I guess most posts like this eventually attract spammers, but I was surprised to get a post from a thread I started nearly four years ago! For what it's worth to those who are experiencing a little hair loss, I still seem to have hair going down the drain -- but I have just as thick a head of hair as ever! Still wash my hair nearly every day, but periodically I'll use simple castile soap with a couple of drops of either peppermint, eucalyptus or rosemary essential. (Couple of drops per bottle, not application!) I don't think it necessaryily does anything but give my hair a break from the usual shampoo, but it does tingle the scalp and make my head smell great! So I guess in my case the hair loss was no big deal -- hope Tina and others with more serious cases were able to find a successful resolution!

Has anyone tried Hyaluronic eye drops for dry eye syndrome? Seems as if it might help. WebM.D. "Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is naturally present in the human body. It is found in the highest concentrations in fluids in the eyes and joints. The hyaluronic acid that is used as medicine is extracted from rooster combs or made by bacteria in the laboratory. People take hyaluronic acid for various joint disorders, including osteoarthritis. It can be taken by mouth or injected into the affected joint by a healthcare professional. The FDA has approved the use of hyaluronic acid during certain eye surgeries including cataract removal, corneal transplantation, and repair of a detached retina and other eye injuries. It is injected into the eye during the procedure to help replace natural fluids." A link that might be useful: www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1062-HYALURONIC%20ACID.aspx?activeIngredientId=1062&activeIngredientName=HYALURONIC%20ACID

marisa.. I posted stress as a factor when you were going through this awhile back. After being a licensed hair designer/colourist for almost 30 years, I've seen alopecia areata occur in numerous clients. In the cases that I've seen, it always happened after a trauma or stress to the individual in some way. Being curious, I've questioned clients that proclaimed NO stress was in their lives. I perceived total different conclusions, and they are all hypotheses. I had a couple of clients I believe were wrongly diagnosed for alopecia because the area was not 'slick' like my other clients. I noticed one lady in particular getting stressed when I was running late one day. She said absolutely nothing, but started reaching for her scalp. She unconsciously went for this patch in her crown that had almost completely lost every hair. Not being able to grasp the hair, she moved her hand under her hair behind her ear as she sat in the waiting room. To the unobservant, it looked as though she was just fingering a small section of hair about the size of a nickel, then twirled it around and around her fingers. She was PULLING her hair out little by little. Within a few haircuts, that area, too, was almost 'bald.' I asked her if she had gone to the doctor and he said, "Alopecia areata." I told her what I observed. She denied it, then caught herself one day when someone else pointed it out. She eventually went on Prozac and believe it or not, she stopped pulling her hair out. Other cases of stress: A man denied stress in his life. His beard starting having slick, balding patches. He shaved his beard, then the it "moved" to his head. He swore no stress. I was really surprised because he was literally "Joe Cool". As it turned out, he was cheating on his wife and had gotten caught. His wife confided to me. So, I stood firm in my mind my previous conclusion: for whatever reason, his body 'unconsciously' responded to the stress he consciously denied, in my opinion. Another lady lost her her husband and three of her four children in an automobile accident. Her rich, medium brown hair turned WHITE OVERNIGHT. All pigment gone. Stress was the culprit. College students, children of divorce, students under pressure have exhibited alopecia areata. I personally had a child stay with us over a 30 day Christmas break, from an orphanage in Korea, that had alopecia and eczema. After one month with us, her symptoms were improved dramatically. Once returned to the facility, her symptoms returned. I could go on and on. Obviously, I am not a doctor. However, it does not take a degree to connect the dots here. We do not understand, nor do physicians, how our mind and body work hand and hand for health and disease. As the mind, will, and emotions merge, I believe the soul can be wounded and manifest in some way (like alopecia) that we would never have perceived in the natural realm. How can science "prove" stress causes alopecia? By hypothesizing...just like they "diagnose" stress as a factor for high blood pressure and heart disease. There is a direct evidence and the outside factors or environmental changes that have been present in other cases. I would do everything I could to try to find out all about what's going on in your child's life. Is there a bully at school? Is someone approaching your child inappropriately and they fear telling you? Is there too much pressure to perform academically or performing some talent? Has there been a marriage, divorce, death, etc? Has the child done something that they have remorse for, shame over, or fear something (real or perceived) that you may not have privileged knowledge about? (i.e., Have they stolen something? Cheated on an exam? Are they antagonizing/terrorizing someone themselves?, etceteras...) My two cents. Hope you get to the bottom of this soon. May I gently suggest, that there is no cream to grow the hair back, why go for another opinion? I am gently suggesting you strongly consider finding a sensitive, compassionate female psychologist (possibly one at the county health department) to see if they might have someone that might be able to talk to your daughter one on one to try to get her to open up. I am sincerely avoiding housework to offer some questions to ask and suggestions to help you find some solution to help your daughter. Please, don't just quickly dismiss my suggestions. I'm persuaded to believe there is something going on that you may not be aware that exists that is causing this stress. An FP doctor may not be the right professional to be seeking for solutions. Sheri

For certain a role model in encouraging others with this condition not to let it stop them, but did she not compete wearing a wig (and said in an interview that she would wear a wig during public appearances)? Where's the bravery in that? On the role model/bravery scale, I believe that standing much taller is Robin Roberts -- the morning-TV show host who went on TV and did her normal publicity and public appearance stuff bald when she lost her hair during treatment for breast cancer. Maybe the pageant contestant felt she needed a wig to compete without being tarred by a "sympathy vote," tho she did get a lot of publicity beforehand. And here's what just astounds me: She went on at least one TV show, talking about her baldness, without a wig. Here's what she said in an interview: âÂÂNo beauty queen should fit into a box and look like a Barbie every time they wake up and none of us do, as you know. So I hope to show people that you are beautiful and whatever makes you different, you should embrace it.â She had a perfect place and platform to show her beauty, baldness and all (and she is a lovely looking girl--look at her photos without the wigs). But she didn't do it.