Nothing new to report

Still brushing out the hairs, but finding new hairs. One spot that I was looking at appeared bald. I was upset because this was an area that I had found new hair on. I felt it and I could feel the transparent hairs. I tried examining it in the mirror (very difficult to do to the top of your head) and discovered that translucent hairs were there. It is odd that some hairs went through this vellus phase and some came back with their normal color.

More hair loss, but regrowth is getting longer

I brushed out and removed a ton of hair last night. The bald patches are being filled in by transparent hairs that are slowly turning dark brown. It is filling in patchy just like it left with the top of my scalp regrowing first. This is odd because the base and sides were the first to go, but I can't complain. I'm happy to see it filling in. The strands are limp and I can't even do a comb over that would entirely cover all the bare patches on my scalp. The look is pretty pathetic, so I continue wearing a wig. The Paula Young whisperlite wigs aren't really uncomfortable. I can wear them all day long with about the same discomfort as a ponytail.
I noticed one strand in the mirror was almost an inch. That is good, but not all the hair follicles are producing hair, so it is just weird.

Almost gone, but growing back

I'm amazed and horrified every morning. More hair falls out in the brush and in the shower. I can see my scalp now. I think the only reason that I have cut all my hairs down to the same length is because I like knowing how much hair is falling out everyday. I guess that I just want to know what is new growth and what isn't. If I shaved my head, then it would all appear to be new growth, when in reality some of it is on its way out.

Another wig compliment

Some student today told me he liked my hair. So nice, but I think he was trying to stop me from yelling at the class for being too rowdy. Tons of hair fell out today, but now when I look in the mirror, I can see the regrowth from five feet away. I don't have to examine my scalp close up. However, it is still just coming back in patches and falling out in patches. I'll be relieved when I have enough patches to cover my entire scalp. While I'm bursting with excitement about the new regrowth, my mother still doesn't want to see me without my wig. It was difficult for her to watch my sister lose all her hair. Since she bought the wigs for me, I honor that wish. I'm pretty self conscious about the bald patches, but excited for the regrowth.

Shared my story on Squidoo

In addition to this blog, I shared my alopecia story on squidoo. Here is the link to check out the condensed version of my story. http://www.squidoo.com/alopeciastory

Indentations

I noticed that there are indentations in my head where the cortizone was injected. Not only that, but the area that is indented isn't growing hair. I have circles of regrowth outside the injection sites. What is bothersome is that these shots were give a couple months ago. I would have expected the steroids to run their course and the indentations to be lessened by now. I did brush more hair out this morning. I found some new growth, so it is just a matter of time before all of it completely falls out and regrows. The aloe vera capsules make my skin feel a lot smoother. I no longer have dry skin. My nails seem to be improving as well. It used to be that I was using hardener on all of them to prevent them from splitting. Now, I just use it on the thumb of my right hand and I have even noticed that it isn't breaking despite the hardener as was once the case. Overall, that is improvement.

Brushed a lot out and found more regrowth

So, I can feel the new hairs, but I'm still losing hair. I finger over the regrowth at night. It is turning the normal color. I just wish that it was all over my head and thick and growing quickly. I also wish I knew if it would have happened anyway or if this is from one of the products that I tried. I think it is the Chinese herbs and aloe vera because I didn't use the Thymuskin consistently and when I was on the prednisone my hair kept falling out. The cortizone shots did work, so perhaps the prednisone stopped some inflammation, but didn't prevent the hair fallout. My sister wants to go with me to the alopecia conference next month.