Question:
I am 40 years old and I am bald. I began losing my hair in March of 2007. It has grown a little then falls out, it falls out all over. Starts out in patches then completely goes bald (which is where I am now). I just would like to know I’m not alone. I am looking for a support group in my area.
Thanks,
Gina
Answer:
Dear Gina,
You are definitely not alone. There are unfortunately an extremely high number of women who suffer with hair loss. According to The American Hair Loss Association that number is around 40 million. That makes you very much NOT alone.
As far as support groups, currently the only ones I am aware of are being done by a non profit organization called “Bald Girls Do Lunch.”
Their next event is being held in New York City on October 7th and is called “Alopecia Areata Day of Beauty.” The fundraiser is being held to raise funds to support their lunch meetings across the country.
After that the next meetings will be held in Scottsdale, AZ on October 13 and then Philadelphia, PA on November 3rd.
More About Bald Girls Do Lunch:
Bald Girls Do Lunch, is the only non-profit dedicated specifically to helping women with the auto-immune hair loss condition Alopecia Areata. Visit the website for more information about the lunches and to read testimonials.
The founder, Thea Chassin from New York, brings Bald Girls Do Lunch meetings to cities around the country. Chassin, who has been bald for 10 years has no body hair and eyebrows and lashes that come and go.
Millions of women have her condition. Too many are feeling alone and isolated with it. Chassin decided to do something about it by bringing women together in a positive way, life changing way. Most women have never met another with their condition, but when they do, their lives take a dramatic upturn.
Chassin is traveling the country
- to mainstream public acceptance of the healthy bald woman
- to inspire women who want to go bald in public how to adjust to doing this
- to help these women feel great about themselves whether wearing wigs or not
- to give women practical advice for maintaining normal, active lives despite their hair loss struggles
More information can be found on their website: www.baldgirlsdolunch.org
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
The November lunch meeting invitations with details on reserving your space are posted on our website.
http://www.baldgirlsdolunch.org
The November, 2007 dates and locations are:
Philadelphia area, November 3, 2007
Detroit area, November 10, 2007
Salt Lake City area, November 17, 2007
Attendees are only the women with aa. Must be 18 and over. Attendees may not promote any product or service at the lunch.
Gina
You did not say what city you were in. I’m in the same boat. I have also attended a Bald Girls Luncheon. It was a lot of fun
You can check the NAAF.org website to find a support group in your area.
you may email me if you like
Stay Strong
Cassandra
Hello Ladies-
We’re delighted to announce that Bald Girls Do Lunch is offering 4 lunches in southern California in January, 2008. Following that we will be in Reading, PA ( Feb 9) and Baltimore, MD ( Feb 10)
Your invitations and all the details are linked for each location from the home page at baldgirlsdolunch.org. Not sure what it’s about? Be sure to read what others have said in our testimonials page.
January schedule:
January 6, Costa Mesa
January 8, Los Angeles
January 13, Woodland Hills
January 16, Rancho Bernardo
For more info, just contact info@baldgirlsdolunch.org
Thea Chassin, founder
BGDL
Interviewees Needed Immediately
Feature writers for several California newspapers have contacted us to interview women ( 18 and over) who live in the general area of one of the lunches listed above. Ideally, it’s a woman who is going to attend a lunch. It could also be a woman who is thinking about going and what her thoughts about that are. Then she would be interviewed afterward, too. The focus for all of these are the human interest factor….telling your story to inspire someone else and telling your story to educate the public.
These interviews are taking place starting January 2 for about a week or so. They are usually done over the phone. Photographs are helpful but not required.
If you wish to be interviewed contact info@baldgirlsdolunch.org with your name, phone and email.
In advance, thank you.
Thea Chassin, founder
BGDL
February Lunches. See baldgirlsdolunch.org for details or contact info@baldgirlsdolunch.org
Feb 2, Cheshire, CT
Feb 9, Reading, PA
Feb 10, Gaithersburg, MD
Feb 11, Washington, DC…details to be posted soon
Feb 23, Chicago area…details to be posted soon
If you live in one of these areas and would like to be interviewed, please let us know. On request, full names are never publicized.
Dear Gina,
There are other places you can go for information and support. I lost my hair for the first time when I was 13/14 years old, and it has grown back and fallen out three times in the eleven years since then. The National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) is a non-profit organization founded in 1982 by women with alopecia areata. It started as a support group and became a national/international organization dedicated to helping people with alopecia areata. The address is http://www.naaf.org. Please check it out. Also, depending on what state you live in, there could be local support groups you can join. I am a member of NAAF and the NAAF Boston support group.
Good luck! I hope this helps.
Best Regards,
Jennifer Szeto
The most effective, dynamic and relevant meetings for women with alopecia areata are those with a 100% women-centric format. Want to know more? Read what women are saying in the testimonials at baldgirlsdolunch.org
We’re heading to northern California and hope to meet many of you there. Remember to go to our website for your invitation and RSVP information.
Upcoming Brunch, Lunch and Dinners!
March 29, 2008…San Francisco
March 30,2008….Berkeley, CA
April 1, 2008….San Jose, CA
June 1……….Sonoma, CA
http://www.baldgirlsdolunch.org
By the way…women come to our gatherings with hats, hair, wigs, scarves…..and their bald look, too. So wear what you like and let us be the catalyst for new positives in your life. We welcome and cherish meeting all women with alopecia..whether you’re new to this condition or have it a long time.
When: April 26, 2008
What: New England’s first Alopecia Areata Image and Beauty Day…a fund raiser AND beauty workshop event for every woman with alopecia areata. Grand Raffle Prize: one lucky attendee will win a wig valued at up to $3,000!
Where: Takes place in the charming town of Cheshire, Connecticut with consultants for wigs, hair, make-up and image/styling included with your admission.
Need an invitation? Questions? info@baldgirlsdolunch.org
Your complete invitation and RSVP info is posted at http://www.baldgirlsdolunch.org Just link from the bottom of the Upcoming List on the home page.
Women with alopecia areata are hiding in plain sight!
Please join us and meet women in your area.
Complete invitations and details are posted in the Upcoming List at baldgirlsdolunch.org
Dallas, TX…May 27, 2009
Austin, TX…May 30, 2009
Fort Lauderdale, FL…June 6, 2009
Fort Myers, FL…June 7, 2009
San Diego,CA…July 16, 2009
You will never feel alone again as a woman with alopecia areata. We know what women need and how to get them in control again.
Woman and Avodart: I’ll keep this short and to the point. I started losing my hair at 23. Slowly shedding and shedding everyday. By 30 it had become very obvious .
The emotional pain was almost unbearable. I withdrew and became seriously depressed. I saw a dermatologist and her rx monoxadil. did not work and gave me fierce dandruff. My parents sent me to a hairloss specialized dematologist in NYC. Here is what I learned. 1)90% of all hairloss is genetic. It is doubtful that you have some rare disease or hormonal imbalance. It’s just a genetic family disposition. 2) People with these genetics hairloss is tiggered by DHT(look it up). It was put on Avodart a DHT blocker on the condition that I did not get pregnant. I went to the Gyn and was put on birthcontrol pills. Within 1 month I noticed the shedding stopped. And slowly my hair filled back in over the next year. By 2 years I would say my hair was normal. I’ve now been on Avodart 0.5mg/birthcontrol pills for 6 years now. No side effects so far. Regarding having childern; I was told that if I did want childern I would have to go off BCP and Avodart for a full 6 months before trying. I would lose my hair again and would have to start all over again. Thats my story. I’m telling the forum because I know how I suffered and most Drs don’t help much because it’s not life threatening. They think of it as cosmetic. They don’t want to take the risk of some crazy lawsuit. Do you blame them? Take control. If you want to try it, tell them. You may have to sign a waiver or consent for off label use. Show that you are an informed and responsible adult and your Dr should respond. I hope this helps you.