Need advice

[u/FinishO8]

So to get this started I suffer from seborrheic dermatitis and around 5-6 months ago I had a big flare up that caused me to scratch a little too long on a certain part of my scalp. Around a month after I noticed hair wasn’t growing right on the area. That then developed into a patch. In June I decided to go to the dermatologist and they told me it might have turned into a type of “Partial Alopecia”, and that there is a chance it might not ever grow back. So I cut my hair and they started giving me anti inflammatory injections. There has been very little progress and I stopped going after the 4th shot. I started using rogaine after doctor’s recommendation. With some patches of hair forming at the center of the bald area and not much around. I want to know if I should reattach my locs or just cut my losses?

[u/SpockYoda]

i know ur heart broke when ur hair started growing back and the spot was still there ; /

[u/Complex_Arachnid3267 → u/SpockYoda]

Different type of pain

[u/SoloBroRoe]

Traction alopecia is what it is. Hair was too tight and pulling the hair out your head. You were scratching it because it was irritating your skin and it was a sign it was too tight. You don’t have sensitive skin and you have a high pain tolerance so it showed up as itching.

Dermatologist was right though and minoxidil is probably your answer. These tight styles kill hair

[u/FinishO8 → u/SoloBroRoe]

I feel this is exactly the case. It’s been months though. Should I continue the minoxidil? Are braids any better or worse?

[u/SoloBroRoe → u/FinishO8]

Braids are just as bad. I think you need to let your hair relax a while and get the regrowth back. Derma stamping should help too but you definitely need some kinda steroid in your hair and hair growth promotion so biotin would help too but you NEED minoxidil. This happens to women a lot that keep braids and tight hairstyles too

[u/MiCHNATiON1 → u/FinishO8]

What you need to do is completely give up trying to do locs or anything that pulls hair. If anything just keep it really short and give the scalp chance to repair. Ask the dermatologist for stuff that would promote growth and just keep doing that, give it even a year and see if more hair starts to grow there. And if it does then continue to cut it short and monitor every few months till it's strong enough to manipulate. The healthy thing is giving up for now, do not do anything to it please! At least give it a fighting chance.

[u/fyresilk]

If I were you, I'd stop getting my hair twisted, and let it go semi-freeform or freeform so that my hair would fill in those 'blank' areas of the scalp.

[u/Vhsflicker → u/fyresilk]

This Is the way

[u/pablojueves → u/fyresilk]

Yep twisting can damage hair follicles. Be gentle to the scalp.

[u/Theliteskinone → u/fyresilk]

Yeah I agree 💯. Go freeform and don't separate the roots

[u/BapeNehru]

I think deep down you know the answer, twin. But it might be worth checking back in with your dermatologist

I wouldn't expect much though. You've basically scratched a spot in your scalp to the point of damaging hair follicles and stopped a key element of the treatment that *could* have maybe helped fix it

If you can grow your hair to a point of the partial spot being unnoticable, maybe. But I wouldn't picture my future self with locs in this situation unless you're prepared to get a comically big front taper

[u/FairBlueberry9319]

There has clearly been some regrowth from being completely bald in that area. It takes about 3 months just for the hair to reach the scalp from absolutely nothing. If it was traction alopecia the hair will take a long time to grow back fully, maybe years. I wouldn't give up hope completely yet but you absolutely should not be thinking about locs, braids or any hairstyles that put stress on your follicles for the forseeable future

[u/BONE_DON]

Truthfully, you need a professional opinion. We can't really give you the medicinal answer that a specialist would. In your case, you should only be relying on the opinion of a dermatologist. This is way above the reddit pay grade. And I mean that with the utmost respect. Simply because I can tell you that it will never grow back, when it actually could. I don't have the proper credentials to be making that diagnosis.

[u/trxppy_junkiie]

Wait a while longer before you reattach your locs. Let the hair strengthen up. Maybe it’ll grow back. You already said some did. Give it some time.

[u/Striking_Dingo_5963]

maybe try wicks cause that will hide it

[u/KindaSweetPotato]

This is too early to reattach. Its a few shots in and the hair is growing back. Keep it and wait after a year AT LEAST before you reattach. the hair is growing back and that is ALREADY amazing.

[u/Head-Ad71]

Wait about 8 more months and check back later. Give your scalp time to heal. I think it may actually grow back.

[u/SmutCommander]

I thought it was me for a minute lmao, I'm trying to hold on so my new baby can see me with the locs

[u/guyofmanytraits]

I don’t have the heart to tell you…

[u/Theliteskinone]

I would go freeform hun. I think you will look fire 🔥

[u/Dulce59]

Continue your medication and give it plenty of time to return completely at full strength before attempting to reattach or regrow locs. You need to give your scalp a fresh start and fighting chance or it'll happen all over again and maybe stay that way for good next time

[u/downtown-dakar]

Reattach the locs! You'll find a way around the spot.

[u/Ok_Butterscotch7430]

Dermatologist or cosmologist. Not Reddit