New here with a few questions...

Hi all. I am so grateful a site like this exists. I have been so depressed and lonely. A brief history about me and my hair loss. About a year and a half ago I noticed a small circular patch of hair loss, about the size of a quarter and I dismissed it as stress induced or just poorly caring for myself (previous addict). I thought the hair grew back but was informed that spot is still present a few days ago at my first visit with a Dermatologist. About a month ago I felt a larger patch of hair loss and when I finally snapped a picture of it I was crushed. The area is much larger and on the crown of my scalp, I had a Dermatologist pop in during a routine visit with my obgyn and she diagnosed it on the spot as Alopecia Areata. I had my tsh level tested which came back wnl. I had my first appt with the derm this week for steroid injections and some topical stuff I am supposed to apply twice daily for months. So my main question is this...

It seems like Alopecia Areata is a symptom of something else, like a hormone imbalance or another autoimmune disorder not an actual cause...am I wrong or?

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Permalink Reply by Johanna on September 6, 2016 at 4:17am

Alopecia areata is usually caused by an auto-immune disease.

Thyroid, iron, female sex hormones etc all contribute to hair loss.


I have been diagnosed with androngenic alopecia. Was a terrible shock, but I have come to accept it.
All of us here must have gone through the periods of depression and loneliness.  People with beautiful and healthy hair do not really understand what hairloss means.

Keep on posting here, not many people reply , but just reading through the various posts, gave me a lot of courage to wear my wig with pride.


Permalink Reply by JustHeather on September 6, 2016 at 11:25pm

Thanks for responding :) it means a lot to me.

Permalink Reply by Suzie on September 7, 2016 at 1:18pm

I started AA at the age of 15 and lost a lot on the back of my neck.  It all grew back on its own and without any diagnosis because this was 35 years ago and my mother just took me to our family doctor and he didn't know what it was. At the age of 26, I developed RA after I had my second child.  Since that time I have had to go on numerous RA drugs (Enbrel, Humira and Orencia).  I have had small patches that were unnoticeable.  But 2 years ago, about 6 months after I started Orencia I started shedding a lot and have several patches and was diagnosed with AA (that was my aha moment for when I was 15).   I had numerous steroid injections and tried minoxidil, some has come in, but now I am at a standstill.  I am on the fence about Xeljanz as I am worried that another immunesuppresent drug will cause more hair loss.  I am definitely tired of my thin, fine hair though.  I hope the steroid injections work for you!

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