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My hair fell out when I was 6. I wore a wig until 7th grade, and then decided to come out as who I am. I took the shots until I was 18, and no longer on my parents' insurance. It took until I was about 28 or 29 to fully accept myself and realize that we alopecians are a special breed. If the Neanderthals had so so much hair, I think perhaps we are the advanced species! It feels so much better to not worry about it anymore. It helps to just love yourself as is and not think there is some medical solution to our natural state.
I never sought treatment for alopecia aerate, in part because I felt well informed that there was no cure, and in part because I have vitiligo and had tried some treatments for that which didn't work. Out of an attempt to do the right thing, I went to a dermatologist, but by then more than half of my hair had fallen out, and he didn't offer any treatment. However, I have not yet given up on the idea that there might be something I could do to influence my hair. I have hypothyroidism and am trying to get help with that beyond my TSH being the whole story, and I have read repeatedly that low iron can affect hair loss and regrowth, but because my levels were not off the scale, my primary care doctor wasn't concerned. From what I have read, some scientists/doctors believe that normal ranges of iron measurements for women include iron depleted members of the population, and I found it quite compelling that there is not an apparent biological reason why women in their childbearing years should have lower iron levels than males (yes, there are clear reasons why their iron levels might be lower, but to go by the lab ranges, a man with certain levels would be considered anemic, while a woman with the same levels would be considered just fine.)
I've got the autoimmune hat trick, too - AU, vitiligo and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (hypothyroidism). I've taken levothyroxin for years.
Jessica, thank you! I was diagnosed with AU the same year I turned 50. Not a great year for me! Being a normal woman, it was a real blow to my vanity. I have never considered myself attractive, but my hair was amazing. I went through all of the treatments available, shots, clobatasol, squaric acid, you name it. Reading your post and the many, many replies, I have come to a decision. I am going to officially stop treatment. I have not treated for a while and the cycle of loss is starting up again. I feel like I am just setting myself up for disappointment when I treat. It works for a while and then it starts to fall out. I have a beautiful pair of wigs that I can use when it gets real bad. It is time for me to accept this and move forward.
Again, thank you (and everyone who has replied) so much for giving me the strength to move on!
Your strength is inspiring! You're not alone.
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