::Bald :: Bold :: Beautiful::

The OG Bald Babe Sinead O Connor

Four years ago, my hair started falling out in large clumps. By the time I was done shampooing, I would have fistfuls of hair in my hands. I initially thought it was a bad allergic reaction to hair dye, (I had recently dyed my hair to its natural color as I was hoping for a fresh start). Little did I know, that I had developed, what was known back then to be an autoimmune disease, Alopecia Areata. The first spot that was discovered was small, approximately the size of a dime. The spot was smooth, shiny, and you could not see the usually- visible hair follicles. (It was smoother than a baby’s bottom). After a while that one spot turned into about fifty or so spots, most were quarter sized to half dollar sized bald patches. The 100+ strands (yes, I counted them too) that fell out as I combed my hair with my hands became too much to bear. I needed to take some serious action and regain control. I chose to shave my head, number 2 buzz to be exact. Yup, I was bald (with braces on my teeth)… Suffice to say I didn’t feel very pretty.

Back when I was diagnosed with Alopecia the general consensus in the medical field was that Alopecia was an autoimmune disease. Meaning, they thought my body was attacking my hair follicles and rejecting my hair, self preservation in all of its glory. (Similar to when your body attacks a foreign object that it doesn’t recognize the object to be its own. For example: people that are allergic to the metal in their earrings, the body can actually push the metal out of her ear or show major signs of infection. However, there is no known cause nor cure.

Wikipedia says, “Alopecia affects 0.1% – .2% of humans. It occurs more frequently in people who have affected family members, suggesting heredity may be a factor. However, unknown environmental trigger such as emotional stress or a pathogen is thought to combine with hereditary factors to cause the condition.”

“Since the exact mechanisms are not ultimately understood, there is no know cure to date. About 50% of patients’ hair will regrow in one year without any treatment. In 90% of cases, the hair will ultimately, grow back. In the other 10%, only some or no hair will regrow.”

“In cases where there is severe hair loss, there has been limited success treating Alopecia Areata with clobetasol or fluocinonide, steroid injections, or cream. Steroid injections are commonly used in sites where there are small areas of hair loss on the head or especially where eyebrow hair has been lost.”

As I was going through this traumatic experience I began to share. I voiced my concerns about how unaware people were about this enigmatic disease. I let out my frustrations about losing my hair to some unknown cause with no known cure. I was also amazed by how much of my physical self worth (as a woman) was tied to my hair. As I began to spread the word to others they inform me that they know someone that this has affected; as alarming as it was many, were of Asian descent. Fortunately, all grew back within a year or two, and only a few suffer an occasional remission of a bald spot or two. As for me, I currently have two semi- bald spots where hair is growing.

I can tell you now that I have rarely felt any injustices brought upon society regarding my looks (I truly am blessed) but the challenges I felt as a bald, bold and beautiful- on- the- inside woman, changed me. I came to realize, that our society is one that automatically assumes a woman is a dyke if her hair is shaved off. She could be a cancer survivor, an Alopecia victim, or maybe she’s is a trailblazer trying to state that she does not need to conform to the idealized concept of beauty. A lot of times, we don’t care to dig deeper for hidden wisdom or reason we only chose to see what is superficially presented. (I will leave that as a blog topic for another day.)

For those that would like more information or need and want support please check out National Alopecia Areata Foundation, they also introduced (HR 5936) to Congress to improve Medicaid coverage for hair prosthesis for those with the most severe universalis form of this disease.

If you would like to have supportive lunch with a network of women with Alopecia, to share ideas for quicker self acceptance, and joyful living please visit Bald Girls Do Lunch. They also have tons of information about Alopecia.

:: Bald :: Bold :: Beautiful ::