Hello Xavier - I assume you are male going by the username.
Though I am not a doctor I would not have suggested oral corticosteroids right off the bat. If you're doing fine side-effectswise, then cool, but I would inquire with him about local injections.
Please review the Alopecia Areata page on this website which can be found here:
http://www.hairlosstalk.com/research/al ... areata.htm
... and please check out my girlfriend's alopecia areata page as well for some hints and tips. She cured hers with injections, but as you can see, it took over a year.
http://www.hairlosstalk.com/photogallery/pgcarol.htm
What you want at this time is steps to take, so here they are.
1. Review both of the links above in-depth.
2. Call your doctor, and lie to him. Tell him you have a family member who is a dermatologist who has requested that you cease the oral corticosteroids and instead have once monthly injections. Tell him you are comfortable going to another doctor to have them done if your doctor is not well versed in administering these (use your good judgment to determine if he/she seems confident about giving them or not).
3. Tell your doctor the following quote from the National Alopecia Areata Foundation Website:
"Topical minoxidil. Five percent topical minoxidil solution applied twice daily may grow hair in alopecia areata. Scalp, eyebrows, and beard hair may respond. If scalp hair regrows completely, treatment can be stopped. Two percent topical minoxidil solution alone is not effective in alopecia areata; response may improve if cortisone cream is applied 30 minutes after the minoxidil. Topical minoxidil is safe, easy to use, and does not lower blood pressure in persons with normal blood pressure. Neither 2 percent nor 5 percent topical minoxidil solution is effective in treating those with 100 percent scalp hair loss."
You will need to start on 5% Rogaine/Minoxidil instead of the 2%.
Lastly, the most important part - You're going to need to be patient. You won't begin to see hair growth from the injections until at least the 3-4 month mark, and it will take a full year for the spot to be completely filled in. Give it time.
We are moving this thread to the Alopecia Areata section of the site as well.
HairLossTalk.com
