The Emotional and Psychological Effects of Hair Loss in Children
How Childhood Hair Loss Affects Children and Their Parents - and How to Approach It By Regina Villemure, Founder of Children With Hair Loss Hair loss in men and women is welldocumented, but hair loss in children is not as well known. There are thousands of children every year who are diagnosed with hair loss for any number of
reasons, including alopecia, cancer treatment, burns, rare diseases and disorders, trichotillomania…the list goes on. No matter what the reason for childhood hair loss may be, for children, it can be unbelievably devastating from both an emotional and psychological perspective. Few children are able to accept their hair loss. Some don't have hair on their head or have eyelashes or eyebrows. They look different – and looking different is oftentimes not accepted.
You may have heard the story of Rio, a 12-year-old girl who had hair loss and was ridiculed and bullied at school and elsewhere. Just a few weeks ago, she committed suicide. Unfortunately, Rio is far from the only child with hair loss who has committed suicide. We have had recipients in our hair replacement program at Children With Hair Loss who have openly talked about the teasing, wig pulling and other cruelties CONTINUED ON PAGE 32
THE LINK MAGAZINE
31
