DC has been diagnosed with alopecia areata

[Anonymous]

DC has a bald patch on the head, which appeared spontaneously. Dermatologist gave him some cortisone shots in the scalp and a prescription-strength cortisone cream to apply; we are to return in a month. We are told it is likely to re-grow, but no guarantees.

I'm considering asking the dermatologist about Rogaine, if we don't see some regrowth soon.

Does anyone have experience with this? As you can imagine, I'm beside myself.

[Anonymous]

I had that. It spontaneously appeared when I turned 22. It was misdiagnosed for about a year as a fungus. Once I went to a Dermatologist, I only needed one cortisone shot in the head and everything cleared up nicely. Never reoccurred. I personally would chill out and listen to your Dermatologist. He knows what he is doing. And I absolutely would never, ever give a child Rogaine. That sounds like an extreme overreaction to me. And might I add, why are you so "beside yourself"? It is really not that big of a deal and is solely a cosmetic issue.

[Anonymous]

PP here, not sure if the shot was cortisone or another steroid. But definitely a shot in the head right in the middle of the circular bald spot.

[Anonymous]

OP here; thank you so much for sharing your experience.

I'm beside myself because based on what I'm reading online, the hair may or may not regrow, and this may or may not recur. The affected area is pretty large (1" by 3" maybe?) and my fear is that this will get worse or recur. As you know, there's nothing I can do - but as a parent I worry.

Thanks for your post.

[Anonymous]

I had this - three spots about an inch and a half in diameter. It happened when my thyroid was thrown out of whack after I had my first baby, so have your child's thyroid levels checked. I had cortisone shots monthly for about six months, that plus thyroid medication cleared it up with no recurrence. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had this - three spots about an inch and a half in diameter. It happened when my thyroid was thrown out of whack after I had my first baby, so have your child's thyroid levels checked. I had cortisone shots monthly for about six months, that plus thyroid medication cleared it up with no recurrence. Good luck!

Thanks. The dermatologist mentioned that the next time we go to the ped, we should have his thyroid checked. I'm thinking I'll call to ask if they can do a check soon (rather than waiting for the annual in January).

Thanks for your post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here; thank you so much for sharing your experience.

I'm beside myself because based on what I'm reading online, the hair may or may not regrow, and this may or may not recur. The affected area is pretty large (1" by 3" maybe?) and my fear is that this will get worse or recur. As you know, there's nothing I can do - but as a parent I worry.

Thanks for your post.

When mine was misdiagnosed as a fungus, it reoccurred many times over a year and each time it would come back it would be bigger and more circles would arrive. It looked horrible, I'll be the first to admit it. I am a man, so I survived by shaving my head. Each time though the hair would grow back, but it was the consistency of baby hair. Very soft. I think you are ahead of the game because you have the right diagnosis and the right treatment and I would not worry too much. Hopefully it is not something more serious, like a thyroid issue. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

OP, did your child have any unusual behavioral issues along with the hair loss?

[Anonymous]

My mother experienced this as an adult after the death of a family member. Hers was definitely stress-related. Her hair grew back after the cortisone shot and it has not recurred.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, did your child have any unusual behavioral issues along with the hair loss?

No, no behavioral issues - but he had a terrible virus in September that lasted about 10 days. This could be related.

Thanks so much for your input and reassurance.

[Anonymous]

I don't think some of the PP had alopecia areata b/c it is an autoimmune disorder.

I had it starting when I was almost 16. I wound up losing almost all of my hair. Tried everything available at the time. The good news is that my hair did regrow after about a year. Now I still get spots but they are very hidden- no one would ever know.

I think that the first pp was a little off putting. My mother was certainly very worried about me- even though it is cosmetic kids are cruel and it is hard to worry about your child suffering.


There is an alopecia areata support group and newsletter. You should definitely sign up for the newsletter if you haven't already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think some of the PP had alopecia areata b/c it is an autoimmune disorder.

I had it starting when I was almost 16. I wound up losing almost all of my hair. Tried everything available at the time. The good news is that my hair did regrow after about a year. Now I still get spots but they are very hidden- no one would ever know.

I think that the first pp was a little off putting. My mother was certainly very worried about me- even though it is cosmetic kids are cruel and it is hard to worry about your child suffering.


There is an alopecia areata support group and newsletter. You should definitely sign up for the newsletter if you haven't already.

Some of the PPs may have had it, but it's not always easy to dx as you know. I'm going to have DC's thyroid checked, but I would be very surprised if that is it.

I'm sorry to hear about your experience. That must have been very hard at that age and I'm glad that your hair did regrow.

I'll sign up for the newsletter, and continue to pray that DC doesn't lose any more hair, and that the missing patch regrows quickly.

[Anonymous]

I'm 20:31. What my mother had was definitely alopecia areata.

[Anonymous]

Original PP here and I definitely had it. My head looked similar to this.

http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/image/A1720/172080/300_172080.jpg

I can understand that kids can be cruel. Adults can be cruel too and while it may be perfectly reasonable for a man to shave his head to hide it, it is not reasonable for a child obviously. I had only assumed that OP was concerned because it looked bad. And while I admit it does, it is not a significant health concern unless as others have pointed out, there are thyroid issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had that. It spontaneously appeared when I turned 22. It was misdiagnosed for about a year as a fungus. Once I went to a Dermatologist, I only needed one cortisone shot in the head and everything cleared up nicely. Never reoccurred. I personally would chill out and listen to your Dermatologist. He knows what he is doing. And I absolutely would never, ever give a child Rogaine. That sounds like an extreme overreaction to me. And might I add, why are you so "beside yourself"? It is really not that big of a deal and is solely a cosmetic issue.

This is pretty insenstitive. You were very lucky.