Patchy Hair Loss: Alopecia Areata

[Whiskeyportal]

Dr.Steve. I'm 29 and have always had a full head of hair. In the last couple years I've been developing small patches of areas on my face that have stopped growing hair. I now have a small patch on my head that is as bald as bald gets. it's a perfect circle about 1 inch around. My mothers father had a full head of hair until the day he died, my older brother has normal hair. Any ideas why I am balding all over my head in small little patches?

[Dr Steve]

Dr.Steve. I'm 29 and have always had a full head of hair. In the last couple years I've been developing small patches of areas on my face that have stopped growing hair. I now have a small patch on my head that is as bald as bald gets. it's a perfect circle about 1 inch around. My mothers father had a full head of hair until the day he died, my older brother has normal hair. Any ideas why I am balding all over my head in small little patches?


Yep, you have "Alopecia Areata", a condition that causes patchy hair loss on the scalp and sometimes also the face.


This is a picture of a pretty severe case:
http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/image/A1720/172080/300_172080.jpg



A dermatologist can help you out with this...the theory is that the body for some reason attacks the hair producing cells of the head, causing hair loss. 25% of the time, alopecia areata goes away by itself. For the other 75%, steroids generally help. They'll probably check a thyroid test on you as well, as there is some relationship between low thyroid and alopecia areata.

Hang in there, let us know how it goes.


your friend,


Steve

[Whiskeyportal]

rough. Thanks for the info Dr. Steve:drunk: I guess I'll just shave my remaining luscious locks off and hope for the best:glurps:

[Furtherman]

I have this above my left ear. You just have remind whoever cuts your hair to leave it a little bit longer than the rest and no one will notice.

I had a dermatologist stick needles in my head for a while to try and stimulate growth but it didn't work. And if you think needles in your arms are bad, I don't recommend in the head. Ouch.

[spellDwhy]

I think that you can eat some nuts. It's very well. Perhpas you can used a hair accessories (http://www.hairaccessoriesusa.com/) . Hoped that it can help you.

[smarty44]

Hmm sounds like a serious condition. Have you tried using tomato juice in your shampoo? No joke it works :)

[jackmors]

My father had a similar problem, he lost also his hair, probably he suffered from Alopecia Areata. He contacted various doctors and they all suggested different hair loss remedies (http://www.students.sonoma.edu/users/c/charlest/hair-loss-treatment.html) but none of them could really help. So my father just accepted it and didn't try more treatments.