Alopecia Areata Support Group

I wondered the same thing. Think it might have to do with the scalp being skin???? I don't know.

You go to a dermatologist because AA is an issue with the hair folicles. Derms are the ones who have the most experience with this. You may want to consider a Rheumatologist if blood tests indicate other autoimmune conditions.

AA is very complex. My son had a spot (very small) appear on the back of his head in June 08. He was diagnosed with AA in Aug 08 and the spot is now gone. We did a host of blood tests and everything was negative except his ANA which was 140. We are going to have him tested again, but we ran more conclusive tests which ruled out Lupus, etc for now.

I can tell you we had a very emotional episode in a DR's Office where I was yelling at a Dr that refused to see my wife, she has Lupus (long story). Anyways, I noticed for about 2 weeks my son would put his hands over his ears every time I raised my voice. I immediately changed my behavior and learned to control my anger and even my approach to how I correct my children's behavior (never hit, but a lot of yelling). Point is AA can be stress related. Changing the environment, diet, excercise and MOST IMPORTANTLY don't make it about you. I carried guilt with me for months and it showed (kids pick up on it). We did not use medication at all. No Rogaine, No Olux-E, No Cortisone Shots...Not that those treatments are not the right path for some, but for us we decided on a wait and see approach. I can tell you he was a tad anemic and we did change his vitamin to one with more iron. We are ok for now, but AA is always in the back of my mind....

i have had aa since i was 2months old never lost any hair until age 13 and then lost it all including eyebrows and body as a teen doctors said it was stress related now they say its auto immune i just dont think a derm or doctor has all the answers or any answers really at this point i have'nt notcied hair growth when i'm not stressed and i always have a high white blood count which makes me lean more towards the auto immune defiancy , i think i may see a naturalpathic doctor when i can afford it until then i'm heathly and its just hair despite some self concious days !!

I got alopecia universalis when I was 16 and I recently got diagnosed with Lupus...so I do think that alopecia is autoimmune. They say that one autoimmune disease often leads to others as well....