I thought I'd leave a message here for anyone who suffers from alopecia areata to say I've been taking 2.5g Minoxidil tablets for the last three months and my hair is finally growing back after having this wretched disease for 35 years!!
I had to see a dermatologist to be prescribed these tablets as they are not yet recognised as a widely available treatment for female alopecia but, together with tapered prednisolone, I am having good results.
To give you an idea of how much hair loss I had, the whole section around the nape of my neck upwards three inches had fallen out. Also the sections both sides of my face had shed by about one inch. Then I also had coin sized patches of hair loss all over the rest of my head. My hair felt thin when I tried to bunch it together.
Three months later, I can't see the coin sized patches anymore as there is full regrowth and the sides of my face have got a decent coverage coming in, although this is taking a bit longer.
I'm just really thrilled it's working!!!!
The prednisolone booster regimen has caused some puffiness and water retention but that is subsiding now I've slowly tapered down from six 5mg tablets a day to one.
I just wanted to pass this on to anyone else who struggles with this as there still aren't many treatments out there, if any, but there are many quack trichologists who give very lame advice with no results.
I'd also advise you take 200IU Vitamin D with Minoxidil as it can inhibit calcium uptake, so really important to bolster your Vit D reserves, especially in the UK where we have long, dark winters.
If anyone reads this and tries it, please let me know as I'd be happy to share your journey with you.