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What would Darwin say?
I am wondering if alopecians are actually more evolved than humans without the disorder - our white blood cells fight off our hair follicles which leads me to believe we have stronger immune systems. The only reason our disorder is viewed negatively is because we lose something that been venerated or deemed significant by society for several centuries. Many of my lady friends tell me that they wouldn't have the courage to "do what I do" (go bareheaded), and this is because women's hair has always been seen to signify femininity or sexuality (I think in males, long hair is supposed to symbolize courage). These outdated values hold no truth, as appearance has no way of revealing content. So, if all we're up against is losing a characteristic that is in-hair-ently useless (unless you live in an extremely cold climate), and instead equipped with stronger immune systems, aren't we better off?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jackie on
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That is an interesting view! Do ou ever worry that it will begin to attack vital organs?
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I agree completely and cannot fathom a witty comment at this time =( I do agree though. I wonder do people with alopecia get ill often? I do not. I have not seen a doctor in years, thus making me agree with the stronger immune system you touch on =)
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Permalink Reply by Retha Rogers on
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I love this
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Permalink Reply by Simon on
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Been saying that for years Brittany......glad someone thinks the same as me Simon
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I, too, do not get sick...no colds, infections, etc., yet I do worry about the over active system attacking other organs. In the meantime, I do embrace what has come my way!
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer on
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I understand your point about social emphasis on hair as something that has been important in terms of identity, but the function of our hair goes considerably deeper than that.
When the immune system attacks our hair, it is essentially attacking one part of a larger organ that we call skin. The fine hair that is lost from the the body when a person has Alopecia Universalis would otherwise help to regulate body temperature in conjunction with the sweat glands. As well, allergens and irritants are more likely to cause problems for those who have lost eyelashes and nasal hair because those are a part of our physical defences against such things.
I highly doubt that Alopecia is a marker of more evolved immune systems. There is far too much evidence that it is appropriately classified as a disorder because, social stigmas aside, the immune system is not supposed to break down our defences against external intrusion in such a manner.
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Permalink Reply by michelle on
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I agree Jennifer. As someone with AU....lost my nose hair 8 months ago. I was a virus magnet this past winter. After many blood tests ruling out any other causes....nose hair first defence to viruses.....
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Permalink Reply by Sarducci on
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I couldn't agree more with you Jennifer. Although Brittany brings up a topic I myself have thought about, and would love to believe, being a scientist - I know it is not true. Also, I actually get sick quite often and that is because my immune system is weak because it is constantly fighting off my hair follicles and I have AU, so no eyelashes and nasal hair is a definite problem.
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Permalink Reply by Funnybone on
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I applaud your courage to bare your head. I believe Kayla Martell proved that it was the fascade of hair which really won the beauty pageant. And you make great points about the evolution of our species. If I'm not mistaken, our species has been shedding hair for quite a while now along with continued disuse of parts of ourselves like pinkies.
Ever since I started shaving my head 10 years ago (alopecia areata), I would joke with people that I'm asian Powder and I'm full of electricity. Now of course, no one get the reference to a 1995 movie. But your post makes me want to rewatch this movie... http://youtu.be/XQ2Cg6koHPQ
Ever since I recently outted myself on Facebook (I'm an actor) that I have alopecia universalis, alot of well-meaning people have been coming at me with advice. Just today a good friend told me that a paleo diet can cure cancer, lyme disease and all sorts of diseases which I bodies should naturally survive if it weren't for the garbage we eat. But that is another discussion.
My vote on your topic is... Alopecia Universalis = Level Above Human = Powder =)
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Permalink Reply by Neil on
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Powder was my nickname at my last job, and I'm an electrician ;)
WRT the diet comment, I saw a documentary once about an english guy who was one of the first to live with the indigenous people of the arctic and noticed that none of them got sick... until they started eating a "western" diet. For sure our food and lifestyle are killing us, our society has changed much fast than we can biologically evolve.
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Permalink Reply by Kim Culberson on
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I developed Rheumatoid Arthritis and started taking methotrexate to stop the pain and swelling in my fingers- this drug lowers your immune system and stops further joint damage, however 5 months after starting it, my har started to grow back! I spent 7 years completely AU and now have had
my hair back for 4 years. If I miss a few weeks, due to elevated liver enzymes. I start getting bald spots again (AA) which I'm sure would be AU within 6 months. Never did get my eyelashes or eyebrows back. This is such a weird disease. There are no rules! Before the metho started to lowery immune system I was extremely healthy- no colds or flu- now I get occasional typical stuff. Somedays I hate my hair and long to be AU again (believe it or not- never thought I would say that)
Life was easier with no hair - I had a beautiful Freedom wig when I wanted hair but also enjoyed the freedom and fresh feeling of my bare head or the cool look of a bandana. Life is all about your attitude of your situation - no matter what stage or circumstance you find yourself in. The most valuable lesson I learned through all this is that there is more to life than hair and it does not define who you are! Those that love you - do with or without a bald head. One morning I woke up to my 4 year old rubbing my head repeating a mantra "my mom has no hair, my mom has no hair" over and over. I asked him of
It bothered him because I was always worried I was an embarrassment to my children and my husband. He announced that he liked my head- it was pretty and shiny :) Now he is 16, so half
His life I was bald and it didn't seem to ruin him! Ha ha
My 23 year old daughter always wanted to shave her head in support of me but I wouldn't let her, however through 5 years of university and now her first year as a school teacher, she has thrived off my strength and spirit and attitude to make her the person she is today.
I think Alopecia makes us and the people around us better people! All I will say about my loving, wonderful high school sweet heart husband is that he still really enjoys the fact that my bikini line never came back either! Ha ha.,,,,TMI.,,.ha ha
Well that's rant/blog contribution :)
Love to you all!
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