Alopecia Areata
I have had alopecia areata since the start of this year. My barber discovered a 1 cm-squared bald spot on the back of my head at the start of January and told me it looked like alopecia. A couple of weeks later this was confirmed by my GP. A visit to a consultant dermatologist let to me being prescribed topical steroid cream and iron supplements. I was told to stop using the cream after 6 weeks (to prevent skin damage) and wait 3 months before coming back if there had been no improvement. The steroid would take at least a month to ‘kick in’, if at all. The cream has so far shown no positive effect. The skin at the bald spot remains smooth and the size has grown to an oblong patch roughly 1 inch by 1 ½ inch. The hairs at the perimeter are loose so I know the bald spot is still growing. I feel like I’m witnessing desertification happen right on my head After my trip to the dermatologist, I felt a bit more reassured. However, now I do not believe the steroid cream will work. Also, a friend showed me a medical article which in fact points out that topical steroid cream is not statistically effective in treating alopecia. However, injections of steroid may have some success and this is presumably what the dermatologist may recommend to me in due time. Even then, the success rate is not that encouraging, and I don’t relish NHS waiting lists or costs of private treatment. It has been 3 months since I first knew about the bald spot and there is no sign of new hair growth and signs that I will lose more hair around the bald patch.
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04/04/2008
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12/11/2007
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10/11/2007
Hi Andy
A couple of photos dated early September. I'll try to take some more in a couple of weeks if there is significant change visible since then. A number of people at work commented on my hair growth.
Regards Botak1
07/30/2007
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05/09/2007
I have some good news to report… hair growth! Its been just over a month since I started using the cream/ointment. I must admit I have not been using the shampoo that much… mostly on a “when I remember/ when it’s convenient” basis. I usually use the ointment in the morning and last thing at night.
05/09/2007
I did not realise there was some growth because the scalp still feels smooth when I run my finger over it but a friend told me there were new hairs there and took some photos for me (I will email them to you). You can see a few short black hairs (not sure if they are new ones or “left overs” from the old batch) but he said there were many more fine white hairs (which I think are partly visible in the zoomed up photo, and if you zoom in it further on the computer you can see more, which look like little white “scratches”). He said if the light is right, it looks like a sort of ‘furry layer’ but he couldn’t get the angle right to catch the effect he meant on the photo.
I still lose a hair or two from the edge of the patch every now and then but not at an alarming rate like before. I’m just happy there to see evidence that the bald patch is still alive. For the record i have not experienced any irritation on the scalp from using the ointment.
Its been just over a month since I started using the cream/ointment. I must admit I have not been using the shampoo that much… mostly on a “when I remember/ when it’s convenient” basis. I usually use the ointment in the morning and last thing at night.
