Alopecia Exists!

It was all rainy today in my dearest city, San Francisco. Some would say it was gloomy, I say it was beautiful! Sipping coffee, browsing websites, tucking that strand of hair behind my ear, and running my fingers over the bald patch behind my head near the ear! Yes, I have a name for each of them cause I have several bald patches in my head. As I continue to enjoy the coffee and the weather, I find myself typing alopecia, alopecia treatment, alopecia bald, alopecia areata, in the google search bar.

I came across an article. The moment I read the line by Joyce, “ I wish more people knew alopecia existed!”, I was like hell yeah! Googled the stats, 2% of Americans have alopecia incident sometime in their life. Quoting the stats from National Alopecia Areata Foundation, “147 million people have or will develop alopecia areata during their lifetimes”. Yet, I happen to be fortunate to shed light on this disease cause throughout my 25+ years of lifespan till date, out of which I have been suffering from Alopecia Areata for the past 12 years, which is more than 40% of my life, I have never come across a person who knew about Alopecia.

But there is something that I like about the disease. It can happen to men or women, people from any ethnic background, and at any age, to any person irrespective of their status quo. Alopecia for sure understands Diversity and Inclusion. On a serious note, being a patient of this autoimmune disease, my life has been a series of experiments. Some of which, I have been a sample for others to try out their theories about this disease, and some in which I have carried out my own experiments. Steroid injections, lasers, leech treatments, staying away from alcohol and non-veg, avoiding green tea, avoid too much exercise, onion juice, de-stressing, meditation, positive subconscious thoughts, Ayurveda, homeopathy, allopathy, and what not! After meeting more than a dozen doctors, experts, and people who claim to have a cure for this disease, I would say acceptance is the only thing that brings calmness.

Nothing much to worry about other than hair loss. Sometimes the patients may be difficult to differentiate from someone who is fighting the deadly battle with cancer because of chemo and hair loss due to it. I am not undermining the emotional weight that a person suffering from this disease can go through, after all having good hair is seen as a beauty essential in our society. Plus the stigma attached to baldness! But to be honest, seeing so many fighters out there who flaunt the bald look so confidently almost makes me jump out of excitement in my chair in the anticipation of the day I take that decision. Like Allyson said in the article, “Is today the day I go bald and never have hair again?”

There is no known cure for alopecia, and no known causes either. But it is difficult to convince a hopeful mother of this, so you either smile and converse or ignore and carry on. It's the same response when I hear friends complain about hair fall. A nod for the makeup artists who recommend covering it up with makeup, a thumbs up for people sending you wigs advertisement and a wide smile and an explanation for someone who gets uncomfortable or scared (yes they are not very friendly looking) looking at my patches. And yes, “we need to talk” moment for anyone who had romantic interests in me. It is almost like a hash map in my memory.

A year ago, the Hindi film industry created Gone Kesh a story of a dancer who one day finds out that she has alopecia. Movies, short films, and advertisements sway me. I could relate to the plot, but till date have not had the courage to watch it. I fear if it would give me some false hopes, I fear what if they have not portrayed what a person goes through correctly. Can you imagine a bald dancer dancing under a spotlight? Are we ready for it? Even the ones with good hair have to adorn the hair extensions.

I do not remember the development of the bald patches. They appear miraculously in my hair. I think the earliest encounter might have been when I was in 5th Grade, but I got diagnosed only when I was in 12th Grade. Initially, they were like guests who drop in for an (unpleasant) surprise visit at your place and hang around for a few days. But for the past few years, they have assumed their long-term residence with me.

I am not a part of any support group yet, but I am sure, one day I am going to need it. And that commodity would not have been possible without the internet. So thank you internet for giving me access to other fighters, their stories, and boosting my self-esteem. I know my balding day is coming sometime soon, parting with my hair might be difficult, it will involve a lot of shedding of tears, but I am sure it will all end in a smile, a wine, and having my husband and my girlfriends around me to cheer me.

I hope this article introduces alopecia to at least a few people who have not heard about it yet, and together we all can acknowledge, “Alopecia Exists!”