Hi everyone, I've stumbled upon this site while googling this afternoon and thought i'd join.

My name is Martyn and I'm from the UK, I first started seeing the signs of alopecia about 2.5 years ago, this started as a small spot in my beard about the size of a 5 pence piece.

This then progressed to spots on the sides of my head, then the back and finally the top leaving me with no choice but to shave my head.

A little while after that all of the hair over my arms, legs, chest, eyebrows and eyelashes fell out as well.

This has left me devastated and led to depression, the doctors put me on a course of UV treatnent which had no effect and then onto prednisolone for three weeks which led to some regrowth.

It has been 7 months since then and on Tuesday they put me on a 7 week course of prednisolone again.

I struggle to look at myself in a mirror any more cut off all of my friends and became a nervous paranoid wreck, my girlfriend or now ex girlfriend tried to be supportive but it didnt help, I got so paranoid that she was cheating on me. In my head why wouldn't she, she was the most beautiful girl in the world and I was a mess. I closed off towards her and had mood swings. Eventually she had enough and broke up with me last Sunday which broke my heart.

But out of the darkness has come some light, i've decided im not going to let this condition beat me any more. I've googled until my keyboard broke for cures (yes I know there isnt one).

I reached out to my friends and explained how I was feeling, they have been so supportive and understanding and said they don't care, hair or no hair they'll always love me.

I have some regrowth from last time and when I met up with my mum earlier today she looked at me with the sun behind me and exclaimed "my god arent you hairy"

This weekend my son and I have thrown out all of the 'bad' food in the house, all processed food have gone and were more stocked on food with anti inflammatory properties. Fish, fresh fruit and veg and i'be now eaten kale for the first time. We went to the health food shop after reading a post online and have bought B vitamins, zinc and sea kelp.

Tomorrow im going back to the gym, im not overweight but i think being a bit fitter makes you feel better and a positive state of mind is what I need.

I now have a very small hairs covering the majority of my head, I cant see then but if I run my hand over them I can feel them, my eyebrows to are there, again difficult with the naked eye but to the touch they are very much there. 

So just wanted to share my story so far and say hello, this condition has cost me too much and I wont let it take anymore.