Comment by LaNae on April 6, 2013 at 4:08pm

I do not know if my alopecia has just resolved itself and turned off or if it is a result of what I have done personally. But after trying the same medications you listed, and still becoming basically universalis, I did give myself a break from the meds. Instead, I tried a different route following a medical checkup and learning my body was struggling with less obvious omissions - simple vitamins. Now after some two years of a good daily dose of vitamins, I have about 95 percent regrowth of curly locks on my once bald scalp. My right eyebrow is back to match the left one I did not lose:) Even my dermatologist is surprised at the success. So if you want to give it a try, first check with your doctor about Vitamins D, K, Biotin, Magnesium, B12, in addition to a good multi-vitamin.

Earlier when I was losing my eyelashes too and having trouble with foreign objects under my contacts, I was in my ophthalmologist's office for an eye exam and noticed a promotion for Latisse promising healthier, long beautiful eyelashes. So we talked it over and he gave me a generic sample (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) to try. I used a small, size 0 paintbrush to gently apply just a drop along the lash line once a day. I quit losing lashes, regrew the spots that had fallen out, and ended up with the promised healthier eyelashes--probably the best of my life. Too bad it didn't come it super-doper, economy size to spread over my entire head! But enough lashes to blink away the dust is still a good thing.

Comment by DM on April 6, 2013 at 5:25pm

hi lanae, did you get tested for the vitamin deficiencies? my vit d and b12 are in normal range but i've never been tested for anything else. thank you for telling us your story with latisse. ive heard for many people it does not work, but hearing some success stories gives me hope as my eyebrows and lashes are almost gone. i am going to try to get my doctor to prescribe me the generic version as it is much less expensive.

Comment by michelle on April 6, 2013 at 7:16pm

I started losing hair 2 years ago and now AU...I tried steroid cream and shots..they did nothing. I have been having weekly treatment of DCPC for the last two months. (on head and eyebrows) Its working I have about and inch of peach fuzz. I do recognize the unpredictability of this strange disease. I haven't tried any of the oral meds. Quite frankly I worry more about the side effects...

just wait and see...

Comment by MaddiiBoo on April 6, 2013 at 8:22pm

I agree with Lanae, I have been using Perfectil a hair vitamin with all the vitamins she listed, and I have seen my hair GROW! Though growth is slower on my head, it is apparent all over the body. I think the best way to treat anything is to work inside out! I talked to my doctor about irritants but his opinion was that because my body is making it's own response, it wasn't necessary to put myself through anything more extreme.

Comment by LaNae on April 7, 2013 at 2:46am

DM: My ob/gyn also does integrative holistic medicine. He looks at his patients from both the modern conventional medicine and/or holistic methods. When I asked him about alopecia, he was willing to look at "the whole person" and ran some blood tests that revealed low magnesium and very low Vit D. Since I live in the northwest and work indoors, getting nature's boost of Vit D from the sunshine just does not happen for me, so a supplement was prescribed; it takes Vitamin K to help the body absorb the Vitamin D. My B12 levels were within range, but he suggested a daily supplement may still help. My dermatologist had suggested biotin, a nutrient for healthy nails, skin, and hair.

MaddiiBoo, it takes time, so keep being patient. My hair started to come back in on my head as spotty as when it left. It was almost a year, along with trimming back the early sprouts, to get some symmetry before I felt comfortable in public without my wig. Now I have not worn a wig for about six months, but there are still bald spots here and there. But instead of freaking out about the three-inch gap as I did when it all started, I think gosh, I only have a three-inch gap (and some lingering strips just behind the hairline...) but I can manipulate my hair over that! Just put on the sculpting creams, twist the locks together and then hairspray it all to keep it in place. So now I sport a new pixie hair style and people who never knew about my alopecia think I am brave to "cut my hair so short." It is all a matter of perspective. And if my hair does fall out again, I still have my cute wig in the closet.

Comment by Yellow Daisy on April 7, 2013 at 10:26am

Thank you all for the responses. All the pigmented hair is gone. But, I have vellus hair (fine,white hair) everywhere. So, I haven't given up hope. And I now have a few tiny white hairs sprouting on my head. Currently, I am trying Latisse, have been taking biotin for 2yrs, and take a mega women's vitamin with added D-3. I also sit out in the sun for that good vit D.

LaNae: I have been trying Anthralin for about 2 weeks. After 20 min applications once a day, it has irritated my scalp to the point of turning red and scabbing. I don't know if I should just stop the Anthralin or if this is how the medication is supposed to work. any advice?

Michelle: Unfortunately the DCPC isn't available where I live. I wish it was. As for the oral steroids...it was the worst decision I have made. Not worth it. And in the end, my hair fell out anyway.

Comment by Mumbai on April 14, 2013 at 11:02pm

Good luck. All the best for this attempt.

Comment by Yellow Daisy on April 15, 2013 at 7:59pm

Leonore: I have given up on the Anthralin after 2.5 weeks. My dermatologist had not worked with this med and didn't give me good instructions with it. Her instructions: place a small amount on a small area on your head starting with 2 min increments. Then apply for longer periods until a reaction occurs. Well, I worked up to 20 min a day. But the area looked sunburned, started scabbing, and peeling. After a few nights, I felt like I was continuously irritating the sores. I wish that I had more direction from my derm with this medication. Prior to this last visit, I told her that if she didn't have anything else to try, I didn't see the point of returning to her.
For right now, I am just trying to be patient and gain control over things I can change. I jog, meditate, pray a lot, and take biotin and a multivitamin daily. I have peach fuzz on my head and other body parts. I am just wondering if I should do something to possibly speed the process up or just sit tight. I'm scared that if I just wait, the fuzz won't amount to anything more. But, if I do start on something, how will I know that it won't just all fall out when I stop. It is such a gamble either way :(

Comment by Yellow Daisy on April 16, 2013 at 9:53pm

Leonore: I am so excited for you and your new eyelash growth! I pray for the day that my eyebrows and eyelashes return. I will definitely look more into the DCPC and squaric acid. I know my derm said she could refer me to another derm in North Carolina. I live in Georgia. I was hoping to find answers in my own city. But, that is proving to be a slim possibility. Oh, and I definitely will look into the DHT blocker! I have read a lot about that.
Oh, yesterday I cracked open a fortune cookie that read: "Nature, time, and patience are three great physicians." I thought to myself, how appropriate!

Comment by Dee on April 8, 2014 at 3:04am

I tried the DHT blocker for 5 months and 40 thousand mg of Biotin and a prenatal vitamin a day and Folic acid and b-12 and Vits D3 10 thousand mg per day and Niacin and none of that is working for me and im at a dead end. Currently waiting for my biopsy to come back from the dermatologist to see what that shows. He said something about a rejuvenator what could that be?? and what does that do??is that another waste of time? Anyone know? Please advise me.

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