Jill

Female

Berlin, MD

United States

Profile Information:

Relationship Status:

Married

About Me:

My son is 14 and has officially been diagnosed with alopecia--but has actually had it since he was 3. His is due to an auto immune disease- psorasis. Which sadly began about the same time he began losing his hair. So hit with two things at once. He began losing small patches on the back of his head and it grew from there. The doctors first said he had ringworm and treated him for that for almost two months. Well sadly the medicine made his psoriasis worse because it dried his skin out. When he ended up having a severe reaction to the medicine his Dr. sent us to a dermatologist, still not knowing what he had. I had done some research through the computer and pretty much knew this is what he had, why didn't the dr. have a clue? Well it was confirmed finally. And all the responses have been the same where we live. No-one has ever seen an actual case, so this has not helped my son. It was extremely hard for a 14 year old freshman in high school to be losing his hair. He tried growing it out real long to cover it up. He joined the football team and became their wide receiver. Unfortunately I was unaware that there is something in the foam of the helmets that actually increases hair loss in alopecia patients. The hair was falling out so fast I could not keep up--patches everywhere. Finally, on Thanksgiving break we had to make the decision to shave his head. We knew it was better for him to go with no hair then look like he was going through chemo, which he was asked constantly if he had cancer. The school accepted a note from his dr so he was able to wear a hat within school hours. But it has not been easy for either of us. For him not having anyone to speak with, and me watching him lock himself in the bathroom and hear him crying, and asking god what had he done. I still tear up just thinking about it. But he has been careful to be strong in front of me, almost as if I was the one dealing with this. After almost two years and losing all hair, eyebrows and eyelashes included. He has begun to show some hair regrowth. Even without the needles and steroid cream, which I put a stop to. Didn't seem to be helping. The cream just made him irritable and the needles were just so hard to bare. The hair is very fine, and very white. We've actually had to keep shaving because its growing more in certain places than others. But hey we take what we can get, right?!

Do you have alopecia?

Parent or guardian of child with alopecia

Are you age 18 or older?

Yes - I am 18 or older

Your Website (Leave blank if you don't have one):

http://www.myspace.com/sportslover52 www.facebook.com/sportslover52

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