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Brittany

33, Female

Brooklyn, New York

United States

Profile Information:

Relationship Status:: In a Relationship
About Me:: My story from Self Magazine
https://www.self.com/story/what-its-really-like-to-have-alopecia

Article by: Sarah Jacoby

"At the age of 10, I had one bald patch that came and disappeared. I didn't think anything of it until age 12, when my hair started coming out again, but that time it was falling out in clumps. As a child you don't understand why you are going bald; I hid it from my parents because I thought I had cancer and I didn't want to worry them.

"After losing a good percentage of my blondie locks my mom realized I was losing my hair and something wasn't right. I was brought to the pediatrician by my mom. The pediatrician examined my scalp, said this is probably a case of alopecia areata, and referred me to the dermatologist. After meeting with the dermatologist, I was given an official diagnosis of alopecia areata. We started treatment immediately, which was topical ointments and injections into my scalp.

"After finding out my diagnosis, I became depressed. Losing my hair and being in junior high school wasn't easy—I was a huge target for bullying. My hair loss became so severe I had to begin wearing a hairpiece, which my fellow classmates pulled off of my head on a couple occasions. There were also rumors going around that I had cancer. The bullying that I experienced caused me to be self-conscious of my appearance and insecure. I was frustrated as well because none of my treatments were working, and the injections were giving me major headaches.

"Eventually, alopecia caused me to have complete hair loss on my scalp, loss of eyebrows and eyelashes, and complete loss of all body hair. A side effect of having alopecia is also ridges and brittleness in both fingernails and toenails.

"Every morning I wake up, pencil in my eyebrows, and apply false eyelashes. You never realize how important eyelashes are until you lose them; airborne particles can be a pain. After applying my makeup, my last step in getting ready is applying my wig. Then I am set to conquer the day. The hardest parts of having alopecia areata are finding wigs that are stylish yet affordable, dealing with the heat in the summer (it causes your wig to itch and your eyebrows to sweat off your face), knowing that your children could also inherit your alopecia, and being prone to other autoimmune diseases.

"I dealt with years of depression until I attended my first National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) conference at the age of 16; I realized after attending the conference that I am not alone with this disease. There are thousands of others also facing this disease, and meeting others with alopecia areata helped me to finally accept what was happening to my body. I became a support group leader for alopecia areata because I know this diagnosis can be difficult to handle sometimes. I host an annual event at my local minor league baseball team stadium for alopecia areata awareness.

"A diagnosis of alopecia areata is not the end of the world. If you are struggling with this diagnosis, please know you are not the only one. ♡ Find a local support group meeting or find support at naaf.org."

The Tyra Banks Show in May 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03FnS5YROyw&sns=fb

The Steve Harvey Show in October 2012
http://youtu.be/yzcQRn5QGkg

Today Show August 2017
https://www.today.com/video/4-women-open-up-about-losing-their-hair...;

Self Magazine May 2018
https://www.self.com/story/what-its-really-like-to-have-alopecia
Do you have alopecia?: Alopecia universalis
Are you age 18 or older?: Yes - I am 18 or older
Your Website (Leave blank if you don't have one):: http://Instagram.com/brittany_kayxo

Comment Wall:

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myranda

hye brittany my name is myranda
i was wondering how did you even get on the tyra show i have an
amazing story like crazy wont belev it what i have on my profile is just half of what happend i was just wondering if you would get back to meeeeee
plzzzzzz

Feb 16, 2009
Danielle

hey brittany thanks for the welcome

Feb 17, 2009
Danielle

good...busy but good, and yourself

Feb 17, 2009
Cheryl, Co-founder

Hi Brittany, oooooh that is so sad!

Feb 18, 2009
Cheryl, Co-founder

Brittany, I also wanted to mention that your photos are amazing!

Feb 18, 2009
myranda

hey whats up

Feb 18, 2009
Cheryl, Co-founder

Cool! I am going to look at it.

Feb 18, 2009
myranda

well thinks for the info i want to share my story so bad but
it is so hard to get on the tyra show i have been trying for so long
no that i am conferible with it

Feb 18, 2009
myranda

im ight really board thats about it
ya you were really lvky
so whre do you live

Feb 18, 2009
Cheryl, Co-founder

I have been good but busy. How about you? How is school?

Feb 18, 2009
Jill

You live in NY and heard about that before me. I live 10 minutes from the zoo. I was totally caught off gaurd. So you were on the Tyra Show. How awesome was that? I watch that show all the time.

Feb 18, 2009
Danielle

yeah...i understand how that goes...well i hope it starts to get better....are you doing any type of treatments?

Feb 18, 2009
Danielle

that will be nice to have... yeah i have had alopecia areata since i was 2 so 18 yrs for me so it is really no big deal for me but it would have been nice to have found this site earleir. the only time I had a hard time was starting college becuse I had gone to the same school in a small town and every knew and never gave me a hard time. but it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be

Feb 18, 2009
Meme

Yeah I really want to go to one because I havent actually talked face to face with someone with alopecia.
So its in texas this year?

Feb 18, 2009
Cheryl, Co-founder

Are you one of the photographers for the yearbook?

Feb 18, 2009
JeffreySF

Hi Brittany,

Everything is good. How about with you?
Just had a great shrimp dinner.
Are you going to the NAAf Conf this year? I'm all RSVP'd

Jeff

Feb 18, 2009
JeffreySF

Hey Brittany,

I forgot about the Graduation.

Have Fun!!!

Jeff

Feb 19, 2009
Meme

thanks for the info! :)

Feb 19, 2009
JeffreySF

Hi Brittany,

Sorry I forgot about your graduation. You know how busy this place is.
I'm sure you'll have a blast.

Jeff

Feb 19, 2009
JeffreySF

Hey Brittany,

I know what you're sayin'
Too bad there arent more conf lol

Jeff

Feb 20, 2009
Roger

Thanks! =)=)=)

Feb 21, 2009
Roger

I had some yummy yummy dinner. I stayed at home. I didnt go out to party =) hihihi

Feb 22, 2009
stacy

woot. =D

Feb 23, 2009
Rachel'sREPUBLICAN

hey wats up
XD

Feb 27, 2009
Nicole

hey hey hey hey hey

Feb 28, 2009
Rachel'sREPUBLICAN

nm just hanin with some friends
most of them are morons
lol

Feb 28, 2009
Rachel'sREPUBLICAN

I HATE SNOW NOW CUZ ITS BEEEN SNOWING IN THE BEGGINGING OF DECEMBER SO IM SICK OF IT
LOL
XD

Mar 1, 2009
Rachel'sREPUBLICAN

is new york awsome

Mar 2, 2009
Rachel'sREPUBLICAN

idaho thats why im so white cuz i havent seen the sun 4 ever

Mar 2, 2009
Rachel'sREPUBLICAN

no itz really gae and boring
lol no lie
XD

Mar 2, 2009
Rachel'sREPUBLICAN

whats up brittany
im very random today
take that back im allways random
whats up anyway

Mar 3, 2009
KD

Hey Britt :) Thank you 4 da add ! how are you doing :) ? Haha December 2008 u won the award for craziest hair ! I won the award for losing hair xD !!!

Mar 6, 2009
Rachel'sREPUBLICAN

nothin my friends and i went to the mall and crap like that
friends they were probabli stoned or something

Mar 10, 2009
Rachel'sREPUBLICAN

my friends went in hot topic and freaked over the manijor and got kiked out it waz funny

Mar 11, 2009
Amanda

Thank you so much!

Mar 12, 2009
JeffreySF

Hi Brittany,
Thank\anks for the Birthday wishes.
How are you doing?

Hugz,
Jeffrey

Mar 16, 2009
JeffreySF

Hi Brittany,

I hope your Dad is okay and it's not too serious.
For my Birthday had a nice dinner out.

Hugz,

Jeff

Mar 19, 2009
pink sneakers

Hi Brittany!
I work for Pink Sneakers Productions and we are currently casting for a new documentary series on TLC, tentatively titled "Life Chronicles." We are looking for individuals with alopecia to share their story and to enlighten our viewers about this disorder and how someone deals with it on a day to day basis. I would love to hear more about your story.
I think you could add an amazing dynamic to this documentary and really bring hope to other teenage individuals with alopecia through your positive attitude. Please email us at casting@pinksneakers.net if you would like to get involved and share your story. Please consider this amazing opportunity, I really hope to talk to you soon!
Ashley Edgar

Mar 26, 2009
Rachel'sREPUBLICAN

hey what are yew up ^^^ tew
miss brittany
dude im dating this hot emo guy omg its hot

Apr 5, 2009
JeffreySF

Hi Brittany,

I'm glad to hear your dad is doing better.
I'm all booked for NAAF.
Are you excited for Grad Night?

Be well,

Jeffrey

Apr 24, 2009
Roger

Great! Hope you can make it to Houston =)

Hugs, Roger.

Apr 26, 2009
JeffreySF

OMG I hope you can make the Conf that would be so cool for you.
Keep me posted.

Hugz,

Jeffrey

Apr 26, 2009
Rebecca Anne Richardson

brittany! I freakin LOVE YOUR HAIR! seriously,.. what sort of wig is it?? I never knew you could die wigs either,...i would love some info,, im starting to wear wigs again and i am diggin your style

:-) thanks for adding me xoxo

May 6, 2009
Carol Yuen

Brittany,

I saw you on youtube. you are so pretty, and i love your voice. how do you like the vaccum wig.~

May 6, 2009
Sara

Ohh, i saw that episode of the tyra banks show and i must say that you are one of the biggest inspirations i´ve had in "the alopecia-world" if you can call it that. I also love photography and i must say that putting extensions in the wig is really smart! I really like it : )

Well. Im not gonna take up more of your time :] but really, thank you.

May 15, 2009
Courtney

hey! do you know how to tease a wig?

May 29, 2009
Nikki Mans

i saw that episode of tyra banks i thought it was so cool that trya came to ur school

May 31, 2009
Rachel'sREPUBLICAN

omg
long time no see :}
so anyway what ishh` uhp`

Jun 4, 2009
Roger

Oohh. I will try to visit Marty on his 60th birthday in October in NYC =)

I think they will put the conference in Indianapolis next year.

Take care Brit =)

Roger.

P.S. Did he bring his limo? Cool =)=)

Jun 8, 2009
Rachel'sREPUBLICAN

na ihts` alright :]
so whats uhp` anywho

Jun 10, 2009

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