Experienced Dermatologist told me I’m one of the rarest cases she’s seen - please share stories
Hi guys,
I wanted to share my story as my dermatologist told me it’s quite rare.
I am currently 24 years old.
In or around September 2024, I started Finestride because I had fears I was going bald. I had some slight temporal recession but I just wanted to be proactive because my dad and my other family members are bald.
About 2 months later, I noticed considerable shedding of all my hair, eye brows and eye lashes. At first, I thought it was normal due to the Finestride but it got to a point where it became REALLY BAD, to the point where I essentially lost all my hair. I visited a dermatologist shortly thereafter and they diagnosed me with alopecia areata totalis. My dermatologist thinks the Finestride and alopecia is a coincidence, which I guess I accept?
The dermatologist first prescribed me with prednisone (weaning dose) and then methotrexate. After 4 months of methotrexate not working, I started Barcitinib (a JAK inhibitor). It took about 3 months for Barcitinib to work and I achieved truly amazing results, with FULL REGROWTH.
Shortly after, while I was continuing Barcitinib, I started to notice considerable shedding. The alopecia came back. The dermatologist prescribed me prednisone to try stop the attack but everytime I weaned down from it, the alopecia came back.
I then tried tofacitinb for 3 months and it didn’t work
I then tried Barcitinib at a DOUBLE DOSE for 2 whole months and it didn’t work.
Fast forward now and I’m trying tofacitinib at a DOUBLE dose. I have lost all my hair now ):
I’m truly losing hope as my dermatologist has had to consult other dermatologists about me ): my case seems rare and I just wanted to know if anyone else was having a similar experience to me?