Comment by Megan on July 18, 2013 at 6:02am

Your words are inspirational. My daughter is seven and this is our first experience with Alopecia Areata. She has been amazing but is still very young to understand all the implications. You are all strong and beautiful- your words give me hope that this will all work out and she will become a beautiful, strong and confident person.
Hang in there and stay strong- acceptance is not giving up!

Comment by Debbi Fuller on July 18, 2013 at 7:40am

One other short comment. It has been really hot and humid even in the North East where I live. On Tuesday, my husband and I went for a motorcycle ride. I wore a doo rag under my helmet and felt I was not damaging my vacuum by removing and putting the helmet on and off when we stopped places. My doo rag is stylish in a Harley kind of way but I also put a vacuum in the saddle bag for when we stopped at the Harpoon Brewery to refill our Growlers! Yesterday I went up the the lake and swam with NO hair because it feels so good to have lake water on your bare scalp. Sometimes having no hair frees you up to feel nature up close - kind of like skinny-dipping for your head! TRY IT.

Comment by skit on July 18, 2013 at 10:16am

Comment by Lisa Santer on July 18, 2013 at 10:16am

Like many of you, I think accepting is quite different from giving up. For me, both are more about how I live my life than how I live without hair. I tried treatments when they made sense to me, and I generally take care of my health pretty well. At some point, I thought if I switched and put that treatment-seeking energy into living a good life as a bald woman, I'd be happier. Thankfully, I was right. After so many years, it's a rare day when I wish I had a full head of hair. I do wish the big hairy spot on my head would go away so I wouldn't feel I should shave every day. Perhaps some would think I've given up. I think I'm living a big full life, and being as true to my real self as I can manage. I also appreciate that my alopecia has helped make me an even stronger, more phenomenal woman.

Comment by skit on July 18, 2013 at 10:19am

Ophs!
Acceptance is never giving up.
Knowledge is power so if you know what hair loss is and some reasons for it you have agreed that you are with us being normal with no hair!
Look on the positive side skinney dips totally.No stupid colourant products to bother us either!
Be bold be bald!

Comment by Rea on July 18, 2013 at 12:38pm

Hi Kim, when I read your story so many thoughts rushed to the forefront of my brain. I battled with the word 'acceptance' in regards to alopecia daily for a very long time as acceptance to me has always meant 'letting go' as to not care anymore. What I discovered was that accepting alopecia did not put me in a state of 'I dont care' it released me from the negative resistance I was causing inside myself. So, I accepted, as painful as it was I gave it to a higher power. I also have asthma, allergies and eczema and have spent most of my life battling that but I proud to tell you I am 36 years old in remission for Alopecia Universalis. 2 specialist said my hair will most likely never grow back and it all did so don't give up as the number one thing is 'HOPE' but give up the rest..Love always, Rea

Comment by Mark S. Hansen on July 18, 2013 at 1:45pm

Hi Kim. My name is Mark I live in MIlw WI. USA. I am S, nvr marr, age 57, & I have had alopecia universalis no body hair anywhere, since I was about 13. My late mother and father bought me my first wig when I was 15 that I hid under for about 40 yrs. I finally took it off about 10 years ago. A doctor told me about 20 years ago that since I have had my extreme condition for so long, that he figured I would prob never get any of my hair back. Even though I always jump a little when I see a lone hair here or there appear on my face, head, or arms, I have long ago come to agree with him. However, the worst prob has always been, from getting the few patches of hair I had left, torn out of my head on in junior high school on a few occassions when I was 12-15, to the stares & comments, is the ignorance & assumtions that have followed me into adult life. That is a far bigger challenge to accept & live with than even my hair loss itself. Due to this, along with my lack of self worth low confidence/self esteme levels over the years, etc, I have never had a girl friend or relationship in my whole life. I had sex once (lost my virginity) at age 48 with someone I met on the internet. It's continous quandry. I hate all of it but I am on an enternal quest to get used to it, and to live with it. I have never seriously tried or seriously thought of committing suicide. But Ive joked & have been sarcastic, about it on many occassions. It what I tell my shrink(S) whom I have been seeing for 5 years. I promised my mother on her death bed that I would stick life out no matter what it throws at me. It's always hard. But so far, I'm hanging in there. Take care Kim. I am often on Twitter @markyisd1, and at times, Face book @markyisd1. Later.

Comment by Emily on July 18, 2013 at 11:16pm

Shame! Kim, don't give up. Your hair loss pattern is pretty much the exact same as mine, except I have never had allergies, asthma, or eczema. I am two years older than you, and I have two babies under two. My first patch started when I was just about 22. About 60% of my hair is gone, and my hair is falling out more aggressively lately too. It is emotionally very difficult. It actually feels a bit like hell. Not fair. Not cool. I don't want to lose my hair. I want it to stop falling out, and I want it to grow back. I am not ready to accept it either. Since I am nursing my four month old, I have been quite proactive about finding natural / homeopathic approaches, so message me if you want me to tell you about the things I am trying.

Take care. Thanks for sharing. Your post really touched my heart. Here we are miles and miles and miles apart, but we are both going through the same shit. My husband is from South Africa. That is how I knew to say, "Shame!" It's quite fitting.

Comment by Paula on July 20, 2013 at 2:10am

I have Androgenic Alopecia so I suppose Ive had chance to get used to it over a long period of time but in the last 10 years its all I focus on!! I have tried all meds, lotions, potions, pills, powders and sprays.......... some to camouflage and some to help grow more hair back. growing more hair back was totally unsuccessful and camouflage was getting harder to do. I now wear a topper, wiglet, hairpiece thing and love it. So really its about trying to make the most of what you have NOW and to make yourself feel comfortable within your skin. Kim you have far more to deal with from skin to hair conditions so you are doing what you need to do to live with what you have right now. I take my hair off to you (sorry hair humour is only found funny by some who understand?) and your attitude to life cos others might not cope so well and just hide from the world. You are stunning and strong and obviously loved. I look forward to reading more inspiring blogs of your success and/or journey.
Take care Paula

Comment by Kathyk on July 21, 2013 at 10:52am

You just said "we have one life to live". My question to you is why spend precious time not living it. Accept what issues you have and who you are. I am not saying don't research or get treatments. I am saying don't let it get in the way of living.

And as far as alopecia goes, other diseases are a lot worse.

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