Is My Alopecia Areata Getting Worse?

I first noticed the symptoms of alopecia areata at age 13. I’m 23 years old now. I briefly saw a dermatologist when I was 16 and received steroid injections for about a year. These proved ineffective. My hair regularly grows back, only to be followed by other areas falling out. At any one time I’d guess that about 40% of my head is covered in hair. I’ve learned to deal with the condition, but recently it seems that it’s migrated to my beard and as well I’m experiencing increased pitting in my fingernails, which hasn’t happened for about 8 years.

Is my condition significantly worsening? If so, what can I expect? Also, given it’s been 7 years since I’ve seen a professional about this, what sort of treatments might be effective in a case such as mine?

Thanks for your time

You need to be managed by a doctor whose specialty and interests are focused on alopecia areata (usually this would be a dermatologist). The disease moves around and sounds like it is active in you. Biopsies of the active area at the border with the normal hair will show inflammatory cells suggestive of auto-immune disease. Look at the case I posted about the other day (Alopecia Areata in a Patient with a Miracle Cure). This type of expertise is what I would want if I had the problem. I am not an expert on alopecia areata, so I am unfortunately not the person to ask.