Alan

Male

Berkeley, CA

United States

Profile Information:

Relationship Status:: Married
About Me:: I was diagnosed with AA in '86, while I was in 2nd grade. I have had some months where I have some pretty big patches, but they eventually go away after a few months of using Minoxidil. I remember having the cortisone shots once around 3rd grade and being in tears. I'm guessing it wasn't that painful, just more frightening that the doctor was using a needle to inject drugs into my scalp. I would wear baseball hats to school all the way through college. I remember one time in 5th grade a teacher's aide asked me if I was having chemo because of my hairloss. My old doctor thought my hairloss was from a combination of physical and environmental stress. I do have a lot of allergies, but I feel like I'm a pretty laid back person with little stress. To this day I still have trouble feeling comfortable explaining my "disease" to people. My patches have gotten smaller, but my neckline and front hairline have receded. My eyelashes and eyebrows come and go. I don't lose them fully, but they get really thin and have patches of baldness. I'm hairless on my arms, legs, back and chest, however that might be due to my Chinese/Hawaiian ancestry.
Do you have alopecia?: Alopecia areata
Are you age 18 or older?: Yes - I am 18 or older