Hello All,

I am new to this forum, I am a 37 yo F who has been struggling with hair loss for almost two years. I have always had fine blonde hair, but a ton of it. In Dec 12, I noticed increased shedding in the shower, I remember this because I was asking my girlfriends "how much hair do you lose in a day." I really was not worried about it because my volume had not been effected at all. The shedding continued, I then began to notice when I was styling as well or running my hands through it, my hair stylist also commented that I was shedding more than normal. This is when I panicked...

I went to my general MD who tested for the usual suspects (didn't even look at my hair) results came back low ferritin and deficient vit d, everything else normal. She placed me on vit d and iron and sent me to a derm. The derm told me to use rogaine and not to worry cause I have so much hair no one will notice (frustrating) he also checked hormone levels and all was normal. Well, the shedding did not stop and I began losing volume, this was diffuse with no pattern.

About 5mo ago, I noticed my brows and lashes were thinning. Nothing major but concerning, this prompted a visit to the endocrinologist. He did note that my scalp was thinning (at least he looked) and ordered up lab work. My endo panel was normal, ANA normal, thyroid normal; once again my vit d was deficient and ferritin very low normal. He suggested alopecia universalis (but was unsure of dx) and put me on dexamethasone twice a day for 3 months, stating that if I have a inflammatory processs going in that he has seen steroid decrease shedding by half in 3 mo period.

I have been on the steroid for a month and the shedding is actually worse than ever. My hair is so thin that I can't wear it down because it is so obvious. I will be shopping for supplemental hair very soon. This has been the hardest thing I have ever been through, it effects my relationships and day to day life has changed. The worst part is I still have no answers!

I know that diffuse alopecia is very rare. I guess my question is, how did you present with alopecia. Is it rapid loss or diffuse over time? How were you diagnosed? And is there hope?? Any insight would be helpful!