Treating other medical conditions to cure alopecia?

I was wondering whether anyone has/knows about anyone who has treated a dysfunction with their body that has resulted in remission of alopecia?

i vaguely remember reading an abstract from a medical journal about someone suffering AU and also had helicobacter pylori and once treated went into full remission of alopecia.

In my circumstances, I'm thinking of checking on some things with my GP in the near future;
a few years before my alopecia i think i was likely diagnosed with iron deficiency however it was not confirmed and im likely to get my thyroid function tested, and testosterone and estrogen levels just to rule out a few 'possible causes'

Anyone?
just curious!

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Permalink Reply by Valerie on June 23, 2013 at 8:07pm
I heard about a cancer patient that got chemo and all his hair came back. Long time ago, don't remember details.
Permalink Reply by pauline vargas on June 23, 2013 at 8:09pm
I was told to check out a chiropractor and the possibility of alopecia being treated for the meantime.
Permalink Reply by Kim on May 25, 2018 at 10:16am

My daughter had been seeing a chiropractor regularly for over a year and was diagnosed with Alopecia 3 months ago. So in her case, chiropractor didn't help. 

Permalink Reply by Ann Wilson on June 23, 2013 at 8:12pm

I sometimes wonder if I ate extremely nutritiously if the AU would go into remission. I try to eat nutritiously but am not always successful.

Permalink Reply by Pat on June 23, 2013 at 8:17pm

I have another auto immune called polymyalgia rheumatica and took prednisone for 2 years but it didn't affect my AU at all. I was expecting to have some regrowth as I'd heard prednisone is sometimes successful in regrowing hair, but it didn't happen to me.

Permalink Reply by Jonathon Cullen on June 23, 2013 at 8:35pm
I have hypothyroidism and takin synthroid for it. It hasn't affected my AU hardly any. I'll grow hair on my face at random times and it only gets 1/8" Long and falls out within the week. Prednisone helped it grow about an inch long the it fell out as well. I hope you have better luck than I did.
Permalink Reply by emmettbrown on June 23, 2013 at 8:39pm

Hi Nick,

I had a bout of alopecia areata a few years ago that progressed rather rapidly and I lost a large section of scalp hair, my facial hair disappeared, and I lost a section of my right eyebrow. My dermatologist informed me that I had AA and this was an autoimmune disorder. He put me on a topical steroid; however, I'm very sensitive to steroids - it affected my sleep pretty badly, so I tried a different route.

Around the same time, I discovered that I had celiac disease and a problem digesting cow's milk. I eliminated both of these from my diet, and this made a huge difference in my overall health, and I noticed my hair stopped falling out. (Attached is a time-lapse series of pictures of my scalp and hair growth over a two-month period).

As it turns out, if you have an autoimmune disorder, the last thing you want to do is boost your immunity. So I stopped taking any supplement that might boost my immune system, especially zinc and foods with high levels of Vitamin A/beta carotene (if you have an autoimmune disorder, boosting your immune system is like throwing fuel on the fire).

In addition, I tried a few interesting supplements that purported to help with autoimmune conditions - Wobenzym, an enzyme complex that is supposed to help balance your body's inflammation response, folic acid which fuels hair growth, and a colostrum supplement which some people have used with success for alopecia. I also dabbed on some Protopic, a topical steroid, on the stubborn spots.

Since I work with scientists, it occurred to me that it might be good if I took a series of photos to capture any success. Wasn't sure at the time my regimen would work, but my dermatologist was mightily impressed with how fast my scalp hair grew back. My facial hair is still mostly non-existent and what did grow back came in white. My eyebrow filled in over time.

Attached is my time lapse pics - not sure if this regimen would help someone with Totalis/Universalis, but this was my experience with Areata. To this day, whenever I slip up and eat food with cow's milk product in it, those same areas of my scalp and eyebrow start itching, and I'll often lose a few extra hairs.

Best of luck to you!
Bill

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Permalink Reply by Starshine on July 15, 2013 at 9:52am

HI emmettbrown, I was interested in the Wobenzym and Colostrum and decided to try it for myself. I am one month in, and have actually started to see some good results. I was wondering how long you continued to take the supplements or if you are still taking them.

Permalink Reply by Jo on June 23, 2013 at 8:55pm
I've eliminated gluten and have cut down on dairy and sugar (trying to cut those things out though). I've seen a naturopath and take a herbal mix containing licorice, i also take kalawalla to balance the immune system, fish oil, vit d and iron. I've noticed some regrowth in the last month. I'm scheduled for a total thyroidectomy next month and I wonder if my hair might grow back after this. 70% of your immune system is in your gut so it makes sense to heal your gut first.
Permalink Reply by Patrick on May 19, 2018 at 7:58am

Hi Jo

I was wondering where you brought Kalawalla from as I’m interested in taking it for my Alopecia Totalis also?. I’ve  heard some great reviews which works a similar way to Licorice, Reishi and Hydrangea root to modulate and balance the immun system as an Immunomodulator.

Did you notice any improvement with your hair loss when taking kalawalla and we’re there any side effects?

Many thanks

Patrick

Permalink Reply by michelle on June 23, 2013 at 9:00pm

Hi Nick,
I think its really important to have a good family doctor. There are a number of illness where hair loss is a symptom. Alopecia and its many forms is an autoimmune disease that stands on its own. Its a frustrating unpredictable disease where the suggested treatments sometimes work and sometimes don't. I do think a good team of doctors which would include a dermatologist and a rhumatologist are needed to help sort it all out.

Permalink Reply by Jessica Hoschouer on June 23, 2013 at 9:10pm

This may not be what you are looking for but when I was younger I had a planter wart on my left big toe the warts spread to all the other toes on my left foot. (This was after being diagnosed with AA) I went to the dermatologist and he gave me some cream to help it out when I started using the cream my hair started coming back in and the warts started to go away but after I was done using the cream for my toes my hair started coming out again.

- Jessica Hoschouer

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