Child with ?Alopecia Areata

[TinglyandCurious]

I’m fairly sure my DS8 has alopecia areata. He has a gradually spreading patch of hair loss starting from his hair whorl. Denies any hair pulling which I’m confident is true. There are scattered hairs amongst the bald patch which are thinner at the base which I understand is fairly typical. I’m so sad about all this but trying to stay positive for his sake.

I’ve made a GP appt to discuss further but wondered if anyone else has gone through this? Trying not to catastrophise into thinking he’ll be fully bald in a few months! I assume because it’s autoimmune it is hard to treat. He is otherwise very fit and well.

thanks so much

Not a dr but it looks similar to what I had which was AA. Hopefully it will stop by itself, regrow and never come back.
But - the good news is that even if it gets worse, drugs have been developed to treat AA, probably not at this young age, but when he's older. Do some reading about JAK inhibitors.
FWIW mine regrew and I haven't had another episode for a good 4-5 years.

Thanks so much @BlackSwan for your really reassuring reply. I’m glad to hear yours has stayed away since. There is already some regrowth in places so that seems positive. Thank goodness he isn’t self conscious about it.