Several months ago, I decided to start taking Zinc for my Alopecia Areata, thinking it was a good thing to boost my immune system. After probably a couple of weeks on the Zinc, I began to wonder if this was a good thing to do, or not. Well, at this years NAAF conference, what I began to suspect was confirmed. DO NOT take Zinc, or anything else to boost your immune system!!! Your immune system is attacking your hair follicles, thus, boosting your immune system only aids in what is causing your… Continue

Today was one of the worst days of my life. We had to say goodbye to our 14 year old Yorkie, Luxy, aka "Baby Dog". No words can express the pain that I am feeling, nor can anything soothe my heart. I watched as his body became weaker and weaker...his eyes were blind, his ears, deaf. A week ago, he began to loose his bladder control, and wet in his pin at night. But he was still roaming the yard, like he was having an adventure or something. Yesterday, I noticed that he was shivering, and today,… Continue

I initially lost my first bit of hair in August. Diagnosed in October. Took pictures in October, December, and now February. (every 2 months)



I had steroid injections on October 3rd, but opted not to have them anymore, since my insurance did not cover Alopecia. I noticed new growth, though no color to it, but do not know if it was due to the injections or… Continue

Well, I have been noticing the hair on my arms is now almost completely gone..weird. I even thought of sticking some tape to my arm, just to see if there was anything there for it to pull on...I am not sure when it left me, but it's not there anymore...my arms are bald...with the exception of a stray hair here or there. Wow! I am amazed at all of the little surprises that comes with Alopecia...and I am no where close to having AU...guess that's why I was so surprised. Guess I won't have to… Continue

Just a quick observation that kinda struck me funny...I have a Santa hat that I got a couple of Christmas' ago...and I kinda like it...but when I put it on this year...it was too big! I mean, WAY too big..like a kid trying on an adult's hat..I finally gave up and took it off, cause it kept falling down over my eyes. It didn't even occur to me as to WHY at first, then I realized that it was because I have so much less hair than I did a year ago. Anyways, I didn't really let it bother me...it was… Continue

With the upcoming Christmas holidays fastly approaching comes the added stress of shopping, Christmas parties, cards to send out, and schedules to coordinate so we can all spend some time together. In addition to the upcoming holiday, I have been at odds with one of my sisters. Despite our family's efforts to help her, she was homeless for 2 months. Now she is mad at me, over doing the right thing...without going into too many details, for telling the truth, and we have parted…

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4 months after my hair fell out into crop circles, and 2 months after my diagnosis, I now have about 1/2" of regrowth. Initially it was impossible to see, but about 2 weeks ago, I noticed it now has color to it again. It is still very hard to see though. I measured my overall hair length the other day, hoping to chop it off before Alopecia could take it, and donate it again, but it is still not long enough for the required 10".

After 1 1/2 months of absolutely NO hair loss at all, and… Continue

I am not doing well at all. I woke up an hour ago because of my RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome), my legs twitching and moving. I can't sleep, & I am so exhausted. My nerves have felt like they are crawling all over me! I have been on medications for depression, anxiety, & panic disorder for some 16 years. I can't remember the last time I felt good. Started out a month ago with allergies to a cat, & the anxiety of helping out a young lady that ended up living in my home with her… Continue

WOW!! What a blessing! My first meeting was today, and it was amazing! I got to meet lots of new friends, and there were Alopecians there from children to adults. Our guest speaker was Tracey Casey-Arnold, an Alopecian for 36 years, since the age of 6, who has her own business called Whatever It Takes. She recommended a book to us called 3 seconds, and spoke of how it takes 3 seconds to fuel your passion. We need to all find what our great passion is, and to embrace it! We can all change… Continue

To all my friends here on AW, but a special shout out to Kimberly & Trish...because we started this journey together, and we are in this together. I just wanted to send special encouragement.



So many others I could mention, I love you all! I hope that you can view the song here, cause I don't know how to post it to my music section :( Thanks to you ALL.



I am hoping you can open the link from here to hear the words.… Continue

For those of you that I have heard ask this week, I am copying this information from the National Alopecia Areata Foundation profile on Facebook as it was written:



For the last 24 years, the National Alopecia Areata Foundation has put on a four day conference that has changed the lives of the thousands of attendees. The conferences are for people of all ages who have alopecia areata or care about someone who does. It provides the attendee with the information that they need,… Continue

Today was supposed to be my next injection treatment, but since the insurance company denied my treatments, calling them "cosmetic surgery" I am on hold with them (the insurance company). I feel like I could swallow my own throat, my panic attacks have been through the roof since dealing with this insurance stuff. I don't know if I can take any more. I have spoken to the lady at my dermatologist's office twice, and gotten nowhere with her...she is a hateful lady, and obvious she does her… Continue

My head started itching again about two days ago. Funny how it no longer "just itches" but now I can't help but wonder..is it fixing to start falling out again? I think my husband is in denial, he, as I already posted, says I do not need to be looking at wigs, and now, he says, "You dont know that it WILL fall out", but I think I cannot live as if it wont. I have to expect the worst. I can't deny this could happen. I have started counting hairs that I see come out...though it has been light… Continue

Found out today that my injections will not be covered for my AA. They consider it "cosmetic surgery". This is definitely not one of those good days. They act like I am having botox or something. I told them, this is an immune system disorder..and this is not right! I cancelled my next appointment. I am done. I don't want to go through the creams, the itching, the pain from that, so I am giving this to God. I told them to cancel my appointment and to make sure the doctor knows why I did… Continue

Saw a lady in the grocery store tonight that had 'crop circles' like me..I wanted to go over and introduce myself to her, and ask her if she had AA, and tell her I did. I didn't go though..I thought, "what if.." "what if she doesn't know she has it?" or "what if she is sensitive about talking about it?", or "what if she thought she had it hid good?" ...so, I didn't meet her. WIsh I had. Maybe she and I could have been support for each other.

Now I guess I will never know. Did I do the… Continue

Yesterday, 10/10/10 I noticed what I've been suspecting ...I have white 'peach fuzz' on my two largest spots..I was excited, but then, I don't wanna get too excited. Figure this is just the 'cycling' of this disease..fall out, grow in, fall out, grow in. Still, I will take the times when it is not falling out when I can get them.

I had been noticing substancial hair loss over the past several months. My hair had finally gotten very long and I loved it, but something changed. I felt like my hair wasn't getting any longer over the past few months. I thought that maybe it just was because it was thin. I found myself having to clean out a completely full brush every time I brushed my hair. It was everywhere: on the couch, all over my car, on the floor, filling up the vaccuum cleaner, and stopping up our drains. My… Continue