alopecia areata or not?

Approximately 1.5 years ago I noticed that my hair was thining a bit in the front and I am only 24 years old). My dermatologist proscribed dirprosone lotion, and Tricomin shampoo and clobex shampoo. After about 10 months,I felt my scalp had gotten better so  I tried Rogaine. I was on Rogaine for a month when I noticed two round spots on my scalp that were very very small (maybe a centimeter)where it looked like my hair was changing to an orangy color. My natural hair color is medium to dark brown. The orangy hair was also thinner than my normally thick hair. I paid no attention to it for a while, figuring the summer sun had changed my hair color. Then the spots got worse, and some of the hair fell out, but they are not smooth bald spots because there are hairs still in the middle. The entire effected area in each spot is maybe a dime size where there are some hairs missing, and those that are there are discolored. My scalp is red in these spots and burns sometimes. When I wake up in the morning they are calm.

When I went back to the dermantologist, he diagnosed me with alopecia areata which I researched thoroughly online. I didnt really think my condition looked like anything in the pictures because my spots were so small-and found nothing mentioned about hair coloring changing before hair falls out (only that new hairs grow in a different color). My question is does this sound like alopecia areata to you? Is it normal for hair color to change first then fall out with this condition? What else could it be if it is not alopecia areata. Might I mention that he injected them and I think that one has gotten worse instead of better. THe others have remained the same (I now have about 6 of these all over my head)

Help..I am really depressed over this because I had trichotilimania as a kid and outgrew it only to now experience balding again.

Thanks.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I agree that the color change doesn't exactly fit alopecia areata, but i doesn't exactly fit anything else either.  One of the conditions that causes bald spots that aren't smooth but that have hairs in the middle is trichotillomania (a habit of hair pulling.)  The fact that you had this once before at least raises the question of whether you might be playing with your hairs again, perhaps unconsciously.  You should try to pay attention to this possibility.  As to the hair color changes, I'm afraid I'm drawing a blank.  Your dermatologist may want to consider a scalp biopsy if he thinks it will help clarify your problem.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[Boston78]

Hi, -  I'm 28 and i had a similar problem. Dont worry!  Ask your dermatologist to give you steroid injections, this will get your hair to grow back again... mine told me this is primarily due to stress, so dont stress.

My hair grew back, i have long dark hair and the 2 spots scared the life out of me, but knowing that the hair does grow back is relief in itself.  goodluck!!

http://www.medicinenet.com/alopecia_areata/page2.htm