I never thought I'd have it...

[Enchantmt]

Awwwwwwwwwww so1913! I'm so sorry to hear this. I hope you have a speedy recovery. I just picked up a book that may help with the stress and other issues: Triple Whammy Cure I got it for five or six bucks at half price books. I havent had a chance to read it yet, but what I've skimmed over the author emphasizes stress relief. Good luck!

 

[Zenobia61]

OP- My thoughts are with you. With all of the LOVE, support and knowledge you'll get here on the board, I am sure you will get thru this trying period. Even tho, I know how we all are about our hurrr and yours is so pretty, so don't be afraid to be sad about losing some of it..just remember it will grow back!!

:blowkiss:

 

[MissNina]

God Bless you and I'm sure everything will work out! I'm sorry you have to go through this but I believe you will grow through it in one way or another. That's what life is about.

 

[danigurl18]

Aww I'm so sorry to hear that

 

[bellezanegra826]

Hey girl I'm glad you posted this, I'm not glad that you are going bald, but I am glad you shared your story because I am going through the exact same thing right now. I was washing my hair about two weeks ago and I noticed a tangle in the front of my head. I was so perplexed as to why my hair was tangling so badly and then when I took a closer look at my scalp, I noticed I had a shiny bald spot. I wasn't combing hard or anything, and believe it or not, I was washing with garlic shampoo! I think as my hair fell out, it became tangled with the hair that was still in my scalp. The bald spot is about an inch by 3/4 of an inch in size and its right in the front of my head. Thank God for bangs! Anyways I cried so hard when I saw that spot because I just knew that the rest of my hair was going to fall out. My mom kept telling me not to worry about it and stress out because I had lots of hair on my head, which only made me more upset. I know that I have been doing everything right for my scalp and health because I have been drinking water, eating well, and taking my vitamins religiously. I haven't had a perm in over 2 months and my hair was completely healthy then. Just two weeks ago, I had a head full of hair. I haven't experienced any shedding or thinning that could have prepared me for looking like George Jefferson.

After finding the bald spot, I made a dermatologist appointment with an African American derm who specializes in our skin/hair issues. He told me that I have alopecia areata and that he couldn't predict what would happen in terms of hair regrowth or further loss. He said that timing is important because a lot of people with hair loss wait and wait and sometimes its too late by the time they get to him. He gave me steroid injections in the spot and prescribed a topical steroid to rub in the spot everyday. He used a very thin needle for the injection and it surprisingly did not hurt very much at all. For people that are leery about getting a shot in your scalp it doesn't hurt nearly as much as getting blood drawn or a finger prick. He emphasized that it was my immune system attacking my hair follicles but it was nothing that I had done wrong. I asked him if that meant that I was sick and he said no, he said that my immune system was working too hard and that it was attacking things that it didn't need to attack, namely my hair. He told me that it is very important to act quickly when you notice that you are losing your hair and go to a dermatologist as soon as possible so that the cause of the hair loss can be determined.

It has been nearly two weeks since I noticed that spot and the hair has not grown back. However I am losing hair in a new spot just behind my hairline. So basically, I have a bald spot, a line of hair, a super thin soon to be bald spot and a little patch of hair. I had just started using mega tek about a week before this incident. I was using mega tek all over my head. The rest of my new growth is thick and healthy, except for this one patch. I stopped using the mega tek as soon as I saw that bald spot. I talked to my derm about mega tek, described the ingredients and he said he did not think the mega tek was the cause of the hair loss. However, I have not started back using the mega tek and I probably won't until/unless my hair grows back. I am about to start using the moegrow recipe on the healthy parts of my scalp and pray that the rest of my hair grows back. I will be going back to my dermatologist once a month for cortisone injections. Thank God for insurance!!!!!!

 

[discodumpling]

So sorry (((So1913))). If you haven't been referred to my story yet, here it is. Been there. Made it through. God willing, you will too

Testify.

I KNOW that you will have a speedy recovery by the end of the year using this recipe. Nonie has great pics...that's exactly what my scalp looked like in April 2007. Within months of using this e/o blend combined with TLC and lots of scalp massage my hair grew back.

Good luck so1913. I'm looking forward to your positive results

 

[Supergirl]

Gosh I hate to hear this and I BET it is indeed stressful. But on the bright side, this is LHCF and the women here have all kinds of solutions and remedies and I even see in this thread that some have overcome this. Bless you, you will overcome it too.

 

[so1913]

Awww, you ladies are the best!!! I appreciate the support...I'm cool...just gonna cross my fingers and continue to have it treated and monitored professionally. I may try one of the natural oil blends from the board that people have been successful with. I'll just continue to pray about it and continue to take care of my hair...and try to drop some of this stress out of my life!

Yes, thank goodness for insurance!

 

[so1913]

Testify.

I KNOW that you will have a speedy recovery by the end of the year using this recipe. Nonie has great pics...that's exactly what my scalp looked like in April 2007. Within months of using this e/o blend combined with TLC and lots of scalp massage my hair grew back.

Good luck so1913. I'm looking forward to your positive results

Yes, that's what my spots look like, maybe slightly smaller. I will definitely take your guys suggestions.

 

[so1913]

Hey girl I'm glad you posted this, I'm not glad that you are going bald, but I am glad you shared your story because I am going through the exact same thing right now. I was washing my hair about two weeks ago and I noticed a tangle in the front of my head. I was so perplexed as to why my hair was tangling so badly and then when I took a closer look at my scalp, I noticed I had a shiny bald spot. I wasn't combing hard or anything, and believe it or not, I was washing with garlic shampoo! I think as my hair fell out, it became tangled with the hair that was still in my scalp. The bald spot is about an inch by 3/4 of an inch in size and its right in the front of my head. Thank God for bangs! Anyways I cried so hard when I saw that spot because I just knew that the rest of my hair was going to fall out. My mom kept telling me not to worry about it and stress out because I had lots of hair on my head, which only made me more upset. I know that I have been doing everything right for my scalp and health because I have been drinking water, eating well, and taking my vitamins religiously. I haven't had a perm in over 2 months and my hair was completely healthy then. Just two weeks ago, I had a head full of hair. I haven't experienced any shedding or thinning that could have prepared me for looking like George Jefferson.

After finding the bald spot, I made a dermatologist appointment with an African American derm who specializes in our skin/hair issues. He told me that I have alopecia areata and that he couldn't predict what would happen in terms of hair regrowth or further loss. He said that timing is important because a lot of people with hair loss wait and wait and sometimes its too late by the time they get to him. He gave me steroid injections in the spot and prescribed a topical steroid to rub in the spot everyday. He used a very thin needle for the injection and it surprisingly did not hurt very much at all. For people that are leery about getting a shot in your scalp it doesn't hurt nearly as much as getting blood drawn or a finger prick. He emphasized that it was my immune system attacking my hair follicles but it was nothing that I had done wrong. I asked him if that meant that I was sick and he said no, he said that my immune system was working too hard and that it was attacking things that it didn't need to attack, namely my hair. He told me that it is very important to act quickly when you notice that you are losing your hair and go to a dermatologist as soon as possible so that the cause of the hair loss can be determined.

It has been nearly two weeks since I noticed that spot and the hair has not grown back. However I am losing hair in a new spot just behind my hairline. So basically, I have a bald spot, a line of hair, a super thin soon to be bald spot and a little patch of hair. I had just started using mega tek about a week before this incident. I was using mega tek all over my head. The rest of my new growth is thick and healthy, except for this one patch. I stopped using the mega tek as soon as I saw that bald spot. I talked to my derm about mega tek, described the ingredients and he said he did not think the mega tek was the cause of the hair loss. However, I have not started back using the mega tek and I probably won't until/unless my hair grows back. I am about to start using the moegrow recipe on the healthy parts of my scalp and pray that the rest of my hair grows back. I will be going back to my dermatologist once a month for cortisone injections. Thank God for insurance!!!!!!

Girl, I am sorry to hear your story... we are in this together. I haven't noticed any more areas except the two...nor them getting worse (or better).

Thanks for sharing your story, we gotta keep each other uplifted!

 

[Tee]

Hugs, hugs, and more hugs.

 

[Honi]

I'm sorry to hear about this. You are going to recover from this. We are all sending up prayers for you sis!

 

[EMJazzy]

 

[HollyGolightly1982]

I dealt with this back in 03. I had a lot of things going on in my life and I was seriously stressed. I was doing my hair one day and I felt a silver doller size bald spot. I started taking silica and biotin and it grew back in.

 

[smoothie696]

I have had alopecia for about three years now and my bald spots always start as nickle size and then grows a little bigger then a quarter. I noticed that the moment I went to the dermotolgist and received shoots, the hair would grow in quicly. But the shoots are painful, and I get alot of growth from jus one shoot so I do not get the shoots once a month like you are suppose too. I have 2 stops right next to each like u described but now that i dont mind my bald spots as much so I just use a cream which alone takes a bout 3 months to fill it in. As long as you use a cream or a shoot you can stop it frorm spreading.​

I learned with alopecia sometimes you will experience in the area where there is hair loss that thier is an indent/slop on my scalp. For me, I know I am getting ready to loss hair if that area is sore, or if it itches.

I use both a creme and a liquid. I use fluocinonide topical solution and betamethasone dipropionate ointment. I think they both work the same.

Alopecia can be triggered from stress or change in enivornment.

Also its hereditary. If someone in your family has Lupas or theroids it increases your chances of alopecia. But the good news is, that once it fills in you may never experience it again. You just have to watch your stress levels.

Hope this all helps. In a couple of days your hair should start to grow in nicely.

 

[Miss*Tress]

I'm sorry you're going through this. Take care of yourself (try increasing your vitamin B5 intake and/or biotin as implied by the wikipedia article) and keep us posted on your progress - your hair *will* recover.

 

[LilBrownied]

I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope it gets better with the treatment!

 

[pinkchocolatedaisy]

I'm so sorry to hear this is happening to you. I think you have one of the most beautiful heads of hair on this board (and there are lots - you are in my top faves, though). Well like most of the other posters said, your hair should- and I hope will- grow back. take care.

 

[GoingNatural]

I wish you well during this experience. I actually just learned about this on Shear Genius tonight.

You are gorgeous regardless!

 

[BillsBackerz67]

Keep your spirits up SO1913 I never had this condition but when I was growing up and staying with my cousin who is a year older than I am, she had it badly, now her hair is long and healthy and she hasnt had it resurface in the past 15 years....if she did I couldnt tell because she has a lot of hair like you do.

 

[ricochet]

Hey lady, I am sorry you are going through this. I too, suffered from Alopecia Areata in two spots in the back of my head in 2006. I can't remember exactly when it was but I do remember my hair was still long at the time (I cut it in June 2007) and I was still able to pull my ponytail back low enough to cover them. One spot (quarter size) was behind my right ear and the other one (about nickel size) was on the left side of the back of my head, kind of off center from the middle of my head. I didn't take pictures, I think I was too stressed to even bring more attention to it at the time, nor did I get any medical advice or injections. I just prayed that the Lord would give me strength that if I DID lose more hair, I could deal with it. The power of prayer, whoo whoo. I won't say I was not stressed about it all, but after reading and researching it on the net, I realized that there was no medical evidence that stress causes it, but I felt stress had to be the cause of mine. I was in my 2nd year of marriage, which was stressful enough in itself, job stress, etc.

I noticed that the spot was small at first and I thought it was just thinning, then all of a sudden, I noticed this big plug of hair missing, as bare as a baby's butt. All kinds of things went through my head, but I knew I had to calm down and breathe. After about 6 months of massaging the areas w/my fingertips, I think I used wgo sometimes but not a lot, and just de-stressing and relaxing a little more in my everyday life and doing my best not to think about the hair, the hair started growing back. It was very fine but I was excited. I now have about 6-7 inches of hair in both areas(yes they started growing back at the same time) and I will no longer complain about how thick my hair is, again. I have learned that stress can take a toll on our bodies, mentally and physically and worrying won't help the situation and most of all, that prayer works. Be blessed and know that it will be okay.

 

[nikki2229]

I'm sorry to hear about this. I pray that you will be ok. I know two people that are going through this right now and both were brought on by stress. I had a thin spot on my temple that was growing in finally but now that has stopped. This morning I noticed a spot right where my hairline begins. I met my cousin for lunch as she noticed it too. I am freaking out right now as I am getting married in 3 weeks and had intended to wear my hair back. I have never had this problem and I don't feel ready to accept that this may be a recurring issue. Please keep us updated with your situation. HUGS

 

[gradygirl]

I hope things get better for you sweety.

 

[hopeful]

(((((SO1913)))))) Everything's going to work out. Try not to worry too much and like micarae said, prayer and massaging the area with oil will likely be helpful. Good luck and keep us updated, okay?

@nikki2229--hugs to you too dear, hope everything works out and you have a beautiful wedding.

 

[so1913]

I've gotten a lot of support and feedback from folks both here and privately and I am greatful.

I need to get my hands on a new camera, but I want to be sure to document all this and any progress...like Allandra said, my story may help someone else as other's have already helped me

Thanks again!

 

[caramel apple bottom]

My prayers are with you. Hope you get better.

V

 

[HoneyA]

I am so sorry to hear this. I wish you all the best. Hang in there.

 

[so1913]

Just a small update..

I'm already seeing the spots fill in that quickly after my dermatologist visit and steroid shots. I am very optimistic right now and I thank all of you again for your support and encouragement!

 

[Mrs. Verde]

So sorry to hear that this is happening to you. My mother suffered from alopecia (not sure if it is the same type you have). However, her issue was hormonal. Every time she has a bold spot, she get a steroid injection. The hair always grows back. I see from your post that your hair is growing back, too. That's excellent news. Good luck, soror. Wishing you the best.

ETA: In my mother's case the hair always grew back gray. Not sure if it was due to her age,
50s. However, after a few weeks it return to its normal color. So don't be too concerned if this happens to you.

 

[Neith]

Just a small update..

I'm already seeing the spots fill in that quickly after my dermatologist visit and steroid shots. I am very optimistic right now and I thank all of you again for your support and encouragement!

Good for you!