Alopecia areata

[dangle90]

I'm a 27 year old female and found out I had this condition a few months ago, since then it's gottten worse; more patches that just keep growing, I can hide it at the moment but I don't think I'll be able to much longer. Anyone else going through this, or been through a similar situation? Do I go back to the Dr or do I just have to live with it :(

Go back to the doctor, they may be able to refer you on to a specialist.

Go to the doctor and get a referral to a dermatologist.

I had this 18 months ago after a few months of applying a steroid cream to the patch it started to grow back about a year ago, it's now full regrown I just have a chunk of short hair

for you it's a horrible thing to have

Thanks both of you.
Did your patches average become tender glittery? Mine do :/ !
I'm going to ring the Drs tomorrow x

Yes they were quite sore at times and I noticed that the next area to fall out would get red and itchy before I noticed the hair going

Yeah mine too! It feels tender in the areas it's going to fall out so I know it's going to happen :(! My OH keeps saying he thinks it's ringworm because it's red! I know it's not though x

I had a patch of alopecia and it turned out it was a iron deficiency. Have you had blood tests done?
Once I was on medication my hair started growing again.

I had it a few years ago, the GP refused to refer me but I went private to a dermatology consultant who then transferred me to his NHS list. The rate at which it was dropping out started to slow at around the time of my first appointment, he prescribed steroid ointment and it did all gradually regrow, the first patches to appear were the first to grow back. I think mine was caused by stress (job-related). I used a camouflage cream on my scalp to disguise it a bit, I have dark hair and pale skin so I was very self conscious. The cream was colour matched to my hair. I lost about a third of it but luckily none at the crown/fringe so I was able to hide it up to a point. It was 8 years ago now and hasn't happened again. I found the experience deeply distressing, you have my sympathy.

Chocolate, they did a blood test but only to check my thyroid.
Whoknows, thanks for the advice it's good to know I may be able to get hold of some of that cream. I'll attach a pic of mine now, it started off as one small patch which has grown, and then another formed which is growing, I can hide it with my hair up at the moment but so worried the patches are going to grow and meet in the middle.
I'm going to ring the Gp Monday I think.

That looks very similar to how mine looked - one larger patch with a smaller one above.
The camouflage cream sounds great - I didn't even know that existed!
Good luck with the gp. I hope you get it sorted - makes you feel very self conscious doesn't it?

Thanks, Yeah I feel horrible and don't really feel like I've got anyone to talk to about it. I mean I have loads of friends but I just feel like I'm bringing them down and they don't really know what to say.
I'm going to look into the camouflage cream :)

Hi,
I was diagnosed with AA as a child but I think it has progressed as I have been completely bald for some years now. And have started to loose some of my eye bows. However, I have recently been looking into nutrition and came across this beautiful lady who managed to reverse her alone is through diet.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/wholeearthlife.wordpress.com/2016/01/08/alopecia-areata-the-stages-of-regrowth/amp/?client=safari

It has inspired me x

I had this sporadically throughout childhood, in my teens and early twenties. It can be so anxiety provoking. I really hope you are okay, op.

What worked for me was the following:

• Steroid injections from dermatologist
• Being honest about it to people
• Getting a good hairdresser

X

Here's a link to the camouflage cream.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B007VK5UQQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1484336589&sr=8-1&keywords=couvre

My dermatologist also referred me to a specialist wig shop, the lady running it was absolutely lovely and I did get one but by then the patches had stopped growing. If you don't manage to get referred or there's a long wait for appointments it might be worrh googling as it is just a shop that anyone can go to but there seem to be a lot of people out there offering solutions and you need to be careful.

Thanks both of you, and thank you for the link that's really helpful. Sometimes I'm okay with it then I get really down if it grows. I do feel lucky that it hasn't started at the front I'm just hoping it stays that way :(! I'm off work on Monday so I'm going to try get in the Drs. Although I didn't feel they were very helpful when I originally went regarding the alopecia x