r/alopecia

Hi everyone, I was wondering those who are going through alopics how do u guys manage ur mental health? I myself is going through a tough case right now , and wondering how everyone deals with the loss of identity ?

I’m 17F and been diagnosed with Alopecia Areata since 9 years old and about to go into college! My hair grows in patches so shaving it would look unclean and uneven (but I contemplate doing it a lot). I was always wondering for years how I would deal with college because it’s been my dream to dorm but I wasn’t sure how to go about it. I’ve been wearing a wig almost the entire time and I still feel insecure without it. I never go outside without my wig and I dont eve talk/ like talking about it with most of my friends. I also take it off to go to sleep so when I dorm, I have no idea how I can pull off putting it on in the middle of the night just to go outside and use the bathroom. Also, I find it uncomfortable many times and could find it exhausting to have it on 24/7. I was also thinking abt shaving my head because the bald patches on my head look very unappealing and would probably disturb others by looking at it lol. Also i’m paranoid college kids would plan a mean prank and steal my wig in my dorm, and that thing is EXPENSIVEEE so i would be pissed and also prob cry for months lmao.

But I mainly want to ask if you were in the same situation as me and what you did? Did you wear your wig the entire time? Did you embrace it? How did you keep it secure (cuz my hair is long) for parties/events? Did you change diff styles every day and kept it the same so no one would question you? Where did you keep your wig and did anyone do anything mean? I am a teenage girl so this vanity stuff means way more to me than normal unfortunately.

Also, how did you even take care of it?? My cleaning wig process takes so long and needs its own station for it and i dont think the communal bathrooms are cutting for it. My wig is long like longer than shoulder length so it’s easier to come off.