Hello...
anyone know how long it will take for the hair to grow back in a case of fairly severe alopecia in a 4yr old boy? Just wondering if anyone has had experience in this. He has previously been treated with topical steroids and has a hx of eczema. I have prescribed Phos 30 to be taken starting this week and the remedy fits very well on many levels so I am certain he will improve, but I just was wondering if anyone has treated this in the past and could let me know how long it will take for the hair to grow in!
Thanks,
F McCulloch ND

Sorry..also meant to mention that the alopecia seems to be hereditary(mom also had it as a child and recovered, now she occasionally suffers from it - always improved by steroids). There is a definite emotional component - the boy just moved here and cannot speak the language and feels upset by this as he loves to communicate. When he is around those he can communicate with, he is bright and happy.
Anyway, if anyone has an idea about how long it will take for the hair to regrow, especially considering it has been suppressed with topical steroids, I would be interested in knowing of your experiences!
With thanks,
Fiona McCulloch ND

It takes about 4 to six months to regrow hairs. genereal Homeopathic medicine for this is Winca Minor. I have used 6c and 30 c in treatment of Alpicia Aerata. Best would be to give constitutinal remedy as well.

Homeopath Anwer

Thanks for the info. I have not heard of using vinca minor for this purpose. How would you prescribe this? Would you use it after some time on constitutional treatment or first?
Fiona McCulloch ND

Hi Fiona,

I would always reccomend constitutional treatment for ALopecia Aerata. The basic problem is considered to be a sort of auto immune problem, and that can only be dealth with the correct similimum. Sometimes another remedy - specific- may be indicated but only once the constitutional has already had its response. The specific remedy should help regrowth of hair at a faster pace.

Difficult to guage how long it would take. Each case response is individual.

Using only a specific remedy leaves a strong possibility of suppression.

Warm regards,
doctorleela

[ 22 January 2002: Message edited by: doctorleela ]</p>

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I agree with drleela, it is wise to attempt constitutional treatment first, before using specific remedies. Alopecia is rarely an acute complaint, and needs to be made part of the whole picture.

I have seen several very good cures with Sulph and Tub. The Sulphur patient had complete alopecia from head to toe, and it took several months to grow back the hair. The Tub patient also had a familiy history, and she regained her hair in 2 weeks, although the loss was only circumscribed areas on her scalp.

There is a rubric, Hair, alopecia, in children - Bar-c and Nat-mur.

[ 22 January 2002: Message edited by: DavidJK ]</p>

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I have used winca minor 6c And 30 c thrice a day for longer duration in such cases and found it very effective. As an inter current remedy I used Suphur 200/ 1M when the progress stopped. Constitutional remedy was administered first followed by Winca Minor after a week.

[ 23 January 2002: Message edited by: homeodranwer ]</p>

Hello and thanks for all your input!
I really feel that using the constitutional is indicated also, especially since in this case the remedy fits very well (Phos). The remedy is not in the alopecia in children rubric, however this child definitely does not fit baryta or nat-m.
I will give you some info on the case and you can let me know what you think!
This 4yo boy made very good contact with me in the clinic, very friendly and smiling, not shy. Very affectionate with his mom in the office, hugging her and kissing her.
THe alopecia began when he moved to Canada from France and he did not know english at the time. He loves to be with other children, and because he couldn't communicate, this was difficult for him, and his hair began to fall out over 3 months and now he is almost completely bald. He tries very hard to communicate with the children and really wants to play with them.

Afraid of thunderstorms and loud noises, very sociable and affectionate, not shy, smiles a lot. Very charming child. He loves to drink Sprite and also likes milk. Has a history of eczema on cubital crease, steroid creams used.
Warm body temperature though not significantly so. Quite thirsty for cold drinks. Good appetite, normal stools and urination.
Sleep is good, no position noted by mom. Stomach flu every 2-3 months with vomiting, no cause of this can be determined.
No other significant symptoms were elicited on interview. Hair loss is central, at fringe of scalp there is more hair. The night before the hair fell out, he started crying and was urinating a lot. What upsets him most is that he can't talk to and make friends with the other kids because of the language problem. He still will try to interact, however.

My impression was Phosphorus most strongly....especially with the communication issues(Scholten). I also ddx'd Puls, but found it not to be as strong a remedy as Phos for alopecia and constitutionally for him(he is very outgoing). I really didn't see too much to indicate sulphur or tub or vinca minor in this case, but if you have any suggestions I would definite appreciate any!! Thanks again!!
Fiona McCulloch ND

There is a fair chance of suppression of eczema because of use of steroids in the past and the same may reappear during the treatment. Give him Phosphorus 200 one dose and wait to see the fresh symptoms.

Vinca Minor has the symptom of Alpicea Aerata.

[ 25 January 2002: Message edited by: homeodranwer ]</p>

Phosphorus may not appear in the rubric about alopecia in children, but it certainly does feature hair loss in its picture.

Hair loss is much more broad a description than alopecia areata; but it could definitely mean the same thing.

I think it is always best to stay with a remedy which seems to "fit" ALL the symptoms in the case rather than just a few of them. There is one thing my supervisors always said to me in school, to which I could never find a snappy come-back:

"Give me one good reason to change a remedy which has done so well for so much of the case..."

If the phos has done well so far, it may be time to just redose, wait, or change the potency a little. Also, the language issue may be a "maintaining cause"...is he making progress learning English? Can the parents find an immersion program he may benefit from (even if it is for just part of the day, so that the pressure of commmicating can be relieved)? Are his language skills okay? If the language issue continues to be problematic, then the remedy's effect will be limited by it. This is where the Sulphur and tuberculinum choices would come in to the picture...

Divina

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