shaydufblu
Highlander
(Here's a link to I've Got a Bald Spot so you can catch up on the story.)
My hair appeared to recover a little from that point, but upon closer examination it looked as though those thinner areas were spreading. I got worried, but didn't feel going back to the same derm would help because I wasn't really feeling her. So I went to another dermatologist and got my results yesterday. The doctor who examined my scalp biospy (I had to have another one, grr) said it looks like the beginning stages of scarring alopecia.
The best choice for me is to go natural again. My reasoning is I would rather have hair than struggle to hold on to a relaxed style; besides, I was natural for two years, two years ago. So I'm not too torn up about going natural. I am, however, a tad bit upset that I've grown attached to my relaxed strands. After going through so much to learn how to take care of it and getting it back to a length that I like (just a little beyond shoulder length), I have to cut it.
The reasons for my alopecia may be partly hereditary, because my mom's hair is kinda thin too and she used to have a full head of hair back in the day. However, none of her sisters have this issue as far as I know and my grandmother used to have bra-strap length hair well into her 80's. So maybe it's hereditary from the perspective that my mom used to straigthen her hair with a hot comb for the longest, and did the same to my sisters and I until we all got perms. Maybe that's the gene -- the "I've got to have straight hair and no one around me knows enough to tell me that cells and follicules in my head are just like any other part of my body - they deal with what I put them through, and then when they can't I'll get a disease or ailment" one. That lack of information gene.
I'm pretty darn cute with a short natural too (if I do say so myself), so I wish I would have known much earlier and gave it a try earlier.
But I don't regret the decision to relax again. Wanna know why? Because I think that the inflammation really started (or got worse) while I was natural. I didn't really know how to take care of my natural hair, was combing it roughly and I let it grow a little too long for me to handle effectively. (Having a warm, tender scalp is a sign that you need to slow down.) If I didn't relax, and didn't start taking pictures of my hair, I would have never noticed those spots and if I were natural, it may have been waaay too late before I tried to seek help. I hope and pray that when I cut it, it won't be too obvious, but whatever it is I have to be strong enough to deal with it. And take the time to take better care of my natural hair.
OK enough of the vent, but my advice to the world is if you feel that something is wrong, 'tis better to get a second opinion early on than take what you're told and perhaps suffer the consequences.
My request is this. There are ladies here on the board who are dealing with alopecia and are being successful in stopping the spread of the inflammation. I found about 3 pages of scattered information when I searched for info; I would like to ask on the behalf of others and myself for you ladies who are seeing progress in dealing with your alopecia to post what you know here.
What is your treatment (via doctor)?
What do you do at home (shampoos, etc.)?
What supplements do you take?
Have you changed your diet? Did it help?
Any other advice? Rituals that work but have no explanation?
I appreciate you guys, and even though I don't post a lot, I'm always somewhere paying attention!
Shaydufblu
My hair appeared to recover a little from that point, but upon closer examination it looked as though those thinner areas were spreading. I got worried, but didn't feel going back to the same derm would help because I wasn't really feeling her. So I went to another dermatologist and got my results yesterday. The doctor who examined my scalp biospy (I had to have another one, grr) said it looks like the beginning stages of scarring alopecia.
The best choice for me is to go natural again. My reasoning is I would rather have hair than struggle to hold on to a relaxed style; besides, I was natural for two years, two years ago. So I'm not too torn up about going natural. I am, however, a tad bit upset that I've grown attached to my relaxed strands. After going through so much to learn how to take care of it and getting it back to a length that I like (just a little beyond shoulder length), I have to cut it.
The reasons for my alopecia may be partly hereditary, because my mom's hair is kinda thin too and she used to have a full head of hair back in the day. However, none of her sisters have this issue as far as I know and my grandmother used to have bra-strap length hair well into her 80's. So maybe it's hereditary from the perspective that my mom used to straigthen her hair with a hot comb for the longest, and did the same to my sisters and I until we all got perms. Maybe that's the gene -- the "I've got to have straight hair and no one around me knows enough to tell me that cells and follicules in my head are just like any other part of my body - they deal with what I put them through, and then when they can't I'll get a disease or ailment" one. That lack of information gene.
I'm pretty darn cute with a short natural too (if I do say so myself), so I wish I would have known much earlier and gave it a try earlier. But I don't regret the decision to relax again. Wanna know why? Because I think that the inflammation really started (or got worse) while I was natural. I didn't really know how to take care of my natural hair, was combing it roughly and I let it grow a little too long for me to handle effectively. (Having a warm, tender scalp is a sign that you need to slow down.) If I didn't relax, and didn't start taking pictures of my hair, I would have never noticed those spots and if I were natural, it may have been waaay too late before I tried to seek help. I hope and pray that when I cut it, it won't be too obvious, but whatever it is I have to be strong enough to deal with it. And take the time to take better care of my natural hair.
OK enough of the vent, but my advice to the world is if you feel that something is wrong, 'tis better to get a second opinion early on than take what you're told and perhaps suffer the consequences.
My request is this. There are ladies here on the board who are dealing with alopecia and are being successful in stopping the spread of the inflammation. I found about 3 pages of scattered information when I searched for info; I would like to ask on the behalf of others and myself for you ladies who are seeing progress in dealing with your alopecia to post what you know here.
What is your treatment (via doctor)?
What do you do at home (shampoos, etc.)?
What supplements do you take?
Have you changed your diet? Did it help?
Any other advice? Rituals that work but have no explanation?
I appreciate you guys, and even though I don't post a lot, I'm always somewhere paying attention!
Shaydufblu
