I'm so sorry you're going through this ;-( . I started losing my hair about 3 months ago as a result of Alopecia Areata, so I think it's too soon in my case to know if it will grow back. From what I've heard, it varies greatly from person to person, and there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to how your body will respond.

For you AND myself, I'm praying it IS a reaction to stress, and the hair will grow back! Sorry I can't be more helpful.

My diagnosis was confirmed it is alopecia but I guess I am a little bit lucky , it is based on stress and my hair will grow back :) . You were my little light at the end of the tunnel and God heard your prayers .Thank you & God bless you

You need to view this with a little perspective. So you have a bald spot. You are still healthy. I have Alopecia Universalis and couldn't be living a more happy fulfilling life. Being "devastated" would be an appropriate reaction to finding out you have cancer or something. Of all the potential health problems you could have, getting diagnosed with Alopecia is not something worth getting worked up about. Here's a little hint. Nobody really cares about your hair except you. If the rest of you is attractive and you have a good personality it doesn't matter one iota if you have a bald spot, a big bald patch, or have no hair at all. The only advice I would give is there is a certain point beyond which it is probably better to shave your whole head, rather than trying to cover it up, but it doesn't sound like you are anywhere near that.

Alopecia is not necessarily based on stress, it is likely a combination of factors, including genetic factors. It will probably come and go throughout your life. Trying to predict it or alter your behavior, etc to change it will be futile, and will drive you crazy, especially if it gets worse. You could pray about it if it makes you feel better, but God probably has more important things to worry about than how your hair looks.

Hi rut010. My first spot (a single one, started about the size of a quarter and grew to about 1-2" by 1-2") was when I was age 14 and my mom also discovered it by accident; it grew back on its own eventually. I found two spots (similar size) at age 21 (had steroid injections which sped up the regrowth), a single dime-sized spot at age 25 (had one steroid injection by a physician who had not done one before, but she was trying to save me money--specialist co-pays are more than primary care co-pays) that eventually grew back, and just last night found another at age 28 (about the size of a quarter or a little larger) for which I plan to try to get steroid injections.

Before my natural hair color (medium to dark brown) grows back, I get the little blond baby hairs as well, so that may be a good sign for you? Once the "real" hair comes back, it's very dark, coarse, and curly (my normal hair is more wavy or straight); it seems to even out after a while.

Anyways. I know that they say stress is not a definite cause, but mine seem to coincide with periods of stress in my life. From what I've read, some people are genetically predisposed to having alopecia areata, and stress can sometimes trigger it? But it's an autoimmune problem, so it's a little complicated. Not everyone with stress loses their hair, not everyone with alopecia areata loses their hair because of stress, etc.

I am also devastated and emotional about it every single time. Your feelings are valid. It's okay to be upset for a while (even devastated), but then move forward and adopt a positive attitude about it (or at least an indifferent attitude). As a very insecure person with low self-esteem and poor body image, my hair is one of the few things I can depend on to feel good about myself; it's very difficult to lose one of the few things I've depended on. I know I should focus on non-superficial things, but the fact is that people do judge us by how we look and I do feel better when I look pretty or whatever.

I wish you luck, and I am happy to talk whenever you want.