Alopecia World
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Diagnosed last week with AA-so confused
Hello, I've spent the last 2 hours skimming through some discussions hoping to find some answers to my questions. So last Friday I was straightening my hair when I sectioned a part off I notice a dime-nickel sized spot. Of course that is never comforting to any one. I went to work and was freaking out in my head so I scheduled a dermatology appointment wherever I could find one (that was reputable). Went to the doctor and I'm now unsure if I saw the doctor or the PA because I was in such a fog with my thoughts. I explained to them that about 3 years ago I had an even smaller spot appear one day in my part and I just paid no attention to it since everyone I worked with (in a hair salon) told me to it was stress, stop stressing. It grew back fine. So she looked at it for a minute and made sure I haven't been previously diagnosed with any thyroid issues, which anything on a regular CBC has never indicated. She said she wasn't to order a more in depth thyroid test with regular labs, and then went on to say you have AA and im going to give you an injection today and you will come back next month. So as expected I heard alopecia and my mind went blank. But at the same time I guess I just expected a doctor to inform me more or bring up common concerns, and she didn't. I literally said "happy Friday" in the most sarcastic tone. So I obviously balled my eyes out and my boyfriend, sister, and co worker tried to reassure me I will surely be fine, but it's all so unknown if one day I am going to wake up with no hair. Life could be worse I know, but it is still a huge deal. Anyways, so what I am confused about is, are injections typically IMMEDIATLY given if a patient has had hair regrowth in a tiny spot before? Should she have waited for test results or to see if I have regrowth by next visit? While I didn't know that it was a more serious issue, it grew back just fine on its own and pretty much as quickly as average hair grows. Second, this itch I have read about and she mentioned because I had dandruff....is this like an insane cant stop wont stop itching? An itch here or there? I have A LOT of hair and I get product build up easily so of course I get dandruff and occasionally itchy...and I have sensitive skin so I have done trial and error with shampoos because there are some that make my scalp slightly itchy. And the itch I am describing is like the kind when a hair is stuck in your shirt or something and tickling your skin. No redness or flaking or insane itching and not a localized spot itching. Third, are there things I should look out for that typically occur before another spot appears? I'm scared to even brush my hair some nights. I have never notice any crazy shedding unless I have had my hair up all day, it traps in all the regular natural shedding that occurs. Can I color my hair still? Will having another baby make my hair fall out?
I haven't gotten lab results back yet, and mostly I pay no attention to the diagnosis. I had my day of sadness and panic and I got back to regular life. But today I have to much free time at work and my thoughts are running wild. Thank you for any responses!
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by TMB on
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I unserstand your frustration about the whole situation. I have been dealing with AA on and off for almost 20 years and it is a really bummer because you never know when it is going to strike. I know you are concerned about the itching but my experience is that at tines I have felt localized tingling which has always results in another spot appearing. Please dont mistake itching for tingling. Whatever you do don't stress. I know that is hard to do. Doctors and researchers believe stress is a trigger for AA.
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Permalink Reply by LunaLuv on
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I was diagnosed with aa seven years ago, also had a small bald spot. Pretty quickly, my hair started shedding and it was breaking off not falling from the roots.
So my advice is if you notice your hair is breaking off/shedding, not "normal" shedding, then push your doctor to check all your hormones. Actually he or she should have done that anyway if they haven't already. But it sounds more like it's just triggered by stress, especially if it's the only spot you have and it's come and gone and grown back before. And the more time you spend stressing about the bald spot and "IF" it will fall out more is obviously not healthy for your hair either.
Stress is a BIG trigger, because stress causes inflammation of the body itself, and our hair is unfortunately vulnerable.
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Permalink Reply by briannarae0810 on
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Thank you. Ya I haven't noticed any new spots yet. I check just to be aware, not that I am expecting to lose or waiting for it to happen, just want to know when it has happened. I haven't seen any or felt anything. Which I can't even tell by touch that I have the already existing spot because its small and I have thick hair. I just got my lab work back but it was mainly to check regular CBC lab work and more in depth thyroid and everything is fine. I go back on October 4th to my primary and to the dermatologist so I am hoping one of them will accept my request of my hormones. After I had my daughter I became allergic to progesterone birth control and sensitive to combination or estrogen birth control. I had an inflammatory skin reaction from the progesterone only pill-erythema multiforme-so that got me wondering if there is some link involving maybe my hormones after pregnancy. I feel a bit better lately, and not so concerned. I just wish I knew for sure of something. Not all these it could be's or maybes.
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I am with you there-- we want to know and understand what's happening. I suspect my Aa due to a hormonal imbalance PLUDS loads of stress which exacerbated everything. Doctors missed checking a few hormones (estrogen and testosterone) and I am waiting for those results now.
Any type of hormonal fluctuation that occurs like during pregnancy or post partum or starting or coming off BC can definitely trigger hair loss and the main reason is usually the dip in estrogen or elevated testosterone levels. Who knows! Our bodies are crazy. And everything affects us differently like our life style habits, our genetics, etc.
I suggest asking for an endocrinologist referral if you don't feel like your primary or dermatologist is doing anything for you and if your situation escalates. Hopefully it doesn't though and it grows back. So no worries :)
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