'I went bald in a week'

Living with alopecia/female hair loss

Alopecia's different for everyone, but my hair fell out when I was 7. The whole lot was gone within a week, including eyebrows and eyelashes, and I never grew hair again. When you lose it all, it's known as alopecia universalis. As a kid, I didn't know what to think about my hair loss. But my mum and dad were devastated. They tried everything to try to get it to grow back. They took me to see a woman who massaged a greasy lotion into my head. My dad even built a roofless tent in the garden for me, thinking the sun might help!

But nothing did help, and we all gradually realised my hair wasn't coming back.It hasn't been easy for me, and for a long time I hated the way I looked. My parents tried to hide my hair loss by making me cover my head up, first with hats, then wigs, and I don't think that helped. Even today, I can't go out without my wig on.

Getting married and having children really helped, but sadly my first husband died in 2004. I was at a really low point, and looked alopecia up on the internet for the first time. I found Alopecia UK, and made some brilliant friends.

That's how I met my second husband, Mark, who I married in March 2007. He's got alopecia areata, which means he's got bald patches. It's not been easy for him, either. But we've helped each other. Today, I'm a lot more confident. I'm even campaigning for better treatment for alopecia sufferers from the NHS. And I'm finally accepting myself for who I am.
Sandra Atherton, 39, Liverpool

For more information and advice, visit www.alopeciaonline.org.uk