Comment by Jim In Cali on May 7, 2015 at 2:09am

Hi autumn, first you are simply beautiful. Most girls would gladly give up their hair to look like you. Yes being a teenager sucks, and all of us, even without alopecia went through the same thing as teenagers. I got alopecia at 45 but my teen years were just like you describe. As a kid You are picked on because you are too short, too tall, too fat, too skinny, too ugly, too good looking, not athletic, jock etc...

Hope is around the corner. Within 5 years their will be finally a procedure that works and quite possibly a cure. At least 3 different modalities (ways) are in clinical trials that have shown great results.
Also Google Angela Christiano, genetics researcher at Colombia university and read her story. She has Alopecia and changed her research to Alopecia after her diagnosis.

Comment by shanti on May 9, 2015 at 10:55am

Hi, my name is Rheshee and I am a 40 year old Indian woman who has lost all of my hair for the last 10 years ( started when I was a teenagger but came back a few times). hAfter wearing wigs for the first few years, and feeling like a phony I finally decided to wear scarves and eventually nothing at all. I explain to people that I do not have cancer, and you would not believe how many people accept and admire me for being brave enough to not care. It was a journey, however and I was extremely self conscious, depressed and unhappy about it before I got to where I am now. There are always going to be some insecure, cruel people who comment but the majority are kind, accepting and see me for who I am not what I look like. Alopecia taught me to love myself inside, no... really, as before I used my looks to hide behind. We are not just more than our hair, our hair has NOTHING to do with us at all. You are beautiful, and I hope one day you will be so proud of that that nothing will stand in your way and you will not let being bald define you. I don't wear make up, eyelashes or fake or drawn on eyebrows and although I could probably look more attractive or normal with them on, I feel comfortable as I am. Hang in there, if you decide to wear a wig, scarf or whatever it is fine so long as you remember that the real you is just as attractive and beautiful with or without hair. It also makes you unique, and challenges such as this one certainly make us stronger in the end. Hang in there, I remember not being able to get out of bed some days and crying myself to sleep and now I actually forget I have not hair and even go out to pubs and bars with friends ( which took some psyching myself up for).It gets so much easier with time, and I really hope it does for you soon. Thinking of you, lots of love, Rheshee

Comment by doodler on May 19, 2015 at 10:34am

Hi Autumn,

I just joined alopeciaworld when I read your post.  I really wanted to join the voices in telling you how beautiful you are, and don't fret things will work out eventually.  At your age I experienced major hair loss also, almost half my head.  Everyone is different, but in my case, it all came back within a year or so.  But I still get spots to this day (small ones, most are not noticable).  Nothing like that 1st time though, and being 17 it is so difficult!  I remember!  The bandanas, the wig (that I cut myself and ruined).  The worst part was the uncertainty, never knowing when the spots would stop coming and when/if the hair would come back.  Just when your uncertain about so much in your life already, you have to steel yourself to this big question mark -- I remember it well.  You are definitely more than your hair, a beautiful girl.  One day, even though things may be the same, you will feel more in control of this.  Your whole is in front on you, and next year things will be better -- just hang in there!

Comment by JEANETTE on May 22, 2015 at 4:25pm

Yes, you are different but that's what sets you aside from everyone else. Do not think its for the wrong reasons either! I have a friend her name is Darlenie and truth behold she had same issue through highschool and college but had that hidden secret that set her apart from all the others. Even being excepted she didn't except herself. Now after graduating college and realizing their are much bigger problems in the world around her outside her bedroom she finally decided to "Come out" To be honest with herself and friends that never knew of her condition. That would include her new boyfriend! That is where her main concerns were!

So, for her to do this "Coming Out Documentary" she asked me if I was willimng to have my daughter involved in her project explaining her story! At this time my daughter was 6 years old! Yes, she was still dealing with her own but my daughter was always the girl to stand out on stage whenever she did a school show. I wasn't going to let that part of her die because of her total hairloss! Instead, I had her do this documentary and it turned out to do a lot more than we expected. You see during the recordings and photo shoot darleney spoke about coming out and her hair loss issue but still never took her wig off during entire project til we took this project outside publicly to a PARK AREA!  My daughter began  to give us a hard time during the photo shoot and I couldn't understand why? Until I asked the question? What happened that you don't want to take any more photos with Darleney? My daughter replied back but spoke towards Darleney's direction and said because she keeps saying we are bald and beautiful but she hasn't taken off her wig the entire time we took pictures!

My daughter just called out on the girl that was doing the project! darleney didn't realize it til that moment! My daughter said I don't want to take any more photos until she takes off her wig! I don't have a wig but Im still taking pictures!

So, Darleney had no choice but to take off her wig! She told both me and the photographer it was the first time she ever went out bald since she was diagnosesd ahe has always been with a wig! This was very hard but at the same time she found it easier being called out by a 6 year old that is told how beautiful she is but you with a wig on cant feel the same way!

Darleney immediately looked around her as if everyone would drop what their doing just to get a look! It didn't happen like that! She was surprised that , nobody really noticed or cared! Maybe holding that fear inside for so long and finally giving yourself that opportunity, made her realize she built the fear to be much worse than it really was! Not the Alopecia! They continued through the day with their photos! My daughter is now 7 filled with confidence! I allow her to choose if she wants to wear a wig or not! Darleney is doing random gatherings at local colleges through sororities on Alopecia awareness! My daughter tags along to also tell her story and get people involved in the cause!

My daughter happily chooses to go out bald! does she wishes she had hair, absolutely, can she resolve it absolutely not! Is there a cure, nope and if the supposed cure burns or itches, she rather go out bald!

I think her positive attitude comes from me taking her to a very dear old friend of mine that because of a health condition she doesn't have legs or hands and her life is very difficult! once my daughter compared to what it was like loosing limbs vs. loosing hair it was easier for her to understand that as long as your happy with urself nothing else matters! Its true people could come in and destroy your confidence and attitude for their pleasure but why let them! That's a form of hate and jealousy!

If you shine like my baby Jazzy does everyday! Don't allow anyone to take it away! If your down about your condition go out and make someone else's day! You will know what the true meaning of inner beauty and self worth is! Keep in Mind, god wouldn't give you anything you couldn't handle! that is to say, life goes on and this hairloss issue shouldn't be the deciding factor in what makes or breaks you!

It should make you stand out from all the others and give you the strength to wanna do bigger and better things than the average person!! Make your mark in the world! Don't let alopecia mark your world! Your here for so much more, the exciting part is finding it! What makes you!

Comment by JEANETTE on May 22, 2015 at 4:28pm

And by the way...darleneys boyfriend didn't know how to take it and asked for some alone time because he didn't know much about it! After a few weeks without his girlfriend he realized his happiest and best times was with Darleney not a wig! he loved her for the person she is and not for what she has! He even proposed to her!

I hope my daughter finds a good hearted man as darleney did!

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