Alopecia is a condition that causes hair loss. It is an auto Immune condition that damages hair follicles. Alopecia can affect hair on your body. Hair can come out in small or large patches.

It’s estimated to affect 6.8 million people in the United States. Anyone can develop alopecia, but it often starts in childhood.

September is Alopecia Awareness Month. Since it started in 1986 as a week to recognize alopecia, it has grown into a national movement.

The National Alopecia Areata Foundation supports Alopecia Awareness Month. It is a good time to learn more about the disease and support people living with it.

“Maybe you have a loved one with the disease. Maybe you don’t know anything about it and want to learn more. You can get involved by reading this.”

“Alopecia Awareness Month is a great time to learn about the condition. If you don’t know anything about alopecia, start with the basics. You can learn about someone with a condition called alopecia.”

You probably know a lot about it if you or a loved one is living with it. September may be a good time to learn about new treatments or share your knowledge with others.

As with any health condition, there may be clinical trials to get involved in. By participating in clinical trials, you contribute to the overall knowledge about alopecia areata. You can find out about current clinical trials for alopecia on ClinicalTrials.gov.

To stay in the loop about events or fundraisers, you should consider following the NAAF on Facebook or Instagram.

Many accounts share personal stories about living with a hair loss.

These accounts share stories about life with alopecia.

You can use the #alopeciaawarenessmonth to share something you have learned on your own pages.

Alopecia Awareness month is a good time to share your story with others. Sharing your experience with others is a lot of power.

If you are not ready to share, that is fine. It is your month. You can participate as much or as little as you want.

“A support group is a good place to meet others living with alopecia. There are in-person meetings in some areas. If you don’t, there are virtual meetings you can attend.”

It can be comforting to know that you are not alone. Sharing stories about treatments or everyday challenges with people who can relate is what support groups are for.

The NAAF holds a conference in a different city every year.

The NAAF has a scholarship fund to help people affected by alopecia attend. This fund allows people to join the conference who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend due to the cost.

The conference is a great place for people with alopecia to meet. It reminds us that nobody is alone. Donate to this fund so more people can attend the conference.

Get creative! Whatever you enjoy doing can be turned into a way to raise money for research.

  • Do you like sports? Friends can play in a tournament.
  • Enjoy time in the kitchen? A bake sale is a good way to raise money.
  • Too much stuff? A garage sale is a good idea.

There are no limits to the ideas you can come up with to raise money.

The official color of alopecia awareness is blue. Tell others why you are wearing blue.

Look out for landmarks turning blue for the occasion, too. In 2021, several bridges across the United States were lit up blue for alopecia awareness. Your city or town might also be participating depending on where you live.

Check out the NAAF event page. In 2022, several different MLB teams are hosting special fundraising games.

You can attend one of these games if you are able. You can support your favorite team and raise money for a cause.

“Some people who lose their hair choose to wear a wig. Cost shouldn’t be a barrier for those who do.”

“Private insurance companies will cover wigs. Others don’t. Medicaid and Medicare are trying to cover wigs, but it is not universal.”

Contact your elected representatives to help change that. Tell them that wigs should be free. Let them know that wigs are a part of healthcare for people with hair loss.

Hair donation or wig funding

If you have a lot of hair that you want to cut, you can donate it to be made into a wig for someone with medical hair loss. It is important to research and choose a good organization.

You can sponsor the creation of a wig if you have the funds.

September is Alopecia Awareness Month and it is a good time to support those living with the disease.

There are many ways to get involved. It is a chance to learn more, share knowledge, attend events, or organize your own event.

Money raised from events goes towards research into treatments for alopecia.