These two articles cover most of the bases on our questions:

Genetic basis of alopecia areata -- one of most common causes of ...

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100630132744.htm

Jun 30, 2010 – ScienceDaily: Your source for the latest research news and science ... "Finding the initial genes underlying alopecia areata is a big step forward ...

Alopecia Areata…

Anyone interested in a support group in CA, I would like to put one together please reply if you live in LA or surrounding area and would like to attend?

so my hair came back a lot from my alopecia but for the past couple of days my head has been itching really bad mostly in the crown of my head. is it suppose to do this? is it a bad sign?

The realization that I really will have to wear a wig made me start crying uncontrollably at the wig store. The people probably thought I was crazy. The sales woman tried to console me but the tears would not stop coming. I absolutely do not want to wear a wig. It's not me and I don't care how natural it might look. It's not my hair. I think I will just cancel my trip to LA and stay in the house. I don't feel comfortable being out in my hometown, so I know I definitely won't feel comfortable…

I finally found good wigs after 20 years i'm so excited and they look so natural.

Hi All,

Just thought I'd write a little something today.

It will be 5 years tomorrow since I found that first little bald spot on my head.

Yes it's been five years since I first thought an ember of celebrating my independence had fallen upon me. Turned out to be Alopecia.

It's been quite the journey. It was so hard at first but with the support of my family, Alopecia World and NAAF I'm happy to say that with time and support it does get easier. Of course I still have…

How to handle dating do you tell guy 1st date you wear a wig?

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AW: Related Discussions: http://www.alopeciaworld.com/forum/categories/love-relationships-gender/listForCategory

So, My boyfriend and I have been talking about getting married next year and the only thing that I am freaking out about is my head! He wants to marry as me (which is me wearing a bandana or bald). Although Bald would be ok if it was only him and I with so many people I want to wear a bandana or scarf or hat or something. So, looking for ideas for my head piece. don't want to wear a wig but don't want to look like a snow beast covered in too much white either. Please send pics if have ideas…

About 5 months ago I noticed what looked like a small knick in the back of my head...long story short, this was no knick! It progressed into a large patch, more patches appeared, i began losing facial hair, etc. After the first patch becam quarter sized, I saw a dermatologist and she said I had AA...i figured this prior to my visit because I had googled it! Lol, the power of the internet...I think i had more info about it than the doctor knew! Anyway, she gave me a sample of a topical cream…

I left my poor wig on the seat of my car. Never do that . The back of the wig it a friz mess. Looks like it melted. I tried to revive the poor wig and put everything you can think of to bring it back from the dead.I live in Southern Utah area near Zion Park so inside the car can become like an oven.

I have not paid more than $45 for a wig and often try and buy them clearance. So I find I have several different colors. The problem is my husband can never find me in the store! Ha!…

Ok not only that i don't have this beautiful hair in my profile pic..I"m just not pretty and I don't feel pretty,idk..so I'm on this new kick of getting me back..to eat healthy ,,to look sexi and to feel GREAT....I'm getting older now and i starting to feel it ..SO I JOIN THE GYM TODAY ...start tomorrow..so pray 4 me be bless..

Anyone heard, its been on the news lately of a company in minnesota that performs cosmetic transdermal hair replacement ( head tattooes) to ciover up thinning and hair loss. Has anyone ver tried this? Se3ems really neat and not too expensive....

Hello to everybody I am about to retire from the United States Marine Corps and have had AA since 1994, And have shaved my head since than I have finally had the time and opurtunity to get to Dermo. they put me on protopic and rogaine? ..made me laugh about rogaine a litte would of never thought of that.. i have not been a civilian in many years (over20) and i have no clue nor do i really care how the civilian population view people with AA guess i will fight that battle when I get to it ...…

Hi, everyone! I am 22 years old and a few weeks away from graduating with my bachelor's in nursing. I'm currently working on my practicum (basically, like an internship for nursing) at one of the hospitals in my area. Yesterday, one of the patient care technicians (this is a position below an RN, but still very important, of course) asked me a question. While I was answering her, she grabbed my badge and said "oh, this is when you had hair, and now you wear a wig." By the way, she said this…

I am feeling a little less fragile now. I have begun to realise that this isn't happening to me because I did something wrong and I know I don't deserve it. But things like this don't happen to knock us down, it's to make us stronger. And I am feeling a lot stronger... and maybe a little wiser. I am gaining a little more confidence in myself, even with the Alopecia, because I am appreciating myself a little more. I am not the world's unluckiest person, there is plenty of people that are…

I've had a lace top wig now for about 2 weeks, I noticed the more you comb it the dryer it gets no matter what type of hair you have ,the ens become quite dry and visible last night i finally found something amazing and works really well its calle" CHI silk infusion"

This morning i got up sprayed the bottom of my hair till dripping wet and poured about a loonie size amount of "CHI" rubbed in my hands then all over the bottom of my wig, when dry it looked brand spankin new ans smells…

I will never be okay losing my hair again. I refuse to accept it. Some days are better than others, but this is not me. I feel like a weird version of my real self. I am just so angry. Life is funny. You wake up one day and your hair is gone, but it takes months or years to grow back. Funny, funny, funny. I just booked a trip to LA and I dread going because I don't think I'll have a good time as I would if I didnt have to deal with this. I'm just so overwelmingly sad right now.

hey I am maryaddyson I am 15 and have had alopecia since november 2010 when I was first diagnosed i have never heard of alopecia and thought i must be really sick cause my hair keeps falling out. Now that i am about to be a sophomore in highschool i just feel depressed because while all my friends are out dating and going to summer pool parties i am at home trying to keep my secret. I cant swim because then i would have to take off my wig and everyone would see but now a lot of my hair has…

I was so happy about i'd say a month ago when i noticed fuzzies growing in. It grew in so nicely i actually had hair on my head i just looked like i had a buzz cut next thing you know 2 weeks later i wake up to a patch thinking oh lord please not again. I let it be, continued to let the hair grow and as time went on the patch on the side got bigger and bigger where i could no longer enjoy the freedom of going out and feeling great that i had hear and not to mention i had a small patch at the…