New Year, New Hair

Last year, I was diagnosed with Alopecia (you can read that story here and here). I haven't lost any hair since then, so I thought it was just a one-time thing. On Tuesday, I got out of the shower and started doing my hair and noticed a patch of hair missing.

My heart sunk. 

Luckily it wasn't as big as the last one, but it's right next to my 1- 1/2" scar (which doesn't have hair) and its close to my forehead. 

I quickly called the dermatologist and scheduled an appointment to get a steroid injection. Even though it's a painful shot in the head, I am so grateful there is a way to get the hair growing again.

Ever since I lost the patch of hair, I have hated everything about my hair. I just wanted to shave it off. But since Chad didn't even consider that an option, I decided to add a little more color. 

My hairstylist is Brittany at Suggestions Salon, and she is amazing! She never ceases to amaze me. I am so happy to bring in the new year with a little more color. Thanks Brittany!

Hair doesn't matter, right?

Well, today is the day I have anxiously been waiting for... my dermatologist appointment. I have been so curious about my hair loss. My dermatologist appointment was quick and straight to the point, that's how all Dr appointments should be. I was in and out of the office in 30 minutes.

After the Dr. took a close look at my head, he concluded that I have Alopecia. Alopecia is an auto immune disease and can be caused by multiple things, and it's impossible to track exactly how I got it. Dr. Edwards asked if there was anything that was really stressful or a change in my my daily life. After a couple minutes of thinking, nothing came to mind. I get stressed over little things, but there was nothing that was huge. I explained a few symptoms I had been experiencing since I switched my birth control and his face lit up like a light bulb. He said it's possible to get Alopecia from birth control. He said I need to immediately stop taking that brand of birth control and switch to the old brand that I was on.

In order for the hair to grow back, I need to have steroid shots into that bald spot. I got 3 shots today, and I need to go back in a month to get more, and continue going back until the hair is fully grown. Dr. Edwards said I will have Alopecia my entire life, and hair is more likely to fall out when I get stressed or my hormones change (especially pregnancy). I am hoping it will never get to the point where I lose all of my hair. If only small patches fall out, I will be very grateful. I am thankful it's Alopecia and not a  life threatening disease. Hair doesn't even matter, right? That's what I keep telling myself, anyways :)

Hair Loss

At the beginning of March, I woke up and found a patch of hair missing (about the size of a dime) just above my forehead. I was in complete shock. I had no idea how that much hair could've come out without me noticing. I thought it was extremely strange, but I didn't worry about it because I knew it would just grow back.

It has now been two months, and the patch of hair still hasn't started to grow back at all. After 2 months, you would think you would be able to see at least a little hair growth, but there was nothing. I looked up my symptoms online and decided I should probably see my Dr. just to be safe.

After checking out my head, the Dr. said it's most likely Alopecia (a condition in which hair is lost from some or all areas of the body, especially on the scalp), but there is a chance it could be a fungus infection. He referred me to a dermatologist to have a biopsy done to determine exactly what it is.

My appointment is scheduled for May 20 with the dermatologist to get a biopsy. I am really anxious to get the results back. It makes me sad to think that that patch of hair may never grow back, and it may possibly spread and cause more hair loss. I am crossing my fingers that it's just a fungus infection so I can keep my hair. Wish me luck!