Alopecia flare

[numberblocks54321]

Hi

When I was 10 I lost ALL my lower eyelashes on both eyes and had a small bald patch on my scalp , I was being bullied at the time and I always put it down to stress. The hair on my scalp recovered but my lower eyelashes never regrew. I wear eyeliner to disguise this. I didn’t go to GP about this.

Now age 36 (and 1 year post having second DC if that’s relevant) and I have suddenly lost my upper eyelashes too over last month. I asked my DH to check my scalp and he found two bald patches. I am generally stressed as I have an autistic 4 year old starting mainstream school in September but I’m not MORE stressed than any other time in last few years .

Is there any point going to the GP? Would they do anything? I feel down about it but also feel like I might be dismissed as being vain at a time when NHS is over stretched. Even if I did get a dermatology referral I surely wouldn’t get an appointment for at least a year by which point won’t I have missed the boat a bit on minimising more hair loss?

Any advice from alopecia sufferers or medical people would be really appreciated. Thank you

I’m so sorry OP, that’s rough. My son had this at 16 after a bout of Covid. His hair and lashes grew back but we are aware it’s autoimmune and could recur. My understanding is that there have been recent breakthroughs in treatments for Alopecia Areata. it’s definitely worth seeing your GP - yes the waiting list for dermatology is very long (even private lists are long atm) but you should get on it. Best of luck.

Ps - not saying I think alopecia sufferers are vain , more that I think medical community can be dismissive especially to women. And I say that as a former doctor and with a doctor husband!

Thanks for reply. I have had a few nasty respiratory viruses and a brutal tonsillitis this year so I wonder if that triggered it.

Sounds like you may have the means to see a private derm - I’d go for it. Not vain at all but I completely get what you’re saying about the way women are treated (I’ve been dismissed for significant hair loss recently though mine is age related loss).

Very likely - as a Dr you probably already know that as an autoimmune disease it will have been a combo of gene / trigger.

Definitely see your GP. If it’s localised alopecia areata, then trying some topical steroid can help whilst you await a derm input for consideration of injected steroid. If it’s more generalised androgenic alopecia, GP can do some bloods but treatment options are more limited.

Google JAK inhibitors too. Definitely hopeful treatments coming on to the market.