I'm sorry if this is kind of wordy, just trying to cope and understand this disease I've been diagnosed with.

I saw a dermatologist today for thinning hair around my upper temple (see picture for below for placement). I actually noticed the thinning back in October. I never actually lost all my hair in the area, but it was noticeably thinner and different from the other sides hairline. I thought I was dealing with the beginning of asymmetrical male pattern baldness even though it seemed like an odd place to start losing hair. I can't say it got better since then, but I think I could safely bet that it has got worse since October.

Anyway, when I saw the dermatologist today I also asked about a circular bald spot on my beard. Just over a month ago I had a pretty nasty inflamed cyst in that area. I figured the hair loss was from the trauma of the cyst.

Combine the bald spot on my neck and the fact I have had vitiligo since a young age made the Dermatologist diagnose me with Alopecia Areata. Vitiligo is also an auto immune disease and I guess if you have one your are more likely to have another auto immune disease. Also, to be clear the vanishing hair around my temple was also diagnosed as Alopecia Areata.

The doctor wrote me a prescription for Protopic (tacrolimus ointment) 0.1%. I'm suppose to apply it twice daily to the effected areas. Now for my questions about treatment:

Has anyone else had success with this treatment?

If I get successful regrowth from this treatment can I safely stop the treatment and keep results?

I had one other question not about treatment. I suffer from adult acne and have had acne most of my life. I never had this kind of auto immune disease response before (assuming it is Alopecia Areata). However, the two effected areas I've noticed have both had breakouts in their area. Is there any chance that my bodies response to acne will sometimes trigger Alopecia Areata?

Thanks for any help!