More and more people are taking to the internet and social media sites to open up and share about alopecia. Alopecia is an autoimmune disease that many people have little to no knowledge of which leads to misunderstandings, assumptions and social stigma for and about those people who are living with alopecia.
Alopecia is non-discriminatory. Both men and women suffer from alopecia and it can occur at any age. Alopecia manifests itself in a purely physical sense – that being hair loss. However many sufferers of alopecia say it’s also a disease of the spirit, causing people a devastating emotional turmoil in a world that is obsessed with appearance.
For those who experience alopecia, particularly women who often self-identify with the colour and style of their hair, it’s about learning to manage the disease and not be defined by it. A significant part of the coping process is about learning to value yourself for who you are rather than by the amount of hair you do (or don’t) have on your head. There seems to be a somewhat agreed upon perception from both sexes that it is worse to experience female hair loss as society deems it more acceptable for men to appear bald.
One Woman’s Alopecia Story
Lauren Crawford, now 29, began suffering from alopecia at an early age. In her teens she was extremely self-conscious of her condition, however this all changed while on a first date in high school. After going on a few dates she began to realise that these boys didn’t handle her diagnosis of alopecia all that well. One night while on a date she decided to lay it all out on the table that very first night and straight up told him that she had something to confess.
“‘If you want to walk out the door, that’s OK” she remembers saying.
“Oh thank God,” her date replied. “That’s it?!”
Lauren has now been married for five years to the same man to whom she made that first-date confession to back in high school.
Hair loss in women is very often associated with either illness or aging so society is automatically shocked or fearful of this. Those suffering with alopecia can experience embarrassment, hopelessness, and are eager for a “quick fix,” and, if a wearing a wig are often fearful that the wig doesn’t look natural and that people might find out what lies beneath the wig.
Natural Looking Human Hair Wigs
Luckily for alopecia sufferers, the Follea Gripper Wig couldn’t be more natural, beautiful or comfortable! Designed by people with alopecia, specifically for people with alopecia, these human hair wigs will give you back your hair and your confidence.
For more information about hair loss solutions for people with alopecia book a free consultation (valued at ($250.00) with one of our hair loss specialists; click here or call 1300 427 778.
