Scalp injections for Alopecia Areata

Hi everyone:)

I have been working with my dermatologist for almost a year now trying to get my hair to regrow. Thank the Lord there has been regrowth of about 3 inches now after trying three different creams on the top of my head. However, in the middle of treating that another patch appeared on the back of my scalp. It has now been treated with 3-4 different creams, and combinations thereof to no success. There is no regrowth. I was told by my dermatologist that the patch on the top of my head would grow faster if my lupus meds are increased a bit and that it's not alopecia, but that the patch on the back of my head is caused by alopecia. Weird! I had no idea that you could have two different hair loss causes on the same head. I tell you, I ended up leaving the building laughing out loud to myself.

What the end result of that appointment is is that it's time to try scalp injections in two weeks. Has anyone else been given scalp injections? If so, what was your experience like? I am only slightly nervous about the needles...more nervous about having yet more drugs in my body. I'm on plaquenil and imuran daily. I don't really like the idea of injecting cortecosteriods into my scalp...but I want my hair back at the same time. So, any advice, experiences shared with me would be really appreciated.

Did it hurt much for you? Were there noticeable side effects? How long did it take before you noticed any regrowth? or did you notice any regrowth? I know, a lot of questions here...it's just such a weird idea for me..

-Ellie

Thank-you Kimberlyrenee for sharing your experience with me:) I hope that I have a similar response to the injections as you have (minus the pain of course). You raised a good point about expense though. I need to phone my dermatologist on Mon morning to find out if it's going to cost me anything. I live in Canada and it's a little different here. Most things are covered in the medical to some extent, but who knows, maybe this will cost me..hmmm...I will ask.

I did see my rheumatologist on Fri as well, and mentioned to him about the injections and my dermatologists opinion as to having two different types of hairloss. The end result is that he's upped my dose of Imuran to 150mg p/day and he agrees that that should speed up the growth of the hair on the top of my head. He doesn't however agree about the steriod injections..he thinks that my lupus is well under control with the meds, but that the skin part of the disease is separating from the rest of the symptoms..he believes that it will require a new daily medicine to get improve the discoid rash on my hands and my hair loss and wants to hear from me in 2 months. Also I might be referred to a dermatologist-rheumatologist (didn't know there were such specialists out there) who can deal with both the lupus and skin elements at the same time. I just want it to work, but also am in a frustrated state of having so many perscription drugs in my system. I don't like it at all..makes me nervous all these drugs..I often think, what could this doing to me? I'm sure I must not be the only one. Sometimes I feel like I'm playing with fire..do I take it, or don't I.

All I know right now (health wise) is that the alopecia on the back of my head is getting worse..pretty soon it'll be either sot works, or possible within a couple months I'm looking at buying a wig or something. I have lots of nice hats..well a few and am looking at buying a hat rack to nicely display o. I've gotta work with what I got. I know that hair loss is not as critical a problem, but for some reason I find that it's harder emotionally for me than some more serious symptoms. Am I that vain? I think sometimes I just get tired is all...I tough and tough and tough it out, and sometimes (like now) it gets the best of me..I try and have fun with the new things to try, but I get frustrated too. Sometimes I just want to wear my hair half up or in a pony tail and not worry about a big bald patch on the back of my head showing or the hairs growing on the top of my head sticking up three inches..ya know? I'm sure that others on this site can empathize..

Anyways, thanks for listening (or rather reading everyone). I'm going to go for a lovely cool, brisk morning walk and enjoy the day. It's very early. I wish you all well.

can you get extensions when there isn't much hair? how does it work, to attach? is there a risk of the hair that the extensions are attached to falling out?

has anyone tried Rogaine for alopecia?

I've done the steroid injections and still my hair is falling out although I have very few other symptoms. SO FRUSTRATING

I did recently taper down from 60 mg Prednisone, but over many weeks. now I'm at 9 mg and still tapering by 1 mg/week.

I wear hats to cover up the hair loss and the most recent patches are right along where the hats hit my head, so maybe they are rubbing and caused the hair to fall out? but there's no visible irritation (no rash like there has been before, or itching, etc.) so I don't know if I should stop wearing the hats... I don't really have many other options at this point though.

thanks for any help

I don't have a hairdresser... haven't needed one in a long time because I just put on a hat every day.

the kind of extensions I'm talking about are the ones Anna mentioned above, that you get woven in. more permanent