Welcome. This site is not devoted to the subject of hairloss but you’ll find that I write very freely on my personal experiences with it. If I may give my little two-cents, please allow me to offer you some comfort. Some women are made of steel and are able to move on from their loss rather quickly. But a lot of women, dare I say most women find it to be a long and arduous process. I am, of course, the latter. Know first and foremost that you are not alone. I have been dealing with this issue since I was 21 years old and I am only now 25. As females, talking out our fears, frustrations, hopes, and dreams keeps us going. That’s why I encourage you to find a network of women who can relate to you and help support you throughout this process. Don’t know any? I reccomend the Women’s Hair Loss Project (see end of article). Just being a part of an online community that allows you to be as secretive or as open as you want to be has been incredibly comforting and freeing for me.
I would strongly advise any woman who is experiencing hairloss to a noticeable degree to seek medical attention from their primary care physician in addition to a dermatologist who specializes in hair loss (no sense going to someone who only knows zit busting and wrinkle zapping). Hair loss is most often a non-specific symptom rather than a disease itself and its very important to rule out the big, dangerous causes first, like iron-deficiency, hypothyroidism, lupus, and many others. A good, thorough doctor in most cases will exhaust all avenues of diagnosis and treatment including performing a scalp biopsy to evaluate the status of your follicles (dormant, inflamed, scarred over, etc.). Please be prepared for the garbage-can diagnosis of alopecia. It’s very real, but its one of those labels doctors are quick to pin on you when they have no idea what’s causing your hairloss or how to treat it. Unfortunately, there may not be a cure for you but you won’t know that for sure unless you pursue the proper channels.
Finally, while your exploring all of your medical options and finding what works for you in terms of coverage don’t forget to take time to focus on your mindset. Your hair may be damaged but that doesn’t mean your attitude towards it has to be also. I know firshand how devastating it is to lose something that has played a major part in your self-image all your life. It can easily consume your life, if you let it. It will isolate you and change you into a horrible person to be around, if you let it. It will take away the things and people in your life that you cherish most, if you let it. I think its important to be honest with yourself about how you feel. Let yourself be sad, but don’t let yourself stay sad. There comes a time when you have to step back and not talk about it for a few hours (or days) if you can manage it. Don’t forego the things that gave you enjoyment and peace of mind before you started losing your hair. These are your healthy coping mechanisms which you lean on, not to deny reality, but to temporarily escape from it and have a better attitude towards it when its time to face it again. For me its about prayer, singing along to some good music, writing (about things other than hair), exercising, spending time with my husband and family, getting out of the house and having some fun, etc, etc. Let’s face it, even if your hair grew back perfectly tomorrow, you wouldn’t be the same because you’ve experienced what its like to be without it. Take the opportunity to put things in perspective and find other things to love about yourself and your life. It may never be perfect, but it will get easier. Take it from someone who’s living it; you can beat this. Be blessed.
