Teen hair loss has been a popular topic of conversation in my life lately. Two girls that I know (who are in the 14-16 year range), have been experiencing some hair-loss issues. Both really healthy girls – they took my advice and saw their doctors. The cause of their hair loss- is just their lives. Both girls have extremely busy lives. They go to private school, and one is on the swim team, and the other the rowing team – they do tons of other activities- and take guitar lessons from me.
Now their …read more

New Zealand model (and television hostess) Anna Fitzpatrick has been named the spokesperson for the Princess Charlotte Alopecia Areata Foundation. This foundation seeks to raise awareness of alopecia in schools and the wider community.
Fitzpatrick states in the New Zealand Herald,
When I was at school people thought they could catch it.  Ten years ago, people weren’t talking about it.
Ms. Fitzpatrick also models for design houses such as Karen Walker, and Christian Dior.
**Picture source – 62models.com

Production on the movie Harold, has recently been completed. This movie stars Cuba Gooding Junior as a janitor who befriends (and helps out) a pubescent boy (Spencer Breslin) who suffers from premature male patterned baldness. Producers are hoping that the film will be ready to show at this years Sundance Festival.
Would you be interested in spending your hard earned money to see this movie. Early buzz says its going to be great.
**picture source – www.FT.com

It’s theme day at the b5media Science and Health Channel.  Today’s theme is Back to School -please check out all of the interesting perspectives on this topic by our writers.  The round up can be found on Kristina’s blog Autism Vox. 
This topic got me thinking about all of the crazy things that schools (especially elementary schools) do to get students to actively participate in school culture.  Usually kids get a really big kick out of stuff like this.  You know what I am talking about.  Things like wear your clothes backwards day, or trade your lunch day…or whatever kooky thing …read more

Grace James, a six year old girl, had her hair cut for the very first time on August 17.  The ponytail that the stylist removed from Grace’s head was 15″ long, and believes that she could have cut another inch or two.  Grace donated her hair to Locks of Love.  Grace has stated that she wanted to donate her hair, because her mother and her cousins have done so in the past.
Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization …read more

If you wear your hair, like how David Beckham used to (in corn rows), you may be at risk for traction alopecia – which may cause permanent hairloss. The British Journal of Dermatology has reported that hairstyles such as these (as well as ones that require weaves, chemical straightening , and extensions) can cause bald patches. The dermatologists are underlining the dangers of any excessive treatment for any hair type.
There was a study done involving 2000 adults and children from South Africa, where it was found that 1 in 7 schoolgirls, and 1/3 of all women …read more

Ye gods… how did I get so far behind this month? Oh yeah… Crazy cool BBQ on top of a big project at the day job. Such is life. Anyway, let’s see if we can’t find a few quick hits to remind you I’m still here. Hmm…
How about this story about Woodville Elementary and their fund raiser for Angel Hair for Kids? The sixth grade class put on a dramatic skit, they held a $2 raffle of sorts to help shave a teachers head, and willing students could get their own head shaved for a $5 donation. In all, the …read more

It’s been a while since I mentioned Locks of Love and one of the hair cutting events that seem to occur with a fair amount of regularity somewhere in the US of A. As a brief review, Locks of Love is a charitable organization that collects hair donations in order to make children’s wigs. These wigs are distributed without cost to children who have lost their hair for one medical reason or another. In their words:

Our mission is to return a sense of self, confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to provide the …read more

Here’s a story that makes me think one day… perhaps… my own children will still get on with each other.
Meet Sharod Gandy. He plays basketball up in New Jersey… All-Bergen County for Englewood, which means he’s pretty good.
Now meet Ariel Williams. She’s seven. She’s Sharod’s little sister. And she’s got alopecia.
“She ignores it. She takes it pretty good for a little kid,” Gandy said. “Most little kids would see it and start crying and stuff. But she’s taking it. She doesn’t cry anymore. She used to. But not anymore.
Big brother’s going one step further. He’s organized a fund-raiser at his …read more

The Greater Baton Rouge Business Report had a small item of interest recently. (Go here and scroll all the way to the bottom.) A charity walk/run is being organized by father daughter team Brian and Abby Ter Haar. Abby is in the eighth grade, runs cross-country and has alopecia areata. Abby was diagnosed seven years ago, and her parents have helped raise more than $200,000 for the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. In their words: “As parents, we find ourselves challenged daily with helping our child maintain her dignity and self-confidence. While we cannot grow hair for Abby, we can raise …read more