Alopecia Survivors! Need Your Advice!

[mspm]

Thanks and God bless ladies!

 

[Br*nzeb*mbsh~ll]

Hi Hon,

I'm healed of alopecia and I transitioned because of it. I'm a year post today, and thank God, I have a full head of hair!!! It is truly a miracle, because at the rate I was going, I would have been bald. This forum is such a God-send because I learned so much and found that many ideas I had are tried and true.

I gave up shampoo,
I prepoo with Vatika or coconut oil,
I conditioner wash weekly,
I'm an ayurvedic lady (brahmi, maka and amla powders in elasta qp dpr 11 as a deep conditioner) weekly,
I coffee rinse weekly,
I'm drinking the Waistlength Hair Cocktail daily (which combats hair loss - with excellent results),
I wear a wash-n-go bun and
get my hair blown and ironed maybe once monthly.

My routine is pretty simple, I use Megatek and sulfur oil on rotation and I'm very pleased with my progress. I'm still on the path of attaining what I lost, but I can definitely see the end result. I'll have waistlength hair really soon, and I'm excited about that.

I'm currently APL, when I started I was BSL with see-through hair and front scalp. Relaxers were eating my hair and follicles away. My hair used to be so thick, I could barely wear it in a pony - too much work to smooth all that hair together - I'd sit for hours under the dryer, and that's with a bone straight relaxer.....I also rcvd cortisone shots 3 times and I made an appt to start them again. They did help. My thinning spots are filling in, too. But more importantly, no more handfuls of hair coming out of my hair whenever I wash or relax or handle my hair!!! God does answer prayer!!!! I was diagnosed with Telogen Effluvium Alopecia. And I'm healed in Jesus' Name!!!

Ladies,

Thanks again for advising me on the cortisone injections!

The derm told me my hair follicles are healthy (hair fell out due to an immune response - lupus) and he didn't think I'd need more shots. As warned, looks like I have a new spot near the first one. On Friday, I'll get shots in that spot.

Meanwhile, the rest of my hair is growing like crazy (Biotin is the truth!). I need a relaxer bad! Since I was healed of seborrehic dermatitis, I only use Phyto because it's mild on my scalp. I wouldn't consider getting a relaxer now but I'm "4Z" (extremely tight curl pattern). The only way I've transitioned is with braids, but I don't want to put the stress on my scalp.

Looking for advice from anyone who's either safely relaxed or safely transitioned with alopecia. Thanks and God bless ladies!

 

[grnidmonster]

MSPM,
I have lost my hair several times to Lupus Alopecia and I have had good success with the cortisone shots. This last episode was the worst. Like Bronze, I am having good success with sulfur and Mega Tek/OCT I began using Boundless Tresses first and then Mega Tek/OCT. BT was good but, Mega Tek/OCT has been great!!!

I find that my scalp is very sensative so I have given up alot of products with chemicals in them. My transition was easy in a very hard way-the majority of my hair fell out so, there was very little to transistion. Never relaxed again. I avoid hair dye-I only henna/indigo my hair. I also avoid braids and weaves for fear they will pull my hair out.

Good luck and God Bless on your journey. It can be done!

 

[mspm]

Thanks so much Grnid! I pray that you will have a 7-fold return!

MSPM,
I have lost my hair several times to Lupus Alopecia and I have had good success with the cortisone shots. This last episode was the worst. Like Bronze, I am having good success with sulfur and Mega Tek/OCT I began using Boundless Tresses first and then Mega Tek/OCT. BT was good but, Mega Tek/OCT has been great!!!

I find that my scalp is very sensative so I have given up alot of products with chemicals in them. My transition was easy in a very hard way-the majority of my hair fell out so, there was very little to transistion. Never relaxed again. I avoid hair dye-I only henna/indigo my hair. I also avoid braids and weaves for fear they will pull my hair out.

Good luck and God Bless on your journey. It can be done!

 

[mspm]

Bumping for more responses. Thanks.

 

[Casarela]

my best advise is ..although you may think ur in deep need of a relaxer hun ....You have to wait and when I say wait I think you should avoid it seriously because I had the same issue and im healed and never looked back on anything that has chems in it as much as possible because when your bod's immune system over react you need to be very careful with what youre using.

1st advice : Forget about the relaxer until your fully healed and you have recovered at 100 % and give your hair a rest( braids, color, perm, tight hairstyles) for at least a good 6 months.

2nd advice try to find the vial named ecrinal to apply to your bald spots and you should recover quickly . I used it and it did not failed me, when the cortisone shot failed me and made my scalp really thin. Once your hair is growing back in the bald spot , stop using ecrinal and than you should be fine.

Big Hug ,

Casarela

 

[mspm]

Thank you Casarela! I really appreciate your advice and I will definitely look into the ecrinal!

my best advise is ..although you may think ur in deep need of a relaxer hun ....You have to wait and when I say wait I think you should avoid it seriously because I had the same issue and im healed and never looked back on anything that has chems in it as much as possible because when your bod's immune system over react you need to be very careful with what youre using.

1st advice : Forget about the relaxer until your fully healed and you have recovered at 100 % and give your hair a rest( braids, color, perm, tight hairstyles) for at least a good 6 months.

2nd advice try to find the vial named ecrinal to apply to your bald spots and you should recover quickly . I used it and it did not failed me, when the cortisone shot failed me and made my scalp really thin. Once your hair is growing back in the bald spot , stop using ecrinal and than you should be fine.

Big Hug ,

Casarela

 

[mspm]

Bumping for my alopecia sisters . . .

 

[DreadlockedLady0171]

Hello mspm...
Unfortunately I rarely come over to the hair side of the forum but I wished that I saw your initial posts sooner.
I also have lupus (discoid) and have suffered hair loss as a result, which was how I was diagnosed in '97.
I had 4 spots ranging in size from a nickel to a quarter. Had cortizone injections and was told that my hair would never grow back. I decided to stop relaxing my hair and I transitioned with braids. My hair did grow back in those bald spots. In fact, I don't know where they are anymore. I can't say if that is from not relaxing or from the injections. However, I would suggest that you not relax your hair until they are healed. You don't want to add anything to stress your scalp to those spots. Try wigs if you don't want to use braids.

 

[mspm]

Dread,

Thanks for stopping by and offering advice! Did you transition right after you noticed the spots? What type of braids did you wear? I prefer braids to weaves, etc. My hair grows slower when it's 'covered up'. But I'm concerned about the stress that braids can place on the scalp. I guess that leaves wigs . . . erplexed

I'm so glad that your hair grew back! That's a blessing because the hair doesn't usually grow back with discoid lupus.

Hello mspm...
Unfortunately I rarely come over to the hair side of the forum but I wished that I saw your initial posts sooner.
I also have lupus (discoid) and have suffered hair loss as a result, which was how I was diagnosed in '97.
I had 4 spots ranging in size from a nickel to a quarter. Had cortizone injections and was told that my hair would never grow back. I decided to stop relaxing my hair and I transitioned with braids. My hair did grow back in those bald spots. In fact, I don't know where they are anymore. I can't say if that is from not relaxing or from the injections. However, I would suggest that you not relax your hair until they are healed. You don't want to add anything to stress your scalp to those spots. Try wigs if you don't want to use braids.

 

[mspm]

Bumpingggggggggggggg

 

[DreadlockedLady0171]

I transitioned soon after the spots.
I wore crochet braids look: (This was back in '97)
I also had individuals.
If you get braids, just find a braider that won't braid too tight.
My friend who braided my hair didn't braid it too tight so I didn't have any stress breakage but I probably would have worn wigs had I thought about it.
I continue to have bald spots..too much stress One has been around for quite a while and it isn't growing back
Maybe go back and forth between braids and wigs to change up your styles if you don't like wigs too much. HTH

 

[misstobz]

OMG it is amazing that I just came across this post, I was just feeling very down about my hair. I have traction alopecia. Around August 2008 my hair was braided. I decided to get micro braids and a weave sewn in to save time. Well the woman did my cornrows so tight even though I told her several times to loosen it. The following day I was in so much pain I removed the tracks, undid the cornrows and iced my scalp. It was a hot mess. Well I had work the next day so my friend redid my tracks-very gently and much looser.

I guess the damage was down already, when i took out my weave about 1-1/5months later all the hair at the crown came off. some parts were bald/smooth like a babies bottom. I was in tears for days...since then i have been weairng wigs and tryin to nurse my bald spot. The rest of my hair is nearly APL (natural 4b). my hair is slowly growing back, but it will never catch up-so do i evetually have to cut my hair? I have made changes my diet, am starting to work out, take care of my hair better-anything to grow my hair back. Any advice is welcome....I definitely have anew found appreciation for hair, since I lost mine.

 

[mspm]

Thanks again. I'm sorry to hear about that 'stubborn spot'. Some things that worked for me are Biotin - often called Vitamin H (for Hair), and my homemade hair oil - with Sulfur, Emu and MegaTek. Maybe one of these will work for you too.

I wish you all the best!

I transitioned soon after the spots.
I wore crochet braids look: (This was back in '97)
I also had individuals.
If you get braids, just find a braider that won't braid too tight.
My friend who braided my hair didn't braid it too tight so I didn't have any stress breakage but I probably would have worn wigs had I thought about it.
I continue to have bald spots..too much stress One has been around for quite a while and it isn't growing back
Maybe go back and forth between braids and wigs to change up your styles if you don't like wigs too much. HTH

 

[mspm]

Bumping for Misstobz . . .

I 'lost' my crown 10 years ago, so I know how you feel. Please see my previous post about Biotin, Megatek, Emu and Sulfur. You should also use something like Peppermint Oil - to stimulate the hair follicles. With traction alopecia, it is important that you don't wait to treat the scalp.

Big hugs to you!

OMG it is amazing that I just came across this post, I was just feeling very down about my hair. I have traction alopecia. Around August 2008 my hair was braided. I decided to get micro braids and a weave sewn in to save time. Well the woman did my cornrows so tight even though I told her several times to loosen it. The following day I was in so much pain I removed the tracks, undid the cornrows and iced my scalp. It was a hot mess. Well I had work the next day so my friend redid my tracks-very gently and much looser.

I guess the damage was down already, when i took out my weave about 1-1/5months later all the hair at the crown came off. some parts were bald/smooth like a babies bottom. I was in tears for days...since then i have been weairng wigs and tryin to nurse my bald spot. The rest of my hair is nearly APL (natural 4b). my hair is slowly growing back, but it will never catch up-so do i evetually have to cut my hair? I have made changes my diet, am starting to work out, take care of my hair better-anything to grow my hair back. Any advice is welcome....I definitely have anew found appreciation for hair, since I lost mine.

 

[misstobz]

Bumping for Misstobz . . .

I 'lost' my crown 10 years ago, so I know how you feel. Please see my previous post about Biotin, Megatek, Emu and Sulfur. You should also use something like Peppermint Oil - to stimulate the hair follicles. With traction alopecia, it is important that you don't wait to treat the scalp.

Big hugs to you!

Thank you for your response. I am actually using an scalp oil I found at a health food store that includes rosemary, and i added some peppermint to it. I also take biotin everyday. I will look into Mega Treak, many people appear to be using it and getting good results. Patience is a virtue...