Alopecia (young people)
Alopecia treatments: steroid injections
Some people had tried having steroid injections in areas affected by alopecia areata. This was usually for patches on the scalp, but Michael had these for his eyebrows. The idea of having injections was off-putting for some. Emily explains that she doesn’t think the process or risks would be worth it for her, and she would rather accept her alopecia as it is. Ben considered having steroid injections but decided against it in case it caused marks or scarring on his scalp. Steroid injections involve using a needle to direct a liquid steroid into an area of skin. The injections are repeated in the same area over and over, and the person usually goes back for the treatment regularly. Meghan was scared about the treatment when she was younger and so started having jet injections (using a high-pressure stream of air to pierce the skin) at age 12 before moving onto steroid injections with needles. Those who had steroid injections often said they were painful. Meghan described it as like “cat scratches” and her scalp would bleed a lot. Grace and Arti said their doctors were understanding that the treatment could be difficult to have. Michael says the steroid injections into his eyebrows hurt a lot “but it’s worth it in my opinion”.
Having steroid injection treatments can be emotionally draining and mean missing time off school or work to attend appointments. Meghan remembers going back for the treatment every 1 or 2 weeks. Michael decided against trying steroid injections for his scalp as it would have meant lots of time away from his studies for travelling to appointments. He has steroid injections in his eyebrow once every three months.
As well as the procedure itself hurting, the aftermath of steroid injections can include:
Having steroid injection treatments can be emotionally draining and mean missing time off school or work to attend appointments. Meghan remembers going back for the treatment every 1 or 2 weeks. Michael decided against trying steroid injections for his scalp as it would have meant lots of time away from his studies for travelling to appointments. He has steroid injections in his eyebrow once every three months.
As well as the procedure itself hurting, the aftermath of steroid injections can include:
- soreness
- headaches and migraines
- scabs forming – Meghan worried about others seeing this, which added to her missing school
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