The first time I got Alopecia was when I was 21 years old. I lost the entire lower portion of my hair and eventually had to shave my entire head. I was completely overwhelmed, stressed, embarrassed and did not even know what Alopecia was. Once researching Alopecia and finding out what it was, I went to a dermatologist and as a treatment they gave me steroid injections in my scalp. The injections did not help, and it seemed like nothing was going to work. I wore wigs to hide my shaved head and to hide my embarrassment. Finally, after almost 2 years my hair slowly started to grow back fully. I had all of my hair for about 6 years until I lost the entire top portion of my hair and eventually had to shave my head again. This time I decided to embrace my shaved head and even started an Alopecia Support Group to help support others with this immune disease. I did not wear wigs; I rocked a shaved head in public and was eager to explain my Alopecia to people who were unaware of what it was. After about a year and a half my hair slowly started to fully grow back. I had all my hair for the next 3 years until I lost my hair in patches all over my head and again had to eventually shave my head about 2 months ago. This is the third time through me for a loop. Rather than embracing my Alopecia as I did the second time, this third time has been rather difficult for me. I have a ton of mixed feelings and am constantly worried about the way other people see me. I can't figure out why I am feeling this way with myself after having such a positive experience with it the second time. So I decided to re-start my Support Group and I hope to provide support to others with this auto immune disease.
Courtney is so strong , so brave and such a caring person. She has a heart of gold and wants to not only educate peers about the types of alopecia but to share her upmost feelings with you all in order to build a relationship and growth on alopecia awareness education. Courtney is my wife and such dedication comes only second to family.