Comment by Tallgirl on August 26, 2014 at 3:00am

Find out what hobby, music, room decor or vacation she wants, and support that 100%. If she wants a beautiful wig, get it for her. Take her with her best friend to movies, outings, fun restaurants. Make life wonderful for her, and she will remember THAT.

Comment by Bear cub mom on August 27, 2014 at 1:05pm

Hi Rose Marie
I sent you a friend request today. Again thank you for your words of comfort and encouragement. How did your daughters hair loss progress? Quickly, over a long time? So far Megan has only lost hair to the lower back and sides, her crown is intact and seems to be holding on strong and covers her areas of loss. I'm hopeful she will keep what she has left. Some people have said most cases of alopecia don't progress to totais only 1-2%, do you know if that is true.

I changed her diet to gluten free, organic produce and no meat with steroids, hormones etc. did you try that with your daughter? It may not help one bit, but I feel like if I don't try everything I have failed her as a mother.

She is using a topical steroid to her scalp nightly, it doesn't seem to be helping. Her dermatologist said he would do injections to her scalp if the topical did not help. Did you do this too?

I asked to have her thyroid levels and others labs drawn and both the pediatrician and dermatologist said it was unnecessary. I am considering taking her to a rheumatologist for an work up. Any thoughts?

Thank you
Lynette

Comment by Jim In Cali on August 28, 2014 at 11:24am

Hi Bear cub mom, 2 1/2 years ago I was diagnosed with Alopecia areata. I am extremely fit, athletic run 5 times a week, when I noticed after showering I had no arm pit hair and my normally thick hair was thinning fast. Thought for sure I had cancer or something just as bad, since my family has a history. For 2 weeks I went through every test imaginable, thyroid, blood, liver, kidney... All came back negative. The same will happen for Megan, but get the tests anyway just for your peace of mind.

The topical steroid did little for me too. Only thing that helps are the shots. They hurt a little but are quick. Try to have the dermatologist apply a topical numbing agent before the shots for some relief. Good news is most alopecia clears itself without any treatment. For me it comes and goes. I can go months without any shots then I might get that tell tale sign it's back with the round spots of missing hair. Good luck. Jim

Comment by Sandy on August 28, 2014 at 10:20pm

Hi, my daughter is also 13.  She started losing her hair in March.  At first, it was just a couple small round patches, now it seems like she has lost 70% or more of her hair.  She is still actively losing hair, but has some new growth as well.  She has almost no hair in the back, very little on the sides and her part is widening with loss there as well.  It has been very painful to see her slowly lose her hair.  We were just at the dermatologist and she said she can see where more hair has been targeted and will be lost.  My daughter seems to handle it better than I do.  It is a difficult age and to have this to deal with just makes it that much harder.  I tell her that she is much more than her hair and to do what she feels comfortable doing, not what other people think she should do or what will make them comfortable.  I bought her a bunch of cute hats and she has a wig, if she chooses to not wear anything, I support her fully. School starts for her next week and that is what I have been stressing about the most, she is too.  I am worried about how some of the kids will treat her, again she is too.  Her hair loss seems to be directly related to stress, as she had a medical condition she was dealing with when her hair stated falling out.  I insisted that the doctors check her thyroid and luckily it was fine, but we wouldn't have know without testing.  You have to be your child's advocate and tell them you want the blood work done, whether they think it is necessary or not.   I have my daughter in counseling, so she has someone else to talk to besides my husband and I.  I am really amazed at how brave and strong she has been through this.  She doesn't know how upset I have been about it, but it is upsetting as her mom, not to be able to fix this and make it better.  However, I know that taking her to the doctor, applying her medication talking and listening, having her in counseling, contacting the school and teachers, etc. is doing all I can do right now.  My daughter isn't interested in joining an Alopecia group, but I share with her videos and stories from here and sometimes she is interested and sometimes she isn't.  I tell her if she wants to meet other kids with Alopecia I can find a local group, again she isn't interested yet.  Just know you are not alone and your chid isn't alone.  Being on here reminds us all we are not alone and finding a local group might be just what you and your daughter need.  

Comment by Anna on September 1, 2014 at 4:21pm

Hi, my girl is 11 . She started losing her hair in June. Now she lost about 80%. She is doing pretty well. She is so brave. She has a wig. Kids at the school treat her very well. We have told them about alopecia . She goes to sweemning 4 times a week. She  is saying - mom, thìs is just hair. I am fine. But I cry every dag when she can not see me.  I try to do business as usual. But it is very difficult.

Comment by Zoey Pearson on April 15, 2019 at 3:32am

Some very deep and wise thoughts here! And also I sure do love to spend my time decorating rooms in my house, recently got this living room wall art and put it on the wall in my bedroom. Very cheap and quality, I think I'd got another to hang it in my living room.

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