Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Phil on January 30, 2011 at 8:51am

well thank you tanya for the nice compliment. i just wonder if anyone started out with it like me, only 2 spots and if they lost it all, but the more i am reading im realizing there is not much consistancy with this disease.

did you lose all your hair within the first year? or did it fall out over a longer period?

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Permalink Reply by Joshua on January 30, 2011 at 9:12am

Hi Phil,

All I can day is that the only predictable thing about alopecia areata is being unpredictable. There are many treatment options but there is no definite cure yet. In fact, I personally know 4 person who has spontaneous regrowth without any treatment. As for me, my a.a progressed to a.u within a few months time but I still have about 5% of hair on my scalp which I shave everyday and I have been living like this for about 8 years now.

Being a alopecian has not affected my spiritual journey, in fact I much closer to God when I have alopecia than ever before. I just know that God works in mysterious ways, and many times He showed me the blessings of having alopecia areata.

All I can say is that do not give up hope neither grieve because of alopecia but live life to the fullest.

Take care. God bless
Joshua

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Permalink Reply by Phil on January 30, 2011 at 10:39am

it is soooo good to see this place is not all gloom and doom. i really am a happy person, but i cant say i was at the begining. for some reason my phone wont let me add groups but i will be getting back on here after i get off work. i have a pretty good job when it comes to spending time on my phone lol

its pretty refreshing to find this place, i tried posting on the naaf board and wouldnt get any responses or they would come days later, i cant wait to add some groups and talk with awesome peole like tanya and josh ;-)

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Permalink Reply by Phil on January 30, 2011 at 11:38am

yes jayme that is definantly what i was wondering, if it could start as a small spot and grow to a.t. or a.u. mine is definantly growing lately. thanks for replying.

it seems like most people i have read about on here got alopecia when they were children. i didnt notice mine till i was 30. now im 31.

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Permalink Reply by Phil on January 30, 2011 at 11:42am

i wish there was something i could do for children with the disease. i feel selfish for even worrying about my hair.

any suggestions would be much appreciated.

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Permalink Reply by Karen Smith on January 30, 2011 at 11:43pm

Alopecia is unpredictable and treatment only works some of the time for some of the people. You could try Rogaine if you want to try something. It works sometimes and if you go to a derm most start with that suggestion. My daughter started with a couple of spots when she was 15 and she lost about 1/3 of her hair. It all grew back and then all fell out again last year when she is 18. It is growing back and she has about half of her hair in right now. She has great wigs and is enjoying life. You will be ok regardless of what happens to your hair. Losing it is the toughest part of this condition.

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Permalink Reply by JeffreySF on January 31, 2011 at 9:38pm

Hi Phil,
I have to agree with what everyone is saying. Alopecia is very unpredictable. The good news is there is always a chance for full recovery. There are also some recent discoveries which could lead to better treatment as well.
Jeffrey

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Permalink Reply by Phil on February 1, 2011 at 11:07am

Thanks so much everyone for all the comments, information, and encouragement, this place has been a blessing in the short time i have been here.

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer M. Nielsen on February 1, 2011 at 7:33pm

Hi Phil! I'm a mother of a 4 year old with alopecia. I'm not sure how much help I can give you but I do know that I have done a tone of research and have taken my son not only to his primary MD but also to two different dermatologists. Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do. I did try the steroid cream (put it on his head). I also heard tea tree oil works. Perhaps for some, but not for my son. I also put him on biotin which is a vitamin but that had no affect either. I have heard steroid injections work in some cases but it is painful and once you stop the injections, if the hair had come back, it is liKely to fall out again. I wish I could paint a brighter future. I hope you are one of the lucky ones and you have regrowth and it stays in. May I ask how old you are? :) Oddly enough, I think my son accepted his condition before I did. I know it's not the end of the world but I must admit I thought it was pretty close to it.
Hope that helps! Remember (easier said than done), it's only hair. We say God only made a few good heads and the rest he gave hair too.
Take care,
Jenny

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Permalink Reply by Phil on February 2, 2011 at 10:10am

im 31 jennifer, and although i know it can get worse, i will stay positive. like you said, it is only hair. my older brothers are bald and they dont have alopecia lol.

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Permalink Reply by Jill Wolfe on February 3, 2011 at 10:26am

Hi Phil,

As I read your post I was thinking all the same things...I was recently diagnosed last June with AA which started with a small spot left side of my head, by the time I got to see the right person it was almost the whole left side of my head and three other spots. I like you had no idea what to expect...I got treatment with steroid injections in the smaller spots and DCP on the larger one...this treatment worked well had great fast regrowth, so I stopped for two months in Jan 2011 I developed another spot and currently have five...my worries are the same will I loose it all will it just be a few spot...AA just sucks!!!! I am thankful for sites like this so I can share and read and know others feel just as I do. Hang in there and know you have lots of suport and everyone know exactly how you feel. Take care.

Jill

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