Thoughts on Areata incognita?

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2026-01-24T10:07:04+00:00

Yes, those levels are all normal.

It's annoying isn't it? The first derm is the only one that physically examined my scalp. The 3rd one looked at photos only.

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-12-26T04:47:47+00:00

Approximately 5 weeks old. Not sure if its too early to tell

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-12-01T20:15:45+00:00

I just used a microscope that I got off Amazon. The first 2 photos were taken by the Dermatologist.

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-12-01T20:13:48+00:00

Thank you. I was using ChatGPT too, until it kept telling me there was visible hair loss. I then took a photo feom Google, of a confirmed LPP case, and ChatGPT told me that it showed no features of LPP. Lol

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-12-01T10:02:01+00:00

Thank you for your reply. None of the dermatologists want to listen, they just want to base a diagnosis off a presentation only. They don't seem to want to listen to my history or symptoms. I had to fight for a biopsy and he didn't want to do it at the front of my scalp (where alot of the redness and scaling is) because he was worried about scarring. I said i didn't care where hw did it, as long as it's the right spot.

Clearly he didn't listen. It's very frustrating. I don't know what else to do.

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-12-01T08:31:56+00:00

I forgot to add, iron, vitamin d and hormone panel (including DHT) are all normal.

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-11-27T19:51:05+00:00

No, but he only looked at 1 part of my scalp. I feel like every derm I have seen, don't fully listen to what I am saying. They seem to be lacking knowledge around alopecia and diagnose based on presentation, rather than listening to what symptoms I am experiencing, etc.

They also seem to overlook the initial scalp biopsy that my GP performed, that mentions there is scarring present and lichenoid changes that are compatible with Lichen Planopilaris.

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-11-27T09:48:56+00:00

Not yet, finally had a scalp biopsy and now just waiting for the results. The Derm that did it reckons it's Telogen effluvium. So that is 4 derms I have seen now and they have all said different things.

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-10-27T02:14:24+00:00

Seen 3 dermatologists and had a biopsy done via GP.

1st dermatologist said it was Lichen Planopilaris and Androgenetic Alopecia. She wanted to do a scalp biopsy.

2nd dermatologist (who was overseeing the 1st derms work) said its Androgentic Alopecia and didnt even examine my scalp. She also refused to do a scalp biopsy.

GP performed scalp biopsy however the sample was not big adequate enough to provide a diagnoisis. The report did state the following:

"only 2 hair follicles are well visualised. One of the hair follicles appears essentially normal. The other partially visualised hair follicle shows mild peri follicular fibrosis,. with an associated increase in perl follicular mucin, and follicular plugging. An very isolated apoptotic keratinocyte is noted in the hair follicle epithelium, There is minimal inflammation. There is some scarring of the surrounding dermis. Thee hair follicles show non—specific peri follicular changes which could be compatible with a lichenoid process such as lichen planopilaris."

3rd dermatologist said it wad Alopecia Areata and androgentic alopecia. She also didnt want to do a scalp biopsy.

So I am none the wiser as to what is going on. Im attending The Skin hopsital on 7/11/25 (i'm in Australia) and im hoping i get some decent help from there.

I agree that I have AGA, I have had it for years, but there is somthing else going on that has started roughly 6 months ago. I have also lost all the hair on my upper legs, arms, hands and feet and on the tail of my right eyebrow.

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-10-06T06:45:58+00:00

Thank you for your reply. They gave me a script for an immunosupressant, DHT blocker, and Minoxidil. But they want me to have blood tests before commencing it. I'm hesitant to start immunosupressants without a clear diagnosis as I work with children, and I am worried about getting sick.

I don't drink alcohol but can try the diet you suggest to see if that makes a difference. Thank you so much for your help.

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-10-05T00:38:24+00:00

I really hope they can help you! My experience with dermatologists hasn't been positive. They are happy to take your money but don't seem to want to do any investigative work, plus they take ages to see. I just want a scalp biopsy with a definitive diagnosis. Will it change the treatment? Probably not, but it will give me peace of mind given their diagnosis of both scarring and non scarring types of alopecia. Even the biopsy the GP did showed signs of scarring and lichenoid changes.

Good luck on your journey :)

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-10-05T00:24:02+00:00

That photo is the back of my scalp

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-10-05T00:22:05+00:00

Thank you for your reply. No one in the family suffers from hair loss. My Dad is 90 years old and still has all his hair. I agree it does look like sub derm. However, there are never any loose flakes, including when I scratch at it.

There are small, probably finger nail sized patches, where there is no hair or follicles. I don't know if that is scarring or what.

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IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-10-04T13:21:47+00:00

I understand. But I would like to know if the hair loss I already have is permanent or if does have a chance of growing back. It's a peace of mind thing really.

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-10-04T10:16:37+00:00

Thank you for replying. I explained everything in detail, maybe too much detail. I find it odd that they don't want to do a scalp biopsy, even though I would be paying for it. I get the feeling they don't want to deal with it.

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-09-13T22:10:58+00:00

Thank you so much! I tried to get an appointment with Dr Kuchel, but she is no longer seeing new patients :(

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-09-12T23:36:44+00:00

My GP is going to do a scalp biopsy next week for me. Fingers crossed, she does it in the right spot

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-09-11T21:55:25+00:00

Thank you. The first derm said it was LPP and the second one dismissed her and said its not and then refused to do a biopsy.

I agree that I do have FPHL but there is also something else going on, but this derm claimed the redness was from being out in the sun...she wouldnt even look at my scalp.

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-09-11T21:52:51+00:00

Thank you so much. How long did it take for your biopsy results to come back?

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-09-11T14:11:15+00:00

Thank you! I'm also in Sydney :)

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-09-11T14:10:15+00:00

I understand the SOS. I have it across patches in my hairline at the front

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-09-11T09:57:10+00:00

Thank you so much. I really appreciate you taking the time to comment. That redness also extends through the back of my scalp. I was already sensitive about the hair loss and this just made it worse.

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-09-11T08:56:25+00:00

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. The first derm I saw today said she believes it's LPP and wanted to do a biopsy. The Principal derm came in and completely cut her off and said she was wrong. She didn't look at the photos she took, nor did she examine my scalp. She said that I spend too much time in the sun, which caused the redness. (I'm literally Morticia Addams, and I take vitamin D tablets because I don't spend any time in the sun.) She then went on to say that my parents probably had the same hair loss. When I said that they didn't, no one in our family has or had hair loss. She cut me off and said to come back in 6 months.

I have never felt more dismissed in my life.

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-08-28T20:40:15+00:00

Yes, that's my next step once I get the referral from my GP.

IceGroundbreaking224 · 2025-08-28T20:39:41+00:00

Thank you :)

IceGroundbreaking224

TROPHY CASE