Alopecia World
www.alopeciaworld.com
What is going on with my patchy regrowth after AU?
May 2014 right before my 22nd birthday and nearly one and a half years ago, I saw my first bald spot.
That progressed steadily into AU over about a year. So, I have been completely hairless head to toe for 4ish months. As my hair was falling out, my entire was painfully itchy (a 9 out of 10 for my pain level all of the time- I cried from the physical pain regularly).
Initially I tried the steroid shots and creams to no permanent avail and soon after went the natural route and tried a restrictive diet (no dairy, meat, gluten, sugar, salt...) but all my hair still fell out.
Now, I eat all of those things again except gluten. I take lots of supplements per day (notably- selenium, biotin, fish oil, women's multivitamin, iron, 2 chinese herbal pills and a probiotic). Recently, I have also started with acupuncture (the past 2 months).
*****In the past few weeks, I have noticed a few patches of terminal hair growing. I even had to shave them twice in two weeks (when I hadn't shaved in months before that), and it looks as though my alopecia is starting to reverse itself or go into remission. Is this pattern of growing some terminal hair back on the head after fairly quickly going AU normal? Have any of you guys experienced this?
*****Do you think this is completely spontaneous, or a result of me being less stressed now from the onset of the alopecia, or because I have been replenishing my nutrient sources with the vitamins.. or what? Could the immense itchy pain have been something like a virus I had?
Also, do you think this is a positive sign that I may get my hair back for a long time?
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by icarus on
-
the only thing we are sure is that AA is unpredictable. You may recover for good or get a chronic "rollercoaster" version.I
I dont believe nutrition has something to do with that. I read here and there about this paleo stuff but think of it, everybody consumes gluten and should be bald if this naive theory had a basis.
Minor cases of AA mostly heal spontaneously without further episodes in the future.
Extended AA or AT, or AU are considered more severe and have less favorable prognosis. It is possible that you have the chronic version of AA.
-
Permalink Reply by Rach1992 on
-
thank you for your input. Yeah, if it were only our diets, everyone would be bald! I do think that diet can play a role in triggering it with some people though. Sometimes diet isn't related in triggering it I'm sure, though. I read that there are certain negative signs related to a higher possibility of the chronic condition.. three of them being nail changes, the age of onset and the speed of hair loss. I have nail changes but got the condition "late in life" but I don't know if a year's time is fast or slow in losing all the hair. I've heard people losing their hair overnight or within a few weeks
-
-
there is nothing written on the stone concerning areata.
The negative prognosis factors are empirical evidence, there is not a scientific explanation.
The ophiasis pattern of AA is yet another negative factor. It mostly turns into AU.
Anyway, its a definitely good sign to have some hair back, propably more hair is coming!
Best of luck!
-
-
Yes, i can attest to what Icarus just said. I took down my hair last night and was close to tears. In May 2005, i gave up braids and hair extensions because i finally had a full head of hair.
That lasted for only 6 months.. By October of that same year, my hair fell out in large patches. It would grow back - in patches which was really frustrating. For over 10 years i've been on this wild ride with my hair. One patch would grow back in? and another would fall out. There was nothing i could accredit this to. I stopped wearing extensions and braids, so traction alopecia was no longer a factor.
I follow a very well balanced vegetarian diet. Occasionally i have fish or chicken, but i also drink a green smoothie, protein shake every morning. You can't beat me when it comes to taking vitamins. I have all sorts. Including Biotin (Yeah, the one that supposedly helps with hair growth).as well as DIM which actually helped me with my period cramps.
I was so desperate that someone came on the forum saying that taking Iodine pills (Iodoral), were promising. i jumped up and bought a bottle. $40.00. Now here's the deal with Iodoral. Even on Amazon.com you'll see reviews of people just like myself who have taken it and started getting "little fuzzy patches of hair" in their bald spots.
Well, i can tell you this. That's as far as it goes. You get this little quarter inch fuzzy patch of hair that is all and over time - they fall out too. After a while, if you keep taking it, the body will become immune. Next thing you know you start getting these weird, rough patches on your skin, which basically means "back off" the dose. The body now has enough iodine so you don't have to take it every day. So much for Iodoral.
I felt so resigned that i just wanted to cut all of my hair off. My hair is growing back in patches again. And after 10 years, i've finally accepted that fact that instead of a full head of hair, i'm going to be stuck with a different Rorschach pattern on my head every few damn months.
-
-
in general, AA which lasts for more than 2 years, is considered severe/chronic and prognosis is poor.
Rach1992 hasnt exceeded this boundary yet (assuming that she didnt have any prior episodes), so there is still hope, i guess.
-
-
Yeah this is my first episode so I guess I'll see... but I dunno. I'm prepared to deal with this forever but hope it'll grow back soon.
-
-
Yeah, I mean, I don't know what's worse- the patchiness or AU. I think I take AU but maybe regrowth in patches means theres a likelihood for most of your hair? I don't know. Alopecia is annoying, though!
At least it has helped you be very healthy with the food and vitamins. I bet us alopecians are way healthier than the average person! Haha
© 2024 Created by Alopecia World.
Powered by
