new thread
Hi Guys !
Today is the day I decided to take some photos.
I washed my hair yesterday evening, slept with a braid and undo it this morning, so :
The braid :
Loose, the back :
Joy ! Maybe you don't see well on the photo, but my hair almost reach my belt !
The face :
Closely :
Now, the bad news : Some of you may remember, since the beginning of the year, I have a bald patch in the back of my head. My doctor diagnosed Alopecia Areata (like said Scott). Since this period, the bald spot has become bigger ! And I really don't when it will stop. I can't wait until my hair regrow, unfortunately, it will take time... :( I don't lie to you : for the first time in 5 years, shaving my head became an option, if the spot "grows" too much. And it's not something I will like... Too bad, since I probably won't be bald at all due to MBP, considering the hair in my family.
Bald spot 1
Bald spot 1
Bald spot 1
The doctor give me some corticoids to apply on the spot, unfortunately, it doesn't seem to work. I'm currently looking for a treatment with essential oils.
Strangely, my overall thickness is pretty stable; I think it's because I don't have a lot of hair in this zone; The ends are thin, though.
Not related to hair : Next year, I will study in Trondheim, Norway ! The "trip" begin the 5th of August !
Thanks for reading this long post, bye,
Vivien
Hi there,
sorry to hear about your alopecia, I hope it will heal with time, it should! Don't shave your head until it becomes necessary (that is, until you have no hair left on your head!).
Also, nice beard you've got going! Next World Beard and Moustache Championships will be in Trondheim, so you have more than a chance to be there! I just came back from the WBMC in Alaska, and I can assure you it's worth it.
(some pics on the link below, more will come in the next days)
Thank you for posting these pictures -- very fun to look at. You are quite the photographer. Hope you enjoyed your vacation to the arctic part of America!
Ciao!
A good thought ! Thanks for telling be this, Alessandro :)
Unfortunately, the next "Beard Convention" will be in Trondheim in 2011, and I'm there from 2009 to 2010. Maybe, I will return, though...The photos are superb !
Vivien
Hi Vivien,
I think that your hair looks great, even if you have this patch of missing hair. Perhaps try a different doctor, a dermatologist perhaps, or search for natural cures. I hope that the oils can help too. Your beard is coming along well. Very Nice. There are perhaps other medications that might be more effective as well.
Studying in Norway should be very fun. I have never been, but all the pictures show it as a beautiful place with its deep fjords and mountain landscape. I think it will be much colder than France though! I hope that you can have the time to post some pictures of Norway when you get settled there.
MB
I'll try to see both a dermatologist and some kind of herborist (I don't find the tranduction for the word I want to express, sorry)
Norway isn't so cold in Trondheim, but it will be so different ! Be sure to see photos :)
Thanks, Matt !
Vivien
Haha. I understand perfectly what you mean. Herbalist maybe is the word. I like that you say "tranduction" for translation too. That is perfectly Latinate, and I love that.
Wikipedia says: About 50% of patients' hair will regrow in one year without any treatment.
In the interim, your braid seems to cover it. If you wait and see what happens, you might not have hair. If you shave it, you definitely won't have hair. Drastic action seems to be a natural human tendency. Resist the urge.
A good reasonment, yes. Though, when you see that the spot become bigger, it's hard to think it wil regrow by the year...
Thanks for the kind comment ;)
VIvien
I used to have an alopecia spot about five years ago (before I had long hair). It went away on its own though.
After that I had some severe dandruff problems. After nothing worked I tried a different kind of shampoo. It has Ketoconazole in it and works against severe dandruff.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketoconazole
There is however evidence that it also stimulates hair growth. Even to the point of forming new hair.
Nice to hear that it went away. What was the size of your spot, please ?
Thanks for the comment,
Vivien
Not very big to be honest, about one by one inch. The doctor diagnosed it with this type:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alopecia_areata
Hi Vivien,
Thanks for the update and you hair is getting very long now and another milestone in being at belt length. I think the beard is coming along great and a great addition and really suits you.
I'm sorry to hear about the alopecia and I would certainly seek a second medical advice and see if other treatments can be tried. I certainly hope that you won't have to do anything drastic with that great mane of yours.
It sounds like you have a wonderful chance in going to University in Norway and it's a lovely country and hope you enjoy your studies and time there. Keep in tocuh with us on that.
Cheers,
John.B
Thanks for the kind comment, John !
Yes, I would cry if I had to cut... I'm going to try different medication in the next weeks.
Norway wil be wonderful ! Fortunately, there is Internet there, so you'll see some photos :)
You have good length and I like the braid. Too bad about the bald spot. I hope you can get some hair regrowing there soon.
David
Thank you for the kind words, David :)
Vivien
Hey, Vivien!
Wow, your hair long! That braid looks magnificent. Did you braid it yourself? The third picture on this thread is my favorite :) I like your color and texture. I wish you the best of luck on your issue, I bet it's pretty stressful. I hope things begin to turn out better with that. But regardless, your hair is amazing!
Hegg
Thanks a lot, Hegg ! Yes, I braid myself, every evening to sleep.
It's pretty stressful. Unfortunately, stress can be a cause of this hair loss... Vicious circle...
Bye,
Vivien
I have seen your pictures and I was surprised that you are balding. True, putting your hair up hides the bald spot, but this will only work with the bald spot still small. Let's hope the situation reverses, but only time will tell.
Matthew
Words of wisdom, Matt. The spot is still invisible, exept if I wear a tight and high bun.
Thanks for the comment :)
Vivien
Hi Vivien,
I'm happy and sad for you. I'm thrilled that your going to Norway
it's always great to go to other countries and experience cultural differences. Your mane looks amazing among the best on the board. It's sad to hear about the bald patch but don't give up yet try everything and of course give it time to recover if it will. I agree with John maybe a second opinion from another doctor.
Take Care
Kevin
Thank you for the nice comment, Kevin :)
Be sure, I'll do everything to recover my hair.
VIvien
Vivien!
That is a very nice waist length mane!
It looks like you are trying out a Donegal style beard, too.
The red beard looks great with your hair.
I hope your balding problem is only temporary.
Some things that might help:
Use smooth satin pillow cases. These are much less "abrasive" on your hair and will help reduce loss due to rubbing on bedding.
Take a look at your nutritional needs. There have been many good threads recently on the board regarding nutrition.
May joy triumph over fear and alopecia.
- Oren
Thank you Oren !
Yes the red beard seems very irish :) I can't wait the moment I will be able to grow a full beard like yours.
I don't know about the satin pillowcase. But I'll probably do a bloodtest (for my trip to Norway, a simple control), and so I'll see if I lack of something.
Vivien
Hi Vivien,
Your mane is simply fantastic and the length is to die for but the spot on your head is disturbing and I don't blame you being concerned about it.Did this area progressively get larger from a very small spot?I would leave no stone unturned to get to the bottom of this but you should not just cut it all off as you've invested countless years on that hair.Its hard to believe starting from scratch will make a difference so just treating it locally would be just more effective.This way you still keep what you've achieved.Anyway I wish you the best on this problem and hopefully someone has the correct treatment for you my friend.Cheers
Mark
Mark, thank you for these words.
Originally, the spot was quite little and even hard to find. Now, it's large and I find when I want (even I don't want to find it, actually :))
Bye
Vivien
Hey Vivien, I love the braid, but I'm not partial. LOL
Sorry to hear about the alopecia, hopefully that will be reversed very quickly.
Daniel
Thanks, Daniel !
Braided hair is one of the most beautif hairstyle, I think :)
Vivien
Hello Vivien,
First, your hair looks great! It's so thick that I'd never expect a bald spot.
Regarding that, I've had some results using natural products to combat balding (minor male pattern baldness in my case). Try rubbing extra virgin olive oil into the bald spot and let it soak in for a few hours daily. I believe this helps to remove blockage from the hair follicle. It may also help to take a natural DHT inhibitor like saw palmetto extract. DHT is a chemical which causes balding if it builds up and is the main cause of MPB. You could also try taking a biotin supplement if you haven't been doing so already.
Best of luck,
Dan
Thank you, Dan.
It's seems that MPB and Alopecia areata don't have the same cause. Though, the same remedies can works. Thanks for the explanation.
VIvien
"...Next year, I will study in Trondheim, Norway !
The "trip" begin the 5th of August !..."
I thought of you when I saw this fishing boat a few months ago (looks like the spelling is off though)
Bon Voyage !! Have fun, learn lots and keep in touch.
Walter
Thanks a lot, Walter ! You're so nice :)
I'll keep in touch, be sure.
Vivien
Nice update! It is too bad about the alopecia, but from the actual update photos it's near impossible to tell without intentionally seeking (and I had actually gone back up to scrutinize before realizing you had added some close-up photos below) Definitely not worth shaving your head over anyways. Hopefully it won't get any bigger.
But I decided to reply to the thread more because of the bit about studying in Trondheim. I am moving to Oslo in 4 days and will be studying there for a while! Trondheim is an awesome place, and I am sure you will enjoy it. I wish I could have studied up there instead, but couldn't find any suitable classes :(
Thanks Gylfi. Glad to see you here :)
So you're going to study in Oslo ? During the year I'll probably visit the whole country, so...
Vivien
Hi Vivien,
Thank you for sharing your update with us, and your hair has certainly come a long ways and is looking great. Of course, I am sorry to hear about your bald spot, and I hope that you and your doctor will find a solution for you. I really hope you continue to grow your hair.
That is wonderful news about your future studies, and of course, I will be wishing you the very best of luck.
Take care,
David
Hi David, and thank you for the kind comment :)
Vivien
Hi Vivien,
Your hair is looking just superb. I'm sorry about the alopecia but it's certainly well hidden at this point. My fiancee has a spot about an inch wide on the back of her head that has been diagnosed as the same condition. Hopefully in time you'll be able to regrow it.
Jason
Hi Jason, thanks a lot for the comment. Sorry for the spot of your fiancee. I have approximately the same size, maybe a little bigger.
Vivien
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Your mane looks great, Vivien. You have good length. Hopefully the bald spot will disappear on its own. These often do disappear over time.
How big is it? (It appears to be about 5 centimeters in diameter.)
Could food allergies be the cause? (You can have food allergies without even knowing it.) High fever (39 to 40C) can cause this too.
Scott
Hi Scott. Thank you very much for the answer.
It's about 4 cm of diameter. I don't think it's due to food allergy : I eat a great variety of things, and don't have at all any other symptoms.
Bye
Vivien
Hey Vivien;
Your hair looks incredible. My hair is the same length and color as yours, but more wavy. Don't even think of cutting it off, you have reached an amazing goal and it looks perfect.
Del
Hi del ! Thank you for the comment !
Vivien
Great upate Vivien! As others have said, overall your hair is nice condition. Hopefully the treatments will help, but I guess you'll have to be patient. Hang in there!
Bruce
Hello Bruce, and thanks a lot for the encouragment ;)
Vivien
Sorry to hear of your hair problems Vivien, I guess worrying about it will make it worse, so stay positive as your is absolutely amazing in every way and the beard is wonderful.
Best wishes to you Vivien.
~ Dave
Thank you, Dave. Yes, it's a vicious circle : Stress can cause the spot, and spot cause stress, unfortunately...
Vivien
hi vivien,
you have amazing, long, beautiful hair. thanks for posting your inspiring pics. regarding your alopecia, i don't know if this has been posted yet, but i found an essential oil recipe that should help. i also pasted an excerpt & links below:
cedarwood (2 drops),
lavender (3 drops),
rosemary (3 drops)
thyme (2 drops),
carrier oil mix of jojoba oil (1/2 teaspoon) and grapeseed oil (4 teaspoons)
A full head of beautiful hair and an attractive appearance are highly desirable things. For some people, losing their hair can cause them a great deal of stress and anxiety. Among the causes of hair loss are heredity, hormones, aging, poor circulation, a poor diet, and illness. While drugs can be used to regrow a bit of hair, they also have side effects. Many health-minded people have spent some time searching for a natural treatment solution that could regrow hair. Their search just may be over.
Alopecia is a general word that means loss of the hair on the head or baldness. Loss of all of the scalp hair is known as alopecia totalis. Loss of all body hair is termed alopecia universalis. Alopecia areata occurs when the hair falls out in patches.
Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils to achieve therapeutic health benefits. It dates back thousands of years to the time of Cleopatra. Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts which are derived from the flowers, leaves, bark and roots of various plants. They contain the plant’s active “lifelike” properties and are said to be the “blood” of the plant. Among these essential oils are cedarwood, lavender, rosemary and thyme, all of which have been used to treat alopecia for over a hundred years. However, no scientific study has been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of these substances until now.
A revolutionary aromatherapy study was recently published in the Archives of Dermatology (1). Isabelle C. Hay and co-researchers from the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in Scotland studied 86 people with diagnosed alopecia areata. The trial lasted seven months and while the trial took place, the participants stopped using topical (skin) and oral alopecia medications. Instead, half of the people used a blend of cedarwood (2 drops), lavender (3 drops), rosemary (3 drops) and thyme (2 drops), in a carrier oil mix of jojoba oil (1/2 teaspoon) and grapeseed oil (4 teaspoons). The placebo group used just the carrier oils. Patients were taught to massage the oil into the bare areas of their scalp for two minutes each evening and then wrap a warm towel around their head to enhance absorption.
At the beginning of the study, and again after three and seven months, professional photographs were taken of each patientÂ’s scalp. Changes as seen in the photographs served as the primary outcome measure. Mapping and measuring of the bald patches was also done to determine results.
An impressive 44 percent of the group using the essential oils significantly improved. The average area of hair regrowth with the essential oils was 104 square centimeters, compared with nearly zero for those using the placebo. According to one intriguing photograph provided by the researchers, considerable hair regrowth occurred with one male patient who had both alopecia areata and severe male pattern hair loss.
These results show aromatherapy to be a safe and effective treatment for alopecia areata. The researchers were proud to have successfully applied an evidence-based method to an alternative therapy. Evidently, one or more of the essential oils is able to promote hair regrowth. And unlike standard medical therapies, the essential oils have a very low risk of side effects and are not nearly as costly.
http://archderm.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/134/11/1349
http://www.nutritionbreakthroughs.com/html/a_natural_solution_for_hair_lo.html
http://www.keratin.com/ad/ad008.shtml
hth,
tkj25
Hi ! Thanks A LOT for this unestimable documentation that I didn't find. It provides me another combination of essentials oils to try.
Bye
Vivien
Great hair of hair you have there :)
To bad about that bald spot, I hope you can find a way to cure it so you don't have to get rid of your hair.
Good luck!
Thanks, Vincent ! You made an amazing update too the other day ;)
Vivien
That's some great hair you have. I understand that you may feel the need to cut it and start over but hopefully it won't come to that. If you didnt post the seperate photos of your alopecia there'd be no way of noticing, your hair looks great from the update. I'm sure it will grow back soon, try Nioxin, I heard it's very effective with your type of alopecia (not mpb). Good luck and I'm sure there will be no need to cut.
-Phil
Thank you, Phil. I will look for information about Nioxin ;)
Vivien
Cool hair Vivien, I especially love the long braid.
Have fun in Norway.
Paul
Thanks, Paul :)
Vivien
Hey Vivien, your hair's teriffic. I love it and thoughts of cutting it are inadmissible. I heard Norway's teriffic, I'd love to go there, especially these days, I love cold weather. Out of curiosity, where did you study up to now ?
Keep growing it, it's gorgeous and I'm envious
Thanks for commenting, dude ;)
I'm from France, and for now I study here, in Lyon.
Bye
Vivien
