Alopecia World
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My story
I first discovered my bald spot during Christmas break while I was at my boyfriend's house. I was playing with my hair... I felt a bald spot at the back of my head but I had known it was there about 6 months prior. It didn't bother me because when I was in high school I had a small bald spot near my upper hairline, and it grew in. I just thought this other spot would grow in too. But that day I asked my boyfriend to check how big the spot was, and he told me it not loonie sized... more like a 6 cm diameter.
I went to a doctor the next day and he wasn't sure whether it was a fungal infection or alopecia areata. In the meantime while I was waiting for the dermatologist appointment that he had set up, I went to the university doctor for a second opinion. She said it was alopecia areata and I got some blood tests done and found out I was borderline anemic. My iron level was 7 when the minimum should be at least 12.
I optimistically took those results back to my regular doctor, hoping that this iron deficiency was the cause of it. He said I should stop worrying and he also said that the iron deficiency was not the problem. He did put me on iron supplements though.
The last four months I had been really stressed out prior to getting alopecia: I had 5 demanding university coures, 5 hours a week volunteering, 10 hours + with my boyfriend, soccer, and work.
My appointment with the dermatologist came around and he told me that stress DOESN'T cause alopecia. That completely threw me off track.... I was so sure it was induced by stress. He gave me a cream called clobetasol since I was apprehensive about getting steroid injections on my head. I used it for 6 weeks. I saw no regrowth, and also my skin broke out in pimples, so I stopped using it.
Right now I'm trying Nioxin just to keep the hair I have and am taking loads of vitamins everyday: vitamin b50, centrum, lacto bacillus, and vitamin c with my iron pill. I'm getting more an more interested in eastern medicine, as all the treatments I see just cause the hair to grow back temporarily, but then once you stop taking them, the hair falls out. I want to find something that will fix my immune system.
I guess it'll take time to get used to. I mean I've only had alopecia for 2 months now. I should be happy that I'm healthy, but it's really hard when long beautiful hair (what I had before) is such a determinant of beauty.
Sorry for writing this essay!!!
I went to a doctor the next day and he wasn't sure whether it was a fungal infection or alopecia areata. In the meantime while I was waiting for the dermatologist appointment that he had set up, I went to the university doctor for a second opinion. She said it was alopecia areata and I got some blood tests done and found out I was borderline anemic. My iron level was 7 when the minimum should be at least 12.
I optimistically took those results back to my regular doctor, hoping that this iron deficiency was the cause of it. He said I should stop worrying and he also said that the iron deficiency was not the problem. He did put me on iron supplements though.
The last four months I had been really stressed out prior to getting alopecia: I had 5 demanding university coures, 5 hours a week volunteering, 10 hours + with my boyfriend, soccer, and work.
My appointment with the dermatologist came around and he told me that stress DOESN'T cause alopecia. That completely threw me off track.... I was so sure it was induced by stress. He gave me a cream called clobetasol since I was apprehensive about getting steroid injections on my head. I used it for 6 weeks. I saw no regrowth, and also my skin broke out in pimples, so I stopped using it.
Right now I'm trying Nioxin just to keep the hair I have and am taking loads of vitamins everyday: vitamin b50, centrum, lacto bacillus, and vitamin c with my iron pill. I'm getting more an more interested in eastern medicine, as all the treatments I see just cause the hair to grow back temporarily, but then once you stop taking them, the hair falls out. I want to find something that will fix my immune system.
I guess it'll take time to get used to. I mean I've only had alopecia for 2 months now. I should be happy that I'm healthy, but it's really hard when long beautiful hair (what I had before) is such a determinant of beauty.
Sorry for writing this essay!!!
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Comment by T on April 1, 2008 at 11:02pm
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I understand what you mean exactly. I feel really guilty about feeling so bad about my hair loss and letting it get the best of me. It is not like I have cancer. It is just hair. But society does find it so important! I hope you find inner peace and also some eastern medicine to help!
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Comment by Carol on April 2, 2008 at 1:00pm
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Hi Christine,
I have had alopecia for 30 years and have tried so many different meds. Although scientists believe that it is coincidental when the hair grows from treatments, drug companies and wannabees force us to believe there is hope. Of course there is hope, studies show that alopecia can be curable in it's early development but besides that there is hope of being able to cope with alopecia. It may take awhile to get used to the idea, it took me about 25 years before I could go out in public without anything on my head but boy, is it refreshing!! Regardless of what happens, you're not alone and we are all here to help.
Carol
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Comment by Alan Low Ching Loon on April 3, 2008 at 5:13am
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I have suffered from hair loss for 22 years. I have applied hair loss shampoo (buy from hair treatment center) since 1996. The shampoo has helped my hair stop falling rapidly. It helps my hair to get nutrients directly and giving my hair a better chance at growing healthy.
Relax yourself and do not too worry about your hair loss problem. The more you worry, the more stress will be induced.
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I firmly believe (despite what the dr's say) that stress does play a part in bringing on an outbreak of alopecia. And having been on the national alopecia website, there are a lot of others who agree. doctors don't always know everything!
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