Discovered my first spot in the fall of 2008. I was 38. Since then it's just been falling out and getting thinner every week/month. For a while I got steroid injections from my dermatologist but decided to go a more alternative route and did 3 months of acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Didn't make it stop though but seemed to balance me out a bit. Bought a wig the other day, but I don't like wearing it. Also bought a hair piece which I might try out soon. Right now I can still get by with powdering the spots and somewhat disguising them but I am not sure for how much longer. :-(
Update: Been using squaric acid, prescribed by my dermatologist. Hair was starting to grow back for a few months, even so that stuff is basically poison on your head. Suddenly one day, it started falling out again. Serious shedding made me loose almost all the hair within 3 weeks.... Will continue w. squaric acid. Round two. I've also decided to wear a wig now since I got tired of wearing caps for almost 2 years. Have to get used to the wiggie still but it's not as bad as I thought. Update: Started loosing hair on legs and arms now and other places, I guess it's turning into Alopecia Universalis now. Also experiencing some eyebrow thinning and lashes are falling out. Grrrr.
Another update: Eyebrows fell out and I got them tattooed now. White fuzz growing very slowly for the last 6 months but it's starting to look like a full head of hair again even so it's white. I am super scared it might fall out again, but it's hanging in there for now. Update: After almost 8 months of growing thick white hair (5 inches at least) and hardly loosing anything, just before New Year's Eve another fall out period started. I really thought this was it this time. Thought it was coming back. Growing slowly for 8 fricking months, inch by inch, getting your hopes up for nothing. Update: 3 months later now and the fall out period is still in full effect. Probably going to loose everything again as it continues to do it's thing..
Hello and welcome, Andrea!
I know how hard alopecia can be; I have had it for about 30 years. After I became the spokesperson for the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, a lot of women were needing my help and support, so I wrote a book called, "If Your Hair Falls Out, Keep Dancing!" You can find out more on my page -- and it's available on this site under "Bookshelf." Let me know if there's anything else I can do!
LeslieAnn
LeslieAnn Butler
I know how hard alopecia can be; I have had it for about 30 years. After I became the spokesperson for the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, a lot of women were needing my help and support, so I wrote a book called, "If Your Hair Falls Out, Keep Dancing!" You can find out more on my page -- and it's available on this site under "Bookshelf." Let me know if there's anything else I can do!
LeslieAnn
May 16, 2009
Cindy
Aug 14, 2010