Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia

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Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia

This is specifically for frontal fibrosing alopecia sufferers. To share information and support each other.

Location: Dubai UAE
Members: 599
Latest Activity: Jul 25

Discussion Forum

Dermatologists who specialize in alopecia?

Started by NorthCarolinaMama. Last reply by LauraLGiraldo Jul 25. 2 Replies

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!I'm a freelance writer working on a story about alopecia. I need to find a dermatologist at major hospital or teaching institution to interview -- any suggestions?I've already reached to physicians at Duke,…Continue

Food Allergy Testing question

Started by NorthCarolinaMama. Last reply by DragonandFox Jul 22. 11 Replies

Hello!I was wondering if anyone has been tested for food allergies to determine if a particular food is causing inflammation, which in turn could exacerbate FFA. I had the skin test a couple of years ago at an allergy clinic, and it came back…Continue

Hair Toppers

Started by Leni. Last reply by Lang Bozic May 22. 10 Replies

I am interested in getting a topper but don't know where to go for one. Having one of those weeks when the hair keeps falling and I am not feeling very comfortable. I don't want to spend a lot of money. Thinking of ordering off the internet. Please…Continue

Get Ahead of Hairloss Event plus new information on FFA

Started by Liz. Last reply by Carol Aug 7, 2025. 11 Replies

Hi I don't post on here much so I may well be giving information which you might have been discussing already. Are any of you in the UK going to the Get Ahead of Hairloss event in London at the end of September? It has been organised by Dr Wong who…Continue

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Comment by sam on December 29, 2012 at 7:26am
Hi im just wondering if anyone had or is using minoxidol iv been using ut for two months now and also taking saw palmetto tablets and have lazer treatment and my hair loss had gone 5 times worse it is coming out rapid it's scarying me now
Comment by Debs on December 29, 2012 at 3:44am

Yippee... my letter came yesterday, I have an appointment with Dr Harries on 22 Feb. Celia, a quick question... on my letter it says I have an appointment with Dr Harries team - did your letter read like that, I just wondered if I am seeing the man himself or one of his colleagues? I live near London so I am going to fly to Manchester and the hospital is 15 miles from the airport so I will take a cab, I considered driving up but don't really fancy such a long drive there. Pam, appreciate your explanation of Actos and the process of why/how we are losing our hair and the PPAR gene.

Comment by PamW San Diego, CA, USA on December 28, 2012 at 10:45pm
Chris, how did it go at the doctor's? Any new info?
Comment by Liz on December 28, 2012 at 2:04pm

Hallo everyone. Sorry I havent been on much. I hope that everyone had a good Christmas. I popped to my Gp this morning who says that she'll refer me to Dr Harries so hurrah for that :o)I'm now thinking of having a fringe which I havent had for about 25 years.Hopefully I have enough hair to make one! xx

Comment by PamW San Diego, CA, USA on December 28, 2012 at 11:48am

Actos is actually a diabetic drug that changes the way your body metabolizes carbs. The research is showing that toxic lipids are attacking the sebaceous glands which are located near our hair follicles. The toxic lipids are a byproduct of the way we metabolize. There is a gene called PPAR(g) which is turned off in LPP and FFA patients. The Actos turns the gene back on. Actos is the brand name but the generic name is something like Piglatezone. Actos has been known to cause bladder cancer and heart problems in patients who have taken it for a long time and at high dosages, so doctors are reluctant to prescribe it. My doctors gave me the ok because I would take it for a few months only and at a very low dose. I have been reluctant to comment because I don't want to give people false hope. However, I have noticed a difference in the amount of hair that I have shed. Also my scalp is less bothered. My bad days are when I eat gluten. I was on Doxy for three to 4 months and went off because the specialist I saw didn't think it was going to make a difference. It does have anti-inflammatory properties so derms prescribe it because they want to keep the inflammation down. inflammation is what causes our hair follicle to let go of the hair and eventually scar over to protect itself. Actos has been the only drug that has been shown to stop the hair loss. There is a doctor, Dr. Vera Price, out of the University of San Francisco who has done a lot of research for CARF and they found out about Actos. It is not the "standard" in treatment because there hasn't been enough research.

Comment by Jules UK on December 28, 2012 at 6:42am
Pam, what is Actos? It has probably been mentioned before, I'm sure. Does it have another name in the UK? I've just started doxycycline but Dr says it can take 3months to see a difference, if any.
Celia, hope the flooding passed you by and your Christmas was a good one.
Debs, It's so reassuring to hear your positive comments about starting to wear a wig. You really help! Thanks.
Bit early, but Happy New Year all!
Comment by PamW San Diego, CA, USA on December 27, 2012 at 5:10pm

Another gal on another board says it helped her and she started noticing the difference after being on the drug for about 4 weeks. I am on for a little over 20 days. She says she sees regrowth -- I always thought regrowth was impossible. I will be happy if things don't get worse.

Comment by PamW San Diego, CA, USA on December 27, 2012 at 5:08pm

Chris, I think it is. I don't see hair all over the place anymore, the redness is down and itching and burning only occurs if I don't eat right. I am taking 15 mg per day. Let me know what you decide!

Comment by ChrisC. Chicago, IL on December 27, 2012 at 5:01pm
Hey Pam, is the Actos helping? I'm in the waiting room at Dr. Barbosa's office. Looking for something else.
Comment by Debs on December 22, 2012 at 9:39pm
Celia I do hope the rain stops and you don't get flooded. X
 

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