alopecia, I am 38 yrs old

[skandini]

I have just discoverd a bald patch the size of a 50p on my forhead hair line, Slightly tingles when I touch it. I am currently in my 7th week of phsychoanalytical therapy so wandering is this is the affect? I have a full head of thick hair and there is no record of this occurance in my family. Should I contact my GP, worries, concerned...any ones views would be helpful. Thank you
x

[Murphee]

Skandini,

Not sure what will reassure and what won't, so I'm just gonna tell you my tale: aged 34 I found a 50p size bald patch on the crown of my head at the end of November and by New Year I was nearly bald so shaved my head. New hair growth appeared in July and by the following Christmas I was hairy again. No one could explain it. I did have other, pre existing serious health issues and believe these were brought on by emotion turmoil. I was four years into therapy at the time (now 10 years) and believe therapy was helpful. I appreciate this may all sound alarming but I'm offering on the basis that it worked out well in the end and I really wished that someone had been able to tell me they had been there - I felt isolated. SO, good luck and you know I'm here if it goes that way.

[skandini]

Murphee thank you for your honest words. Yes I have started therapy and it really is helping, like I am shedding dead skin. As I have such thick hair - mid length, you can't really tell unless I part my hair in a certain way. I will book an appointment with my GP and keep you posted. Thank you very much for your kind words - my therapy is currently for 2 years on the NHS weekly, and my weekly session is tomorrow...was your alopecia last year? Did you see your GP?

[Murphee]

My alopecia was in 2000. I did see my GP and a bunch of other specialists who were already treating me for other things, including a Professor of Dermatology - hairloss seems to get sent in their direction. None of them came up with any ideas, however, I have noticed that there seems to be a lot more info. around now, especially since that TV presented (whose name I've forgotten) lost her hair. Weirdly, my 2.5 DD is losing her hair - the GP reacted quite strongly 'this is unusual, she's also small, not putting on enough weight, could be thyroid, lack of iron, stress, etc' and sent us to see a paed. Paed. said 'this is common - I see it regularly, she is tall and slim for her age but that is better in my opinion, definitely is not thyroid, possible iron/zinc deficiency but probably just one of those things and will correct itself' - so doctors seem to have a wide range of opinions just like Mumsnetters!