduck on February 14, 2009 at 4:03pm
Err I think i agree with everyone, interesting now on my second bout of aa and yes was on strong antis for 5 days when yet again another patch began??? Makes you wonder???

Kind regards Jackie
Permalink Reply by Natalie on February 16, 2009 at 12:22pm
Hi,

I'm new here and was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata 6 days ago, I've never suffered with it before, but I first noticed a bald patch around the same time I began taking some anti biotics for Acne. I cant remember the name but i can check for you later. I'm pretty sure the two are related, but no one can guarantee it.
Permalink Reply by Laura-monkey'smama on February 16, 2009 at 5:56pm
My son had taken amoxicillin for an ear infection prior to diagnosis, but it's hard to pin down the exact timing since he had some bald patches from lying on his back in the crib which later "spread" before he was actually diagnosed. He does have both the nail pitting and eczema. Oddly, his father has the nail pitting but has never had alopecia, and both his father and I have eczema. Our ped did tell us that autoimmune diseases tend to run in families, and there is asthma all over both sides and I have been "tentatively" diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis recently. It's so easy to beat ourselves up and think that we somehow did something to our kids to cause this, but I think the truth is it's just a genetic crapshoot.
Permalink Reply by Picdubois on May 20, 2020 at 11:09am

Yeah I would not beat myself up over any of this - stuff happens. But at 77 I had an ear infection followed by two rounds of amoxicillin prior to onset. Also there was traumatic event and eventual affect on nail growth.

Permalink Reply by Donna on February 18, 2009 at 5:30pm
I have heard this theory before regarding antibiotics, i do find it interesting and think it should be investigated thouroughly.

My personal experience is somewhat different, I was trapped in a house fire as a child and within 3-4 months I was AU. Funny enough thopugh my Dad also suffered from alopecia and when I saw a specialist he said I was always predisposed to alopecia and it just required a trigger event to activate it, my trigger event being the house fire. I am pleased to say that so far both my kids are fine and show no signs at all of having alopecia (touch wood) they have both had all their vaccines, they are aged 14yrs and 10yrs.
Permalink Reply by Meme on April 19, 2009 at 2:21pm
Hi,
When i was four, i was sick for many weeks. We went to the doctor and they gave us antibiotics and after that i started to lose my hair.
-Meme
Permalink Reply by Angie on March 12, 2019 at 7:56pm

When I was two years I had an ear infection and I assume I was treated with antibiotics and a couple weeks later, my hair started falling out which developed into AU

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