Scarring Alopecia -- Im Screwed

[johnrts]

I believe i have Scarring Alopecia.

I bleached my hair several times improperly when i was younger a couple years ago.

This really pisses me off as now i know it will be impossible to grow my hair

back if ive destroyed the roots of the hair follicles. I feel like total sh*t.

Anyone know where i can go to confirm if this is indeed the case.

Any information anyone can give me on this issue is greatly appreciated.

Thanks...

 

[porajj]

I really really doubt it. Scaring Alopecia is mainly caused by burns, radiation, and fungal based infections that get out of control. The areas damaged dont usually expand to mess up any undamaged folicles, and hair loss is rather patchy-- not usually patterned. The affected areas eventually burn out, and dont expand.

Even if you dumped your head in a bucket of liquid bleach, and slightly burned your scalp, its still pretty unlikely since im guessing your loss probably didnt happen till a few years after this. The loss happens very gradually, but probably not enough as to where your folicles would be producing healthy, fine hairs for a few years, and then magically start to die.


The only way to get it confirmed is to see a derm, and get a skin biopsy done.

 

[johnrts]

Scarring Alopecia

Thanks for the reply man. I bleached my hair about mabybe 6 or 7 times

when i was younger and each and every time i would be placed under a

Heater thing(?) that literally burned and scorched my scalp like hell.

The barber didnt know what he was doing and he left me under the heater for

way too long! Couldn't i have developed Scarring Alopecia from the intense

heat along with the chemicals??

I just want to find out as its killing me inside.....

 

[JayBear]

I would imagine the best ccourse of action for you would be to go see a doctor immediately. In the meantime, however:

A scalp biopsy is essential for the diagnosis of cicatricial alopecia and is the necessary first step. Findings of the scalp biopsy, including the type of inflammation present, location and amount of inflammation, and other changes in the scalp, are necessary to diagnose the type of cicatricial alopecia, to determine the degree of activity, and to select appropriate therapy.

Clinical evaluation of the scalp is also important. Symptoms of itching, burning, pain or tenderness usually signal ongoing activity. Signs of scalp inflammation include redness, scaling, and pustules. However, in some cases there are few symptoms or signs and only the scalp biopsy demonstrates the active inflammation. The overall extent and pattern of hair loss is noted and sometimes photographed for future comparison. A hair "pull test" is performed to identify areas of active disease in which follicles are easily pulled out. The pulled hairs are mounted on a slide and the hair bulbs are viewed with a microscope to determine how many are growing hairs and how many are resting hairs. In addition, if pustules are present, cultures may be performed to identify which microbes, if any, may be contributing to the inflammation. A thorough evaluation that includes all of these parameters is important in diagnosing a cicatricial alopecia and in identifying features in individual patients that will help the selection of therapy.

Diagnosis and treatment of cicatricial alopecias is often challenging. For this reason, it is helpful to be evaluated by a dermatologist with a special interest or expertise in scalp and hair disorders, and who is familiar with current diagnostic methods and therapies. A hair specialist who is experienced in the evaluation and treatment of patients with cicatricial alopecias may be found by contacting the American Academy of Dermatology (http://www.aad.org) or the North American Hair Research Society (http://www.nahrs.org).