Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Amy on August 15, 2011 at 3:48pm

Hey Jenn, I know exactly how you feel. I'm 19 and I think that alopecia is really difficult at our stage of life, as so many young people judge eachother on appearances. I'm one of those people who just get on with it, but after just over a year of my alopecia getting progressively worse I feel myself slipping into a deep depression too. It's emotionally exhausting having to go to work, to university and everything else whilst battling this behind the scenes.

I agree with you. I've hardly been to the doctors about this because I found it a waste of time, and I don't want steroids etc.. I went to a salon that specialises in hair loss because of alopecia and chemo, and I had a few tests where they pull hair out with cellotape (very painful!!) and look at it under the microscope, to see where your hair is dying and therefore where it's going to fall out. They sold me special shampoos and oils to put on my hair, which are just to expensive to carry on. I don't really know if they worked, as my alopecia has been slow and not rapid.

This may not apply to you at all, but I think it's best to try anything to make yourself better. I've been reading a book by a lady who had gotten over alopecia areata and diffuse hairloss by following a strict diet. Basically, you should get blood tests from your doctor, and ask for them to check the serum ferritin levels (to do with iron, I think it's the protein that holds iron in the blood. So you could have normal iron levels but low serum ferritin levels). She says if your ferritin level is under 80 you are likely to have hairloss. Mine was 16. She recommends following a high iron diet, and if your body is not absorbing iron (the absorbtion will take around 3 months), you should try an anti-candida diet. I see you're from Canada, and I've heard that in the US and Canada candida is accepted by doctors, but it's not over here in the UK.

Anyway, the whole iron thing may not be relevent to you at all, but I thought I'd share it with you just in case. On the whole 'at least you haven't got cancer' thing, I get that from my boyfriend who had cancer as a young teen. It's hard that he doesn't quite understand, but he is also very supportive of my alopecia at the same time. I think the biggest thing to think about is how lucky you are that you have a boyfriend who thinks you're beautiful and will love you no matter what, because then who cares what anyone else thinks? Many (shallow) men would run away from the situation.

I hope you feel slightly better soon, I'm here with you in feeling down about it all x

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Permalink Reply by Jenn on August 21, 2011 at 8:45pm

I'll definitely get those blood tests when i go for my physical, and see i also want to get tested so cialiac disease because thats another one i read about that may contribute to alopecia and hair loss.
as for my boyfriend this weekend while drunk he told me he cant deal with my hairloss anymore so i dont know where the support is. he was drunk but drunk words are usually sober thoughts. so my support system on that end is now gone, i have my family and friends but i still feel alone because i live with my boyfriend. yipee. i dont want to see him. i dont like him right now. my weekend was terrible and if there was a hole i could crawl into i would. im done with life for right now. im putting things on hold for a bit i think. i just need a break.

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Permalink Reply by resman on August 22, 2011 at 12:47pm

Hi Jenn, My heart goes out to you. I am a lot older than you and have raised 7 children. They all had some problems but not spot balding. However, I do have friends of the family that are dealing with alopecia. I personally have done a lot of research on this and have found some useful information that I have placed on one of my blogs. I would like to share this information with these friends but am not sure as to how to go about doing so. I don't want to embarrass them or make them feel others are noticing. What I am looking for is a way to approach them with what I have learned. Do you or anyone reading have a suggestion? Should I use a direct approach or maybe a subtle approach? I do have the best intentions. Thanks. resman.

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Permalink Reply by Sanfra22 on August 29, 2011 at 7:21pm

Hi Jenn
I totally appreciate what you are saying. The hair loss that I have been experiencing has left me depressed as well as helpless. I have been depressed before in my life but this time it seems to be attached to a very specific trigger. Seeing the hair in the drain really sets me off, and I feel very disillusioned and unsure about the future.

The one thing that I can say is that this is not something that you asked for, it is not your fault, and you are doing as best you can to accept it. I think the first step is reaching out to people as you have done here.

Eventually, you will find some ways of coping with it...whether that is just acceptance, a sense of humor about it, or a treatment regimen that you are comfortable with. I have been taking evening primrose oil, and biotin. I don't think it helps, but it probably doesn't hurt either. And- Who knows..maybe it will grow back in a few months.

Jenn, you are not alone. Reach out to those closest to you, and indulge in the things that give you pleasure. For the rest, know that you will gain acceptance with time.

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Permalink Reply by Jenn on August 29, 2011 at 8:19pm

Thank you Sanfra i appreciate this response very much. it made me smile. i will indulge in things that give me pleasure, its the small things in life that count. Thank you.

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Permalink Reply by Heather on September 30, 2011 at 1:19am

Hi Jenn,
I have had Alopecia since I was 11, so 7 years now, and honestly, this probably isn't what you want to hear, but the best thing I've done is shave it off. If you're not comfortable going bald, definitely invest in a wig. I don't like going without hair, so I've tried all different sorts of wigs,and finally found one that I love. I started by having little spots like you, but having half a head of hair is just a reminder of what you're losing. Shaving it off is starting over. When you just sit and let it fall out, you feel helpless, but as soon as you take it into your own hands it helps a lot. I've been completely bald for 5 years now I think, and I'm fairly certain I won't have hair again. That would scare most people, but I try to focus on the positive. Another thing I did that helped me cope was telling people. It sounds like the last thing you would ever want to do, but unless you tell people they have no way of understanding and supporting you. Once my friends and family knew, I received all sorts of support that I didn't know was there. If you have any interest in finding a wig, definitely ask as I've had probably almost ten now, and I know which ones are the best! Good luck with everything :)

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Permalink Reply by Jenn on October 3, 2011 at 9:53pm

Hello Heather,
I'm having a positive turn around my hair is all growing back in ALL of my bald spots now actually and it started without any lotions and potions, i went to a dermatologist and they started me on steroid injections and im starting to think it was a HUGE mistake as i have indents all over my head now, so i think i am going to stop with those pretty soon now, i have only had 2 treatments and now have 3 different indents and im thinking WTF. i am still having a little bit of hairloss but im thinking its due to stress, the dermatologist told me that my alopecia is stress related and thats what i believe as well as this year has been probably one of the worst for me. I don't think i am going to shave it off as it is not falling out as much as it use to and I do have alot of re growth now, so i am quite happy and confident that i might have it all back one day and this might just be a phase in my life. heres hoping. I am sorry that this is not the same for you, I agree telling people does help I have been telling more and more people but it isnt something i am just going to post on facebook as alot of my friends are too immature to handle it or may not understand it, all of my family knows and so do my close friends, and some other people as well as some people i just met, its a neat subject starter. I wish you all the best and thank you for responding.

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Permalink Reply by Ryan on October 17, 2011 at 5:12am

Hey Jen
im in a very similler sistuation,
19 years old over 600 friends on fb been VERY social my whole life and as of 6 weeks ago i started getting bald patchs have a total of 4 2 very small and 2 decent sized ones,

its very hard to tell anyone of my friends cause even if they are support and alot of them would be i feel like they might try treat me drifent or pity me (which i couldnt stand)
im hopin to get the same outcome as you i have just had some injections 2 weeks ago havent noticed a much growth yet but hey take it day by day some days it breaks me down some days im okay,
not to worryed about the stage its at now just scared shitless of whats to come lol
but yeah good luck everyone

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Permalink Reply by Karli R. on November 3, 2011 at 1:04pm

Hi Jenn, I am 21 and started getting bald spots at age 19, but have been growing hair back since then. I basically feel the exact same way as you: angry, depressed, misunderstood. If you ever want to talk about it, let me know!

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