I'm not sure if this the right board to post on but based on some prior posts on locks for love I don't think I can post on the other boards. My dd7 has alopecia areata. It is considered an autoimmune disease that causes varying levels of hairloss. I fully realize that it doesn't affect physical health. Right now my mom is doing well from her May diagnosis with breast cancer, my sil who is in her 40s has Parkinson's Disease, and we are awaiting the official diagnosis that dh's dad has Alzheimer's Disease so we know there are far worse things.
However I do not believe in completely ignoring the possibility that alopecia can cause problems with self esteem and mean people. Right now my dd has long hair in the back but is missing a hugh extremely noticeable area on the back top of her scalp and it is almost missing from side to side though the ear on one side still has hair. The bangs are missing in the front etc. She is missing much of her eyebrows and eyelashes as well. She has had alopecia areata since she was 2.5 and while it is still alopecia areata it is most likely heading towards alopecia universitalital in which all body hair is gone. There are no great treatment that works for all although sometimes hair grows back in time.
DD7 seems to have a decent school. The kids don't make fun of her and have been told why her hair is this way. However dd doesn't have any really close friends. DD is fine going to school as is although I insist on a hat in bad or sunny weather. She isn't really supposed to wear things like headbands/scarfs/bandanas to school but the teacher doesn't mind. She sometimes wears headbands with long scarfs attached. I personally think having dd not mind going out in public is a good thing. On the other hand I also want her to have options and realize especially as she reaches puberty her feelings can easily change. I also think dd will be devastated if she compeltely looses all her hair.
We have tried some wigs but so far none of them fit well. We are in the process of geting a custom made human hair wig from a company called childrenwithhairloss.us but it is a long story and we are starting over. We have a bandana with hair attached but it doesn't fit well and dd has no interest in wearing it. I thought we were doing well and the main concern has been dd's self esteem. I'll admit that I have had a few nights that I have been upset of the alopecia and cried etc but overall we have been okay. I do tell dd frequently that she is a special loveable person with/without hair.
The other day I was talking with another mom of a child with alopecia whom I only know online. She said she makes her dd wear a wig anytime she goes outside even for a minute. She doesn't want anyone else to know her dd has alopecia and wears a wig. The mom wants all the kids to think the hair is real. This has gotten me thinking. Am I doing the wrong thing by allowing dd to go out without a head covering and letting people see her baldness? We are seeing a dermatologist again this month but I don't expect a sudden miracle cure.
However I do not believe in completely ignoring the possibility that alopecia can cause problems with self esteem and mean people. Right now my dd has long hair in the back but is missing a hugh extremely noticeable area on the back top of her scalp and it is almost missing from side to side though the ear on one side still has hair. The bangs are missing in the front etc. She is missing much of her eyebrows and eyelashes as well. She has had alopecia areata since she was 2.5 and while it is still alopecia areata it is most likely heading towards alopecia universitalital in which all body hair is gone. There are no great treatment that works for all although sometimes hair grows back in time.
DD7 seems to have a decent school. The kids don't make fun of her and have been told why her hair is this way. However dd doesn't have any really close friends. DD is fine going to school as is although I insist on a hat in bad or sunny weather. She isn't really supposed to wear things like headbands/scarfs/bandanas to school but the teacher doesn't mind. She sometimes wears headbands with long scarfs attached. I personally think having dd not mind going out in public is a good thing. On the other hand I also want her to have options and realize especially as she reaches puberty her feelings can easily change. I also think dd will be devastated if she compeltely looses all her hair.
We have tried some wigs but so far none of them fit well. We are in the process of geting a custom made human hair wig from a company called childrenwithhairloss.us but it is a long story and we are starting over. We have a bandana with hair attached but it doesn't fit well and dd has no interest in wearing it. I thought we were doing well and the main concern has been dd's self esteem. I'll admit that I have had a few nights that I have been upset of the alopecia and cried etc but overall we have been okay. I do tell dd frequently that she is a special loveable person with/without hair.
The other day I was talking with another mom of a child with alopecia whom I only know online. She said she makes her dd wear a wig anytime she goes outside even for a minute. She doesn't want anyone else to know her dd has alopecia and wears a wig. The mom wants all the kids to think the hair is real. This has gotten me thinking. Am I doing the wrong thing by allowing dd to go out without a head covering and letting people see her baldness? We are seeing a dermatologist again this month but I don't expect a sudden miracle cure.
to your DD
