Prednisone Alopecia Areata New Treatment Ideas
Several days ago I posted about my recent alopecia cortisone shots and meeting with my dermatologist, as mentioned this was the second treatment of cortisone in about three months. Me and my doctor also talked about other treatment methods that would be possible if the shots did not seam to be affective.
New Alopecia Areata Treatment Options - Prednisone
Two other options were brought up by my doc, neither got my too excited ;-( Altough I don’t know too many people that get all giddy when talking about medical treatments.
1) The first treatment I touched on friday afternoon was treatment with the drug call prednisone. I have head from several people that this drug can effect people in several diss comforting wasys (side effects).
The idea of getting on drugs regularly or even somewhat regularly does not really excite me too much, however after “googling” “prednisone alopecia” I did find some positive findings:
At the end of 6 weeks of a prednisone taper, 47% (15/32) of patients had more than 25% regrowth, including nine of 20 patients who had had at least 75% hair loss at baseline.
http://www.telemedicine.org/alopecia/alopecia.htm
Posted in Hair Loss Info
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January 24th, 2006 at 6:39 am
I tried Prednisone for one week. I took 6 pills 1st day, 5 pills 2nd day, etc.. I am new to alopecia and the drug did little I can see to regrow hair. However, I do notice hair is starting to regrow now (5 weeks later) on my head but now one of my eyebrows shows a small circle and my legs are balding. I finished my cycle right before New Years eve, went out that night and had a few drinks and became irritable. I take the cortisone shots now and seem to be in much better mood. I personally think it’s a dormant condition that erupts when your stress level goes too high. I try to laugh now when I used to get anxious or angry, only way I think to stay possitive in a really challenging time.
March 6th, 2006 at 11:49 pm
I’ve had a long history dealing with AA, AT, and AU. In many respects I could be considered a poster child of hope having had AA at age 12, AT age 16 with 100% regrowth 18, AU 19 with 100% regrowth age 25, Unfotunately after having been successfully free of this condition for years I am current suffering from runaway AA (lost 1/2 eyebrow, spot on beard, large area on back of head) at age 33. My older brother has had AU since age 33 and is still bald at age 40. He developed Schtzoprenia at about the same time he developed AU and I often wonder if there was a connection as I was able to deal with AU, he was not.
I have various theories as for the cause of this rather annoying condition. Here are a number of things that I believe that have contributed to the loss of my hair.
1. Environmental Contamination. Polluted living environment (mold & mildew). I seem to have this condition when living in houses built in the 1980s. No problem living in CBS construction houses/apartments.
2. Allergies to dust mites, food (gluten),down pillows comforters
3. Highly tramautic events/shocks such as car crash, leaving for college with over-controlling parents, mother’s death, immigration interrogation at the hands of INS, have all proceeded these outbreaks
4. Wearing hats & helmets. I used to play hockey and lacrosse. I quit this after the AU but wore a helmut recently for a ski trip in December. Hell has broken out since then.
5. Worrying about your hair. I don’t think one can underestimate this issue. Since my hair has grown back from AU i’ve had AA spots here and there on my scalp but I’ve just ignored them and they’ve gone away. This last time, I’ve developed a very persistent spot on my eyebrow that is there in every mirror and every picture. My mental strategy of blowing it off could not work because of the constant reminder….PS, i’ve considered removing every mirror in my house except a small mirror to groom with. I would have done this but I have a girlfriend that makes me spend most of my time at her house and don’t think she would buy into my mirror theory.
6. Obsessive compulsive behavoir similar to above…always checking if the spot is bigger, looking to see if there are new hairs growing, pulling hair to check if it’s falling (note that I absolutely refuse to do this this time around) thinking what-if it all falls out.
7. Murphy’s Law….I’ve been very fortunate with my life and carreer… I have a great life and it’s just dumb luck that I have to deal with AX (Alopecia whatever)
8. Virus from hair salons.
9. Fungal infection. I’ve always had subdermatital fungus, white blotches/spots on arms and body below the skin, that do not tan.
Treatments.
I find it rather disturbing that there are very few success stories on the web for AA, AT, & AU. I wish everyone that ever had AT and AU to write a post here and beam with delight on how they got past this condition. As for me, here are some thoughts on why I think I’ve got better.
1. My episodes with AT and AU got much better when I stopped spending so much time at my parent’s house. During the AT period i got a steady girlfriend and spend most of my time at her place. The AT went away and came back in a year as AU. The second time had me move to college and change houses. I used to go home for summer vacations back to my parents house and did not see any progression for years. In my Junior year, I stayed the summer and lived in an apartment building. I also took a drug for many weeks/months. I kick myself now that I did not write down what is was and my doctor has conveniently thrown away the records. I recall that it was Nizoral and remember that the bottle recommended taking with milk. Anyway, getting away from my stressful parents for 2 years preceeded hair regrowth. Note that i have recently moved again and have been spending significant time in houses that are built in the 80s. I’m seriously believe that there may be something that I am allergic to in these house….maybe the composite flooring/insulation. Getting out of these environments helps.
2. Sunshine - My AT went into remission after taking a 30 day trip to sunny california and sitting on a beach. Also, I had lived in FL for the last 7 years and hand no issues. One year in NC and I’m a wreak. I think I’m going to hit the tanning salon.
3. Herb - I have not touched pot for 8 years but my AT and AU went into remission when I smoked a little of Bob Marley’s herb 1-2 times per week. Although fun, i always heard that this was good for one’s hair and nails.
3. Not caring about AA, AT or AU. Screw it….i’m healthy and can do whatever I want. I’ve always had friends and girlfriends. I’ve always had better friends when I was bald as these people were not so hung-up. Hair does not matter. This time around I’m suffering from immigration issues and need to make a decison on marrying a wonderful girl and staying in US or restarting in Canada…..what to do….oh my god, my f’en hair is falling out.
4. Prednisone or Nizoral….I wish I could remember, I am currently trying a tapered Prednisone treatement 60mg for 1 week, then down to 50mg….down to 10 mg in week 6. I think this is what I took in the past but have no way to find out. Interestingly, one of the side effects of taking Prednisone is that it causes fungal infections to flourish. The dermatologist thought that I was crazy for asking for Nizoral. If I’m bald in 3 weeks, I guess we’ll know who was crazy. (After 4 days I think my hair is freaking out… a new patch that is not covered by my hair has poped out.)
So for now plan is is Prednisone. Plan B is probably the real answer to my problems, concede that US immigration policy f’en sucks and that as a Canadian I am not wanted here, sell my 80’s house, dump my pretentious, vain girlfriend, move to a tropical island, smoke pot every day, take Nizoral for 6 months and get a masters/PHD in bio-engineering to finally meet my destiny of finding a cure for this damn illness.
My heart goes out everyone out there with AA, AT and AU.
September 29th, 2007 at 10:54 am
Our daughter has AA and we find that she does better in the sunshine. We are very interested in your experience in Florida (remission for 7 years). In fact, we are seriously considering moving to Sarasota, FL from Atlanta. We spent two months at the lake this summer and she had 100% regrowth. Within four days of moving back to Atlanta she had 9 AA spots. Historically we have found a pattern of postivie regrowth with her being out of town and in the sunshine/ocean. We would love to hear more of your experience.
Jodie and Chris