am a male that suffers from alopecia. My first bald spot was in grade 8 and it grew back a few months later. In 2013, my sister passed  very unexpectedley away suddenly and i took on a new job (dumb I know) and I developed 3-4 bald spots on my head. However, over 2 years - those spots eventually went away as I moved away, developed a new circle of friends and tried to enjoy life.

Now, in 2019, I moved back to Canada.  I've had huge stresses for the last 2 years - broken relationships, isolation, eating bad and working way too much. I started to develop a few bald patches in early 2018 (and I already shave my head quite down).  It then got worse in the ladder part of 2018 and progressed to my beard in mid of 2019.   At the beginning of August, i started to lose eyebrow hair and now I'm pretty much down to 30% of my eyebrows - it went uberly aggressive. Additionally, my body hair is all starting to go aggressively. I started on prednisone (steroids) but it made me go crazy so I'm slowly tapering off. It has slowed down the hair loss though may not have eliminated it completely. I am worried (i know I shouldn't be) that I maybe going into Alopecia Universalis but I am wondering if because I've had hair re grow in the past, if I can get my stress, hormones and eating/physical activity under control if I can combat this! Any thoughts would be appreciated...

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Are you on medications ? I ask because I believe they play a role in effecting the body’s immune responses. I changed my nutrition and started growing my hair back and as well came off of my medication. I follow a book called The Plant Paradox by Dr.Gundry. I suggest checking it out to get your nutrition on track. Your hair loss sounds very similar to mine. I also have a thread started here showing my progress, take a read if you like.  https://www.alopeciaworld.com/forum/topics/aa-for-3-4-years-partial...

I’m on prednisone which I started at the beginning of August but should be off it in the next few weeks (thank god- mentally this has driven me crazy) - it may have slowed my alopecia down but my eyebrows have gone (almost) and they used to be really full.

i keep telling myself I’m healthy and that’s what matters. I can also rock a bald head so I’m okay with that - I’m sad about the whole eyebrow and eyelashes because I look so bare and I’m worried about meeting people and dating etc - it just feels weird.

That sucks and is a double whammy with it causing mental issues as well.

Ya, that's awesome that you can rock the bald head with confidence, I cannot. The one thing I've had issues with is the part about being healthy. I used to have the same mentality, as I had all my tests come back "good". But if I am healthy why is my immune system attacking my own body? IMO it is all related to nutrition. Personally I changed what I eat and was able to come off a drug I was told I would need for life and have had my alopecia reverse. Just some food for thought. 

I hope you the best!

Can you can in and out of AU or are you always in AU? 

Hi AM, 

My hair loss was similar. One spot in 2002 after the break up, grew back 2 months later. Perfect hair until 2014. Then 2 spots ( changed my job) - grew back quickly.  InOctober 2017 - 1 spot, by June 2018 - lost 80%. I started Peednisone at 80% hair loss, it did not stop the loss but encouraged the new growths.  My hair was growing well, I weaned off Prednisone and within 3 weeks was AU.

If you want to keep your hair and grew new back, you need to start on Xeljanz before discontinue Prednisone.

Please read other post on this site.

Hi thanks for the response - my hair is not growing and I’m tapering off prednisone - it has me going crazy - I am actually struggling mentally - will be on 20mg tomorrow for 4 days and continue to taper.  I started at 50 about a month ago and this drove me crazy.  I’m always stressed and don’t feel myself. It has def slowed down the hair loss but my eyebrows are completely gone which is tough. 

Is Xeljanz available as a treatment option or do you need some special approval? I’ve also read about some crazy side effects to the drug (blood clots, cancer etc) and I don’t want to risk any of that ... 

i just want myself back (these steroids are crazy) - I heard methotrexate might work but unsure about that too?

Xeljanz and Methotrexate both have serious side effects. If you are feeling Ok being bold - better to stay away from the drugs. 

I couldn't function being bald and was will to take a risk to get my normal life back.

Xeljanz is not approved for alopecia and most insurance companies don't cover it. Most of us buy it from Bangladesh.

Thanks for the msg - I was reading about an increase chance of blood clots and even death with xeljanz... I’m in Canada and health Canada issued a warning On the drug... that being said, it’s currently prescribed for arthritis right? 

Have you been on it? 

Yes, I have been taking it since January 2019.

do you mind me asking what dose your on? Do you have any side effects ?

And is it working?

I am on 16mg/day. I was AU in January, in June - I stopped wearing a wig. Full regrowth. No side effects so far.

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