Doctors Gave Me Cortisone Shots for Treating Traction Alopecia, and Now It’s Worse!
I recently was diagnosed (by three unaffiliated dermatologists having all examined my scalp under a light with the naked eye) with traction alopecia, which I was more or less already aware that I likely had. I received cortisone injections from one of the three in the crown of my head and all along the line of my scalp/forehead. I had already had thinning, naturally, but now it’s looking as if the areas having received the shots are actually going bald in patches (as opposed to the former more diffuse thinning).
I’ve noticed that more and more frequently when I go to those areas to apply oils (emu, rosemary, etc) I will inadvertently pull out a few hairs from the root. My part is ever-widening, it seems. I’m very worried… Is it possible that the shots actually worsened my hair loss? And if so, is it permanent? And if not, with regard to the latter question, how long will it be before my scalp recovers…?
Thank you.
Steroid injections into the scalp for treating traction alopecia makes zero sense to me. As you found out, the cortisone shots could even cause more hair loss. This loss could be permanent, but only time will tell. It could take up to a year or so for regrowth to be seen. If no growth is seen by then, it’s likely permanent.
My latest Dermatologist keeps wanting to give me cortisone shots for my Androgenetic Alopecia to reduce the inflammation in my scalp (which I don’t see). I always refuse the shots and then she gets mad that I’m going against her expertise. I have heard these injections can make hair loss worse, but I also wonder if they do work on anyone with genetic hair loss? But it’s not like you can get them all over your head for the rest of your life anyway, so what’s the point.
My son has alopecia and since he have been going to his Dermatologist and this doctor been giving him cortisone shot on his butt made it worse now lost all his hair, eyebrows, eye lashes. What can I do? I’m very devastated for my son looks