Comment by Donna Evans on April 16, 2008 at 1:22am

I have been told time and time again that autoimmune diseases run in families and you may not get the same auto immune disease as your grandmother, mom, sister… In my family we have a history of diabetes, thyroid and crones (hope I spelled that correctly) disease to name a few. Oh, and alopecia including my thing. I don’t know if this is true but if it is I kind of consider us lucky considering we could have gotten MS or any of the others that exist.

Comment by Char on April 16, 2008 at 8:46am

Yes, it runs in my family too. My father has AA, but wasn't diagnosed until he was 45. Our family's biggest medical history is heart disease and cancer...I'm not sure if this issues are related to Alopecia or not.

Comment by Dina on April 17, 2008 at 3:31pm

I have a history of cancer in my family as well. My uncle passed away at 41 years old of colon cancer. My dad had a battle with lung cancer 6 years ago, so happy to report he is a lung cancer survivor. I lost my mom in July 07 of esophageal cancer. I just found out through my yearly physical that I suddenly have a heart murmur. I have gone for more tests, don't know anything yet because it just happened but my dad also had a heart murmur at my age. I feel fine, hopefully I am lol.

Comment by carly on April 17, 2008 at 3:42pm

Our family has a similar pattern- Brother in law had AA (most of his hair did fall out) he has had complete regrowth for about 8 years now. father in law and nephew with vitilago- Also Graves disease (husband)
Carlys mom-Amy

Comment by James on January 28, 2009 at 10:31pm

My father had AA but mildly. He also has vitiligo, diabetes, and parkinson's...but I don't. I only had AA until about 6 months ago then turned into AU. Those disorders that are genetic autoimmune in nature might get passed along but let's not get too uptight about Alopecia at least. After all it could be something worse like then previous mention of MS right. But that heart murmer thing.....oh oh, I don't know but you should keep an eye on that (lol) just kiddin :-)
Are you sure you're 39????? you look a lot younger than that ;-)

Comment by Dina on February 19, 2009 at 6:40pm

Hi James - Yes, I am 39 - turning 40 very soon :D!! I am with you, I am so thankful to have alopecia. I am otherwise a very healthy woman. My heart murmur, after many tests and worrying on my part, turns out to be nothing lol.

Comment by Barbara Steinberg on December 20, 2014 at 8:43pm

Dina -- Regarding your aunt who had alopecia but had never heard the name of the condition, I recently learned that the actress Margaret Dumont had alopecia universalis.  You may not know Margaret Dumont but if you're a fan of the Marx Brothers, you know that she appeared as the society matron in many of their most beloved films of the 1930s.  She was an on-screen foil for Groucho (Margaret Dumont: As chairwoman of the reception committee, I welcome you with open arms! Groucho Marx: Is that so?  How late do you stay open?).  No movie goers in the 1930s knew about alopecia universalis and I'll bet that Ms. Dumont never even heard the term.  She just knew that for some reason she had lost all of her hair and needed a wig to remain in the movies. At least we've all come a ways in knowing what we have -- and in knowing that wig wearing isn't a requirement!

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