Margaret
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I'm a 59 year old retired teacher who started losing hair excessively this past December. I first realized it when I was idly rubbing my temples and discovered that a patch of skin there was hairless and kind of smooth-sticky feeling. Upon more investigation I found other spots, mainly around my hairline all around, but mainly over my ears.
I panicked and ran to my hairdresser, who said it looked like alopecia. Next stop was the dermatologist, who diagnosed alopecia areata. She put me on a combination of Rogaine something called chlopromazine, I think. Sadly this doesn't seem to be working. There's very little if any regrowth so far.
I'm worried, but not excessively so. At my age, there are much worse things that can happen than looking like a mangy cat. Nevertheless, I dread the day I'll have to wear a wig. Right now, I shampoo with Nexxus Biotin and finish off hair style with gel and spray and it still looks ok--for now.
I went back to the derm for 2nd time a few days ago and got cortisone shots in several places, but she didn't do the places I think look worst. We'll see. I'm not that hopeful.
I want to find out more about this condition and what others are doing. I've read on internet that there seems to be some connection with hormones and liver toxicity. I had a hysterectomy about 12 years ago and had a terrible time for a year afterward, aches all over, lethargy, weight gain, general misery. Finally the Doctor prescribed Premarin but it didn't do much for my overall feelings.
Then he tested for hypothyroidism and found a problem. Since then I've been on synthroid. The change was dramatic when I started taking it, and that's been 10 years ago. I get TSH test every 6 months. About a year ago he increased the dosage because my level had changed.
My health is good now; I eat well and exercise and get plenty of sleep. My life is remarkably stress-free these days. I am SO PERPLEXED!
One good thing is that the shedding seems to have let up a bit lately. For awhile every time I touched my hair a rain of it would come out. There was hair on my pillow, hair on the kitchen counter, on my shoulders. Really distressing.
I'm glad to have found this forum and look forward to communicating with others who share my problem.
Margaret
I panicked and ran to my hairdresser, who said it looked like alopecia. Next stop was the dermatologist, who diagnosed alopecia areata. She put me on a combination of Rogaine something called chlopromazine, I think. Sadly this doesn't seem to be working. There's very little if any regrowth so far.
I'm worried, but not excessively so. At my age, there are much worse things that can happen than looking like a mangy cat. Nevertheless, I dread the day I'll have to wear a wig. Right now, I shampoo with Nexxus Biotin and finish off hair style with gel and spray and it still looks ok--for now.
I went back to the derm for 2nd time a few days ago and got cortisone shots in several places, but she didn't do the places I think look worst. We'll see. I'm not that hopeful.
I want to find out more about this condition and what others are doing. I've read on internet that there seems to be some connection with hormones and liver toxicity. I had a hysterectomy about 12 years ago and had a terrible time for a year afterward, aches all over, lethargy, weight gain, general misery. Finally the Doctor prescribed Premarin but it didn't do much for my overall feelings.
Then he tested for hypothyroidism and found a problem. Since then I've been on synthroid. The change was dramatic when I started taking it, and that's been 10 years ago. I get TSH test every 6 months. About a year ago he increased the dosage because my level had changed.
My health is good now; I eat well and exercise and get plenty of sleep. My life is remarkably stress-free these days. I am SO PERPLEXED!
One good thing is that the shedding seems to have let up a bit lately. For awhile every time I touched my hair a rain of it would come out. There was hair on my pillow, hair on the kitchen counter, on my shoulders. Really distressing.
I'm glad to have found this forum and look forward to communicating with others who share my problem.
Margaret