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Is this FFA?
Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone can help me. i have been shedding hair, brows and lashes for 2 yrs, body hair started around 8 months ago. i have alot of itching everywhere and burning on front/top of head. i was diagnosed with diffuse aa last summer. i just went to see another doctor who specializes in transplants and he said my front hairline is receding and looks pale and because i am losing eyebrows he says this might be ffa. my biospy from last summer showed no inflammtion or scarring around the follicles, but he said usually in aa you see lymphocytes/inflammation around the follicles. he said he thinks i need a biopsy more towards the front to confirm whether this is ffa or not. i had the biopsy taken in 2 spots, one on top and about a couple inches over on the side from that. when you had your biopsy, was it taken toward the front? are you losing hair everywhere? i have an appoint with another hairloss specialist this summer, but I'm afraid to let it go even longer if it is scarring. any imput is greatly appreciated! i was losing and growing hair, brows , lashes for the first year and a half, but 6 months ago the growth slowed right down and i see mainly fine hairs growing in.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by PamW San Diego, CA, USA on
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I didn't notice. My hair loss until my eyebrows were gone. I rarely shave my underarms or legs now, and have little to no hair on my arms. My burning is mostly around the nape of my neck and ears. You didn't say how old you are. FFA is most common in post menopausal women, although some of the people in this group haven't crossed over to the dark side yet.
My biopsy was taken from an area that was on the edge of the loss. If they take skin from a bald area, they may not see the activity. I would suggest contacting CARF and getting a referral to a derm who is experienced with citracricial alopecia. Whatever you do seek treatment right away because you want to minimize the loss.
Good luck! -
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Permalink Reply by AC from CA, USA on
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Hello, I agree with Pam. I have hair loss in various areas, but the eyebrows and front hairline are the most affected. I also have itching everywhere. It first was my scalp, then my forehead, then face, and then neck... Now just generally. But, mostly neck to scalp.
I find that stress is a terrible trigger for the itching. Besides the itching, my skin just feels what I can only describe as angry, inflamed, and as though it's crawling. Besides being annoying, it's constant reminder that inflammation is taking me over.
I'm not postmenopausal, but am in a long perimenopause.
Ask for a biopsy in the front, in an active area of loss.
Good luck -
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Permalink Reply by DM on
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Thank you both for responding. i am in perimenopause as well. i have that creepy crawly feeling all day long on my scalp, my eyebrows and lashes itch. as well as leg, nose and pubic hair. i feel like bugs are crawling all over me. they took 2 samples of the biopsy, but the thing is i'm losing hair profusely all over. did you have alot of shedding? i lose easily 200 hairs a day , double on hairwash days. i read with ffa that the shedding is minimal. i can lose up to 20 brows a day and now theyre not really growing back. i've always had thin hair in front and top, i think now its more noticeable because growth is not keeping up w the shed. i have read also that w ffa, there can be a more rapid, aggressive loss? is this true?
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Permalink Reply by Debs on
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DM I think you would be wise to follow the advice Pam has given you. Contact CARF and get to see a derm that is an expert in FFA. It affects everyone slightly differently so comparing your hair loss with women in this group will not give you a positive diagnosis of FFA. The biopsy from an area that is active will give a definate diagnosis of FFA. Good luck. xx
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