FFA,    Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia

My youngest sister  (63 yrs old)  Blood Type A+  ( secretor status unknown, not follow BTD)

has just been told she has FFA. She is to take antibiotics for 2 months.

She has ask me to find out what I can about it.

Can anyone help me with this?


This is really alarming - the hair around her face is falling out - Dr says its an infection that kills the hair follicles, non contageous but they have no real answers or prevention.

sounds like yeast in the scalp? do a search and see what you find.

Quoted from purlgirl

My youngest sister  (63 yrs old)  Blood Type A+  ( secretor status unknown, not follow BTD)

Did she color her hair?  Did she take probiotics?
BTW, henna kills fungal infections. I was going to start using it on my toenails. It turns them a lovely rusty orange color. Great for the Autumn.

Does it also stain your toes? Or are you just applying it to the nails, like nail polish?

This condition doesn't seem fungal from the pubmed research I just did.  It's inflammatory as in auto immune which to me implies a gut issue as the origin...and steroids in the early stage is the treatment.  

The fact that antibiotics are being prescribed confuses me after reading about this condition.

Thank you for all your help and support.

There doesn't seem to be anything of much help out in MD world other than to say it's an Auto-immune disorder.

Sis has also been on Thyroid Meds for about 18 months.  I know that is also associated with immune problems. I don't know what other perscriptions she takes. She is always quick to go to DR and take perscriptions (antibiotics) so she could easilly have gut/yeast overgrowth issues.
Yes she does color her hair - dark aubern  

Quoted from purlgirl

Thank you for all your help and support.

There doesn't seem to be anything of much help out in MD world other than to say it's an Auto-immune disorder.

Sis has also been on Thyroid Meds for about 18 months.  I know that is also associated with immune problems. I don't know what other perscriptions she takes. She is always quick to go to DR and take perscriptions (antibiotics) so she could easilly have gut/yeast overgrowth issues.
Yes she does color her hair - dark aubern  

Does your sister consume gluten grains?

You might find this interesting.

http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/110310p52.shtml

I had been dealing with this for the past 8 months or so myself. I have AI issues myself and they keep coming at me! It's remarkable how you can fight back though. My personal regimen has been to get rid of all cleansers that contain SLS as sulphites are a huge issue with me. I will use Dr. Bronner's soap to cleanse my scalp approx two times a week followed by an organic shampoo. I really have to watch my diet and despite having SWAMI have to be extra diligent for any reaction to any food. It's a royal pain but I am fighting medication use with all my might and have been staying the course. My hair loss stopped as soon as changed my cleansing habits and like I said, the sulphite thing was huge (for me). Thankfully, my unintended mullet isn't too noticable to anyone but me but hey, the hair is coming back!

Quoted from gardengirl

I had been dealing with this for the past 8 months or so myself. I have AI issues myself and they keep coming at me! It's remarkable how you can fight back though. My personal regimen has been to get rid of all cleansers that contain SLS as sulphites are a huge issue with me. I will use Dr. Bronner's soap to cleanse my scalp approx two times a week followed by an organic shampoo. I really have to watch my diet and despite having SWAMI have to be extra diligent for any reaction to any food. It's a royal pain but I am fighting medication use with all my might and have been staying the course. My hair loss stopped as soon as changed my cleansing habits and like I said, the sulphite thing was huge (for me). Thankfully, my unintended mullet isn't too noticable to anyone but me but hey, the hair is coming back!

I wanted to share something I read recently.  Never ever put hair conditioner on or near your scalp....It's meant for the ends of your hair only.....the part which is far away from the hair's root.  For years I didn't know this...just rubbed the conditioner all over my head/hair which was sitting on my scalp even though being rinsed off.  Conditioner sticks to hair to coat the rough cuticle edges to give it a sense of sheen by flattening what might frizz...and wouldn't you know, it's these same ingredients that will sit in your hair follicles and clog/block them pretty much like clogged pores on the skin. After using a conditioner on the scalp it  almost requires an exfoliating treatment in order to allow hair to properly grow out of hair roots.   The solution is to just not use conditioners in the first place near hair follicles.  They also cause hair loss in many people.  I stay far away from hair conditioners....only use Dr. Bronner's on my hair to wash it....then very little styling products (all natural) just on the parts of my hair that are nowhere near my scalp.  I also will never put hair dye
on my hair ever again.  I see so many women with dyed hair and hair loss.  I massage my scalp
every night with coconut oil.....in the morning wash it off...Scalp and hair are much healthier.

I'm still working on this.  Sis is really busy at work. Hope we can get together this weekend.

She understands it's autoimmune and that she needs to make changes.
She ordered a Wig and plans to let her hair go natural.  Thats a good beginning.

I'll share your thoughts about using hair conditioner. Thats the way I use it too.

Please tell me more about  Dr. Bronner's soap  that you use on your hair ?

Quoted from purlgirl

I'm still working on this.  Sis is really busy at work. Hope we can get together this weekend.

She understands it's autoimmune and that she needs to make changes.
She ordered a Wig and plans to let her hair go natural.  Thats a good beginning.

I'll share your thoughts about using hair conditioner. Thats the way I use it too.

Please tell me more about  Dr. Bronner's soap  that you use on your hair ?

This is the soap but I bought an almond scented soap.  Same ingredients, different scents.
http://www.vitacost.com/dr-bro.....etibMCFQme4AodGRMA0Q

actually, I just found exactly what I use
http://www.vitacost.com/dr-bronners-magic-soaps-all-one-hemp-pure-castile-soap-almond-5-oz

interesting conversation..

one thing should be considered by sis .. that this is her body attacking the SELF from all angles and worse illness will follow..

she needs to consider a great deal - she got a way with until now..

http://geneticroulettemovie.com/    found in another post here..

This movie might give you or her some pause.. there is much we have no idea about..  

she might develop other immune issues.. worth having her come here and see how much support she could get.. if she wishes.. to make changes..

As for conditioner I have used different kinds -- I like old ones better, have been around longer..

BUT recently read someplace that one can use a little drop of conditioner for FRIZZY hair..  was it posted here some place?  

I know someone who uses the gel from soaking flax seeds on her hair.  She says it works as a natural
hair gel.  Never tried it myself.

My daughter sometimes uses aloe vera gel as a hair gel. I bought it for sunburn relief, but she found another use for it.

I was never diagnosed with any 'disease' but when I noticed my hair was thinning 3 years ago I did research and switched to Keys shampoo. https://www.keys-soap.com/ostore/product.php?productid=219 EWG rates it as '1'.  They sell travel sizes (why don't ALL companies sell travel sizes?????) if you want to try it before investing in a full size bottle.  

Since then, not only has the thinning stopped but my hair has grown back.  It's not as thick as it was when I was young but I have definitely reversed the trend.  It looks so good I was able to persuade my sister to switch, too.  My sister also uses their conditioner.  

I dyed my hair for 30 years but stopped that 3 years ago and the other day DH told me I was looking 'distinguished.'  I explained that I wanted to see how I would look 'au natural'.  If it gets too bad, I'll use henna. Henna comes in many colors and I think there is even a 'clear' color if all you need is the conditioning.

I definitely recommend against using traditional chemical-laden products.