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First bald spot
Hi all, nice to meet you. I'm very happy to have found this community. I haven't officially been diagnosed, and this is all BRAND NEW for me. As in, a few days old. Here's my story. I'm a 28 year old female.
Two days ago a friend of mine posted a lengthy status update on Facebook explaining that one of his young twin daughters has been diagnosed with Alopecia Areata. It was heartfelt and emotional and he was reaching out to see if anyone had experience with it. He is an amateur photographer and posts lots of pictures of his kids, so he also wanted to give everyone a heads up if we notice she becomes bald eventually.
This was the very first time I'd heard of Alopecia Areata.
The next day (yesterday), I woke up and got ready for work. As I was doing my hair, I noticed a penny sized bald spot. That is exactly what my friend had described as one of the first signs of Alopecia he noticed in his daughter.
Suddenly I remembered another instance 5 months ago when I got my hair cut. As my stylist was working, she asked me, "Did you cut a chunk of your hair off in the back?" Of course I hadn't, but she said I had a small patch of my hair that was only a few inches long. She brushed it off, saying it didn't really matter because I have so much hair it would never be noticeable.
In the past few days, I've learned that Alopecia can cause hair loss AND regrowth with no known pattern or reason. Now that patch of 2 inch hair made more sense.
So with that information I talked to my doctor last night. From what I described, he believes it could be Alopecia Areata. He told me to read up on it a little more and if I agree that it does seems like Alopecia, he will refer me to a dermatologist. Otherwise, he will run some tests for things like thyroid disorders, low iron, or even lupus. But at this rate, I really do think it falls in line with Alopecia. I will call him today and ask for that referral.
I think at this point I may be in a state of denial. Not because I don't think it's Alopecia, but because for some reason I think I'll be the lucky one where it doesn't escalate? And I know there's no way for me to ever know that for sure. I do have a thick head of hair, and even with the small bald spot I found yesterday, it will never be noticeable because of how much hair I have. If it remains at this state forever, I don't see it ever having a real impact on my life.
If I get the official diagnosis, I think it will always follow me in the back of my mind.
Will I get more bald spots?
Will I get bigger bald spots?
Is my hair going to grow back?
If my hair grows back, will it fall out again?
Am I going to lose hair anywhere else than my head?
Will I go completely bald and will THAT ever grow back?
I could go on and on and on.
Anyway, thanks for listening. I'm really happy I found this community here.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Alo-mom on
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You are very wise to get as much knowledge as possible early on. Years ago I had a boss that developed Alopecia, a few spots, he told me this and within a few months the hair had grown back. Twenty years latter my daughter while away at college called me and told me she found a spot. Within 4 months her long very thick hair was gone. She developed AU. That was 6 years ago. Her hair never grew back. Alopecia is a very tricky condition. It leaves you not knowing what is going to develop. It is a wait and see condition. NAAF is the organization that is there for you and a great resource of information. There are many studies going on now and my daughter is in one to them. She is having some regrowth and no side effects. Only time will tell. Thank you for sharing. All my best ALOMOM
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Permalink Reply by january5th2016 on
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thanks for replying! "it is a wait and see condition" is a perfect way of describing it. I feel like I won't ever be able to totally be comfortable because I can't ever be sure it won't get worse. Even if it doesn't progress in the next 5 years, who's to say it won't progress in 6 years?
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Thank you so much for sharing! I am in the very same boat! My daughter, age 9, was just diagnosed last week and we have the same concerns! At this point she has one small spot on the top of her head but I appreciate your openness and honesty!
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Thank you. How did they do the diagnosis? Do they test the actual bald spot?
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Her pediatrician looked at it but did not actually do any kind of "test". He looked at the spot and the hair surrounding it. I was almost 100% before I took her in from doing my own research...if he had told me otherwise, I would have been shocked. I am planning on taking her to a dermatologist. Do you have the nail pitting? 3 out of 5 nails on both of her hands have pitted nails. Her spot has gotten larger since last week. At this point she can still part her hair differently and conceal it...or wear a large headband. How are you doing with the emotional side of it?
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Hello..did the doctor explain why she has pitted nails? Is it because her nails were inflammed or is it because her immune system is killing nails too same as hair follicle..can you plase ask the doctor?
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Her Dr didn't even look at her nails, I did....We have a referral to the dermatologist but haven't been able to schedule an appointment yet. She now has around 7 spots on her head...mainly on the top...we can no longer conceal them unless she wears a hat or some kind of head covering. I guess we will see what the derm says!
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Thanks for sharing your story. Do you have any updates?
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Thanks for replying! My doctor's office called last Friday and said my referral is "processing" and I should get something in the mail this week with more information. I assume it'll be information for a dermatologist and what to do from here to schedule an appointment. As of yesterday, I still hadn't received anything in the mail but I'll check tonight. I just want a definitive answer, yes or no. If it's not Alopecia, it's got to be something. Having a bald spot like that is not normal.
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Keep us posted!
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Hello! Im 23 and found my first bald spot a year ago, wow so crazy to type that... anyways it got shots a couple times but after researching I thought it would be best to just wait it out and see what happens. I am happy I did since there are some pesky side effects of hormone injections. Anyways I sadly found a second spot in August I believe. Both of them got bigger than the nickel size spot they were when I found them. My first spot is growing back in. The hairs are thinner like baby hairs in the front of the spot which fell out more recently, but the back hairs seem to be growing back like usual. It is hard to style my hair now since the little hairs poke out of the smooth part of my ponytail. It is frustrating at times but I am happy that they're growing back. The newer spot also is growing back, mostly in the place where the spot originated. The rest has little hairs growing in places but fully covered, hopefully soon! I now take hair essentials which is a natural herbal vitamin I found online after hearing a few other people with alopecia saying they take it. I also use natural shampoo that doesn't have sodium lauryl sulfate which can case more hair loss. I should be limiting my coffee and alcohol consumption but have been slipping on that lately. I've read that both can slow regrowth but who knows. I also think yoga helps, moving blood and improving circulation to the head. Best of luck!
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I have been diagnosed recently.. did your spot grow back?
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