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Kristen Ridenhour

36, Female

Chantilly, VA

United States

Profile Information:

Relationship Status:: In a Relationship
About Me:: I was diagnosed with alopecia early July of 2003, I was 14. About 90% of my hair fell out within about 3 weeks, most of it while I was at gymnastics camp (worst week of camp I’ve ever had!) I went to a dermatologist once and decided from there not to do any treatments. My mom was too scared of the side effects they could have and I really didn’t want shots in my head. The rest of my hair took the rest of the summer to completely fall out. Since then, I’ve had no regrowth. I wore a wig at school for 10th and 11th grade. The second I got home, the wig came off. My senior year I wore a bandana. It was probably one of the best decisions I ever made and haven’t touched a wig since. I usually go around with a bandana now. I’m still trying to be comfortable enough to go out completely bald. I’ll get there someday. My family and friends have always been very supportive of me. Sometimes I think it affected them more than it did me (mainly my mom though).

I’m originally from northern Virginia. My mom moved down to Tampa after I graduated from high school, so I came down here with her. I have recently graduated from the University of Central Florida with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. I'm now living back up in NOVA for a job. I was a competitive gymnast for 10 years.
Do you have alopecia?: Alopecia universalis
Are you age 18 or older?: Yes - I am 18 or older

Comment Wall:

kastababy

Hi Kristen, and welcome! I'm glad you're here!!!

Mar 8, 2008
Sweet Mary HiLL

what upppp girL?! good to seee you :] we're aLL over the pLace.

Mar 9, 2008
Alex

hii, whats up??

Mar 9, 2008
Alex

not much at allll, i cant wait for warmer weather lol

Mar 10, 2008
Alex

im so jealous its not even funny, i hate cold weather

Mar 10, 2008
DT Manno

Hey Kristen. How's things?

Mar 12, 2008
DT Manno

Not bad. Work as usual. Went to NC ti visit my Dad over the weekend. Had a nice trip.

Mar 12, 2008
Faheemah

Hey Kristen! Thanks for the friend request. It is good to meet someone the same age as me with alopecia. You go to Central Florida. I go to NC State and I think we played yall in football, but yall won. LOL! So how is it going?

Mar 15, 2008
Michelle

Hello. Thanks for the add request. It's so great to have a place to hang out with other fellow Alopecians.....

Mar 15, 2008
Faheemah

That's good. I'm doing go too. I love NC State. I couldn't imagine going anywhere else. How do you like Central Florida?

Mar 15, 2008
Zoe Dusting

Hi Kristen! It's nice to meet someone with alopecia that is around my age. How are you doing?

Mar 16, 2008
Faheemah

That's really good. The weather is ok in NC, but I bet it is so much better in Flordia.

Mar 16, 2008
Zoe Dusting

Yah i know what you mean! As if I don't already have enough things to procrastinate with. I have a hugeee essay due this week but I just discovered this sight and I can't seem to get off of it! I'm doing pretty good thank you! I'm trying to get over this horrible cold and am also trying to over come my issue of wasting time instead of doing my homework! Are you going to school?

Mar 16, 2008
Zoe Dusting

Ouch! You can do it!! Good luck with those puppies. Cram study. That's my style! What are you taking at uni?

Mar 17, 2008
Zoe Dusting

oh wow that sounds ambisious! what exactly is civil engineering? what kind of a job would that be? Yup i am going to uni..the university of victoria. I'm going into elementary education. you must have a lot of homework huh?

Mar 17, 2008
Zoe Dusting

oh that sounds awesome! I'm glad you like it. Lots of people hate school so it's nice that you enjoy it because that means you might even enjoy your job! Ahh perfect! Yeah i like the education program too. I love kids. Anyways i hope you arent too too stressed out1 You can do ittt:):) have a good one!

Mar 17, 2008
Kara

hey girly, i just have to say i love this site meeting great people just like me !! have a good day hope to talk to you soon !! ^_^

Mar 22, 2008
DT Manno

Hey Kristen! I've been okay, thanks! Nice to hear from you :)
Just been workin and what not. Hows things with you? Hope you have a nice Easter. Are you off from school?

Mar 22, 2008
Nathan Paul Prince

Hey - wassup! Awesome seeing you on ALopeciaWorld! How've u been? Long time no see :) Hope the Easter Bunny was nice to you today :) Have a groovy long weekend!

Mar 24, 2008
Katey

Hi! Nice to meet you too! Have a great day! :)

Mar 29, 2008
Shemika

It is a small world. Do you ever get out to Virginia? I'm not from here. I've actually only been here for the past year and a half or so. We're also a military family.

~Shemika

Apr 3, 2008
DT Manno

Hey Kristen,

Just wanted to say Have a great weekend!!

Dan

Apr 5, 2008
spaganya

thanks for the friend add :)

Apr 6, 2008
spaganya

Yeppers - i live in Arlington now (right by courthouse/rosslyn) cuz i work in DC and i grew up south of here in "real virginia" in Richmond :)

Apr 6, 2008
DT Manno

I'm sure all that studying will pay off.
Yeah, we got quite a bit of rain this weekend. Had time to do a little yard work on Sat. Otherwise it wasn't bad. Just a lazy, rainy weekend.
Hope you have a good week too!

Dan

Apr 7, 2008
spaganya

lol yeah i know but thats how i feel sometimes being up here, im like seriously it could be a whole nother state!

sometimes i miss the cows and tractors and people who dont look at you funny when you say yall. LOL

Apr 7, 2008
Carol

Hi Kristen! You have such beautiful and intense eyes. Ya know.....it's been said that eyes are the windows to your soul. And I see you are a sensitive earth godess.

My son, Vince, has had AU about as long as you have. He mostly wears a baseball cao, turned around. Vince is a busy beaver and he says he don't have time to think about his baldness anymore.

To me, his charm is so brilliant......he doesn't need hair! xox

Apr 21, 2008
Hugh Mclellan

I am great. You look wonderful. Keep that smile on your face.

Apr 26, 2008
Michaela

Hello Kirsten...Your hobby- gymnastic is very fantastic:)

May 18, 2008
Jason Olsofka

whats goin on there Kirsten?glad to meet ya.

May 20, 2008
betsy slagle

Hi Kristen,

I'm new to this web and not very techy, but i know cheryl from NAAF Conferences and am excited to see so many alopecians - I'm alot older than you (old enough to be your grandmom...62 :)), but your gymnastic talents caught my attention !! You are terrific and really need to develope that talent !! I do alot of work in theatre settings and so many actors and ballet stars are bald and look lovely ! I'm AU and this condition hit me in'97 and in 2000 I had a second fall-out and now go bald or wear a short blonde wig or a cap - I admire your strength and courage. Give that Gym teacher a HUG from me !! My youngest daughter (now 30) was a gymnast and she's now a Nurse. Keep smiling ! Love to you, betsy

May 21, 2008
Karina Louise

Thanks for your comment on my blog post..I know I will be fine, I just have my freak outs sometimes...
Oh, and guess what I'm doing at camp? teaching gymnastics...I used to be a gymnast way back when & a coach more recently. I love the pictures of you in your leotard & bandana...that's awesome! Are you still involved in gymnastics?

May 22, 2008
Karina Louise

I'm going to Camp Modin, a jewish camp in Maine (and no, I'm not Jewish but I think it will be very interesting to learn about another religion). It's a general camp with heaps of different sports, including water sports (it has a lakefront) plus arts, crafts, drama productions etc. There's a huge variety of activities & the facilities look just amazing!

May 22, 2008
Mandy

Hey! It's my myspace group buddy! ;o)

Hugs,
Mandy

May 28, 2008
Mandy

Hey Kristen! Thanks! :) I think I started out all gung ho and strong girl attitude, but then this past weekend I totally had my first break down. I literally just sat down and started crying hysterically. It just came outta nowhere. I think I just needed one really good cry cuz now I'm feeling ok again. I just wish my hair would make up its mind! I wish it would all fall out or just grow back! Gah!

May 28, 2008
Becky.

hi im becky. i recently have alopacia, i've had it since i was 2. ohk well i was wondering, by your opinion, do you think everyone with alopacia will most likley lose all there hair?!

May 29, 2008
Mandy

Thanks Kristen. :) I hope you have a wonderful day.

May 29, 2008
LeslieAnn Butler

Hi Kristen,
Hey, I just wanted to say hello. I've had AU for 20 years.
Look for an article in the Orlando Sentinel in about a month on alopecia areata! They want a copy of my book for the article.
LeslieAnn

May 30, 2008
LeslieAnn Butler

Great!
If you want to get the book, you can order advance copies right now online at a 30% discount -- go to my page and click on my web site!
xo

May 30, 2008
MOLLY

thanks how are you today

Jun 2, 2008
MOLLY

good all my tests are all over with because I get out of school on friday.

Jun 3, 2008
gerald

You are beautiful!
My wife is bald and beautiful with alopecia universalis. To me, a lovely lady often looks more beautiful bald, because you can really see her feminine features when she is bald.

Jun 4, 2008
Matt

Thanks Kristen. You should get a sphynx. They have great personalities. More like a dog than a cat.

Jun 6, 2008
LM

Thanks Kirsten for your comments. I appreciate everyone who has sent their hello's. I use a Bandana to work out too! I wear my wig most of the time, because of work, etc.

Keep in touch.

Lourdes

Jun 9, 2008
eddie opitz jr

Thanks for the warm welcome

Jun 15, 2008
Drew

Thank you for the comment about the shave. How are you?

Jun 16, 2008
Drew

Yeah I hear ya about the keeping busy. It would be nice to take some classes during the summer but I just don't have the time. I'm already behind with college anyway, but it doesn't really matter to me as long as I keep working towards something since many of my friends from high school didn't go to college and just started working full time.

But I'm good, works been crazy the last few days, but I need money so I'll shut up about it. And I have today off so I'm just relaxing. Hope you have a nice week...

Jun 16, 2008
Carol

Thanks for the welcome Kristen! Glad to see you are so at ease with Alopeica! You looke like a happy well adjusted young woman!

Jun 16, 2008
Dawn

Hi Kristen!!

Jun 26, 2008
Dawn

Doing pretty good here. How are you? I was very touched reading your story.

Jun 26, 2008