My very own solar panel...

There's hugely conflicting information out there about suncare; from the assertion we need SPF protection year-round to the news that there's a growing trend of Vitamin D Deficiency because we're too diligently avoiding the sun! 

I'm neither a scientist nor a skin cancer specialist, but one thing I believe is that the old adage 'everything in moderation' is probably very apt - we need some sun to keep our bones healthy, our body balanced and our immune system on course, but literally cooking our skin cannot be good for us, no matter what some people say to themselves.

Since losing my hair, I've had little, if any hair regrowth; last summer however something happened. Myself and a couple of others I know with Alopecia Universalis started to see small amounts of downy regrowth on our scalps. Not much, but a little and it was noticeable enough that we each commented on it and then discussed it in detail. There were a few things in common; the hair grew in patches, the shafts were soft, downy and blonde and none of us had experienced noticeable regrowth since we'd lost it fully. What's more, in each case, the growth was finite; the hairs themselves didn't get any longer and the patches didn't get any bigger. To this day, none of us are sure what was so special about last summer!

At the end of the summer, we all lost the hair again and other than the odd shaft I've not seen any regrowth. Again this year, I've been back out in the sun, and low and behold, I'm regaining the same patches, only this time they're coming back brown! The only difference is that where last year direct sunlight on my scalp was few and far between, this year, I've been walking my dogs every morning completely bareheaded.

What the sun gives you is a little endorphins, a dose of Vitamin D (which in turns helps the absorption of calcium) and probably more than a little bit of relaxation. Potentially, just one of these things (or maybe all of them combined) is supporting the follicular regrowth in each case.

As you've probably gathered by now, I am not actively pursuing hair regrowth; I'm happy bald, I like and enjoy it, and pining for it to come back seems a waste of energy, mental capacity and a whole heap too much worrying! Still, I do find any sign of regrowth interesting and do like to research what could be causing it.

Something that has come up consistently when discussing general health with other alopecia sufferers is a Vitamin D deficiency; I have suffered from it and have met a high number of others that have too. Perhaps the sunlight is upping my natural levels of Vitamin D and allowing my body space to heal a bit?! Unfortunately, despite the obvious commonalities, the tests by the Doctor following my hairloss did reveal a Vitamin D deficiency, yet plenty of sunlight and Vitamin D supplements for seven months reverted my levels to the high-end of normal, yet there was no regrowth at all. Similarly, at the end of a holiday in the sun, my hair hasn't shown sign of regrowing, despite the sun and relaxation.

At the end of it all, there seems to be nothing definitive about either my behaviour or environment which is clearly linked to this random regrowth and shedding; nothing I can pass on for people to try out! In the meantime, I like to think of my bald head as my very own solar panel; gaining a little extra sun exposure in small doses, and helping the natural production of Vitamin D which maintains natural levels and keeps me healthy!

Anyone else notice any summer regrowth?

Victoria x

www.prettybald.co.uk Twitter: @PrettyBald

B is for... A-Z of hairloss

Having just tried writing the title, I'm not sure it makes perfect grammatical sense, but hopefully you get the gist! As promised, I am continuing in the vein of our A-Z of hairloss and understandably opting for the letter B (it comes next apparently!). Here goes and don't forget if you think I've missed something, let me know! 

B is for...

Backwards - this is not a veiled insult to our intelligence, but actually reference to the process I went through with my hairloss. All the time, I kept thinking to myself, I'm going backwards - one step forward coming to terms with it, then two and sometimes even three back. Getting used to artfully arranging my hair to cover the patches, only to have the patches expand; making mini 'wigs' to adhere to the patches as a hair replacement, only to have the patches grow still more. Gaining a small amount of regrowth from steroid injections (which weren't worth the pain) only for that to fall out too. The list goes on and on...

It's not all bad though; yes, initially it felt like I was constantly slipping backwards, but over time, as I adjusted, this feeling became less and less frequent. and now, I am doing nothing but charging forward! I am a changed person (at least a little bit) and hopefully for the better. It hasn't all been rosy, but overall as an experience, my hairloss has been more good than bad - a feeling that I hope you get too, or at least a level of certainty that the 'backwards' feeling will pass.

Bald / Baldness - OK, I know this is an obvious one, but in the majority of cases, the ultimate outcome is some or total baldness. There are conditions, for example diffuse Alopecia, which create general thinning, and of course not all cancer patients or people with trichotillomania experience total hairloss, but baldness is a fairly good bet! This aspect was one of the worst for me - there was no hiding it and my appearance was so very different - but it has also turned out to be one of the best aspects too! Read more about my experiences here, here and here...

Bandana - another word for scarf obviously, bandanas are often an option for covering / disguising partial hairloss and as a head covering for total hairloss. This one doesn't work for me - it drives me nuts - but I know a lot of people that understandably love them too! They are low-cost, flexible, comfy, versatile and snuggly when it is cold. Many people opt to match them to outfits and there are soooo many ways you can wear then too! One added bonus; you can buy them pre-styled too, taking the hassle out of tying them yourself and providing a great alternative to hats!

Basics - Losing my hair really pushed things back to basics. I know this sounds strange, but it did this in many senses of this word. For example, I was used to my natural hair and knew how to wash it, style it, care for it; no hair = a whole new regime. Learning wig care, wig maintenance, skin care, nail care, everything that my condition has affected. I felt in many respects like I was back to being thirteen, learning and experimenting; at times it was fun, but at times it was uber frustrating too!

One other thing worth a mention is that like any 'test' that life throws at you, hairloss is very clarifying. It made me realise the friends I could count on, what was important in life, what made me happy and what I really want to achieve in life. It took me back to basics and put things in perspective and many people I know have said this too!

Beauty - I'm not sure I can do this 'B' justice with my explanation / writing. There are so many things it represents and means to so many people, but I'll give it a go...

Beauty is something that we are judged by and that we judge people by. On the one hand, there are the sayings like 'Beauty is more than skin deep' and 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder', but on the other hand, there are also adverts which tell us our long glossy hair makes us 'worth it' and that the wrinkles on our face make us less so. I, and many others that I know, really struggled to adjust to the aesthetic changes that hairloss brings; not only is it incredibly emotionally challenging, but I was terrified that I would be somehow less beautiful and therefore less valuable without my hair. In true terms you aren't; it's simply a different beautiful look, and your personality feeds in a lot too, but that doesn't change the fact you feel less beautiful along the way. As an aside, I do now feel beautiful and perhaps more so than when I had hair even - I have a boyfriend who I love and who loves me, masses of confidence and a unique look, but it took me a while to get back to 'beauty'.

Being - Hairloss can be traumatic (sorry that is probably understatement of the year) and I and many others really struggled emotionally. Sometimes it is important along the way to let yourself just 'be' - to live in the moment, accept what you are feeling and let it wash over you. Anger, grief, envy, anything. Just be!

Besties - Hairloss is hard, period! Your besties will be really important to you (as always) and there'll be a lifeline. For me, mine kept me from retreating into my shell and while I must have seemed like a total stuck record, they were there for me! Enough said!

Bitching - Bitching is something that I really worried about when losing my hair - would people judge me, and be horrible about it? As a victim of bullying growing up (not anything too extreme don't worry), I worried that I would be worth less and that I would be subject to bitching behind my back, but as far as I know, everyone has been really positive and friendly about it. No bitching in sight!

Blackheads - this is an obscure side effect to hairloss and certainly one that I have experienced. Hair grows from follicles and as it grows, it naturally pushes dead skin cells to the surface and removes dirt. Since losing my hair, commonly my hair follicles become clogged and my skin gains the appearance of hundreds of tiny blackheads, particularly across my shoulders and the top of my arms. Regular exfoliation keeps on top of them which is fine, but blackheads are definitely a new problem!

Bold - I do mean 'bold' rather than 'bald'. Going without a wig is 'bold' and some would say 'brave' too, but it is! You will get stares, and people will ask questions or offer an opinion, but if you want to do it, go for it! I switch between wig and no wig and it's entirely personal choice. If you want to, do it; if you don't, then don't. Simples!

Boyfriends - this is something that a lot of people worry about; will you get a boyfriend (if you are single), will it change the way they feel about you (if you have one), will you be needy? So, so many questions and obviously the answers will vary on a case-by-case basis, but in my experience, the right one won't care. I met my boyfriend about a month after my alopecia started and actually stopped dating him out of fear, but now we've been together almost four years, we own a house together and my hairloss didn't change a thing! He's been great about it, sees me bald ALL the time and is gorgeous! If it does change the way they think about you, then chances are they are a toss pot and aren't worth it anyway, so move on and find someone who loves you for you.

Brave - this is something that you will be called quite frequently if you are losing your hair. Whether you tell someone about it, show them, or venture out bald, people will call you brave. Some people understandably find this very reassuring and I understand why, but for me I found this TOTALLY irritating - I did not feel not brave and this statement made me feel like a fraud. Brave is rescuing someone, or standing up to someone, not feeling rubbish about yourself because your hair is falling out, particularly when you would do almost anything to change it. Looking back now, I understand why people say 'brave', because it is really difficult to know what to say and it doesn't worry me so much any more, but it did before and I felt very guilty about it! 

Breaking Point - I don't use this term lightly, but at times during my hairloss I hit what felt like rock bottom. It is certainly the lowest I have been (but perhaps not the lowest I can go) and at times felt like breaking point. No matter how awful I felt, I always got through it thanks to the love and support of my friends and family! I cannot thank them enough and remember the old cliché 'what doesn't kill us, makes us stronger'. Embrace it and see just how far you can go...

Please let me know if there is anything I have missed via Facebook, Twitter or email...

Victoria x

www.prettybald.co.uk Twitter: @PrettyBald

Meet Miss June, the sassy Kate...

It's about the middle of June (already?!) and I think it is about time that we meet our Miss June of the Pretty Bald 2015 Calendar!

Kate has Alopecia Universalis and lost her hair very rapidly over the course of two weeks, at the age of just 24. Despite buying a wig, it was one of the hardest things for her, saying "It was horrible. I liked the style but hated that it wasn't actual my hair. I hated how it felt, I hated that I had to actually put it on and take it off. I felt that I was lying to everyone by wearing the thing, and I felt less confident than I perhaps had ever done in my entire life. I wore it to work but other than that it remained shoved in a box with my shoes in a wardrobe. It stayed that way for almost a year."

For her, a turning point was the Alopecia UK Flashmob in September 2013, where she met others with alopecia for the first time. She says "I met people with alopecia from all walks and life and more importantly made friends who understood the things I had been through. I suddenly realised that I wasn't alone, I wasn't the bald girl anymore, and I was just one of a huge family of people. I found a new sense of belonging and a confidence to be whoever I wanted to be, I realised the importance of not allowing a condition to dictate the choices I make in life and to not let not having any hair stand in the way of what I wanted to do. Not a day goes by when I don't wish that I could wake up with my hair back but I am comfortable and confident with who I am now."

You can read more about Kate's story here...

The gorgeous Kate...

Enjoying Pimms as Miss June!

Victoria x

www.prettybald.co.uk Twitter: @PrettyBald

My view on alopecia

www.prettybald.co.uk Twitter: @PrettyBald My twitter: @baldguyproblemz

Hi I'm Ben and this is my first blog!! Victoria has posted my story which you can find here if you haven't already seen it: http://prettybaldonline.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/real-life-male-alopecia-story-meet-ben.html

Alopecia...

It doesn't sound particularly appealing does it?

That's because its not, there's not many people in the world who would voluntarily get rid of all their hair. And I have to say it's definitely the most difficult thing I have had to overcome in my life. Although I have come to terms with it and am much better with coping with it than I used to, I still wish everyday that my hair would come back.

It's probably not surprising and I'm sure there's many of you who feel the same way. But genuinely, I think about it everyday and wish it wasn't the case. I look at myself in the mirror and think 'eww'. I think 'how could someone find this attractive?'. And then I tell myself, 'shut up, what's the point in worrying about it, it is not that bad'. Hmm, perhaps that's a good or bad way to look at it, you can make a judgement on that.

'It's not that bad'... I think telling yourself this can either be seen as a good coping strategy or a misconception. On the one hand, it helps in being more positive and makes you more comfortable with your alopecia. But on the other, it can downplay what in reality, is a huge deal. I am not saying that it should be all consuming but just, it has the capacity to be. Sure you can say 'at least my condition is not life threatening' (quoting myself there) and although that's true and something you should be thankful for, it does not bring your hair back.

Personally, I think what takes the biggest toll, psychologically, is the fact that alopecia leaves you feeling helpless... It leaves you feeling that resistance is futile and it leaves you feeling that there's no hope for your follicles. The shear nature of something that's out of one's control has always been frightening, this is no different when it comes to alopecia, as it is a problem you cannot escape... It is literally right on top of you.

This 'problem' you cannot shake can often make you feel alone, it might make you feel like you are fighting an entire army on your own. However, we are not alone and this is something I have realised fairly recently and it has definitely contributed to my mental improvement recently. Realising that there are others like you, fighting the same fight, oddly, makes you feel better. It is always just nice to have someone or some people who understand how you feel and its something that people that don't suffer from can struggle with. It is nice to know that there are others, and since I have found a wider community of alopecians, I have felt much more comfortable.

There may be many of us but perhaps not as many as you expect... According to the NHS, there are 1 in 1000 people who suffer from some type Alopecia in the UK... Which means there are roughly 60,000 people in total who have either alopecia areata, totalis or universalis. Which sounds like a huge number but in reality that is 0.001% of the UK's population. Weirdly, this makes me feel better as it makes me feel very special. Furthermore, 1 in 200,000 people have my type of alopecia (universalis)... Which if you do the maths works out to 35,500 people IN THE WORLD that have the same condition as me (you could not fill most big sports stadiums with that amount of people)... Thats such a small amount of out of 7 billion; you would need 2.5X that amount of people to fill Wembley stadium!!

Apologies for the stats and football stadium comparisons but thats how my mind works!! The point is, that if you have alopecia, you should feel special because it makes you even more unique as a person. As I said in 'my story', it is what makes you, you. Having this condition builds up so much character and inner strength, that it will equip you to overcome any adversity that you will confront in the future; in this sense, view it as a strength!!

Lastly, I would like to mention my personal, most used coping strategy to my alopecia. I am always the first person to make a joke about it (rightly so), I do realise that occasionally that they are misplaced and/or not funny but making comments about it makes me feel more comfortable; I guess it really comes down to the fact that I think everyone else is thinking it (which they probably aren't) and that I have to say it to avoid others thinking it without my knowledge- I want to be in control of when people think about it I guess. That is something I've just figured out while writing this, its just a way of normalising alopecia for me. I do worry however, that people think I mention it too much and think I am doing it for attention when in reality it's my way of dealing with it!

All in all, to summarise my opinion on alopecia; I think it is unfair because no one deserves to feel like they are helpless against their own body. However, I do think it is important to think positively and remember that in the long wrong this condition will benefit you in terms of your character... I mean who knows, because of the fact that evolution occurs through natural selection of random genetic mutations, we could be the next step in human evolution; this mutation in our genes may be advantageous in the near future! I digress, I think it is important to leave you with my motto on the subject as you are so much more than your hair (or lack of):

Alopecia doesn't define you, you define alopecia

Meet Miss May - The shy but striking Emma

So this month's model is Emma, who would describe herself as a loving mum and successful businesswoman. She is 31 now and her alopecia began at the age of just 12 with a traumatic family experience. Whether it was the stress, or the physical state of her body, she lost her hair in just a few short months; not long after, her eyebrows, eyelashes and body hair followed suit.

Emma is clear that although she is happy in her skin now, it's taken a long time for her to come to terms with the condition and her journey included bouts of depression and anxiety, alongside an eating disorder.

She's an incredibly strong lady and a lovely person! The calendar wasn't her favourite thing to do, but she triumphed and I think her image is lovely! At this stage, no regrowth has occurred, with the exception of a single hair on her head which has reached the grand length of five inches!

You can read more of Emma's story here...

Emma - Miss May

Emma on the left in the Bentley

Victoria x

www.prettybald.co.uk Twitter: @PrettyBald

Sarah Vine and a BBC Radio Five Live interview...

You may or may not know that famous British journalist Sarah Vine (also married to Michael Gove), suffers from thinning hair and has had since she was 14. Well yesterday, she shared an in-depth insight into her own experiences, in her Daily Mail column; from covering it up, to destroyed self-esteem and even a few treatments she tried along the way!

Whilst she and I have differing hairloss conditions - for Sarah it's female pattern baldness AND telogen, for me it's Alopecia Universalis - it seems our own experiences have seen many similarities along the way.

For example, Sarah says "I stopped exercising, not just because I was embarrassed about the way the thinning strands would separate and cling unflatteringly to my scalp when I sweated, but also because there didn't seem much point when my ugliness was on the top of my head for all to see." Whilst my hairloss was slow and wasn't an all-over shedding, when my alopecia was in the initial stages, I remember tipping myself upside down in a yoga class, giving myself a head rush as I straightened suddenly, realising that the patches would be on show for all to see if they opted to look through the window. In a crowded gym, where many attend to 'show off', I remember feeling like a fraud for being there when I was somehow less than perfect! Needless to say I cancelled my gym membership and have failed to rejoin since!

Reading on in her column, this also made me nod vigorously to myself "It fundamentally damaged my sense of self as a female, too. So much of the culture of beauty revolves around having long, thick, glossy locks that I felt I could never match up. I was so pathetically grateful for any male attention I made some seriously unwise choices in that department." Whilst I can't concur in the men department, I do remember struggling with the social 'ideal' that is oft foisted upon us. As my friends posted facebook pics of their new cuts, colours and styles, I was carefully scraping and securing strands of hair over ever-enlarging patches in a hope I'd get away with it a little longer and cringing at the sight of my odd head shape in a bad wig. In fact, sentences like these simply serve to remind me of the survey results from Dove US which highlighted 44% of women stated they were 'defined' by their hair - not just that they liked it, but that it was intrinsic to who they are as people! Sad but true!

One final point that I really related to was this: "...at the end of the day, it’s true: hair loss may be demoralising, undermining, upsetting and even embarrassing. But it is not fatal." Whilst the phrase "Its just hair" was one of the ones I frequently heard AND hated, at the end of the day it is just hair and I am grateful I'm not sick! Don't forget, search #100HairFreeDays above to check out all the positives of hairloss I've identified.

I'm seriously impressed with how open and honest Sarah Vine's column is on this subject and how brave she is to share the pictures, and I think she makes some very true and valid points! I only hope it serves to help those that read it, hairloss sufferer or not, and at the end of it all will somehow improve and diminish the stigma that many of us feel within society. The only difference (well actually there are many) between mine and Sarah's experience is that she's found comfort in a weave to cover it up, and I've embraced regular wig wearing, and more often than not you'll find me bald-headed too!

Following her fabulous column, which you can read here, BBC Radio Five Live interviewed Denise Hayes on the challenges she faced getting a job with a similar hairloss condition, highlighting just how appearance can contribute. Following the two, I am very proud to announce that in just over an hour, at approximately 10.35pm, I will be talking live on BBC Radio Five Live and you'll be free to listen in here. I'll be part of a much larger feature on hairloss in general and will follow an interview with Sarah Vine! Wish me luck! If I can, I'll share a link tomorrow and don't forget if you miss it you'll be able to listen again on BBC iPlayer!

Victoria x

www.prettybald.co.uk Twitter: @PrettyBald

Interview with a Trichologist - talking everything Alopecia with @Mark_Blake

Mark Blake is a celebrity Trichologist, drawing on years of experience as a hairstylist, to support men and women with hair thinning and hairloss issues. A comment I often hear from Alopecians and an experience I once shared was that "Trichologists can't help and just rip you off". Mark has restored my faith in their profession after my own first disastrous experience elsewhere and whilst he can't help cure my alopecia, he has huge success with other types of hair conditions and hairloss. Here at Pretty Bald, we put him through his paces answering all things Alopecia and here's what he had to say...

Q1: What is Alopecia? 
Alopecia is a generic term for any type of hair loss, including male pattern baldness, but it is commonly used to specifically refer to the Universalis, Totalis and Areata forms of the condition where the immune system attacks hair follicles.

Q2: What is the difference between these three types of Alopecia? 
The main difference between these three types of Alopecia is the amount and pattern of the hairloss, (although there are numerous other types of Alopecia that can affect someone). Alopecia Areata is a patchy hairloss, mostly from the head and usually in circular patches. Alopecia Totalis refers to total loss of scalp hair, and may appear initially as Areata before progressing to total hairloss. Alopecia Universalis refers to total loss of hair, including all scalp and body hair.

People can progress through these different stages quickly over just a few days, or slowly over several years, and not everyone will progress to Universalis either.

Q3: What causes it? 
Alopecia is a disease of the autoimmune system where the immune system becomes overstimulated and attacks healthy cells. The causes are still a bit of a scientific mystery, however more work has been done to solve alopecia in the last few years than ever before. Research shows that this process does not just affect hair follicles, but also attacks cells in the skin and nails too.

Q4: What happens to the hair? Is it dead? 
The body attacks its own hair follicles by mistake thinking they are a foreign body; despite attacking the follicles, they don't die, the hair simply stops growing. Hair growth goes through several phases including the Anagen (growing phase) and a stage called the Telogen phase where the follicle rests before growing again. Each hair enters the various phases at a different stage and because the head has so many hairs on it, despite many being in the Telogen phase the individual will still have a full head of hair. With alopecia, all the hair follicles enter and remain in the Telogen semi-permanently or permanently, waiting for the signal to start growing again which doesn't come. Over time, the likelihood of the hair regrowing is diminished, but in the right circumstances it is always possible that the hair will start growing again.

Q5: What can be done to prevent it happening? 
Unfortunately, not enough is known about alopecia, so nothing can prevent alopecia from happening. Hopefully in the future this will become a fully preventable and treatable disease, however for now you only know about it when you've got it.

Q6: Is there anything that can be done to treat it?
Some treatments are available, all with varying degrees of success. The effect of the treatment will vary from person to person, meaning some will be effective and sometimes they simply won’t work, at the same time leaving you with uncomfortable or difficult side effects. If you do start suffering from alopecia, the best thing to do is ask your Doctor for a referral to a dermatologist, or opt to visit a Trichologist if you would prefer. Some of the treatments available include:

• Scalp irritants - strange as this may sound, irritants like DCP or Dithranol are painted onto the scalp creating a burning sensation and redness. The logic is that through either an irritant or allergic reaction, they will provide a 'distraction' for the immune system, hopefully improving the long-term balance of the body, and enabling the hair to regrow. The expected side-effect is raw, irritated skin that can be quite painful, but which will heal; the physical response of the body is usually mixed, and whilst it can be really effective for some, and totally non-effective for others. 
• Corticosteroids - either applied topically as a cream, or injected direct into the scalp, corticosteroids can help suppress the immuno-effects, enabling the hair to regrow. For some people, a single course of treatment will be enough for permanent regrowth, whereas in others the effects will be temporary or even non-existent. Short-term used, particularly when topically applied will have limited side-effects, but if taken orally or used over long periods, side-effects can become more pronounced. It's worth noting that the scalp injections can be pretty sore too!
• Minoxodil - Minoxodil is a topical scalp treatment; it is a synthetic drug used in the treatment of hairloss, and is most effective for patchy hairloss. It helps to suppress the immuno-effects, enabling the hair to regrow and fill back in. It is not normally effective for long-term use or for widespread hairloss, and can cause skin irritation. 
• High-dose zinc - zinc is required for healthy growth of the skin, hair and nails and in some cases, has proved effective for alopecia patients. It is however required in very high doses and side effects include vomiting and diarrhoea. 
• Immuno-suppressant drugs - used to 'switch off' the immune system, providing time for the hair to regrow, immuno-suppressant drugs are almost universally effective; BUT before you get over-excited, use can only be short-term due to the increased risk of contracting infections, and the negative effects on organs such as the liver. This means that although in many cases the drugs will be effective whilst you are taking them, many will lose their hair again when the treatment is stopped.
• Light treatments - including UVB exposure which has been effective in a few limited cases, but which is more likely to simply increase the potential for skin cancer, and exposure to UVA light when combined with oral light-sensitive drugs. The idea is that the skin will be partially damaged and the body will focus on skin repair rather than attacking itself. 

As well as pharmaceutical solutions which have varying degrees of effectiveness, some people have had success with changes in diet or addition of specific minerals or vitamins if they are found lacking. Realistically however, it is entirely possible that your alopecia will be untreatable and that's why support from organisations like Alopecia UK may be a viable, more long-term solution.

The above list is by no means a definitive list of treatments, but is an overview of some of the most common ones you could be offered. More information can be found on the Alopecia UK website here, 

Q7: How long will alopecia last?

The time someone will have alopecia will vary from person to person and in some will be weeks or months, whereas in others it will be permanent. Generally the rule of thumb for hairloss is that "the quicker the hair grows back the better the long term stability of the hair is"; the important thing to remember though is that the follicle is not dead and hair could start to regrow at any moment if something in the body’s immune system flicks the relevant switch on!

Q8: What does the latest research into the condition show? 

There has been a lot of different types of research going on, but most recently, the focus has been on JAK inhibitors in a new study by Dr Angela Christiano. JAK inhibitors are already being successfully used for other conditions, and recently reversed hairloss in people with alopecia areata. There were only three participants in the study, but all of them saw their hair grow back after five months of treatment. This theory is now being put to the test on a larger scale in partnership with the Department of Dermatology at Columbia University Medical Centre with a clinical trial in humans.

Q9: Can Trichology help with alopecia? 

Given the unpredictable nature of alopecia and the limited effect of treatments, it is difficult for many professionals to help and support with the condition. Trichologists can help with the early diagnosis of alopecia, identifying the condition, monitoring its progression, at the same time providing reassurance and passing on information about support groups and social networks for alopecia. Some topical treatments (irritant sensitisers) are also available from trichologists.

Q10: Is there anything else about alopecia that our readers might find interesting? 

Yes. All of the world's leading scientists are meeting in Miami USA from November 18th –21st to share the latest research on Alopecia and hairloss. I am one of the delegates attending the ninth World Congress for Hair Research and will be reporting for Pretty Bald as one of only a few British delegates attending.

One final piece of advice, the most important thing is to ask yourself what your ultimate objective is and whether the treatment is really worth it? This is a very personal question, but alopecia sufferers should take care to be true to themselves and to ensure they focus on realistic outcomes rather than risk compromising their health through long-term treatments that aren't working. 

Thanks very much Mark! We'll put you through your paces with another interview again soon! 

In the meantime, anyone interested in talking to Mark, he can be reached through his website, or you can follow him on Twitter @Mark_Blake.

Victoria x

www.prettybald.co.uk Twitter: @PrettyBald