Possible alopecia artera

[astl]

My Dd (10) got one of these holiday thread braid things at the weekend and tonight I noticed a tiny bald spot right in front of where it is.

I've been googling and everything I'm finding online looks exactly like alopecia arteria.

We then took the braid out in case it was making it look worse. There is a definite bald spot (about the size/shape of a 5p) but it's not loss of hair from the braid, it's right next to where it was and perfectly circular.

I'm going back and forward between thinking it's too much of a coincidence and must be related to the broad. To complete panic that my poor Dd has maybe got alopecia and could potentially lose a lot/all of her hair.

I'm actually in tears at the thought. Mainly as she's so self conscious and I'd worry about her getting teased etc

Anyone any advice/experience. I'll take her to drs next week if I can get an appointment but don't want to waste their time if it's braid related and will grow back on its own.

Thanks in advance!

Ps I've got loads of photos from the weekend and my Dd never had any bald spot prior to the braid so it's not that it's been there a while and I've only just noticed it.

It's either a massive coincidence or it's been triggered by the braid?

I had alopecia areata. It was quite bad. I found out I had low vitamin d so was out on a high prescription. The hair eventually grew back. I wouldn't worry.

Bump

Sorry to hear that. I'm wondering if my Dd is likely to get other patches or if this could be all it is.

Obviously there are much bigger problems healthwise but she's at such a sensitive and self conscious age. I hate to think if other kids commenting on it or being mean (if she was to lose a lot of hair that is)

I found around bald spot in my daughter's hair. The pediatrician asked if she wore a barrette every day. He said it was putting a small amount of pressure on her scalp and that it'd grow back once we stopped placing anything there. We did, and it did. It never happened again. I hope it's just something like that.

Could you gently explore the boundary of the loss to see if the hairs are still falling now that the braid is no longer causing pressure?

I have alopecia, which started when I was 12. I think that the only thing you can do for now is wait for the dr appt and try not to worry too much.

If it is alopecia, it could be just a one-off mild flaring, or it could be something that repeats. A difficulty with the condition is that it is just so unpredictable.

It is awful having to sit with uncertainty, I know. But your daughter is, i hope, not unhappy for now - and may never be , since the condition won't inevitably progress into something more.

If she is unlucky enough to develop this condtion, she - and you - will find a way through it, I promise. Oh, and there are recently developed new treatments just in the process of coming online in the NHS, in addition to the usual treatments involving steroid injections. The future is hopeful. xx.

Oh, and, just to add, I was always terrified of my sons developing the condition (since there is a genetic element), and was horrified to discover a similar small patch on one son's head at about that age. It never changed, at all, during the period when I was still checking it. I wonder now whether it might have been a consequence of a head wound. No braiding for him, but plenty of incautious rough play with sticks etc!

Go to the gp. Its most likely innocent

Thanks @beenwhereyouare I'm hoping things similar (although the patch was next to the braid rather than the same hair). Maybe I'm clutching at straws but would be great 🤞🏼

Thanks @GriefSubmittedHighways really appreciate your response. So sorry you went through that but I appreciate you sharing

Thanks @BatFeminist I'm going to phone the gp tomorrow. Part of me is worried about blowing it out of proportion to my Dd.
She's always been really sensitive and self conscious. I've been playing down this one tiny patch and she's feeling better. I'd rather her. Or hear me and the gp discussing the possibility of it spreading or getting worse.
I'm going to see if I can discuss it on the phone so that she can maybe gloss over that part if we see her in person (so she can look at it and assess without the detailed discussion in front of Dd). Think stress/worry can be a factor of the hair loss so the last thing I want to do is make that worse

@astl how is your dd now op?

@rainbow616 thank you so much for asking.

The patch is the same size and no signs of any more loss....so far 🤞🏼

Ideally the patch will grow back but even if not but that's as bad as it gets it's manageable 🤞🏼🤞🏼

The dr suspects AA but hasn't ruled out traction alopecia. We've been given cream and I've to book her in for a blood test with the nurse

@Christmasbear1can I just ask you- at what age did you lose your hair and was it just a one off for you?