I was first diagnosed with alopecia areata when I was 2 years old. Not a lot was known at the time so my patents consulted a Chinese medicine doctor in Brisbane who treated me with laser treatment and acupuncture. This treatment worked at the time and my alopecia went away after approx. 5 months.

When I was 7 it returned. A bald patch was forming at the back of my ear and spreading towards the back of my head. More started to appear at the base of my head and then the top back where my pony tail would sit. We went back to get the same treatment from the Chinese doctor however, this time it didn't work. Nothing did.

Doctors all said it was "stress" causing illness, which we know now is not correct. My parents tried everything from classic medicine to natural therapies, from strict diets to prescription drugs and basically anything anyone could come up with. Hypnotherapy, acupuncture, herbal medicines, cortisone treatments (the worst), prednisone, extreme diets, naturopaths, homeopaths, skin specialists, GP's, massage...the list goes on.

Some treatments worked for a little while. When I was 10 a naturopath diagnosed an individual diet for me where I couldn't eat anything much - no dairy, wheat, sugar, some fruits, some vegetables, anything processed - my only "treat" was sugarless carob. This worked well at the time however a growing girl needs a proper diet and it was far too extreme for a very active 10 year old.

The only other treatment to get results was taking prednisone when I was 15-16. All my hair grew back and for the first time since I was 7 I had a full head of hair. However.....the side effects of taking pretty heavy drugs were terrible. I was a virtual zombie whilst on the treatment. I felt unhealthy and like I was poisoning myself for the sake of some hair. I went off the treatment but we had to do it slowly so my body could recover and take over from the dugs so my hair didn't fall out again.

It didn't work.

I didn't just go back to having bald patches, all my hair on my head all fell out and I am still to this day (12 years later) without hair on top of my head as a result. Not worth it.

I am lucky because I have eyebrows (occasionally) and eyelashes and my hair on my body from the neck down is all normal. Alopecia wouldn't be so bad if it was only from the neck down....almost welcome Ha hahaha!

Alopecia is harder on the parents than it is on the children. Parents feel guilty like it is because of something they have done, and helpless that they can't fix it. Children can cope very well if they receive the love and support of their parents and siblings, and particularly if they have a special friend or friends at school who will back them up when faced with bullies.
My best friend Kristy helped make my life so easy at school because she would stick up for me. She helped me grow thick skin and never cared what I looked like since the age of 4. We are still best friends today.

I am lucky because having this condition hasn't stopped me from living a fabulous life, making the best friends, marrying a brilliant and supportive man, pursuing a great and fun sporting career, Looking beautiful on my wedding day and every other day with or without my hair, being at the top of my profession and having the job all my friends want and never ever missing a day.

I have my down days still and every now and then I will get upset about it but I don't for a second regret having the condition because it has made me be an exceptionally strong and fabulous individual.

Jane Hamill
DOB  - 28.5.1981