Posts by Daniel Doyle96

After endless testing—bloodwork, hormone panels, allergy tests, everything under the sun—they finally flagged a strep strain we’ve never even dealt with before. It wasn't even causing her any symptoms, but the doctor insisted it was the smoking gun. So, now we're stuck on antibiotics and strictly using A-Derma products just to be safe. To try and jumpstart her hair regrowth, they handed us some Minoxidil scalp solution to massage in.

Grace Anderson14 said:Hi there,
I'm dealing with something that has me seriously spiraling. About a few days ago, I noticed these circular bald patches in three different spots on my head. They aren't small, either—if I pull at the hair around them, it just comes right out in my hands. 🙄 One spot looks like it might be starting to grow back, but it’s moving so slowly I can't even tell if it's progress or just an illusion. 😢
I'm honestly terrified. I have no idea what kind of referral to ask my primary care doctor for or even what this could be... I'm pretty young, so this is incredibly jarring.
Has anyone else dealt with something similar?
Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks.

I'm currently navigating this exact issue with my daughter. You need to see a dermatologist immediately for a full workup. It sounds like alopecia (localized hair loss), but the cause depends on whether it's strictly on the scalp or if you're dealing with some form of dermatitis involving itching or extreme dryness. We were prescribed specific creams, lotions, shampoos, and even specialty baths... it was expensive as hell. It all comes down to whether it's an allergy or just your body reacting to something internal, which is why the testing is necessary. Just get to a dermatologist and you'll figure it out.

Scott Chavez96 said:So, looking back about three or four years ago, I ended up seeing my doctor because of these nagging bouts of back pain that would flare up whenever I played a recreational game of soccer. The diagnosis was flat feet, and the solution was a pair of custom orthotics. I had them made, wore them consistently, and everything felt perfectly fine. However, life happened, and I stopped wearing them regularly; for the last year and a half, they’ve mostly just been sitting in a drawer, used only occasionally at best. Recently, I decided to get serious about it again and slipped them back into my cleats, but during my last two games, my back was absolutely killing me.
Is this simply a matter of my body needing time to readjust after such a long hiatus, or is it possible that the inserts have lost their effectiveness and I actually need a new pair made? I honestly can't tell if I'm better off with them or without them these days.

It sounds like you’re just being inconsistent with your orthotics. If they work for you, wear them. Using them sporadically offers zero benefit to your feet. Of course, if you go weeks without wearing them, you’ll have to deal with that painful readjustment period all over again. I actually quit wearing mine because the initial adjustment pain was unbearable, only to have my old symptoms come roaring back. Persistence is the only way through this. Grit your teeth and wear them every single day; if the pain doesn't subside in a few days, get yourself to a specialist for a follow-up.