Alopecia Areata Doctor Recommendation

Dear Doctor,
About four years ago my sister’s hair started to fall out in chunks, expecially in the back. She has very large bald spots all along the back, and the top hair is very thin. At first nobody wanted to treat her, but then a doctor told her she had an auto-immune disorder – alopecia – and that there really was not any cure. She has tried steroid injections in her head, all sorts of topical solutions, and is now doing Chinese herbs. She is in her early 30’s and I know the hair loss has really taken an emoitonal toll on her. Do you recommend any doctors in the San Diego area who specialize in these types of problems, or any solutions?

Thank you very much.

It sounds like she has Alopecia Areata. This is a difficult disease to treat. One doctor at UCLA has specialized in this, Dr. Richard Strick, and as you are in southern California, I would try to make an appointment with him. He has developed special protocols for this disease and I have sent a few patients to him who have achieved remarkable results. He is also on the National Alopecia Areata Foundation medical advisory board, where his contact information is toward the bottom of this page: NAAF Scientific Advisory Council 2005/2006.