Do any of you/your daughters have experience of Alopecia Areata?

[PeaceLoveAndCandy]

going out of my mind with worry here. DD is only 11 YO has has just been diagnosed. Patch is tiny now (1 cm) but could go either way inc all the way apparently?

My sister was Diagnosed with it after her husband died. A few years later it just disappeared. She had a few bald patches but it didn't get any worse after diagnosis.

Thank you goose. Your poor sister.
Everything I'm reading is so disheartening.
I am glad your sister got better.

I had it when I was 14. I had a lot of patches, needed scalp treatment, but with vitamins etc it sorted itself out by the time I was 16. I now have lovely thick hair. I think you need to get to the bottom of it; have doctors tested her thyroid? Tested for pcos? I diagnosed with both later in life and the first thing my GP said to me afterwards was that it explains the alopecia.

My DH had it (age 40) then it all grew back much to the irritation of his normally balding pals his hair eventually got thicker by the day and is back to normal. Sorry not sure how relevant this is to a girl. I do worry my DD will get it one day. Fingers crossed for you

Thank you both.
GP said to wait a couple of months before we do anything.
I want her tested for everything asap, why wait.

You probably wouldn't do this with a girl but if any mums of boys are reading, I made a mistake in suggesting DH have his hair really short to make it less noticeable but actually made it more obvious.

It was much better with a shaggy cut of different lengths/layers so he had longer bits over the bald patches.

Yes my daughter as a teen had a two inch completely bald patch and general thinning. She saw a dermatologist who prescribed steroid cream for the bald patch. Her hair grew back and it hasn't happened again. She has been diagnosed with an auto immune condition since then (Ankylosing spondylitis) so think it was triggered by that.

I have it. I have had 4-5 bald patches over the last decade and they have always grown back. I was once given a steroid injection but otherwise it’s grown back on its own. I have no obvious underlying conditions etc.

I had it about 4 years ago. My DH noticed two patches about the size of a £2 coin. GP found smaller patches i had not seen. GP did various blood tests immediately due to a history of thyroid issues in my family. There was no obvious cause but treatment for 2 months with a low dose of steroid directly onto the scalp did the trick. Fingers crossed I don't get it again

Check her iron levels as low iron can lead to hair loss. Also worth cutting out gluten for a couple of months to see if that makes a difference. Topical steroids works for some people or a dermatologist can do steroid injections into the scalp (I don’t think you’ll get that on the nhs though).

I had it about 10 years ago, it did grow back with steroid ointment but I had to see a dermatologist privately as GP wouldn't refer. I was just starting to grow out short hair at the time so was able to cover it with strategic clipped back sections. It's heartbreaking though, your poor DD. I am almost certain mine was caused by stress but it is in my family.

I had it when I was 4, I'm not sure if treatment but don't really remember anything invasive or memorable. I had a large bald patch which healed pretty quickly. I went on to have very thick hair and no problems in later life. Good luck

A thyroid test will cost £50 - it’s the antibodies that you need to check because it can lead to other autoimmnune conditions. Even if the other levels are normal if the antibodies are high she might need treatment. PCOS might be a bit more but you can often get the ball rolling with a private gaenocologist. They’ll test a few things then refer to the NHS if required. Contact Bupa.

I would go back to the GP (or a different one) and say you are concerned there is a medical reason and ask for blood tests at least. It may be related to something easily treatable like anaemia?

I have AA as part of an auto immune condition. It started with coin size patches on the sides then spread to the temples and back. I chopped my (previously very thick and heavy) hair from waist length to bar strap them to a Bob as my hairdresser said if less "pulling" would help. I then went to a pixie but it just emphasised the thinness. Weirdly the middle of my head wasn't affected so in the end I shaved my head to the bone, kept the middle and now have a Mohican which I love Maybe not recommended for your DD though!

How long is her hair now? One thing I had success with at the early stages was halo plaits or French plaits (I had to get DH to do these ) as I could cover the bald spots. You can also get hair fibres which disguise them, I haven't tried them myself. Perhaps hairbands would be nice for an 11 yr old? If you explain to school they should be fine under the circumstances.

I understand how distressing it is, I don't normally care too much about my appearance but did find it surprisingly upsetting, especially when it came out in my hands in the shower. It must be harder for an 11 year old. Maybe if you offer to wash her hair for her (if you say it's better you do it as you can be gentle or use a special shampoo on her?) she won't find this bit so upsetting.

There have been a number of alopecia threads here if you search. I really feel for you both and hope you get to the bottom of it.

Something like these styles, the second one can be done with shorter hair, and lots of pins! DH learned the braiding from YouTube and if they're tightly pinned styles you can even sleep in them and leave them for a couple of days.

Very interested in this thread, as i have recently found a couple if almost bald patches, not sure why, could be stress related in my case , but it seems to have happened almost overnight
I have just had a thyroid test which has come back clear, also read it could be low ferritin, ,which in my case it should be as i am supposed to have high ferritin, due to a genetic problem, also low oestrogen,i am past the menopause though
It is the first time i have ever heard of steroid treatment though, so i shall be asking my Dr about this
How long did it take to show growth .monty and poto

Also as an afterthought, never heard of a thyroid test costing anything

I have had AA for the past 5 years nearly. Started with a poorly sibling and is almost certainly stress reactive for me.

I tend to go through a cycle of getting a patch, normally no larger than a 50p. It then grows back fine. I think I've had about 5 patches in 5 years. I may have had more than I haven't noticed fall out at the time but have shorter hair than has regrown.

Then first 2 patches I got really worried and it consumed me. Was extremely upset and stressed which didn't help. Now I just try to keep a healthy diet which helps and just go with it until it grows back. I have been lucky with no patches that are on top so really easy to cover even though my hair isn't very thick otherwise.

There are no tests that will affect treatment or prognosis, but with one small patch the odds are in her favour for it to resolve within a year.

And low iron is unrelated to alopecia areata by the way.