Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ann Wilson on August 20, 2009 at 7:46am

I had had AU for at least 15 years now. At first I noticed a few hairs now and then but not anymore.

Permalink Reply by Eva on August 20, 2009 at 9:44am

Yeah I have had AU for many years and still every once in a while I will pick a stray hair off my leg, out of my armpit, etc. and it's definitely annoying. I haven't been to a dermotologist about it in a long time (sick of trying to "cure" it) so I have no gauge if this is normal a lot, but if there is one thing I have learned about alopecia is that there is no "normal."

Permalink Reply by Eva on August 20, 2009 at 9:45am

... and by normal a lot I mean to say normal or not.

Permalink Reply by Terese on August 20, 2009 at 10:34am

Hi Ray,

Yep, I get what I think of as "dumb" hairs. One on my left great toe. A nasal hair. Once, I regrew a line of bottom lashes on my right eye. One of them turned black and then they all fell out.

I

Permalink Reply by Sharon Stokes on August 20, 2009 at 10:43am

Hi, Ray! I have had AU for about 9 years. I've always had a few hairs growing on my arms and legs - fine, white hairs mostly, every once in a while a dark one. I've never bothered with them and they fell out on their own. However, in the past few months I've developed fine light hairs all over my face (not unsightly - they seem to be what most people would have) and the same fine, light hairs are growing where my eyebrows used to be in a thick patch. They are not so obvious right now, so I am keeping them - if they get dark or especially long, I will pluck. Also, my arms now have the same kind of "downy" hairs all over that most people have.
I have never noticed a single hair growing on my scalp. This is the first significant re-growth I've ever experienced. At the same time, this summer my pulmonary doctor and I have been doing a controlled experiment of backing me off my asthma meds and I have experienced no reaction at all. I know asthma and thryoid disease (I've been diagnosed with both) are related to AA so I find this interesting...

Permalink Reply by RENEE on August 20, 2009 at 11:12am

Yes, absolutely. I have had AU since I was five, and even thoughmost times I am totally hairless, I get hairs mostly where I do not want them from time to time. I currently have about ten hairs on my left eyelash, and they will come and go. This is very common, so just get used to having these pesky pieces now and again.

Renee

Permalink Reply by Ray on August 20, 2009 at 12:53pm

Many thanks for all the replies.

I'm gald that I am not alone in having a few hairs here and there every now and then. I love it though when they fall out and leave me totally hairless again.

I also would never try any remedies agan for alopecia, I am as I am!!!!!!!

Permalink Reply by Diana on September 5, 2009 at 7:31am

Me too have had for almost a year and have face fuzzies few light lashes on left upper eyelid, and like you and hair here and there that I would need to pluck out like on my foot or leg but only one or two and will have to pull or pluck!!! Funny huh - I guess its normal would like some eyelashes but thts not going to happen!! have a great weekend!

Permalink Reply by Jaime Murphy on September 8, 2009 at 10:56pm

Its so frustrating when those unneccessary hairs grow in. I've had alopecia for 16 years, and been AU for about 13, and have noticed at least over the last 3 or 4 years that around August I have a TON of arm and leg hairs grow in, and about half of what grows turns dark. Usually once the winter comes it disappears mostly again, with just some blonde random ones remaining. Drives me totally crazy that as soon as the summer starts I have to shave my legs and armpits...so much for that great "perk" that was supposed to come with alopecia!

I have never had any regrowth on my head except a few random hairs that were blond, and i have 2 blond eyebrow hairs now. But it seems like every year recently I have gone through this cycle on the rest of my body of growing hair in, and it falling out. I wonder (since it happens in the summer) if it has something to do with sun exposure that makes it grow....WHO KNOWS!!! lol

Something that I have found super interesting....some types of hair growth on your body is controlled totally by genetics...for example you only grow hair on the tops of your ears or on the second knuckles of your fingers if you are genetically predisposed to it. I have the hairiest knuckles and ears for a bald person! I don't think I will ever understand.