Hi all-

I'm one year out from the dreaded diagnosis of FFA. I've been reading everyones thoughts and it's true that I also feel like I'm no more certain about anything one year later. I've used a topical steroid but then my scalp feels on fire so I stop for awhile but then I feel like I've lost more hair, the same with Tacrolimus and Minoxidl. Everyday is different and I don't know if it's FFA or what I'm trying. No clear path is so frustrating!

But I do know that I want to do what I can to help me feel better about myself. My skin has really been affected by all of this too.

So I have some questions-

-I've had my eyebrows micro bladed but they're starting to fade. What are your experiences about having them redone? I feel like my skin there looks scared and I'm worried

-Has anyone had a laser treatment or dermabrasion or chemical peel on their skin to soften out the "creepy" rough looking skin? I feel like I've aged 10 years

-I've always thought about having a mini facelift (I'm 61). But then I read something about facelifts and FFA??

-I could never shave my head because where I've lost hair especially in my temples is SO shiny. Any thoughts on a makeup or? to cover up the shine?

-I have two patches of hairloss in front of my ears. Has anyone heard of microblading or tattooing an area like this?

Just trying to accept some of this and move forward! Thank you for being there. It means so much.

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I've had my brows microbladed (Oct '17) and between the redhead gene and FFA skin my poor technician had a job for sure! She explained because of my bad skin & the red hair my brows will fade more then usual and I will need more touch ups- to be honest if I wasn't on this forum I would've thought it was BS! But knowing that part of FFA is having not great skin it all makes sense :-/ although there is now NO WAY I will go back to not having brows!

The shiny scalp, ohhhhhhh the bane of my morning rituals!  I hate the shiny scalp! I use a face primer and face powder and then a contour powder (all Bare Minerals products) & blend it all into my hairline and along my forehead, for the most part it works- I also sometimes use hair powder, either Boost n' Blend or Revolution Hair Powder and blend that in the hairline on it's own or along with any of the other products- I really hate the shine!  Sounds like a lot of stuff and work but it isn't really, takes about a minute and, as far as I know and hope! blends in really well and is not noticeable - Oh and one more thing- I sometimes I use a little fake tan and it helps to dim the shiny bright white stripe that is also thanks to FFA,  I don't use it all over my face, just on my forehead/hairline- again, hopefully not noticeable or orange! 

I also have patchy & scraggly hairloss in front of my ears, I do the same as above and have long "sideburn pieces" cut into my "good hair" that I pull forward and use either a bit of hairspray or hair product to keep in place, it has worked pretty well for the couple months that I have had it- between the powder and having the sides "stuck in place" I don't panic when the wind blows, well maybe a little, can't help it! My microblading technician actually does work with alopecia & cancer clients and has been trained to microblade/tattoo areas of hairloss- so it is a thing that is being done, we talked about it- but don't think it is for me.  If you decide to do it look for one that has been trained in the technique-

I haven't really looked into dermabrasion or anything for my skin, I get a facial now and again and that helps a bit for a little while, I also get botox about once a year and that helps a LOT for a Long While!

Hope all this helps :-) 

Wow Minter! Thank you for all of the detail of what works for you!!! :)

Haha thank you, I'm afraid it might have been Too Much Detail though! 

Thank you Minter! Never too much detail!!!

I'm very happy I had microblading done too. Mine looks a little "blurry" and more gray now so it's probably time to go back for a touch up. I don't love the process but it's sooo worth it.

I use toppix on my ever wider part but I'll try the other products you mentioned along on my hairline and shiny forehead. I'm also looking into a different haircut?

This all has a tendency to make me feel "exposed" especially when the wind blows! I was just on vacation and I definitely don't feel comfortable getting my hair wet when I go swimming anymore. I do think I'm going to get some fun glasses too. I'm trying very hard to start to accept that this is who I am. I don't want to obsess over this everyday. I'm 61 and life is short!

@AnnieMay I had a chin length bob for years. As this mystery illness took hold and I couldn’t figure out why my hair felt like straw and wouldn’t lay right-i kept getting it cut shorter. I now have a short pixie. My hairstylist said yesterday that my hair is the healthiest she’s seen it in some time-and I have thicker hair along the sides and widows peak so that it can be cut to hide my temples better. Castor oil?!? I don’t know, but it’s the thing I’m doing now consistently. A new haircut is something to consider. This stupid disease makes you adapt and right now *knock wood* my haircut looks intentional.

Going to the dermatologist tomorrow. First time since I was diagnosed. Since I’m not doing drugs there wasn’t much need for a follow up but I have to get some pre cancerous spots frozen-ugh. Guess all that sunscreen in my make up all these years has done a terrific job...! Oh wait. Ugh!!!

Good luck @illustr8r, hope all goes well at the dermo tomorrow, I hope all goes well- that is pretty much how I am now with my own- just going for my once a year skin check up. & good to hear your hair has thickened up!  

@AnnieMay, my brows also look blurry thanks to FFA and the number it does on my skin, yay. But, they still look a million times better then pre-microblading!

I did some googling after I first posted on shiny scalps and there are several products that men use for shiny scalps also saw several posts about using baby powder or talcum powder- 

Fun sunglasses and more is the way to go! As frustrating as FFA is, not going swimming or enjoying yourself on vacation or life in general is a sure way to let FFA win and rule your life :-/

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