Does hair come back if you just "let it be"?

OK. I have been reading posts here and on the NAAF site about all the various and sundry things alopecians have done and are doing to reverse this situation. I have read about oils, shots, creams, diets, vitamins, rubs, and on and on. I have decided this is just too confusing and am just living my life with few changes (except more exercise and a better over-all diet). But I have this niggling fear that I should be doing something. So...is there anything anyone is doing,taking,absorbing etc. that is actually working? Or is it all a roll of the dice, so to speak. And how long must someone wait before saying, OK. I give up. This is my life now so I will adjust. Any thoughts or advice? thanks, All.

Views: 492

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tallgirl on September 20, 2012 at 8:49pm

Not in my case. It has gone too far, and I am older. See this blog for the deciding point for others on this site:

The AHA! Moment
Most of us can pinpoint The Moment when something big happened (Elvis died, Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon, Challenger exploded, Kennedy was shot, Princess Diana died, Michael Jackson died, Twin Towers...).

What about the moment you realized you would stay bald forever (or thought you would), and said to the heavens, "Well. Okay, then," and just did what you had to do, from then on, as a person with hair loss...no more prayers, tears, bargaining, shots, etc.? When was that,… Continue

Added by Tallgirl on September 26, 2010 at 9:30pm — 11 Comments

Permalink Reply by Rose Marie' on September 21, 2012 at 2:02am

Hi

After a lot of research I decided very early on with my daughters alopecia that I was not going to try medications and treatments. I would have supported her wholeheartedly if she had wanted to try the options that were available but in my daughters case, she didn't want to then and she doesn't want to now.

The job I do gives me the opportunity to meet many people with alopecia. I have a few people I help that have alopecia and are doctors...they have not been able to find a cure or treatment for themselves, so I continue to do what I can to help with hair. I have met many people that have tried treatments and medications with very little long term success.

My daughter has regrown and lost her hair 5 times in the last 10 years, while not using any type of medication or treatment. Spontaneous remission is not unusual with alopecia, so don't ever loose hope but I think it's very worthwhile to live in the now and decide how you want to handle your hairloss as it is today.

Hope this helps.

Rosy

Permalink Reply by Christine on September 22, 2012 at 6:07pm

I agree with Tallgirl, early on I did try some crazy things, and some not so crazy, but still unsuccessful at growing my hair back, or keeping it from falling out, with the exception of Minoxidil which I believe did work for me as far as growing the hair back quicker and thicker..but alas I developed a sensitivity to it and had to quit using it, now I have no back-up plan and I'm happy to say a weight has been lifted. Like Tallgirl, I'm older now and have been battling it for 10 yrs now, and I'm ready to lay down the weapons, it's not that I wouldn't like it for all my hair to grow back, I would, but I don't believe it will, at least not in a cosmetically acceptable way, I have very little hair left on my head, no eyebrows or lashes, I'm happy about not having to shave my legs, but I'm buzzing my head now, I finally got a pretty good HH wig, which is secure, and this has helped me during this new stage in my life. Until they come out with a proven treatment for AA I will not waste anymore of my money on snake oil, and empty promises about the newest greatest thing to grow your hair back. I'm not willing to do anything that would harm my health like oral steroids or injections with only a possibility of success. Exercise and eat healthy. They are the best things you can do for your whole body.

Permalink Reply by Norm on September 22, 2012 at 6:33pm

"...I have this niggling fear that I should be doing something..."

Yep, you should - and it's "enjoy your life", because (depending on your religion!) you only get one shot at it, and there's enough cr*ap in the world without heaping more on yourself unnecessarily over something you can't affect!
There's nothing wrong with trying things to see if they work, but you've been there and done that, so now it's time to accept that this may well be, as you say, the way your life is now. Much better to enjoy what you've got, than to keep wishing for something that's out of reach! If you really MUST do something... go and hug your husband and take him out for a meal! Much better use of money than spending it on Snake Oil :)

Permalink Reply by Casey on September 26, 2012 at 12:23pm

I did treatments and none worked (shots, creams, etc). I stopped and the hair continued to fall out and now Ive been completely bald with no regrowth for over 10 years

I recently decided to try treatment again. Im on anthralin, but ive seen very little changes

Alopecia seems to be 100% different for each person. No way to predict how you will react to a treatment or even if you hair will grow back on its own.

Permalink Reply by Pete on September 27, 2012 at 5:32pm

Hi Judy,

Like a previous poster stated, everyone responds differently to different treatments. I've had AA for 31 years. I get small patches all the time that resolve by themselves. I've only had to visit the doctor 3 times in those 31 years when a patch got too big and wasn't slowing down. Cortisone shots around the perimeter of the patch worked all 3 times. New hair always comes in as silky white for me (everyone?) so I've had white streaked black hair for 31 years. It takes about 6 months to get it's color back. Hang in there girl. It's easy for someone to say don't worry about it but it's hard not to. Guys have it easy - baseball caps:)

Pete

Permalink Reply by alamogirl/ aka Judy on September 28, 2012 at 6:48pm

Thanks, Pete. Glad the shots work for you. Initially, the shots helped a bit, but soon the fallout was galloping and I quit. The derm;s PA took me aside and said her advice would be to stop the shots and I am glad she told me that. I no longer "wig out" over this. I do miss my lashes and brows, though. Blessings!

Permalink Reply by Lori Van Decker on September 29, 2012 at 11:43pm

The best advice I ever received about alopecia came from a dermatologist at UMDNJ when I was a graduate student at Rutgers. He told me to just accept it and invest in better hair replacement options. His wife had AU. If there were any effective treatment for it, he would've known about it. That was 20 years ago, but I don't think anything has really changed, at least not for me, as my case has gone too far and I am older, like Tallgirl. I think that there's a point where we really do accept the fact that while having hair is certainly nice, not having it is certainly not the end of the world.

Permalink Reply by Vesselsong on October 1, 2012 at 6:27am

I think it's a personal decision to relent or not relent on trying various methods toward having one's hair restored. If trying various methods and products in an attempt to find something that works, no matter how long one has been waiting for hair restoration or how long he/she decides to do so, it’s important to guard against allowing Alopecia to take control of one’s life which could be a form of idolatry.

I have read that some people have had their hair grow back after seemingly doing little to ensure that it did. It might be a case of not stressing which is a huge step toward winning the battle against Alopecia. Quoting Bible verses daily with “hair” helps me to remain optimistic. Since being diagnosed with Alopecia, Luke 21:18: Not a hair on my head shall perish has become of my favorite Bible verses. I won’t ever stop believing that God shall restore every missing strand. I won’t let the missing strands control my life or keep me from living life in abundance, but I won’t relent either.

For the past month I have been taking a Chinese herb called Ban Tu Wan – called The Alopecia Pill, which MIGHT be contributing to small progress with strands of hair appearing in spots that hasn’t grown hair in 4 years. It might be too soon for me to see real results. I am anticipating further progress. I will continue taking the herb and within another month will provide an update on this site.

I have been applying castor oil to my scalp daily as well. Many online bloggers and some professionals believe that castor oil promotes hair growth, thickness, and overall healthy hair and scalp. After only using this oil for a week, applying it to my scalp daily, twice a day (in the mornings and at night and sleeping with a plastic bag on my head), I am seeing incredible results already (thicker hair). Among prayer, Ban Tu Wan Herb, and Home Health Brand Castor Oil (Cold Pressed), I am seeing results. I'm looking up – God is looking down!

Permalink Reply by Karen Smith on October 1, 2012 at 7:49pm

Thanks for sharing. I love the scripture.

RSS

Disclaimer

Any mention of products and services on Alopecia World is for informational purposes only; it does not imply a recommendation or endorsement by Alopecia World. Nor should any statement or representation on this site be construed as professional, medical or expert advice, or as pre-screened or endorsed by Alopecia World. Alopecia World is not responsible or liable for any of the views, opinions or conduct, online or offline, of any user or member of Alopecia World.

© 2024   Created by Alopecia World.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service