Child with Alopecia. Handhold and advice needed

[Desmondo2016]

DS diagnosed with Alopecia Areata aged 10. Blood work all clear apart from low iron stores, but just within 'normal' limits. DS also has halo moles all over torso and neck. DS also lost all his toenails and fingernails. Dermatology referral, nothing worrying found, assumed to be stress related (No known stress factors in life). Had about 50% hair loss over next few months. Hair grew back over the next year and for 2 years or so was nearly normal, just a very small patch of hairloss.

Hair loss began again age 13. Eyebrows and most eyelashes too now, complete Hair loss on head this time. Fingernails not too bad, toe nails look awful and fungussy. General health is ok/normal. Bloods run again, nothing out of the ordinary other than still has low but within normal iron stores.

Other things to mention. Thyroid issues on paternal side. MS in paternal grandfather.
Additionally, DS was an anti Kell antibodies baby and had 4 transfusions in the womb and 2 after birth.

My own GP thinks I need to just accept the alopecia is 'one of those random things' but AIBU for feeling there may be soemthing else going on. I know other kids suffer far worse health issues but this is really worrying me. Happy to be told I'm being over anxious but all the associated symptoms I have mentioned just make me feel the doctors should be taking it more seriously from a health, not a Hair loss, point of view.

Are there any doctors who have any thoughts?

Sorry to hear about what your son's going through. I've no advice except to point you towards the charity Alopecia UK, if you've not already spoken to them. They are fab and have personal experience of just the kind of thing you're talking about, and additionally do a lot of support work and activities for children.

The medical ‘normal’ range of iron is often not high enough for hair growth. Definitely look into iron supplements like spa tone. I can’t remember the figures off the top of my head but you can google. My iron range was low end of normal, and I discovered through an alopecia support site that they need to be much higher. My hair has regrown since addressing this. Also zinc supplements and vit C to aid absorption.

My dd has alopecia areata. It started this time last year on the run up to GCSEs. She lost a lot of hair around her forehead and scalp initially which we didn't really notice until it grew back. Then she got 3 50p sized bald spots on her scalp. One right in the middle at the top.

She was also exhausted and her mood was very low. None of the other symptoms you describe though.

Blood tests showed low b12 and ferritin (iron stores). Also low vit d but I don't think that made much difference.

She had a loading dose of b12 injections last April and now has them every three months.

The gp ignored the low iron (ferritin was 9) but I started giving her spatone every day.

Her hair all grew back last year apart from one bald patch at the back. It's hard to say whether it was stress related. She was doing exams but really wasn't that stressed about them. Also it started growing back in May/ June during the exams

Good luck with your ds. It sounds like there's more going on but definitely don't ignore the low iron.

Really interesting about the low iron. Thanks guys. Really interested to hear all these stories.

Aww sorry to hear this and it's an awful condition. Having had it myself since 5 years old (I'm 33) and still suffering now and trying all treatments available. The best thing you can do is ensure supplements are taken alongside a healthy balance diet.
Iron and B vitamins if on the low side of normal can play a huge part in hair loss. I take multivitamins without fail everyday and ferogrobin (iron and B vitamins minerals in liquid form)
My hair loss has been up and down and I've never fully eradicated it but it's improved massively at times. I'm currently going through a bad patch with lots of hair loss but my baby girl is only 6 months so hormones are contributing to that.
Please take comfort in knowing deep down it's genetics and not something you've done/haven't done for him and fingers crossed the iron levels being increased will improve symptoms massively.

Thank you for your kind words