Alopecia Areata In Women

I have a hereditary form of alopecia areata. That means that female pattern baldness is written in my genes. Most of the women in my family have it.

Other causes of alopecia areata are:

-stress
-long term chemical exposure
-allergic reactions
-viral or bacterial infections
-physical trauma

Alopecia areata usually involves complete hair loss on the scalp in round patches. In my case, I have the fairly typical baldness pattern of a full ring of hair around my head and very little on the crown, as shown in the picture. I expect to continue losing the crown hair as I get older.

Hair loss caused by alopecia areata has no set pattern. It can be very rapid, slow, or irregular. I began to slowly and steadily lose my hair in my early teens and by my early 20s it was unbearable. I got my first wig as soon as I could afford it, at age 25 or 26, but I'd wanted one for several years before that.

In the case of non-hereditary alopecia areata, there is a chance that the hair will grow back once the stressor is gone. But like with men, women who lose their hair because of their DNA have little recourse.

Options like Minoxidil (Rogaine® ) or hair transplants are costly and do not guarantee results, but offer the most hope.

I have learned to live with my hair loss even though it is a blow to my self esteem. It is difficult enough not fitting into society's definition of beauty without the stigma of having no hair! People can be very cruel at any age.

I choose to cover my thinning hair for two reasons: 1) a hair covering gives me styling options and 2) I have a large purple birthmark on my scalp that tends to scare people.

For several years, I wore a wig. I love how I feel in a wig, having a full head of luxurious hair that I can fix any way I want! But wigs get very hot, are expensive, and need to be replaced regularly.

Now that I have a much more active lifestyle that rarely encounters air conditioning or requires me to dress up, I prefer to wear a kerchief or head scarf. I get small squares (bandana size), fold them in half, and knot them at my nape. It's always fun to dig through my scarves and find one that will coordinate with my outfit.

For every day use, I like cotton since it breathes well and doesn't slip, but I have some fancier ones in slippery materials for when I want to dress up.

Wearing a kerchief is a surprisingly controversial decision. While a lot of people are supportive of me once they learn why I cover my head, the initial reaction is usually cynical; people really do seem to feel threatened by a bald kerchief-wearing healthy young woman. I've been been accused of trying to pretend I have cancer so as to gain sympathy! *disbelief*

I do still have a wig for the odd time I want to play dress up. This isn't my favourite one, but the colour suits me and I love the length!