Here is a nice article about a young woman with alopecia totalis who contacted a California hair transplant clinic. This disease is more widespread than many realize. People who have it can live normal, happy lives, although they may stand out in a crowd. Since my friend acquired alopecia totalis, lots of people have told her they know someone with the disease.
Many more people than we know are out there with alopecia totalis as a hair loss cause, like professional basketball player Charlie Villanueva. Although they don't look the same as other people, if they learn to overcome their self-doubts they can be rather successful people.
This is how she describe her situation: I'm still in my twenties and I know I haven't experienced the more serious consequences of alopecia totalis. I'm determined to maintain a positive attitude and I believe I will even later on in life. There's a lot more to a man or woman than their hair style. In fact, maybe having alopecia totalis will help us focus more on our character and integrity than superficial appearances. If I had the choice of being bald and fit, or with a full head of hair and obese, I choose the former. I want to be a good steward of my physical body.
She has a great attitude and she has learned how to deal with her hair loss condition! Alopecia Universalis (AU) treatment can be complex and sometimes not even possible. If she paid a visit to my office and met some of my patients, she'd be dumbfounded by how saddened they feel at the loss of their hair. There are many cosmetic and plastic surgery question and answer forums and online communities that bring the patients with alopecia universalis together.
Something I always tell my patients is that it is OK to want to look good physically. I say if it's possible for a person to change their appearance (as people do it every day with laser for hair removal and Botox for facial rejuvenation treatments) in a way that's socially acceptable, then do it. But if it's something that can't be altered, you must believe God made you that way for a reason, and what separates us physically are what make us unique.
