Could my alopecia areata and fatigue be a symptom of a bigger problem? (photos)

Question

Alopecia areata runs in my mom's side of the family. Back in March, my alopecia flared up after the flu and became really bad where I lost more than 50% of my hair. I started steroid treatment (injections and topical) in August. I have seen some results, but not as much as I'd like. I am also experiencing extreme fatigue (going to be exhausted at 7:30pm and waking up at 6am still tired), and I'm cold all the time. My thyroid test came back normal, so I don't know. My next doc apt is Nov 10th.

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

Alopecia areata may be triggered by stress, but stess is not the CAUSE of it.  Follow up with your doctor and explore your treatment options.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

Without knowing more about your history, I can't pinpoint the cause of your fatigue. There are well over 100 causes fatigueIn general terms, a common cause of fatigue in patients treated with steroids is the steroid itself. Suppression of adrenal gland function can lead to both fatigue and cold intolerance for example. Other causes are also possible and only with a detailed consultation can these sorts of things be figured out.I strongly advise anyone experiencing side effects or potential side effects to seek medical advice. Speak to your physician and consider additional testing if necessary to evaluate.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

Alopecia Areata is fundamentally caused by a genetic disorder and is precipitated by a series of stress events in life that are not well known. It can be a difficult treatment course and in some people, the disease either responds well to treatment or spontaneously disappears, although it may return. I remember one patient that had a hair transplant and then developed alopecia areata within a few days of the transplant and that was clearly induced by stress. His disease disappeared in a few months without treatment. You need to stay the course.We have developed an excellent cosmetic treatment for me, a process called scalpmicropigmentation (SMP) which effectively camouflages the condition, see the web reference below for one of many examples of SMP that we routinely perform in our office.

Could my alopecia areata and fatigue be a symptom of a bigger problem? (photos)

Answers (3)

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