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Permalink Reply by Josh McDowell on August 12, 2014 at 8:46pm

The idea that they think you have cancer is just your imagination. Of course they were surprised to see you with no hair, but they may have been saying, wow is that really you, you look great. Maybe just make a public post on facebook that you are perfectly healthy, but have AU, and then explain what AU is.

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Permalink Reply by MJ on August 12, 2014 at 9:21pm

I'm Going to shave my head tomorrow night and post a pic on Facebook also. I figure that way, people can see me and know what they're going to see when they next see me in person and it won't be as much of a shock in front of me. I'm also going to tell the reason I shaved it. Many know I have AA but some don't know what's going on with my head. Since my brows have come back, I think I can do it without fear if looking like I have cancer. When I had no brows, I felt like that's how I looked.

I think you should post the reason you posted the recent pic. Hopefully, people understand. I'm hoping they do. Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by Tallgirl on August 12, 2014 at 11:46pm

Crop the photo to just show your eyes. Just eyes. Then say, "Yup. All my own eyes."

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Permalink Reply by Missellewoods on August 13, 2014 at 1:12pm

you are you and beautiful wig or no wig

since a have a 4mm path in the front of my head now I bought my first wig today

Frig what people think, and I only bought the wig bc im very light sensitive hats are too how in 90 degree heat

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Permalink Reply by MJ on August 13, 2014 at 3:42pm

Thanks Aimee.  That's pretty much the way I plan on posting it tonight after I take the rest of my hair off.  I thought about also putting a tootsie pop in my mouth for the picture (shows how old I am) to inject some humor but I'm not sure I will.   Hopefully, people will be supportive!

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Permalink Reply by Fiona on October 4, 2014 at 6:12pm

This is perfect.  I did something similar.  The first photos I posted on FB with no wig were dog show win photos.  This particular day was International Alopecia day and I decided it was time to come out in public.  I did not wear my wig to the dog show and just went up to my friends and said "Hi, Its International Alopecia day and I decided not to wear my wig today" and moved on.  It was a HOT day so nice not to wear my wig.  My dog won an award and so I had the photo take "topless" (no wig) and just posted it to FB.  I also posted something like the above long before I posted a photo.  I also posted it again after the photo.  I still had friends call and ask if I had cancer and just took the time to educate them.  Mostly they were worried I was dying and so were delighted to find out its just hair loss so what it did was show that they cared.  Take that attitude - that they ask because they care and it helps

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Permalink Reply by 2yv8sk37l2jbl on August 16, 2014 at 3:47am

Garden girl, you are very brave. I Prefer not to discuss my au with people as casual as the ones on my Facebook friends list.

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Permalink Reply by BLee on October 4, 2014 at 3:25pm

I feel the same way you do but I've had AU for 26 years. We are beautiful matter what and we can't change that our hair had fallen out! I experience people constantly assuming I am going through cancer treatments! It's frustrating at times to explain all the time! Stay strong! You are not alone!

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