Update!

Well I promised all of you an update periodically about my trials and the use of immunosuppression as my therapy option.

I have been on Humira now for 7 weeks. Although I have had small improvements, I have seen some positive results. I have a head full of fuzzies and an outline of fuzz on my head where my hair grows. All of the fuzz is fine and blonde which is consistent with Alopecia patients when they experience regrowth. Additionally, there are a couple of shoots of colored hair on my head and my face has experienced some new hair growth where I shave.

I see my Dermatologist on Monday and will more than likely be placed on another immunosuppressant medication to go along with my Humira. Azathioprine and CellCept have been mentioned.

I must add I have not had any negative effects from this medication so far and have given myself shots every other week. (Knock on wood.) I have been well monitored and have not gotten sick. Just a sniffle every now and then or a sneeze. I hope this trend continues with the additional immunosuppressant.

More to follow..........

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Permalink Reply by Eric Dane Mattson on November 17, 2010 at 8:49am
I want to add to everyone that this was a personal decision and I am not in any way trying to steer anyone towards this type of treatment for their Alopecia.
Permalink Reply by Karen Smith on November 20, 2010 at 9:08am
Thanks for the update. My daughter is on sulfasalazine. It is a slow process. She has been on a full dose since April and we started to see regrowth in late August. She has about 1/4 of her hair coming in. Mostly on the back of her head. She has sparse eyelashes, eyebrows and body hair growing. She is in college and every few weeks when I check her there is more hair. It seems like it will take forever but so much better than the losing it phase. She has had AU for over 1 year.
Permalink Reply by Eric Dane Mattson on November 22, 2010 at 9:24pm
I won't know if this new growth will go away because I cant stop taking Humira due to my Ulcerative Colitis.

....On another note, my Derm wants to wait 6 months before he puts me on any additional immunosuppressant medication. So we will have to see how Humira works out.
Permalink Reply by Connie - Chris' Mom on November 23, 2010 at 11:09am
My son is also on immunosuppressants for Ulcerative Colitis and when his hair starting growing again this summer after being AU for almost a year I was hoping that it was the treatment was reversing the AU. Unfortunately it's all falling out again :( He did have eyebrows for his school pictures ; ) but now they're very sparse and the hair that had regrown on his head is almost completely gone on the right side with the left side thinning too. I also noticed large "bald" spots on his legs again. He did however finally shave his head on his own. I've been taking him with me when I went to the hairdresser and getting his buzzed at the same time, but I only go every 4 weeks. I had bought him a head blade but he had refused to use it. He was going to an activity with some school friends where his hat might fall off, so he finally decided to do it (and only nicked himself once!). I'm hoping this means he's finally starting to accept this and take control. Time will tell....

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