I was attending a hair conference with my research pharmacist in Adelaide in 2007 when a very concerned Mother of a 12yo Perth boy flew across to see us. He’d been experiencing Alopecia areata since he was four, and had now lost total head, facial (eyebrows; eyelashes) and body hair – Alopecia Universalis.
Some blood testing ordered by their supportive family Doctor revealed depleted iron stores (ferritin), zinc, and a mixed thyroid picture.
It’s been a slow climb back with still some way to go, but the gutsy (now) teenage boy is at last enjoying his first haircuts..!!
Here’s what his Mother had to say:
Jxxx is still doing really well with lots of little prickles on the top of his head. A number one is the common weekly cut at the moment – there is lots of hair, just a variation in colour and thickness still. Thanks again for all your help – I’m sure you’d be surprised if you saw Jxxx today.