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Please Help need answers related to Traction Alopecia, Burning Follicle Pain, Possible Hair Dye Allergy
Dear Friends,
Until last year the idea of hair loss never crossed my thoughts and now it's a waking nightmare. I sympathize with anyone that undergoes this fear chronically and faces it with courage.
I am a 33 year old female with no history of hair loss or genetic issues. Last year I tried hair extensions, microbeads for 9 weeks was first. That method saw my hair still mostly full with no pain and minimal damage. Then I tried Great Lengths Keratin (glue) bonds for one month. The application, I am told was too wide sectioning, the hair too heavy. Also, they chemically over processed my hair, making my blonde strands nearly white. And, my hair was dyed or toned perhaps 5 or 6 times in one month. I wasn't as aware of what was going on as I should have been, having never dyed my hair before, and at the time I was in Europe in a country that didn't speak my language. After the extensions were removed and the last coloring I had bald patches, tracks of hair missing, thinning, breakage and scalp burning and follicle pain. But, it was tolerable and I was mainly concerned about scarring alopecia. In mid - February 2012 I was given prednisone for something else and for the most part after about a month the burning was gone and the pain in the follicles revisited only sometimes. Then I began investigating ways to make my solid lifeless too blonde hair more attractive and possibly fill the cuticle so it would break less. I thought perhaps using a tinting color would help, researching Elumen color. Then I went to a top level salon in my city and consulted with them and they promised me that if I used a low level peroxide toner on my hair there would be no additional damage. They were wrong. Since the moment they applied the dye I felt burning on my scalp, They left it on anyway for about 7 minutes. That evening the burning and pain increased. For some days it seemed like it might be getting a little better, At day 10 I saw some visible redness which I photographed. After that time I began taking prednisone again starting at 40mg and till I was at 80mg per day for about 10 days now, and I have not seen visible redness since. The burning and pain has not improved. It is terrible. The burning seems to be stronger in one area, that I noted first at the salon. I don't know what's going on... but I do know that in the last 6 months I haven't experienced the regrowth I would expect and all of the area where the extensions were applied is still very thin, with some areas with gaps that are are too wide. Any help in understanding what may be going on is appreciated.
The first photo is of the redness, the second from about February, but that area still hasn't filled in but looks a little better. I have worse photos, but...
Thank you.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sarah on
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Hi there, I feel and see your pain. I too have follicle pain, redness on my scalp... 2 biopsies, no conclusion. I have also not experienced re-growth. I've tried Prednisone, Doxycycline, and now Sporonax. This is a living hell, I agree... and sorry we have to experience this. Just so you know Prednisone can commonly cause more hair loss. My burning feels like a sun burn, I welcome going to sleep so I don't feel it at night, nothing topical helps... have tried everything from eliminating gluten, dairy, sugar to natural and 'miracle' shampoos and conditioners. I'm at my witt's end with this, and as a last attempt, seeing a Dr. at University of Colorado hospital who deals with cicatricial alopecia... they did blood work, and prescribed Olux-e foam... just another topical corticosteroid that won't do a thing I'm sure. Sorry for the negativeness, but it seems like nothing works. I hope something works for you... keep us updated!
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Thanks for your response Sarah. May I ask why and when this all began for you? Was it the result of traction and possibly chemicals like hair dye, like me? Do you have any history of this in your family? I also welcome sleeping so I don't have to feel it at night... But in my case I know whatever this is got much worse when I dyed my hair and stayed bad since then (24 days now) so I hope that it can resolve itself, although I did have burning earlier this year too. Today I noted that my incoming hair seems thinner and finer and more brittle since dying my hair and my hairline seems to have fallen back again. Not a moment goes by when I don't regret dying my hair that day. I was getting slowly better, I think, before then. Although most areas were still very thin 6 months after the extensions were removed. Blessings and healing to you. If I find any possible answers I will post it.
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Hello there, you're welcome. Sure, ask anything you want. The bumps and hair loss began 2 years ago... almost, I've had the scalp burning for one year and continuous hair loss. My texture remains the same, although very sparse now unfortunately. I didn't dye my hair in years, and never had traction or extentions. My best advice to you is take all chemicals away from your hair / scalp. For me, this did nothing... but for you it may help. Don't eat inflammatory foods such as pastries, candy, anything with sugar for a few weeks... see if that helps. Go to a dermatologist or get an allergy test. I want to do this but can't afford it right now. Healing to you too, I hope this improves for you... oh, mine may be lyme-disease related, not sure, been on treatment with no change for almost 2 months now. Any answers, I will post as well... the next medicine is Olux e-foam, it will probably do nothing as the other meds have shown as well. Oh well, we have to keep on living I suppose. Sorry, this has really ruined my life.
Take care. -Sarah
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You have my complete empathy. I have been suffering from the intense pain now for just 24 days and before that some burning off and on since the extensions hair loss. In my case I feel so foolish for having wanted longer hair and put my health at risk. I understand the nightmare of hair loss, having lost more than half my hair in one month, and now seeing sparse regrowth, suffering the pain, fearing scarring alopecia. What is so frustrating is how little medical support there is for these issues as well. It seems an under-researched area. Finding a doctor who knows anything, difficult. As a woman losing hair attacks our self esteem and sexuality. It is devastating. Add the pain to that, and it's truly life altering, as you said. I did read another post by someone else who had your symptoms and found out it was lyme disease and the situation improved. I read that post yesterday... I followed along thinking it sounded like my situation until the doctor said that he was diagnosed with Lyme and then I thought "that's not me". But, it may be you! Maybe two months of treatment after years of being sick wouldn't be enough time... and with treatment now your hair will gradually improve...Don't give up hope. Paradi Mirmirani, MD from Kaiser in Vallejo, CA is supposed to be an expert in hair and scalp, if you are looking for another opinion. 707-651-2552 Strick Richard A, MD from Santa Monica CA is who I want to see next week. Not sure if he's any good but he's mentioned for hair issues. I want to get a biopsy. Any other testing you would advise, I would appreciate it. (I will get allergy testing.) My burning seems to get worse when I don't wash my hair, which is odd. It also burns more when I inhale or exhale, and more in one area. Hopefully one day this pain will be a distant memory for both of us. But if I were you I would be encouraged by the discovery of lyme disease as a possible cause and cure.
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Hello again! Thank you for your note back... and I empathize with you as well, thank god for this site so we know we're not alone in this hell. Yes, it is devistating in every way possible. I don't believe I'll ever have a boyfriend again at 28 and beyond, and have essentially hung up my love life out to dry, which is another depressing aspect of having to deal with this for 2 years. Thank you for the dr. recomendations... California isn't too far from CO (where I live)... and have actually considered seeing a dr there for Lyme disease. My tests for lyme are questionable, but she's treating it anyway... it's chronic, so it has broken down my immune system like a pro. So now the hair loss could be lyme-related bacteria, or candida-related because of the no immune system, or fungal, or viral... it's so hard to tell. I hate this truly and spend 80% of the day dreaming of what used to be. Unhealthy, I know... but can't help it, it's who I used to be... and I never mistreated myself really, didn't do drugs, didn't eat bad, didn't smoke... and still this happens. Anyway, what I've learned is to help your insides first... cleanse your liver, kidneys, and flush your system of toxins. In this LOOOONG journey, I've cut out dairy, gluten, sugar...and most meats except fish, chicken, eggs. I'm reading and starting the Body Ecology Diet which incorporates a lot of 'cultured foods' into your diet to help your immune system re-build the right way. This may be something you might want to consider or look into. Also, I've started meditating regularly, all this an attempt to feel better, do better, and to not kill myself over this. So for now, I'm on 3 antibiotics, an antifungal, an anti-yeast pill, and maintain the cleanist diet possible through the Body Ecology Diet (you can look them up on-line too). Sorry this is a lot, but if any of this can help you I hope it does. Everyone says you're young, you'll get through this, your hair will grow back, but like you, I fear the scarring because I've experienced burning for so long. However, the biopsy results didn't say that there was any... yet it continues, and the sparsness continues. The Dr. I just started seeing here is at the university of Colo. hospital, Dr. David Norris... he was recommended to me via the cicatricial alopecia website (CARF)... I'll definitely let you know of any improvements, please let me know of the same..... and how you're doing. :-) -Sarah
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