Comment by Tallgirl on March 10, 2011 at 1:57pm

I had alopecia areata (spots) age 10-20, and HATED the shots. I found them painful and traumatic, and demoralizing. But they worked...sort of. I hear that, left alone, AA spots may just grow back on their own in the same three months the shots do. If a person is destined to get alopecia totalis (whole head) or alopecia universalis (whole body), then the shots won't work...nothing will. And, they have just learned this is gene-linked (see July 2010 research findings). So...read everything on this site, esp. the research discussions and tags from July, August and November. You may want to avoid the cost and upset to your child and just go for a wig, a positive attitude about being bald, or invest in cute hats. She will get through this and still be a great girl. Also, connect with other parents, go to the June conference in L.A. because it is really kid-focused and she can meet others with the same condition while you get all the info.

Comment by Tallgirl on March 10, 2011 at 1:58pm

P.S. also "friend" other parents on this site, check out the kid's camps and groups, and show your girl total love and acceptance instead of freaking out or crying in front of her.

Comment by Heather L on March 10, 2011 at 4:39pm

Hey Charlene,

Sorry you and your family are dealing with this! I agree with Tallgirl - that if the hair loss is developing into alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis then treatment will not work.

Having said that I have had alopecia areata for just over 20 years - it has always been just spots. Sometimes more than others! I have had many steroid injections and tried many topical steroids. Personally I never found the shots to be bad or a big deal at all ( other than with the scalp being so vascular they can sometimes bleed!). But I'm sure for a child that it would be more traumatic. Also .... over the course of the last 7 years I have found that the injections do not work any better than topical steroids. So maybe just stick with the creams and give them a little more time to work. It takes my spots anywhere from 2 to 4 months to start re-growing and I do believe steroids really help me. I use a steroid foam called "olux" - am not sure if it is safe for children.

I have not ever had a biopsy. The first dermatologist I saw said "I do not need a biopsy b/c it is obvious what it is AND a biopsy won't really tell you much. More than likely it will just show chronic inflammation or dermatitis" And every doctor/ specialist ( dermatologist, endocrinologist, rheumatologist, natural path, holistic docs, immunologist, allergists, and list goes on...), that I have seen during my experience with AA has said the same thing. - That biopsies for alopecia are irrelevant.

You might what to look for further info on the National Alopecia Areata Foundation website www.naaf.org and/or a local support group.

Heather

Comment by Angie on March 10, 2011 at 7:32pm

Hi Charlene,
I just hate it when children have to deal with this. I'm sending you this website that have so much information about Alopecia. There is a place on this site for expecially for children.

http://www.teamalopecia.com/content/blogcategory/50/10022/

Comment by pat j madden on March 11, 2011 at 12:16am

hi Charlene
From your mail and experience i can sort of understand what your going through.
Basically you want to understand what alpecia is and how to combat it to protect your child.
Alopecia is an autoimmune so called "disorder or deficiency ,i hate both terms".
Hair on men and women need instructions to grow and nutrients to grow from.
In people with alopecia,their bodies have basically stopped giving the instructions to the folicles to grow which results in the immune system automatically attacking the folicles ie automatic immunity to it,"some will say thats evolution due to not needing to keep ourselves warm and central heating"
Either way society hasn't really accepted it.Im not a doctor by any means but i have tried alot of basically crap
Nearly every product that claims to promote hair growth probably does in people with lazy folicles but im afraid they haven't figured out how to get the body to change its mind about growing hair which is the real problem with alopecia.
Sorry for being blunt,but i thought you would appreciate a straight answer

Comment by charlene williams on March 11, 2011 at 12:38am

Thanks you so much Pat, i appreciate it very much!!

Comment by Fotini Constantina Spero on March 11, 2011 at 9:28am

I took steroids as a child and I can tell you, not only do they not work they are damaging to your overall health for the rest of your life! Don't do it.

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