Until June 2011, to me the word Alopecia simply meant thinning hair. Well, was I ever wrong! In June 2011, my own hair started to thin and within three weeks I had practically no head hair. At first, it was all like a bad dream. You look in the mirror and for a moment you don’t recognise the person looking back at you. Then you recognise yourself but your scalp feels different. Your head feels cold even though you know there is no reason for the cold, except of course that there are large patches on your head with no hair cover.

Within a couple of weeks I knew I had to do something and my first step was to make an appointment with a hairdresser who specialised in looking after people with hair loss. She confirmed that I had alopecia, but since the hair loss was so rapid, she organised a wig for me immediately. I walked in to the appointment with my scraggy bit of hair and I left, totally self conscious, with my new wig. It was one of those surreal moments when you really believe it will all be OK in the morning, but morning came and I had even less hair. With the wig on, few could have realised what was happening to me.

Within a few months, I had absolutely no hair on my body. Until all this happened, I never realised the importance of hair but hair has many functions including protection, regulation of body temperature, facilitation of evaporation of perspiration and also acts as sense organ. Translated into day-to-day life, the loss of hair means that you can no longer regulate your body temperature, you have to be more careful about the soaps and detergents you use and you need to consider the clothes that you wear in case they irritate the unprotected skin.

Beyond this, the condition can be quite painful. On a very cold day, you can’t imagine the pain the lack of nasal hair causes. Without eyelashes or eyebrows, a bright sunny day can be become the enemy. I love to walk, but I haven’t yet figured out how best to protect against the sun. Sun screen is an essential but as it is being absorbed, it rolls down into my eyes. There is just nothing to hold it back, away from the eye. And of course, there is a similar problem with rain and perspiration.

My journey with alopecia is relatively short. Short or not, it has been a roller coaster of emotion and an eye-opener about how many of us view others and indeed how we are viewed. The celebrity culture we’re in at the moment gives the impression that perfection and happiness come with the best clothes, flashiest car, the biggest bank account and of course, with the right hair and make-up, you’ll win the heart of your prince or princess. I never bought in to the celebrity culture, but now, when I see a glossy magazine, I wonder what’s behind our need to see all these perfect looking individuals, and wonder if our world would fall apart if imperfection and unhappiness were actually portrayed for us in the media. In fact, I think it would really help if just once in a while we read or saw some people in the news who were having a tough time too!

During the last year, I’ve spent considerable time trying to learn something about this condition. Alopecia has no known cause and no known cure. It affects men and women of all ages, backgrounds and cultures. Many believe it is stress related but this is not proven. Others suggest it is diet related, but again this is not proven. There are different levels of alopecia from thinning hair to total hair loss, and one can have partial, total or no recovery. The saying one size fits all just doesn’t apply to this condition. Who can understand why a body mistakes its own healthy hair as something bad and kills it. A tingle works its way through the body as the hair is killed, and you know that the new hair has just died. It is like a silent war taking place inside you and there is nothing to be done to bring about a ceasefire.

I can’t figure out if it s gift from nature to help us understand the complications of life. If we consider the body to be like a country, family, or institution, then it is easy to see how this kind of situation arises where silently one part of the country, family or institution attacks another part, seemingly for no reason but with serious consequences. Thinking about alopecia in this way, leads me to question if a wig is some sort of cover up, a way for me to run from the challenge that the condition might be affording me. Wearing the wig however helps me to look normal in a group and it helps others feel comfortable in my company. It hides the fact that I have no hair but it is only hiding.

Keeping up the pretence is difficult for me and the daily wearing of the wig is uncomfortable and tiresome. I just don’t like it, so I decided a couple of months ago not to bother with it as much. Since making that decision, I find I am more relaxed and more at peace. Neighbours and friends have grown used to the new me and are wonderful. Initially many thought I was undergoing chemotherapy, but since I explained, they are fantastic. Actually, I believe they are closer to me now because they see someone vulnerable and struggling just like them.

During September, the family and friends of people living with alopecia will make efforts to publicise this condition and hopefully encourage the medical and social research which will help and support everyone concerned.

http://www.alopeciaireland.ie

Views: 269

Comment by Casey on September 19, 2012 at 8:02pm

I also hate sunscreen getting in my eyes!! But I dont feel any other discomfort from a lack of hair, so I cant relate to that. clothing feels soft and comfy against my smooth skin and my legs are the envy of all my friends!

As for nose hair, I lost my hairs for a few years and I noticed a HUGE uptick in colds. The hair grew back a year ago (thankfully fine hair and not noticeable) and ive been super healthy.

Congrats on going wig-free! that is awesome!

Comment by Alliegator on September 20, 2012 at 10:49am

Welcome!! Yes, congrats on going wig-free. I have AGA & I shave my head. I go bald a lot, but I also like to wear wigs, hats & scarves. You live in Dublin!! That is so neat. I don't think that we have anyone else from Ireland on this website. I went to Ireland almost a year ago. It was a wonderful trip. We stayed in Dublin for two nights, and then traveled down south. I'd love to go back, and just stay around the Dublin area only. I'm glad you joined this site.

Comment by Norm on September 21, 2012 at 1:18pm

Hiya Paddy - good to see you're "getting there" with the acceptance thing! But... the old "sunblock-in-the-eyes" gig. Great fun, especially when you're driving (not!). With me, it only seems to happen with my right eye (go figure)... I must look like some kind of crazed bald pirate wizzing along with one eye closed and my face screwed up :)
However, I seem to have alleviated the situation a bit by not rubbing any onto my forehead, or at least only a small amount, which can be "topped up" every couple of hours. But the watery eye is a small price to pay for being able to go out in the sun in Summer.... best invention of the 20th Century, f you ask me (I know, you didn't, but I'm telling you anyway!) - much better than looking like a walking matchstick... ;)

Comment by Casey on September 21, 2012 at 1:22pm

@Norm haha so true! I burn like no ones business so I rock the sunscreen all summer. 100% make sure I have sunscreen on my head if im not wearing a wig or scarf. I will only make THAT mistake once. ouch

Comment by Norm on September 21, 2012 at 1:42pm

"Ouch" doesn't even begin to cover it!! Back in the pre-sunblock days, I bought myself a cool drop-top sports car (a Lotus Elan, if you know what that is) to get that authentic wind-on-the-head experience, without thinking about possible sunburn. 'Course, it was one of the hottest summers on record.... let me tell you about how much skin can peel off your head without the skull appearing... and how bright a shade of red it can get! On the plus side, the aerodynamic qualities of the shiny dome meant I was a good 10mph faster than anyone else. Result! ...er, I think...

Comment by Jennifer on September 21, 2012 at 4:15pm

This is really great! I also try to go wig free as much as possible but will wear one when my scalp lotion causes my skin to flare up. But otherwise, I go bald as often as possible.

Comment by Paddy on September 21, 2012 at 6:20pm

Thanks for all the comments and feedback everyone. It's great to able to talk about my alopecia without feeling like the 'odd one out'. The support you give really makes the journey much easier. I met a friend of mine the other day who did not go out socially for almost three years when he got alopecia. His hair loss was rapid like mine, but he couldn't muster the encourage to let the neighbours in his small village know that he was a well man, even if he was also a bald man! Thanks everyone ... Paddy

Comment by Kathryn on September 23, 2012 at 3:25pm

Paddy, I enjoyed reading your post, as my experience parallels yours in many ways. I've been AU for a little more than a year and it was sudden and unexpected. Like you, I have gotten to the point where I just don't hide it anymore. It's frankly been liberating for the most part. I wear my wig to work and when I want to look "nice" for a special event, but that's it. My reflection still makes me shudder and I would love to see regrowth some day, but in the mean time, I am who I am. Thanks for the post!

Comment by Michelle on September 25, 2012 at 11:03pm

This was beautifully written. I can relate on so many levels. Thank you.

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