Hi Melani
I also have a 6 yr old with alopecia. I know how difficult it can be. Your daughter is precious. I hope to be chatting with u soon.
tracy

Secondary email: A research scientist I spoke to in Dallas believes AA is caused by environmental factors. I've heard mold can cause hairloss. My husband and I tore out old carpets in the house and had the hardwood floors re-done. There was mold in one of my bathrooms, which the housekeeper previously said was old chalking that needed replacing. I've gotten rid of the housekeeper, and clean my own bathrooms, and use bleach in any suspicous mold-type areas. My husband and I heard that central heat circulates air better, so last year, we had central heat installed in our house. Next, on the agenda, we will have that suspicous bathroom gutted and re-done. I give the kids a multi-vitamin every day. We also give my two kids a lot of love, and there is very little stress in their lives. Some believe stress can bring on AA. So far, the kids have gone almost a year, with their AA naturally concealed. Your girls are beautiful. I will pray for you and your family this evening. It is great news that the girls have experienced some regrowth. Hurray for regrowth!! I've sent a "friend" invitation to you, through this website. Write any time, whether it be by posting or emailing. Try to be positive and focus on whatever is good in your life. It seems hard to accept AA, but sweetie ~ you will get through this, and we are all here for you :o)

Hi there Melani! I'm sorry to read that your girls also have to deal with this darned AA! The first time around, my daughter had it for a ten month period, when she was eight years old. We first noticed hairloss in February of that year, it continued until she lost about 1/4 her scalp hair atop her head, then all of her hair regrew ~ this all happended over a ten-month period. We treated her with a prescribed cream and Rogaine twice daily. Then, a year and a half went by and May of last year my daughter got it again, and now has a total of four very small spots in different areas. My son got it for the first time last June, he also has about four very small spots (in different areas than his sister's spots. The kids are now old enough to receive the Kenalog injections every four weeks, and we apply Rogaine nightly. I believe that is the only thing keeping their hairloss from spreading rapidly, and the kids are under the same impression, as this is the treatment they want to proceed with. I'm going to send a secondary email shortly, as we are only allowed so much text . . .

Hey melani...sorry it's taken soo long to get back. I only come on here every so often because when I do I stress even more. LOL

I'm constantly looking at her head seeing if it's any thinner or if there are any spots. I get upset if it looks like she lost any. I don't even know if she HAS lost more or if i'm paranoid about it. :/

Hi Melani...your daughter is a doll!! I really wish I could tell you more about my alopecia...but I know nothing. I am just dealing with the hairloss on a daily basis. I know my scalp gets burning and itchy and recently I have gotten more dandruff...Awesome!! But, so far my hair is not regrowing. All I can tell you is that the more love and support I receive the better I feel. I am starting to tell all my friends about this and it really helps. I'm a teacher in high school, but what may also help, at some point when your daughter and you feel ready, is you can address the class about your daughter's condition. It's amazing how clearing the air helps in confidence with classmates and the person with the condition. We are all human. It would be hard watching your most loved little one going through this, but, everyone will make it through this. I know I have my good and bad days. Regardless, your daughter is beautiful.

Hi Melani, Thank you for the kind words..I bet your daughter is handling it better inside then she leads you to believe. Have you talked to her school counselor or your ped about having some counseling to help her understand what is happening. We have also been very upfront with Samantha, even at age 5 when she had her first spot. It amazed us how well she understood Alopeica. If it would help her to have a pen pal close to her age with AA let me know..I am sure Samantha would not mind having another one. I also created a grade school board here so that kids in this age group can post messages to one another. If Sam sees a post I know she will respond. You have to join the group and be accepted by me..It is moderated. take care, cindy

HI Melani, I have a 7 yr old daughter living with AA. I can really understand what your going through as a parent. I know it is awful to watch your child's hair fall out. You almost don't want to touch her head in hopes nothing will come out. But, it does not work that way. How is your daughter dealing with this all? My daughter started losing her hair at age 5 and by the second half of K last year she was nearly bald and now wears a wig she loves. You will find the strength to help her and make good decisions. Unfortunately, there is no real cure of AA and this disease is somewhat a mystery. If you need any help on head coverings please feel free to write me..I am happy to share all my info with you. Also, have you contacted CAP yet? They maybe able to help you connect with other families in your area. Your daughter is absolutely beautiful. Don't let a lack of hair change who she is inside or out...Cindy

Hey Melani :)
Thank you so much, it was really hard at first. I guess its because I got it when I was 12, and I was just starting to understand myself, and I had this other challenge in my life ( alopecia) so that kind of made it hard to try to know myself. If that even makes sense lol.
It took me a while to understand that when I wear my wig, when people look at me, they dont nessecerally look at my tattooed eyebrows and no eyelashes. And when people just ask me what I have, its not to be mean its just that they are curious. Im still working on that, because some people do think im sick or have cancer or something. I just say no. And if I consider that person deserves an explanation, I simply explain that I lose my hair.
I am sure that Genevieve is going to turn out very well when she will grow up and have confidence and pride with all of the support you are giving her!
My parents have let me deal with it alone, but still support me alot. Whenever I say that I need a day to just figure things out or think or just that im tired of everything, they let me take a day off. But they will never let me miss out on an important thing because they want me to live my life no matter what. I am perfectly healthy and have good grades at school so I dont see why I shouldn't live my as I want to.

I hope for you and Genevieve and all of your family the best! :)
Good luck with everything! And I would love to keep talking to you to see how everything is going once in a while :)

-emilie