I feel queasy posting this. It’s taken a hit on my mental health. Found out about my AA shortly after first picture. They offered a steroid shot but I declined. Just took a new picture today of the spot. It looks maybe like there’s hair growing? It also looks bigger?
This is just so hard
A tiny scab fell off this area earlier this week and I just noticed this bald patch… I do have an appointment scheduled with a dermatologist but I’m wondering if this looks like how AA started out for others
started on olumiant 2mg for 6 months then bumped up to olumiant 4mg and minoxidil oral 4mg for the last 6 months. here is my progress! hopefully by next year this time the top of a lot more grown out 🥲
So two months ago, this spot appeared on my head. I went to a dermatologist to see what was wrong and he diagnosed me with alopecia areata. I have PCOS which causes me to have thyroid problems, a possible connection to this. I am only 18 and very scared as I already have many other health issues and my self confidence now is already extremely low. Does this look like it will develop into alopecia totalis because I am so young? How long will it take for more spots/thinning to happen? I’ve been prescribed a topical steroid but haven’t started using it yet. What do I do?
Hi, I am new to this sub. I am worried about my 15-year-old daughter’s hair loss. She just noticed a spot three weeks ago and now it is noticeably worse. We went to her pediatrician today and she couldn’t say for sure. She said it didn’t exactly look like it, but it could be. We will be making an appointment with a dermatologist. In the meantime, I am trying to learn as much as I can!
Hey everyone! My alopecia flared up hard last September and I’ve lost 30-40 percent of my hair. So much hair loss that I went from a full mullet, to now shaving my head daily. I’m currently taking olumiant 4mg (since January 2026), nutrafol for men, and minoxidil extra strength. With minimal results.
My mom’s a DR and my brother is a workout fanatic/meathead (low-key lol) both have told me to look into some peptides (see attached). Apparently some peptides can help with autoimmune and inflammation. I thought I’d reach out to my hair-struggling homies on Reddit and see if any of you have experimented with the peptides?
Much love 🫶
This is a burner account because I’m too embarrassed to admit this on my main. I’m just gonna speak from the heart because I feel like there is definitely some people out there who can relate.
For context I’ve had alopecia since the age of 2 and it’s been really really difficult. I have alopecia universalis so I’ve got no hair literally anywhere on my body. It’s been absolutely gut wrenching having to deal with the hateful comments and stares I’ve received since developing this condition, I’ve had bouts of depression and body image issues and it’s been really hard trying to navigate that through my teenage years. I keep most of that pretty private and I guess I do a pretty good job at hiding it because my friends pay no attention to how bad it affects me and it doesn’t really cross their mind how terrible I feel day to day ( I’m not saying my friends are terrible people it’s just when I explain my current situation they can’t offer much help because they haven’t been through the same). I try my best to maintain a positive attitude about how I feel about myself but it’s really hard to look in the mirror some days because of my experiences. I wear a hat everywhere and I think it’s very obvious how insecure I am. That being said I don’t wanna linger too much on that topic but I’m at the age where I really wanna start dating, ( I’m an 18 year old guy). Long story short it’s really hard explaining to women my condition because lots of times I get bad reactions and it really hurts me. I just want to know is there any way around this or if anyone can help, I genuinely don’t know how to deal with this condition anymore it’s eating away at me and I just need some guidance. Anything helps thanks.
i’ve never had any bald spots i’m a teenager, will it grow back? or will it potentially get worse? i have straight asian hair, also it’s i’m going to go see a dermatologist but i just wanna see if anyone here can at least give advice or anything before i go
so, i do understand that minoxidil for aga/pattern hairloss has to be used for life if one would like to maintain the results.
with alopecia areata though, since its often a flaring autoimmune condition instead of an ongoing consistent hormonal/aging hairloss condition, is that also the case? what is the purpose of minoxidil for aa? is it just to regrow the spots quicker, and then can be stopped once they have regrown? or does it also have to be used on that same spot forever to maintain regrowth, like with aga?
my derm told me this, that i could stop using minoxidil once all my spots have regrown, but he straight up also told me that jak inhibitors "dont suppress your immune system because theyre not an immunosuppressant, theyre a jak inhibitor" and also used the wrong name to describe alopecia universalis. so idk if he really knows what hes talking about lol.
This is my second time dealing with alopecia areata. It probably is stress related. The first time I was able to take away the stressor and so my hair grew back. This time it is because I lost my job. I’m trying to find a new job but it’s taking some time. The doctor prescribed me Corticosteroids cream but it’s not working. I also had bloodwork done and showed that I had a shortage in vitamin D but she also said that this isn’t hairloss related. I’m getting desperate and keep loosing more hair. Does anyone have any tips to get my hair growth back?
#alopecia #areata #alopeciaareata
Hi all. First time posting here, but definitely not my first go with alopecia areata. I’m 28F and have been dealing with this since I was 13 years old. I’ve had some years without spots, but they always return. I get injections which have always worked in the past, although the regrowth is very slow.
This time around, my new spot is right in the center of my hairline, by far my most obvious spot to date. I’ve been covering it with boldify hairline powder which has helped, while I wait for my dermatologist appointment over a month from now.
I always thought this alopecia thing would get easier as I get older. But it’s still just as difficult mentally and emotionally 15 years into it. The unpredictability is so hard, the feeling that others will notice/stare, the feeling of losing control over how you present yourself. It’s just hard and I am so tired of dealing with this.
Hi I'm 19 M I got this alopecia in January 2026 till now I've almost 9-10 patches. However I'm seeing some kind of new baby hairs.
How long is it gonna take to get all the hair back?
Considering shaving the whole thing.
Has anyone had an issue with their first line doctor minimizing or not believing them? My biopsy came back with 60% telogen hairs and a diagnosis of AA chronic. I have a positive ANA. Hashimotos. Siblings with diabetes / ulcerative colitis. High inflammation. My only relief came from a steroid injection in one hot spot on the back of my head (by her!). When the biopsy came back (and I had not seen it), the derm told me everything was fine and it was likely a stressful event.
I had no stressful event. This is my second cycle of massive shedding, with progression photos of it getting worse. This current cycle started January 2026. Once the biopsy result was uploaded, I asked why she said everything was fine. She said because she didn’t see bald patches.
I would like to not get to fully bald patches. I was blessed with Italian / Latin hair / eyelashes / brows and I’ve lost 50%. So in her eyes, it’s not that bad looking. She said she will send out a referral to a local hospital here for a hair specialist. That will take months to even get an appt. In the meantime, I’m massively shedding. I’m mentally completely broken and distraught. Afraid to shower or brush. Was anyone else brushed off by their doctors?
Hello friends,
This is my first ever Reddit post.
I found my first spot Feb 24. I had noticed immense shedding for a couple weeks. My beautiful long hairs were suddenly all over the place. The back of my head had also been mildly itchy (nothing to write home about). It was 1am and I halfheartedly asked my SO “can you check if I have a bald spot?” He was silent for seemed what eternity and then history was made.
Luckily, I saw my GP that same day and had all bloodwork done. Everything is completely normal. I am 35. No children. Nothing abnormal. Healthy my whole life. I take no medications for anything. Stress is determined to be cause. How absurd. I got in with a derm the next day.
Now, 3 months later, I have 7 spots. One gigantic one on the back of my head, the OG (absolutely huge, she is) and 6 more “traditional” or coin sized ones (coins ranging from dimes to half dollars). After scalp injections, my derm has sent me on my Olumiant journey. First 2mg for a month. Now, 4mg. He also has me on an oral dose of steroids (instead of the scalp injections). One week on, one week off, just to see.
Things have been rather awful. My hair, like most of us, is my crown. It’s so long and thick. I’m actually quite fortunate as you cannot see any of my spots. I either use a powder or some fibers, if I want to. Though, I have decided to purchase a wig, just in case.
I have been reading and most literature says in 3-6 months things tend to start settling. I was almost wondering if it’s because by 3 months, you start to emotionally settle down with no choice but to accept your fate and I’m assuming by 6 months, you can no longer do this mental flagellation. I do not have it in me to cry about my crop circles all the time anymore. They still discourage me and I get frustrated and cranky, but I’m doing everything I can to manage this. Topical, injections, immunosuppressants, vitamins, supplements, I even turned to traditional Chinese acupuncture.
I do see regrowth in the center of The OG. I actually had growth inside her PRIOR to starting the Olumiant. As stated, she is HUGE. Must be 5in in diameter (makes for a nice vent when I start overheating, to be fair).
Anyway, I know there is much uncertainty to AA (one of the worst parts), but —
Has anyone ever been on Olumiant, had hair grow, get everything back on track and then slowly tapered off it without issue?
Is it common for hairs to grow in while hairs are still shedding? I’m not sure how that is making sense. So, the inflammation is stopping in certain places but not others?
Do patches seem to shed and grow for a specific amount of time, would you say? (E.g. you have found patches shed for a month and then seem to stop, or they grow a certain percentage and then stop)
When does the Olumiant (generally) stop the shedding? I’m more concerned with stopping the shedding than I am about the regrowth. My hair is so long and thick, that the growth catching up for it to all be normal again will take eons.
Does anyone’s scalp ever feel a certain way when inflammation is coming down and hair is growing back in? Or any other regrowth signs and feelings you’d like to share?
And lastly, the hairs that are growing in started off as teeny tiny white hairs (vellus), and I thought they’d stay white and get longer, but they’re dark now. Is that strange? I saw so many folks with white hair growth.
Thank you, everyone.
Even though it does not feel like it, everything is going to be ok (at least that is what I keep telling myself).
Found this on my 16 month old son. I am heart broken. He is so young. I’ve read that the younger it occurs, the worse the prognosis. I have autoimmune disease and I’ve had an intense fear of passing that to him. Now that he has alopecia, I’m scared of what other autoimmune diseases he may have.
Any positive stories with toddlers with AA?
Thank you
Bonjour,
Il y'a 7 mois maintenant (novembre 2025) j'ai aperçu un trou au dessus de mon oreille droite et une perte anormal de cheveux.
Plus les jours passaient plus je perdais. Je décide donc de me rendre chez une dermatologue (En décembre 2025)et qui me diagnostic une pelade. Elle commence directement un traitement qui est des injections de cortisone dans les plaques et me prescrit une prise de sang. Au résultats de la prise de sang, rien d'anormal (thyroïde Ok) mise à part des carences en vitamine D, fer. Que je corrige depuis et qui ce sont nettement amélioré.
Elle me prescrit également de l'Elocom en lotion que je dois appliquer quotidiennement sur les plaques.
Quelques semaine après l'utilisation de cette lotion je fais une réaction cutanée et décide d'arrêter celle ci.
Janvier 2026, je vois mon médecin traitant et lui parle de ma chute et lui explique que j'ai des squames. Elle examine et pense peut être a un champignon. Dans le mois, je revois ma dermatologue pour mes injections mensuel et elle examine mon cuir chevelu en me disant qu'effectivement j'ai une dermatite seborrheique. Elle me prescrit donc du "Sporanox" et un shampoing antifongique. Pour calmer la pousser de la pelade elle me prescrit également du Medrol en cure dégressive sur 8 semaines.
Début mars, je revois la dermatologue et lui exprime mon inquiétude par rapport à la chute qui persiste et me dit que ça peut prendre du temps à se calmer. On continue comme chaque rendez-vous les injections. Elle m'avait prescrit du "Neoptide Expert lotion" qui soutien la pousse du cheveux et c'est un lotion à mettre quotidiennement.
En avril, je décide d'aller voir une dame qui est spécialisé dans les pathologie du cheveux. Au vu de la forme elle me dit que j'ai une pelade ophiasique. Elle analyse mon cuir chevelu au miscroscope et rien d'alarmant. Elle décide de faire une séance PRP test sur une petite zone du cuir chevelu et une séance de lumière rouge 8min. (Pour l'instant il est encore un peu tôt pour des résultats)
Nous sommes mi-mai et depuis fin février je vois une repousse. Je suis très heureuse que cela repousse mais ce qui m'inquiète encore à l'heure actuelle et qui me rend mal dans ma peau c'est encore la quantité de cheveux que je perd quotidiennement (ce sont de long cheveux, pas de cheveux court qui sont actuellement en phase de pousse)
J'ai peur de finalement tout perdre, de me retrouver chauve etc etc. Je n'ai pas d'atteinte au sourcils, ni aux cils ni à aucun autre poils.
Et le problème c'est que j'ai déjà tellement peur d'une rechute que j'anticipe sûrement déjà...
J'ai entendu parler des traitements comme les inhibiteurs JAK avec de bon résultats mais ce qui me fait peur dans ce genre de traitement c'est les effets secondaires et le taux de rechute après l'arrêt. Même si je ne l'arrête pas c'est un médicament à vie ??
Je suis complètement déprimée et très mal dans ma
peau, je n'arrive plus à me coiffer comme je veux, moi qui avait de si beau cheveux que j'entretenais.
Pouvez vous m'aider, me rassurer, pour ceux qui sont dans le cas me parler de vos expériences de ce qui as/qui a pas fonctionné chez vous et où en êtes vous aujourd'hui.
Merci à vous tous.
I wanted to share something in case it helps someone else dealing with alopecia areata.
I was first diagnosed in my early 20s and I’ve had 2 relapses since then, both during periods of intense stress.
In February of last year, I went through one of the hardest periods of my life, and I was convinced another relapse was coming.
Because of that, I started looking into preventative things I could add to my routine. One thing I committed to was giving myself a 5-minute scalp massage every night before bed. I’ve now been doing it consistently for over a year, and to my surprise, I never ended up relapsing.
Obviously everyone’s alopecia is different, but I just wanted to share in case anyone is looking for gentle preventative methods or small things to add into their routine.
Living with alopecia can feel unpredictable, so I hope this maybe helps someone feel a little more hopeful.
