Comment by Kat127 on June 11, 2016 at 7:55am

I am so glad to have found this post. I have had androgenic alopecia since I was 14. I am a single woman and this has greatly affected my dating life because of this very topic. Although I can wear hair and cover it up will men still be weary to date me bc of the possibility that this could be passed down to my children? I am the only one with alopecia on both sides of my family for 3 generations. In fact everyone else has extremely thick, healthy hair. But since I do carry it, does this increase my future child's chance? I have no idea how to answer this question when posed to me since I simply do not know.

Comment by Barbara B on June 11, 2016 at 8:08am

What a great topic for an alopecian conversation! I wanted to extend my appreciation for your willingness to accept her curiosity, yet uniquely inform her about her lack of knowledge about the alopecian community. I have been AU for over 43 years and wondered about having children who could be diagnosed with alopecia. Both of my children (32 and 24) have hair and so does my grandchildren. I am the only person who has been diagnosed with AU within our family system. This condition is not genetically "passed" from generation to generation. Studies have shown many different reasons for the onset of the condition, not genetics alone. They have found that other autoimmune diseases (in other family members) have been linked to those diagnosed with alopecia. Fortunately, there is research being conducted to determine what causes the onset of AA, AT, and AU (autoimmune forms of alopecia). Hopefully, there will success for finding a cure! I would encourage the alopecia community to continue educating others about our journey and perhaps it will offer more insight for that person and others. I wish you well, and if you have babies, be the best mom ever!

Bald Mom & MeMee (Dr. Barbara Buchanan)

Comment by Ellen on June 11, 2016 at 9:34am

YOU GO, GIRL! I wish I was so quick-tongued :)

Anyway, I have something to say on this subject. I had first episodes of AA in my 20's before I had kids.  I also had eczema until into my 20's. Then after I had kids I had another episode of AA in my 30's and finally got AU at the age of 47. Now, on to my kids. My daughter has eczema, which I am pretty sure she got from me, and my son developed Diabetes type 1 at the age of 23, which is very unusual, but the point is  -  ekzema, diabetes 1 , alopecia and even god forbid, cancer are ALL  AUTOIMMUNE conditions, and you MAY pass on some predisposition to an autoimmune disease, but not specifically to alopecia. Diabetes 1 is also an autoimmune disease and there was no way of predicting it would strike a perfectly healthy young man. My kids are aware of this and I think my daughter secretly has this worry, but life will tell..Medicine makes progress, except with alopecia I think that the cure is worse than the condition itself. 

What is more important is that you are beautiful, vibrant and best of luck to you! You summed it up pretty well, you will raise your kids as good people and you will be an awesome mommy, that's what matters.

Comment by Dorothy on June 11, 2016 at 12:26pm

I don't think there is any guaranteed answer one way or the other.  I have no relations that have AU, but my AU started with the birth of my daughter 43 yrs ago and within just a few weeks I was wearing wigs the hair loss was that fast.  Yet neither she nor the subsequent 2 children later have any signs of alopecia, all being adults now.  Basically what it boils down to I worried my kids would have alopecia and so far none do.  I was told at one time this is just the form my body decided to take of all the many autoimmune diseases out there, it could have taken any one of many others or none at all, just the way my body responded.  Sort of the luck of the draw if you will.  The only relative I have with another autoimmune disease is I had an aunt with RA, diagnosed when she was 16yrs.  So for me that might be the only link to autoimmune.

Comment by natalie n. on June 11, 2016 at 12:47pm

I am about to give birth to our 4th baby.  No signs of any alopecia symptoms looming for the 3 that are already here.  One significant bonus to having kids is that with each pregnancy I grow my own hair darn near all the way back!  I was completely hairless (AT) for 3 years before our 1st was born.  I had enough hair during my 2nd pregnancy to rock a cute pixie cut for the last 9 weeks of pregnancy and had enough hair to style until that baby was 9months old.  My 3rd and 4th pregnancies have been close enough to be able to enjoy my own hair for 2 whole years!  I actually have an appt today to get it cut and highlighted before this baby arrives.  So having babies has been a total win for me!  Not only are the the absolute best thing about life itself but I get to have this added little perk too!  Just do it and realize that there is more to life than hair and not having any is a totally flimsy reason to hold back from this rich, life-giving experience!

Comment by Dollhead on June 11, 2016 at 4:08pm

Yes, I did worry about passing it on, especially when I actually had a name to go along with what was wrong with me. I couldn't bear the thought of my child going through this, and I get why my mother reacted the way that she did ("don't tell anybody", "you need to hide this", etc.). I couldn't bear the thought that he/she would suffer because of something hereditary that **I** passed on to them. I can't have children now, and honestly I wonder if it was the universe's way of saying, "Nope! Not for you!" Of course I would have loved him her her regardless, but to visit this (or any disability) on a child simply because we wanted children? No.

Comment by kitkat on June 11, 2016 at 4:15pm

It is possible to pass it down. From what I have read and talked to my dermatologist. It is rare to pass down alopecia (I am the first of my family whether from my mom or dads side of the family to have AU or alopecia in general). However!!! However if you have a family history of alopecia the chances are little higher. It is possible for it to skip a generation, as it can be recessive in their gene but dominant in their future kids. Autoimmune disorders in general can be passed down genetically. Your kids may or may not show signs of it, but the next generation might. Only time will tell. I had AU when I was 8 yrs old. No family history of it whatsoever.

I would have given the same response to that other woman too. So good for you!

Comment by kymkym on June 11, 2016 at 4:17pm

 I am sorry you had that kind of experience.  It is very sad in this day and age people lack tact and feel the need to be intrusive or even bold enough to inflict their reasoning to make it YOUR truth.  I have 2 daughters ages 17 and 14.  My 14 year old has alopecia and she is very depressed and often tells me she wish I never had her.  She is definitely not coping with it well and despite the support system she has, she is a teenager dealing with shallow people and not knowing if she will end up totally bald like me.  As a parent who is coping just fine with being bald, you never know how the child will fare if they have to face it.  The guilt I feel when she cry day in and day out, causes my soul despair.  Naturally she wants to know why her sister does not have it and she does. Your post resonates with me because I had no idea I had it until after I had her.  I wish you the best with your decision.

Comment by momof9 on June 12, 2016 at 12:13am

I've had alopecia since age five I have had AU since age thirty..I have nine kids, one of them has it so far. She has AA she is nine. My children are 17,15,12,11,9,7,5,2 & 1. The way I see it I understand her support her and relate to her! There are many genetic disorders or kids might, get alopecia is one of the less sinister ones. Love yourself be happy and if your little one gets it be a great role model =)

Comment by dblueeyes on June 12, 2016 at 11:17am

I have been bald since I was 21 on my wedding day hat to wear,a hat cause I started losing my hair in spots now been completely bald for over 40 years had 3 kids I think you handled yourself quite nicely sorry she had to make you feel uncomfortable I've been there but you did fine and my kids are all over 30 and so far so good and I never thought of not having kids so God Bless

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