Youth Mentor Program
Name | About me | Gender / Age / Location | Will meet with | Type of Alopecia | Contact |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Christine Wigandt![]() |
Hey! My name is Christine, I'm 25 and I was born, raised and currently reside in Boston, Massachusetts. I was diagnosed with Alopecia at the age of 20 while I was in my Junior year of college. During that time my mother was very ill and had gone into hospice and shortly after died. For this reason my dermatologist attributes my Alopecia Universalis diagnosis to stress. No one in my family has had alopecia nor had I shown any signs of Alopecia during my childhood. My diagnosis and new life as someone with Alopecia has been nothing short of a journey. Initially I was very closed off however I have truly come to embrace and love that I don't have hair! I currently work as an Emergency Medical Technician for the City of Boston and I own a small wood-working craft type business on the side. Through both of my jobs I am constantly interacting with the public which has in turn made me more comfortable with who I am. I'm so excited to become a youth mentor and help whoever I can in this alopecia journey. |
Female (28) Roslindale, Massachusetts |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Totalis Alopecia Universalis |
|
Elizabeth Lee![]() |
Hi, my name is Elizabeth and I was born and raised in Maryland. I’m currently a student at the University of Michigan (go blue!) studying biopsychology, cognition, and neuroscience. In my free time I enjoy figure skating, kayaking, and staying active. I’m also completely invested in skincare and beauty! I was first diagnosed with alopecia when I was 14 years old. Since then, I’ve gone back and forth between having nearly a full head of hair to losing almost all my hair. I’ve been through phases of wearing wigs, getting steroid shots, and taking prescription medicine. However, I realized that during this period of time, my desire to get treatment stemmed from my insecurities, and even with treatment, I never truly accepted myself. My turning point was shaving my head for the first time (funny story: I did this ~6 hours before my flight to Cancun) because I finally fully embraced my alopecia. Since then, I’ve actively encouraged myself to appreciate the strength and experiences alopecia has gifted me with. I’ve also learned how to wear wigs and get treatment while still being confident in my identity. My journey has been a little rough but that is exactly why I’m excited to be a mentor! I want to spread positivity and support, whether it be through chatting about my experiences, talking casually, or doing fun activities together. I love trying new things and I’m constantly looking for ways to grow--maybe I can learn from you too! |
Female (21) North Potomac, Maryland |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Areata - Patchy |
|
Glenn Hartley![]() |
Hi! My name is Glenn and I grew up in a small town outside of Syracuse, New York. I’ve been a part of NAAF for four years now. I decided to stop wearing my wig after my third NAAF conference which was the beginning of my junior year in high school. I have made so many friends through NAAF and I’m truly blessed to have found such a great community of support! I have learned through Alopecia to be more confident and embrace my true self. Last year I got my eyebrows tattooed on and I wear eyeliner in place of lashes. I have a few wigs and now I only wear them on the occasion of very cold weather or just wanting to have some hair! I am currently a senior in high school and I’m applying to college for business next fall. I enjoy being outside, playing lacrosse, watching movies and traveling! I’m always up to try something new and learn more about other people! I look forward to talking with you and helping in any way I can! |
Female (22) Brooklyn, New York |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Universalis |
|
Sarah Ford |
My name is Sarah Ford, I’m 17 years old and live outside of Philadelphia. I am currently a senior at Conestoga High School and during my freshman year is when I found out about my Alopecia. My hobbies include traveling, playing sports and babysitting! In the Fall of my freshman year I noticed a bald spot on my head and all my doctors told me it was from stress. Later that year, I found out it was Alopecia Areata and I began to get the shots in my head to grow back the hair. Since I only had one bald spot the shots worked, and my hair grew back in that area. Around the same time in fall my sophomore year I started to lose my hair again. This time all my hair fell out. I started wearing a wig because I was very self-conscious about looking so different than the rest of my peers in such a big school. During my junior year, all my hair started to grow back under my wig, I had hair down to my ears. Everyone around me was telling me to stop wearing my wig but I was so scared and insecure of what other people were going to say. One day, with the support of my family and friends around me I decided to stop wearing the wig and walk into school with my short hair. I have learned so much through this experience, and even though it was exceptionally hard, it has taught me so much about myself and has changed my perspective on life. Alopecia is a very emotional and hard disease to cope with, but with the help of other people who have alopecia and the community around me I learned that Alopecia isn’t all that matters and there is so much more to life! I can’t wait to be able to give the support that I had to other people who are struggling with Alopecia too. |
Female (20) Wayne, Pennsylvania |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Areata - Patchy |
|
Michaela Diamond![]() |
Hi there! My name is Michaela. I'm originally from the beautiful state of New Hampshire, and moved to sunny Los Angeles in 2015. I work in television and spend my free time baking (my specialty is homemade marshmallows!), hanging out with my cat, Woody, and traversing Disneyland and the LA area with my friends and family. I was diagnosed with alopecia areata in the third grade and experienced periods of hair loss/regrowth throughout my life. I shaved my head in December 2017 after losing 90% of my hair in less than a year. In the months following, I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes, too. This time in my life was quite tough, and I struggled with feelings of sadness and low self-esteem. But with time, support, and community, I learned the uniqueness we bring to the world is beautiful, special, and important. I do my best to take each day with a smile on my face and a focus on how I can be kind to myself and the world around me. I hope to be a friend and support to you and your family – whether that’s to listen, provide thoughts and/or advice, or just to join you for a couple hours of mindless fun. I hope to hear from you soon! |
Female (28) North Hollywood, California |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Areata - Patchy |
|
Anna Chaletzky![]() |
I live in Chestnut Hill, MA, and work at the Animal Rescue League of Boston and Gillette Stadium (Go Pats!). I have had alopecia since kindergarten, but lost the majority of my hair the summer before my senior year of high school. I remember going for my first wig, absolutely hating it, and not only being devastated, but furious because I felt as though my hair had been taken away from me. That was the summer of 2010. In the spring of 2012 I lost my eyebrows, and in the fall, my eyelashes. I remember learning how to draw on my eyebrows and watching YouTube videos to learn how to wear fake eyelashes. Soon after losing my eyebrows, I got them tattooed on, and in 2015, I got my bottom eyeliner. Yes it kills, but yes I love them. Ever since, I am in full hair and makeup almost every day. From crying so hard I could barely stand, to showing the boyfriend I thought I would never find what I look like without my hair on, I know what it feels like to hate being bald. I’d be lying if I said I was comfortable with my alopecia, but after my first NAAF conference in 2013, my world started turning in a different direction, in a positive direction. I want everyone to know that it is okay to wear a wig, and that you can still be your super awesome self with one on! I love talking to people and would love to talk to you about wigs, make up, and cute animals! |
Female (28) Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Areata - Patchy |
|
Briana Munoz-Flores![]() |
Hi! My name is Briana Muñoz-Flores, but you can call me Bri. I was diagnosed with Alopecia Unviersalis when I was 4 years old. It was hard in school trying to understand why I was different and dealing with bullies. But my parents taught me to "Hide in The Open", meaning I stopped hiding my beautiful head under hats and began to be proud of my head and that I never had to shave! I found my passion and release in music, so I decided to attend UCLA and graduate with a degree in Ethnomusicology (Playing/Studying Music in other cultures) and Afro-American Studies. I, then, went on to attend USC and graduated with my Masters in Student Affairs. I now work at UC Santa Barbara working on getting more students from diverse backgrounds into graduate studies. I love to sing, read, and watch movies, especially Disney movies and Lord of the Rings. I am still working out the kinks of being Bald and I don't claim to know everything about having Alopecia, but I'm excited to finally get involved with NAAF. |
Female (31) San Francisco, California |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Universalis |
|
Sasha Lildharrie![]() |
Hello, my name is Sasha and I am a born and raised New Yorker. I work in NYC as a full-time accountant and a part-time English tutor. Developing alopecia in my young adult life really affected my sense of self and identity. At that time, I did not know how to cope with the emotional stress and had little knowledge or access to the available resources. In time, I found the support of great people who helped me learn more about this disease and encouraged me to stay positive. With their help, I learned everything I could know about alopecia and the tools available to overcome it. I’m proud of the strides I’ve made and the skills I’ve acquired that help me to feel like myself again. I think every journey is a little bit different but we can definitely learn from each other. I would like my role to be someone who can understand, support, and empathize with you and your family. Together we can carry ourselves through this journey. |
Female (30) Baltimore, New York |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Totalis |
|
Rachel Ivany![]() |
Hi there! My name is Rachel Ivany. I am a rising high school senior at Bishop O’Connell High School and I live in Northern Virginia. My alopecia journey started when I was about thirteen years old when I noticed a bald spot on my head while brushing my hair one day. It started out as just a few patches at first, but after a couple of years I ended up losing most of my hair. It was very hard to deal with at first, but with the help of my friends and my younger brother, who also has alopecia, I was able to become much more confident. When high school came, though, I was very self-conscious and nervous about what all of the other students would think. Luckily, I was able to find a caring and supportive group of friends who accept me for who I am. Though most of my hair has grown back now, I still have some bald patches, and I have learned to embrace them because they make me me! Through my experience with alopecia, I have learned so much about myself and my passions: photography, psychology, soccer, traveling, and writing. I am so excited to be able to share my experiences and use what I have learned to help others in any way I can! |
Female (19) Colorado Springs, Colorado |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Areata - Patchy |
|
CJ Ostrosky![]() |
Hello! My name is CJ Ostrosky. I’m 24, and currently working as a graphic designer and communications professional for a nonprofit in Washington, DC, where I’ve lived for the last few years since graduating from college. I’m originally from Pittsburgh, PA, and I visit my family there frequently and have a lot of hometown pride. When I can, I love to travel all over the world and try new things (especially new foods). I also enjoy painting, reading, kayaking, and spending time with friends. Alopecia is new to me: I lost all my hair just eight months ago. I believe I have alopecia universalis, though I’ve been pursuing a few treatments so far and seen my eyebrows grow back a bit! At first, alopecia was really scary and stressful for me, and it still isn’t always easy, but it has also brought me a new appreciation for my appearance, and a love of doing crazy colorful make-up. Usually, I rock my baldness, but I also really enjoy wearing brightly colored wigs from time to time for fun. For me, I know it would have been easier to cope with such a sudden change if I had known anyone else who had struggled with alopecia. As a mentor, I want to be that person for others and let them know that they are not alone. I am excited to get to know other people who have been through this crazy journey, and I hope to be able to offer support to someone who needs it. |
Female (27) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Universalis |
|
Samantha Rugg![]() |
My name is Sam, and I am originally from Utah, but I spent much of my life in New Hampshire and Idaho. I am now back living in Utah for school. I am student at Utah Valley University studying Digital Marketing and Business Administration. I lived in the Dominican Republic for a year and half, where I became fluent in Spanish, and also where my struggle with alopecia began. A couple months before I returned home from my time there, I noticed a bald spot on my head. I got treatment for it and didn’t have any more fallout until a month before I got married in August of 2017. Since then I’ve pretty consistent loss, and although I still have my own hair, it gets thinner and I find new spots every day, so it’s just something I have learned to accept and own. Alopecia runs in my family, and I witnessed my mom struggle with it pretty much my entire life. I watched how hard she took it and how much she struggled with confidence and feeling normal, so I decided to become a mentor so I could help someone to own their alopecia at a young age, so they don’t go through the same struggles my mom has as an adult. I’ve learned you can’t let alopecia get in the way of you living your life and it is so important to continue doing all the things you love. I love to be outdoors, I am really in to skiing, rock climbing, hiking and biking. I hope to be a friend, a support, and a guide, and to be more involved in the alopecia community. |
Female (27) Herriman, Utah |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Areata - Patchy |
|
Laura Cash![]() |
Hi everyone! I’m Laura and I’m from Park Ridge, IL which is right outside of Chicago. I currently go to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and am pre-PA majoring in Biology and Global Health. I discovered I had Alopecia when I was 8 years old while I was getting ready for school one morning. A few months later, after trying several different treatments, I was diagnosed with Alopecia Universalis and have had no hair growth ever since. Following the year of my diagnosis I went to my first NAAF conference and went for four more years after that. My journey with Alopecia has definitely not been easy as looking so different from my friends and classmates was extremely hard for me. It really took me a long time to accept myself with Alopecia and accept that this might not ever get better. Keeping busy and doing things that I loved all while leaning on my amazing friends and family was what kept me going. I played volleyball all throughout middle school and high school and was editor of my high school newspaper. Now, in college I’m meeting new people all the time and have found it so much easier to be open about my Alopecia and my journey with it as this wasn’t the case while I was growing up. I love hanging out with my friends, going to football games (Go Badgers), and taking advantage of every opportunity I find. Having Alopecia has completely changed my perspective on life and I would love to share my experiences and give any advice I have to my mentee(s)! |
Female (23) Madison, Wisconsin |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Universalis |
|
Mitasha Singh![]() |
My journey of accepting Alopecia started with intense denial and defensiveness of anything being wrong with my body, obnoxious behavior (think ‘Mean Girls’ minus the bullying) and finally maturing really quickly to have to cope with it. It’s been 17 years now, and I can proudly say that I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve lived and studied in 3 continents, speak on body issues and harnessing self confidence in various business schools in India, am a Diversity & Inclusion champion, and do not feel like I’ve lost out on any of life’s experiences. I choose to not wear a headpiece or a covering because of India’s tropical weather but do own one for that one odd day a year that I feel like it. I’ve been privileged to have a very solid support system in my close friends and family and thereby have rarely had confidence issues. I am now very used to being a person who gets a lot of attention and stares, and that’s the only thing I have to struggle to get used to and compartmentalize; because I am an introvert. Alopecia has been instrumental in shaping me as a person - I am a lot more aware of my strengths, less vain, have more perspective and in my effort to compensate for the lack of an “ideal” appearance when I was a teenager, I focused all my drive towards cultivating an intellectual curiosity. I now shuttle between India and North Carolina (where my husband is currently based) and have been wanting to be a part of NAAF for decades! The only thing that I did not have growing up, |
Female (34) Morrisville, North Carolina |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Universalis |
|
Lindsey Graham![]() |
My name is Lindsey Graham, and I am originally from the Chicago suburbs of Illinois, but I currently attend the University of Iowa, and live in Iowa. I am double majoring in elementary education and art. I lost my hair just a year ago, when I was 20. I randomly started to experience hair loss, and after seeing a couple of doctors I was diagnosed with Alopecia. Within 2 weeks, I had lost all the hair on my head. This was shocking for me losing it all so quickly, and living 20 years prior without experiencing anything like this. I started by wearing wigs, but eventually I realized this was just an unnecessary strain on my life and I started to wear hats. My hair is now growing back, but I am unsure how long this will last. Either way, I have found peace with how things keep changing, and I have continued to live my life as normally as anyone else. Some things that I like to do are paint/ draw, spend time with my new puppy, hangout with my friends, go hiking, and watch movies. I also take Italian at the University and I love it, and am even going to Italy soon. Mentoring interests me because I am very extroverted and love to meet new people, especially people who are dealing with similar things as me! |
Female (24) Iowa city, Iowa |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Areata - Patchy |
|
Jessica Hoschouer![]() |
Hey friends! I am Jessi. I was born and raised in Santaquin, Utah, a small town in Utah county. I was diagnosed with alopecia areata when I was 5 years old. I am a junior in high school. I love working with little kids, and I currently work as a preschool teacher at a daycare, after school. I own my own business, a snow cone shack. My shack has been a real adventure and a huge learning opportunity for me. I love writing, hiking and really just being outside. Alopecia has basically always been a part of my life. I shaved my head for the first time when I was seven years old. When I was little I always wore hats or wigs everywhere I went. Now though I hate how they feel on my head! When I was younger I didn’t really grasp the fact that I was different than the other kids in my class. It wasn’t until I started getting bullied in second grade that I realized there was something different about me. That was the first time I struggled with it. It did not help that I didn't know anyone else with alopecia, and that's a huge part of why I wanted to become a mentor. I did not really realize until fifth or sixth grade that I didn't need to let my hair, or lack of it, define me. I am excited to get to know more people who have been through things like me, and I hope to be able to offer support to someone who needs it. |
Female (21) Santaquin, Utah |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Universalis |
|
Sarvesh Rajasekaran![]() |
Hi, I'm Sarvesh! I'm an Indian-American who grew up in St. Louis, MO. I first started experiencing alopecia areata when I was 24 years old and it progressed to alopecia universalis within 2 years. I currently live in Austin, TX. In my free time, I try to take advantage of Austin's outdoor friendly climate by hiking, playing soccer, or seeing live music. I also enjoy watching college football and basketball - mostly of my alma mater, the University of Michigan (Go Blue!). I'm involved in other organizations as well including CASA of Travis County (as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children in the foster care system) as well as Austin Pets Alive (as a Dog Foster Parent). I love to chat about anything from race/politics/culture to how alopecia impacts people's lives to sports, TV, and other pop culture. I've struggled with alopecia a lot in the past; but, overcoming those hardships has made me a more empathetic and resilient person. I'd be happy to share my experiences and/or just hang out! |
Male (32) Austin, Texas |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Universalis |
|
Laura Arand![]() |
Originally from Chicagoland, I attended DePaul University (Go Demons!) where I continued to play soccer, as I have my entire life. In my spare time I like to sew, craft, DIY, play sports, watch movies/TV shows, and bake goodies. When I’m not crafting while watching TV and snacking on tasty goods, I travel the world and have adventures with friends and family. As for my bald body, I was first diagnosed with alopecia at 12 years old. It manifested as random bald spots on my head but I was always able to cover them up with the rest of my hair. For me, alopecia started out as a big secret. I was really depressed and didn’t want to go anywhere, even school. My hair eventually grew back. Years later, after I moved to New Orleans, I found the NOLA Alopecia Support Group while searching online. At this point, I had full hair growth on my head and body, but I didn’t know anyone else with alopecia, so I joined the group on a whim. Four months later, my hair was falling out again. Unlike previously, this time my hair fell out quickly and within 2 weeks nearly all of the hair on my body was gone. I didn’t recognize myself in the mirror. Thankfully, I had my support group to fall back on. Sometimes I wear hats (in the sun!), sometimes I wear scarves, and sometimes I “go bald.” I look forward to supporting another, as I once was. |
Female (32) New Orleans, Louisiana |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Totalis |
|
Dionne Glover![]() |
Hello everyone! My name is Dionne Glover and I am from Columbus, OH. I am a senior at The Ohio State University majoring in theoretical mathematics. I discovered that I had alopecia when I was 15 years old. My hair loss was a very rapid progression. I first started out with a few bald patches, but within a few months, all of the hair was completely gone on my head. This became very hard for me to deal with because I also had to deal with the challenges that came with high school. I chose to wear a wig during this time and it eventually served as my security blanket. A year later, I was fortunate enough to have all of my hair grow back. To this day, I still struggle with patches, along with the fear of the unknown. I have never been open about my alopecia, which is why I want to become a mentor. I want to have the opportunity to help my mentee(s) through these times that could prove to be difficult. I had a great support system during high school which helped me process the situation, so I want to be able to lend that hand to someone else. Currently, my interests include both makeup and fashion. I also enjoy hanging out with my friends and binge-watching shows on Netflix. I am eager to offer any advice to my mentee(s) and to help them out in any way! |
Female (23) Westerville, Ohio |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Totalis |
|
Candy Li![]() |
Salutations! My name is Candy and I am thankful for my alopecia. Don't get me wrong, the 6 years old Candy did not embrace her new hairdo right away and societal impacts made the self love journey difficult. But looking back, I realized that everything I went through shaped me into the courageous, intelligent, and beautiful person I am today. Strangers and even loved ones have looked at me with wonder and pity because of my condition. This made me believe that having alopecia is a negative thing. For more than half of my life, I underwent many different and sometimes god-awfully painful medications on and off in hopes of restoring my former "beauty." This made it hard to feel beautiful because if I wasn't broken, why spend all that effort trying to "fix" me? This is the question that held me down for years and it explained my lack of worth. Ironically enough, this is the same question that raised me from that cold, dark hole of self-pity. Along the way, other people's opinions began to mean less and less to me; I started to see this question in a new light. Why "fix" what is not broken? I know I am not perfect but alopecia does not make me imperfect, it makes me different, unique. It makes me ME! As long as I am healthy, then in no world is my body short of amazing. It gets me where I need it to go, allows me to enjoy life through my senses, and it keeps me alive! I choose to accept myself even if no one else would because I will no longer live my life for other people. I am thankful for my alopecia because it helped me see my worth and taught me that as long as I love myself, it doesn't matter how the rest of the world looks at me. Life is too short to care about what others think and if they are going to stare anyways, mind as well give them something to look at! |
Female (18) San Gabriel, California |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Totalis |
|
Traci Lee![]() |
My name is Traci and I was born and raised in sunny California! I currently live in Los Angeles, after 5 years of living in New York, and am a journalist and writer. I started losing my hair when I was 7 years old and was diagnosed with alopecia shortly after. Growing up with alopecia was challenging because it was such a new experience for my parents and for me to navigate those conversations with my peers (as well as trying to figure out the world of wigs!), but I think it's made me a stronger person too. I've been lucky to have supportive friends and I've learned to talk about alopecia without feeling self-conscious and scared about judgement – but I also know how challenging that process is, and it's not always easy, but I know with the right support system, we can all make the world a kinder and more accepting place! |
Female (33) Valley Village, California |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Universalis |
|
Ashley Kaplan Demshki![]() |
I am a North California native living the Southern California lifestyle. I received my bachelor’s degree at Chapman University and now work in public relations serving clients ranging in industry from government to nonprofit to national corporations. I don’t remember a time not having alopecia and I believe it has really shaped who I am today from the values I hold to what I look for in others. Alopecia has made me a stronger person and I would love to listen to your story and share my experiences! |
Female (29) Riverside, California |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Universalis |
|
Anisha Jobanputra![]() |
Hi! My name is Anisha Jobanputra, I’m 20 years old and I was born and raised right outside Philadelphia, PA. I'm currently a junior pre-med student at Penn State University! I’m part of the Phi Sigma Rho Sorority, a fusion dance team, and a volunteer of the IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon known as THON! I love running, shopping, dancing, traveling, anything Marvel/superheroes, flower arranging and of course, hanging out with friends and family. I’ve had alopecia areata since I was 4 years old, and can relate to any young child or teen going through this time in their life. It can be difficult, especially with society and expectations, and sometimes it really helps to have someone you can turn to and express all your feelings with. While growing up and navigating through life, alopecia has taught me to care less about what others think, and really focus on how you can be the most empowering, positive, and beautiful version of yourself! I wish I could go back in time and tell my younger self that it’s okay to have alopecia, and that you will get through it. Alopecia doesn’t have to be something we hide behind or let dictate how we feel or what we do! I am so excited to get to know you and offer any advice or guidance that I can! I’m open to talking about anything and am really looking forward to offering a helping hand and being someone you can count on! |
Female (24) Warminster, Pennsylvania |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Areata - Patchy |
|
Olivia O'grady![]() |
Hi! My name is Olivia. I live in Chicago, IL. I am a junior in high school. I enjoy playing softball and volleyball. Some activities I have a great interest for is traveling, hiking, and going on adventures. I was diagnosed with Alopecia when i was 8 years old. It started with just one spot that was about the size of a dime. I used to flip my hair over it or just cover it up with some dark powder. But a year later, it continued to get worse. I lost all the hair in the back of my head and was completely bald by the start of 4th grade. These past 8 years dealing with this condition have been anything but easy. I struggled a lot, socially and mentally with myself, and still continue to. Alopecia has taken a lot from me but has also blessed me with many things such things such as maturity, new life long friends that I’ve met through NAAF, and new experiences with the people who understand me the most. I really look forward to answering any questions, getting to know you, and being able to help you in any way! |
Female (3) Mokena, Illinois |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Totalis |
|
Caylee Harder![]() |
Hello! My name is Caylee Harder. I’m 19 years old. I have lived in the Kansas City area my entire life. I have Alopecia Universalis now, but it started out as alopecia areata when I was younger. I was first diagnosed with alopecia when I was in 3rd grade. I did the typical steroid shots, and it disappeared for a while. Then it came back up in middle school but worse than ever. I tried everything to try to get my hair back, but nothing was working. Now 7 years later I have no hair on my head, arms, legs, and parts of my face. I am currently a sophomore in college majoring in elementary education. I’ll be attending Emporia State in the spring next year. I enjoy photography a lot. I take a lot of photos and people and things around me. I also LOVE arts and crafts (even if I’m not that good at it.) I’m so excited and really looking forward to getting to meet you as soon as possible and help in any way I can! |
Female (23) Mission, Kansas |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Universalis |
|
Hans Hokans![]() |
Born and raised in Northern Michigan, I now live and work in the Los Angeles area. I’m currently a logistics officer in the Air Force at LA AF Base, happily married, and have two wonderful daughters, ages 3 &1. Before LA, my wife and I lived by Harrisburg, PA and Destin, FL. We both attended college at the University of Michigan and are big football fans. I started losing my hair during my sophomore year of high school with several patches on my scalp. I tried growing it out but the patches eventually grew too large to hide and I shaved all my hair by the start of my senior year. I’ve had Alopecia Areata since being diagnosed at 15 and have been bald since I was 17. I found it very hard to cope with as a teenager in a small high school and wish I knew someone at that time also with Alopecia. I’ve been involved with NAAF for several years and am excited to be a part of the mentorship program. |
Male (33) Charlottesville, Virginia |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Universalis |