Teen with alopecia - help and advice please

[MyballsareSandy]

My friend has a 16 year old son who has recently developed alopecia. It started as a small bald patch on the crown of his head, but has now spread, there are three or four little patches and it has become quite noticeable.

They've been to doctors and had steroid injections, and some alternative treatments - acupuncture.

I really feel for him, he's under pressure with exams coming up (year 11), and is embarrassed to go to school. It's a huge effort for his mum every morning to get him up and out.

Just wondered if anyone had experienced this with their children - what worked regarding treatment, how long did it take to grow back. What is the best advice to give him to cope with it.

It just seems such an awful age to be going through this .

No experience I'm afraid but my dd has acne and I know how upsetting these things can be.

Could he cut his hair really really short with clippers so not so noticeable. Poor boy

I suggested cutting his hair really short. His mum says that school rules don't allow very short hair but I'm sure they would understand in a situation like this. It's a huge school, they must have previous experience of it.

Sorry to hear about your DD's acne, hope it improves soon. It's just a very difficult age to experience problems with your appearance isn't it.

yes horrible. It has really damaged dds confidence but she is a lovely lovely girl and we are very close so I am doing all I can to help her.

I am sure the school will understand and perhaps being upfront about his condition will help him to handle it better.

My son had periods of this since a young child of six so sort of got use to it , before going to high school , he had his haircut to level 11/2 with clippers , said to school with hospital letter this is what we where going to do , he was majorly anxious back then and living on his nerves . Didn't give school the option of saying no , it's a medical condition , they wouldn't not give a child there insulin , other medications , or allow them to use a wheelchair , hearing aids etc .
We got our way , some rules are waste of paper / space anyway.