Comment by Mandy on May 29, 2008 at 11:09am

Hi Danna. First question - have you been diagnosed with alopecia?

Comment by Danna on May 30, 2008 at 4:17am

Mandy, Yes the doctor's did state it was Alopecia, but then others have said it is male pattern baldness. I am not so sure that I have alopecia, or if there are different types. I do know that I have the same feelings of not be accepted for my looks that people go through.

Comment by leanne dallen on May 30, 2008 at 8:24am

you should have been given some for of diagnose ,i myself i am not bald yet (in some places)but sad to me they are the spots people can see ,so i wear a wig when i go out .but look into it before you get scared but we are all here to help ok

Comment by Saphy on May 30, 2008 at 10:01pm

Hi Danna.
It sounds like you and I both suffer from a similar form of alopecia: androgenic alopecia. While I do not get any bald spots and still have hair on my scalp and the rest of my body, I have significant thinning on the crown/top and sides of my head.

I've also been told by physicians/dermatologist that I have "male pattern baldness". (Ii don't know if they dumbed down the official term or were not well versed in alopecia types and treatment). Every blood test I've taken only points to the fact that I am a healthy, normal woman.... with less hair than normal. This condition doesn't seem to run in the family, as I am the only woman with any degree of baldness, and in general... it's a mystery.

I've grown to accept it... but it has taken a significant toll on my self-esteem and femininity. Things are starting to look up (now that I buzzed the rest of my hair off), but its still a struggle. Trust me, I totally understand your situation, I live it. :-)

Anyway, that's what this forum is for... to share, help each other out and educate those fortunate enough not to have alopecia. I'm glad to have not only another gamer girl on the forums (woohoo... we rock) but someone you understands my form of alopecia. I was starting to feel a little left out, haha. Anyway, I really look forward to talking to you on the site.

I guess that part is all about mind set really, because hair or no hair no one or nothing can change what we know about ourselves and in our own hearts.

We are hear to listen and help each other out.
Thanks for listening and let me know if you have a more accurate term than male pattern baldness for the type of hair loss I am describing. ~ Danna

Comment by Danna on May 31, 2008 at 12:11am

Thanks Saphyra, this website rocks. I even found the courage to enlighten some of my coworkers about alopecia today. I am working at a new location for the same company and many have known about my thinning hair problem. I didn't want the people who did not know me to act all stupid if I chose to wear a different wig one day. Oh yeah that is one thing that can be fun about all of this, that is if you let it.

Comment by kastababy on May 31, 2008 at 2:01am

Hi Danna!

Alopecia is the scientific name for baldness of any kind -- male/female pattern baldness, alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, alopecia universalis, scarring- and non-scarring alopecia -- different types of hair loss for different types of people. The most important thing first and foremost is to get a diagnosis from a dermatologist that is experienced in dealing with alopecia. At that point, if you choose to go through the treatment route, make sure you understand ALL the risks and benefits. Treatments are NOT cures, and the worst thing that could happen is to get excited over a successful treatment only to regress back to square one when the treatment is stopped.

Like most readers, I too can understand and sympathize with you in regard to the effects that hair loss has on your life. While I like to think that I am an EXTREMELY well-adjusted person, having grown up with varying degrees of AT and AU, I also have moments of low self-esteem and it certainly has affected how I relate to people in general and certain types of people in particular. However, when I have these moments, I am quick to remind myself that no matter how bad I think things are, things could always be a LOT worse!

Please feel free to ask us as many questions as you think you need to here. We are all here to help you understand what is happening to your body and we are are here to support, comfort, and love each other! Have a great weekend!!!

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