For many people the root cause of alopecia is inflammation in the body. I have had several rounds of alopecia. I have had many steroid shots and used several medicated creams. I was lucky enough to find a holistic doc who was well versed in autoimmune disease and the inflammation that contributes to alopecia. It has not been an easy route but it has been very rewarding. I have a full head of hair. It's taken me about 4-5 years to get to this point. I follow an autoimmune paleo diet-no gluten, no grains, no dairy, very little sugar, no processed food, grass-fed meat, organic produce most of the time. There are great cookbooks out there that can help you with the diet changes. I exercise daily but especially when I feel stressed-to help lower the inflammation that comes with stress. When I get too stressed or if I accidentally cheat I soon get the itching and burning on my scalp. It's important not to cheat-especially on gluten! Read labels as many foods contain gluten/wheat. Avoid processed food and you won't have to worry. Try the diet for at least 6 mos. and as you know it takes a long time to grow hair so be patient. Make sure your Vitamin D level is in range. My doc recommends to keep it in the 60-70 range.

I have also found probiotics, enzymes, antioxidants, and collagen to be helpful. Focus on healing the gut as many autoimmune diseases stem from leaky gut. Hope this is helpful-it has been for me!