Alopecia Areata: Why I Lost My Hair

Some of you may have noticed (or maybe not, who knows) but I am
bald. At the ripe age of 25 I have lost approximately 70% of the
hair on my head. Not just my head though. My entire body is rejecting hair. My eyebrows, my legs, ooooother parts. You know......

The reason for this excess shedding? My body hates hair. Literally. It
thinks it's the enemy.

**For comparision purposes here is me about two years ago.

LOTS of curly, thick hair.

This picture was taken less than a year ago....My hair lost it's curl but was still very thick......

When I was training for my marathon last year I noticed a red/pinkish
ring on the front of my hair line. A couple of weeks later, all the
hair covering that discolored portion feel out. I went to the doctor,
was told it was probably ring worm and given some antibacterial cream
to put on it. Anybody who knows me knows I HATE germs. I don't share
chapstick, drinks, eat after people, use water fountains, etc. I was
devastated.

I diligently applied the cream and waited for the big salmon spot to
disappear. It did but I noticed that the hair continued to fall out and
it picked up some serious speed. I lost my hair by the handfuls in the
shower. This is NO exaggeration and I cannot explain the feelings that go along with something like that. To say it was traumatizing does not
even begin to explain how I felt. I went to a dermatologist and she
was very matter-of-fact with me. "That's Alopecia Areata. I can tell.
I'll give you a shot". She handed me an explanatory paper and stuck me
in the scalp with a big ass needle about 10 times. I looked like a
damn pin cushion. Since then my hair has continued to shed. Coming
back in sometimes, very fine, thin and white. Then it falls back out.

Do you want to know the real pisser about all of this? There is NO
reason for it. Apparently, this is one of those rare diseases that
doctor's know nothing about. It seems as though not much research can
be done because it's not properly funded. It's symptoms are considered
"purely cosmetic" and it receives no precedent. Hell, my insurance
won't even cover a dime of the appointment or treatment costs.

I have had my blood taken to test every hormone/vitamin level,
allergy testing done, cut back on working out (I broke my foot so I
was forced to), cut back on drinking, got more sleep. The hair just
kept on falling out....

Here is what my hair looks like today:

**Excuse the lame iPhone pictures and messy room. I haven't taken a picture sans hat since last March so I had to take some to write this**

For a better explanation to this disease (and not just somebody who has it and wants to bitch about it...) you can read about it at:
http://www.naaf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=homepage

At this point I have lost much hope that I will ever have a full head
of hair again. It has taught me a few things though.

I AM THANKFUL.

I am thankful that I have such an amazing support system. I have a boyfriend who tells me how beautiful I am every single day. I have a family who, while we joke with each other, would do anything for me. I have an amazing daughter who needs me to be strong and basically show her that shit happens and we just have to keep on chugging, roll with the punches and do the best we can with what we are given.

I am thankful that despite the fact that every body who passes me on the streets thinks I'm sick, I am a very physically strong person. I've lost my hair, not my strength. I continue to run and workout and push myself as hard as I can, because I can. I will not allow this disease to define me.

I will no longer judge people by the way the look. I will not assume that they are old, sick, unhealthy or incapable because they look so. I've learned that their are other factors that play into such things and some things are honestly out of our control.

Don't think that I am "ok" with this situation. It sucks and I would give up almost anything just to look feminine again. I have to accept it though and the least I can do is bring awareness to a disease that many people may be unfamiliar with.