Last Friday I was sitting on the couch and my wife, who was behind me, says “what happened to your head?!”

“What?!”

“You have a bald spot on your head …”


I ran to the mirror and used my camera to take a look … sure enough, bald spot right on the crown of my head. While I have some thinning on the front of my hairline, the back has always been full.

It’s just a random bald spot that appeared out of nowhere.

I made a dermatologist apppintment (next week) but, in the meantime, I’m self-diagnosing it as Alopecia Areata. Google / forums tells me that’s what it is … a harmless autoimmune condition that shuts off hair follicles, in round patches, for unknown reasons (although most think high stress has something to do with it…).

I’m hoping it stays to just this one patch … and that it grows back within a year. Sometimes this condition can go crazy, with multiple patches. TBD.

Anyone else dealt with this?

Yes, but these things can now be fixed. Not cheap, however.

Just make sure it's not Tinea capitis, a fungal infection of the scalp, that is easily treatable.

I tell people that it's a solar panel that powers a sex machine.

Losing hair can be startling to most people, hopefully you can grow it back. If not, just shave your head and be done with it. I started doing that in 2022 (due to my receding hairline and unwiligness to pay what they are asking for haircuts) and wish I would have done it sooner. With the price of haircuts I have saved around $700 thus far. Of course, I am in my 50’s and I no longer care how it makes me look (it tends to make you look older).

quote:

Originally posted by Lunasee:
I tell people that it's a solar panel that powers a sex machine.

That was my Dad's retort!

What was that spray stuff used to make your hair look fuller; that was years ago.

There is really no effective treatment. It is an autoimmune disorder. Just be sure you get a correct diagnosis.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
There is really no effective treatment. It is an autoimmune disorder. Just be sure you get a correct diagnosis.

Autoimmune disorders usually have a cause or trigger. There is a cross reaction, typically started by an infection. Personally I would work on the possible fungal infection mentioned above, but also have complete blood labs done. Many persons with high hair loss of high levels of mercury.

I'm 52 and have had to deal with 2 outbreaks that were confined to my scalp. First time was about 15 years ago and I had 3 or 4 spots that varied in size where my hair fell out. I had friends at work asking me if I had cancer!

2nd time was about 3 years ago and I really only had 1 noticeable spot on the back of my head. Barber just let my hair grow a little longer to conceal it. Over the last six months, each time I go in for a haircut she's amazed that it's completely cleared up.

The first time I had this I consulted a dermatologist. I saw him regularly but nothing seemed to work except for time. However, my barber recently told me that she has another customer that had alopecia and apparently his doctor gave him something that cleared it all up. Perhaps he had a fungal infection instead. Go see a doctor regardless.

Good luck!
JP

I might add that stress is thought to be a factor as well. Alopecia is a HUGE issue for women which is understandable.

quote:

Originally posted by Copefree:
...my wife, who was behind me, says “what happened to your head?!

I have one of those but it resembles a hidden airstrip, like with the netting over it to hide it from the air.

Reading the first sentence of your post, I couldn't help but be reminded of this movie scene with Tom Arnold:

Also check for parasites. Parasites living in the gut cause numerous problems, and hair loss is definitely one of them. There is a test called GI Map Test, but is fairly expensive. It is accurate, but does not appear to test for parasites that have already worked their way into the body tissues. If the gut infection is cleared out, the organisms may still be in the lungs or other locations.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
I might add that stress is thought to be a factor as well. Alopecia is a HUGE issue for women which is understandable.

When people are under stress, their immune system is weakened, allowing microbes and viruses to act up. If alopecia only appears when under stress, the underlying cause is there all the time but the immune system has been keeping the organisms at bay.

You know what you have to do:

Down the...

While you're waiting, it might help to think about the health of your scalp too. I learned that the tiny organisms living on our scalp (that's the scalp microbiome) can affect hair health. I switched to a shampoo that's meant to help balance the scalp's microbiome. It made my scalp feel less itchy and seemed to help with overall hair health.

You can read this article about how to take care of your scalp microbiome.

Also agree here with the stress factor. Take care of your routine, including sleep schedules, workflow, etc. This influences hair health a lot, and it's proven.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: rcpylon,