Hello everyone,

Never posted on a site like this before but I figure I should give it a go.

Maybe a little background is a helpful. I have had Alopecia all my life... haven't we all? My hair started to fall out when I was 11 and over the years has grown back and all fallen out again. I've tried almost everything (light treatment hasn't really excited me enough to bother with yet) but nothing has seemed to work.

So you might be wondering what the point of my post is... well here we go. Please give the World some credit. I hear all the time from people-on this forum or friends I know with Alopecia-that they have trust issues with people in their life, or not yet in their life. "I've never shown my family", "My partner has never seen me with out hair", "What will people think of me when they know I'm bald or going bald?". Seriously.... give the World some credit. In all the years I have been dealing with this I have only once had someone say something negative to me about my hair or lack there of and to this day we are still great friends (kids can be mean some times). Im not going to lie there have been times where I have been worried about what people would think but its never been an issue. Every boyfriend I have had since loosing my hair (thats every boyfriend I have had ever) has seem me bald. My family sees me bald when Im at home.... my mother jokes when i wear my hair at her place saying "take that off and stay a while". I have a girlfriend whos been with her boyfriend for 8 years and hes never seen her without hair! I think thats just nuts.

I know acceptance is hard, but you know what makes that easier? The acceptance of those you love and care for. They are your support and should be your rock... why not give them the chance to really know you?

This all coming from a 24 year old girl with no hair on her head, no eyebrows (ps pencil and eye shadow with a brow brush looks way better than just pencil), and no bottom lashes. I look funny and sick with out my wig and make up on, but my family loves me, my boyfriend adores me, and my friends support me. Please, please, please understand that there is really nothing to be afraid of.

We all have our fears.... mine was loosing my wig in public... well back in 2006 i was surfing in Australia... on the other side of the world and i lost my wig in a big wave. I was alone, no friends, no family, and no hair. I thought I would just die....but instead the "strangers" I was with helped me for hours look for my hair (to no avail) and those strangers became my friends. No one pointed and laughed or judged me. I survived it (and now some shark has a 1,800$ wig).

Give the World some credit... and if thats too hard, just try with your family and friends first.

Love you guys.... love yourself too :)