Have you ever seen someone with no hair or a bald spot on the back of their head? Or do you know someone who wears a wig or a hat in school? Their hair loss could be caused by many things. One reason may be caused by Alopecia (a-low-pee-shee-a).

Alopecia is a condition caused when your immune system attacks your hair follicles. One percent of residents of America suffer from Alopecia. There is no way to prevent it or to treat it. No one knows why it occurs and can be very hard on a teenage girl. There are three types of Alopecia. Alopecia areata, totalis, and universalis.

Alopecia Areata
ALopecia Areata is when there are bald spots throughout the head. Usually the spots are round and are found by a hair dresser or someone similar.

Alopecia Totalis
This is the next stage of Alopecia. This is when all the hair on your scalp falls out and you are bald.

Alopecia Universalis
This is the final stage where all the hair on your body is gone (including eyebrows, pubic hair, armpits, and anywhere else there is hair).

All alopecia cases have a chance of growing back and may fall out again in later years, but there is a slim chance of it being permanent. There are some treatments to stimulate the hair growth but there is no promise it will work. You could use corticorsteroids, minoxidil, or whatever you doctor prescribes.

It is very hard for a teenage girl where her self image is important. I am one of the few who suffers from Alopecia Totalis. It is hard, but if your friends are really your friends they would leave you alone. I, myself have been teased because I was bald, and yes it hurts. To get through it all you need are the support of your friends and family as well as confidence. It may hurt in the beginning but after a while it goes away. When I first got it, I was so depressed. I missed a week of school and I was very self-conscious (and still a bit). I'm happy now because my hair is starting to grow.

If you are like me, just do what you did before, don't quit. Tell your teachers/coaches and they can change things to make you more comfortable and be strong. And if any one teases you, don't worry. They are probably not your friends and if they do tell someone to stop it.

Search the internet to learn more about it. It helps a lot if you go to more than one site and you could even maybe help you or your friends. If you need to talk to someone, y-mail me and I can try to help you get through this.

This is rufus001, signing off
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