How I Got My Hair Back...

Summary

This video shares a deeply personal journey of living with alopecia areata, chronicling the speaker's struggles with hair loss, the emotional impact, and the various treatments attempted. It explores the challenges faced, including Bell's Palsy, COVID-19, and a family member’s battle with leukemia. The speaker reflects on how these experiences, along with reduced stress from work and home life, have contributed to moments of recovery. Ultimately, the video highlights the resilience, growth, and shift in perspective gained from facing adversity, underscoring the importance of community support and self-care in overcoming life's challenges.

Takeaways

• 😀 Alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition causing hair loss, was first diagnosed in the speaker in 2008, starting with hair loss on the legs and arms.
• 😀 The speaker initially chose not to pursue treatment, opting instead to monitor the condition over several years as patches of hair loss would come and go.
• 😀 In 2018, a new bald spot appeared on the speaker’s scalp, prompting steroid injections to prevent further hair loss, especially as his career involved aesthetics and patient-facing roles.
• 😀 In December 2019, the speaker experienced unexpected symptoms, including weakness in one side of his face, which led to a diagnosis of Bell’s palsy, a condition that temporarily affected his facial symmetry and taste.
• 😀 Following the Bell’s palsy episode, the speaker’s hair began thinning, a significant concern for someone in the aesthetic surgery field.
• 😀 In early 2020, after contracting COVID-19, the speaker experienced rapid and widespread hair loss, including all body hair, eventually reaching alopecia areata universalis.
• 😀 The speaker experimented with treatments such as PRP injections, oral minoxidil, and squaric acid, but saw no meaningful improvement.
• 😀 By mid-2020, the speaker made the decision to shave his head, marking the official onset of alopecia areata universalis, while also experiencing brittle nails and concern for their impact on his surgical work.
• 😀 The speaker began immunotherapy (allergy shots) in an attempt to redirect his immune system and improve his condition. While his nails improved, hair regrowth was inconsistent.
• 😀 By 2022, after reducing work stress, scaling back surgeries, and receiving support from a strong team, the speaker saw improvements in hair regrowth, with some eyebrow, eyelash, and scalp hair returning, though full regrowth remained unlikely.
• 😀 The speaker's wife was diagnosed with leukemia (CML), which shifted his perspective on his own struggles. Her recovery and remission provided him with strength and clarity, helping him focus on what truly mattered: family, health, and work.
• 😀 The speaker's journey ultimately led him to a new purpose – educating others about hair restoration and helping people make informed decisions about aesthetic treatments. This new drive was rooted in personal loss and resilience, and the speaker remains grateful for the support from family, friends, staff, patients, and the broader YouTube community.

Q & A

What is alopecia areata and how does it affect the body?

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition where the body attacks its own hair follicles, leading to hair loss. It can occur in various forms, with alopecia areata universalis being one of the most severe, where the individual loses all body hair.

What were some of the first symptoms that indicated the start of the hair loss journey?

The first noticeable symptom was hair loss on the legs, arms, and eventually the scalp. This led to an initial diagnosis of alopecia areata in 2008, but the condition remained relatively stable for many years with intermittent flare-ups.

Why did the individual choose not to pursue steroid injections in the beginning?

At first, the individual opted against steroid injections because they were not enthusiastic about receiving shots in their legs just to grow back hair. Instead, they chose to monitor the condition and take a more passive approach.

How did the individual's profession influence their decision to pursue treatment for alopecia areata?

As the individual worked in the field of aesthetic surgery, the fear of having visible hair loss on their head and the potential impact on their professional image made them more inclined to pursue steroid injections when the condition affected their scalp.

What other medical condition did the individual face in 2019 and how did it affect their health?

In 2019, the individual experienced a sudden onset of Bell's Palsy, which caused facial weakness and loss of taste on one side. Fortunately, after receiving steroids and antivirals, the condition improved, but it added stress and complications to their health journey.

What other treatments did the individual try for hair loss and what were the results?

The individual tried various treatments for hair loss, including PRP injections, oral minoxidil, squaric acid, and immunotherapy. However, none of these provided long-lasting results, leading to the eventual decision to shave their head in 2020 after their condition progressed to alopecia areata universalis.

How did the individual’s stress levels impact their condition, and what steps were taken to reduce it?

Stress seemed to exacerbate the individual's hair loss. To reduce stress, they scaled back their surgical work, focusing only on hair restoration and lip surgeries, and also made efforts to reduce stress at home and in their personal life.

What role did exercise play in the individual’s recovery process?

Exercise, including jogging and weightlifting, played a significant role in clearing the individual's mind and helping them feel physically stronger. This improved mental and physical well-being may have indirectly contributed to the overall improvement in hair growth.

How did the individual's perspective on life change during this period of health challenges?

The individual’s perspective shifted significantly when their wife was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). This experience put their own struggles into perspective and motivated them to focus more on what truly matters in life, such as family and health.

What impact did the support from the online community have on the individual's journey?

The support and kindness from the online community played a crucial role in the individual's emotional recovery. They believe this support helped in their own hair regrowth and provided motivation to continue educating others about hair restoration and alopecia.