Nina Mullins Photography Blog

Okay, so today I have a guest blogger!  Her name is Allie, and she is completely awesome!  She recently allowed me the honor of coming to photograph an historic event in her life.  She has had some very real struggles with Alopecia, which she will go into detail about below.  First, I will give you a definition for Alopecia, and from there you can read Alli’s story.

“Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune skin disease resulting in the loss of hair on the
scalp and elsewhere on the body. It usually starts with one or more small, round, smooth
patches on the scalp and can progress to total scalp hair loss (alopecia totalis) or complete
body hair loss (alopecia universalis).

Alopecia areata affects approximately two percent of the population overall, including
more than 4.7 million people in the United States alone. This common skin disease is
highly unpredictable and cyclical. Hair can grow back in or fall out again at any time, and
the disease course is different for each person.”

That is the definition from the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.

Beautiful Allie just before the big "haircut".

My struggle with Alopecia Areata began in the bath tub when I was five years old.
For some unexplained reason the shampoo was taking my hair with it. By the time I
woke up the next morning my pillow had taken the rest, all except for a small patch above
my right ear I was bald.
That hair grew back, but the process was grueling. The doctors could not explain
my sudden hair loss and the boys at school showed no mercy. From being accused of
using the wrong restroom, to being asked if I was a boy, to being ostracized from the
other students, having no hair as a five and six year old girl was not very much fun.
Fast forward 15 years and I am a returning freshman of Midway College who is
minding her own business, studying and scratching the back of her head when
suddenly…. There is a spot, about the size of a quarter, on the back of my head that has
no hair. I freak out thinking I caught ringworm from the dorm showers. Over the next 24
hours the spot grows from quarter sized to three big spots that kinda mesh together
making some weird L shape that takes over the back of my head. I make an emergency
trip to the dermatologist who explains its “only” alopecia areata, as if that should be a
cause for relief.
After a not so pleasant series of steroid injections into the bald patches of my head
most of that hair grew back. I was happy to see that, like the time I was five, this was a
freak incident and I could go on with my normal life. Until, nearly a year after the
nightmare began, it began again. This time it was in the front of my head, another quarter.
I decided the only reasonable thing to do was stand in front of the mirror for several hours
and stare as I cried uncontrollably.
I was angry; I had thought that God had healed me. How could this happen. I am
21, what 21 year old wants to be bald? That was when I realized something.
I did not just get alopecia. I have had this since I was five, for the past 15 years
experienced no ill effects from it. I should be counting my blessings, because honestly I
do not know that up until this point of my life I would have been emotionally capable of
dealing with this. Many of those with alopecia do not have the luxury of hair for most of
their life.
I made the decision that I was not going to allow a few bald spots have any power
over me, I am not defined by my hair, I am defined by Jesus. I decided to shave my head.
I guess I made the right decision because the next day I found another bald patch, also on
the front of my head, and I did not care at all. Over the next week I started finding hair

everywhere, on my bed, car, bathroom floor, and I still did not care. It is not that I let go
of the idea that God would heal me. I believe that he already has, my body is just taking
its time realizing that, and whether it does or not I am still going to use this to praise
Jesus.
I started thinking of the good that could come from shaving my head. I still had
plenty of hair, enough to donate to a kid going through something similar to what I had. I
also thought it would be a great opportunity to raise money for other children with
alopecia. While alopecia is a common condition it is not very well known and the
Children’s Alopecia Project is the only non for profit organization that focuses on helping
children with the condition. My goal was to raise $1000 before the Fourth of July. The
fourth of July was significant because it was symbolic of freedom. I am free from the fear
of losing my hair, or allowing my appearance to define my worth. I hope that this will
help others do the same.
Update. I am happily bald. When I went to the salon I thought that I would be
emotional when it was all over, and even a little self conscious. Nope, God really gave
me a confidence, enough that when I left the salon I went out to eat without a hat on. I
was so blessed to be surrounded by family and friends when I shaved my head. I was able
to donate my hair. I did not reach my goal of $1000, but I hope to continue my efforts in
raising money for CAP.
Since shaving my head a week ago, I have a few new spots. My head kind of
reminds me of a Dalmatian, this does not concern me it just affirms that I made the right
decision. People keep asking me if my hair is going to grow back. My response is a
genuine “ I don’t care.” That is such a good feeling.

A donation to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation funds research, education, and advocacy initiatives to help the children, men and women affected by alopecia areata. Thank you for keeping the hope alive.  If you would like to make a donation, you can go HERE.

There is also a project devoted completely to children called, Children’s Alopecia Project. CAP is devoted specifically to children living with the incurable autoimmune hair loss disease, Alopecia. The Mission of the Children’s Alopecia Project (CAP) is to help any child in need who is living with hair loss due to all forms of alopecia. We build self-esteem, provide support and raise awareness. We would like our CAP Kids to grow in confidence and become stronger teens and productive adults, maybe even the advocates of the future dealing with alopecia.  You can donate HERE.