I recently discovered Alopecia World.  Your photo caught my eye because I don't see many Asians like me with alopecia.  I'm Japanese American and live in Southern California also.  I'm probably your mother's age - 58 but look much younger as most Asians do.  I'm surprised how brave you are to post a photo of yourself without hair.  I could never do that.  I used to have really beautiful hair and then I started getting bald spots that started to blend together.  It was the ophiasis pattern like yours.  Now I only have some head hair down the middle of my scalp but I am clinging to that last bit of hair instead of cutting it off.  I'd rather have it fall off naturally instead of giving in to total baldness.  For the most part I have alopecia universalis.  Because of my age, I thought the loss of hair on my arms, legs and armpits was part of the aging process, but my dermatologist told me it was probably the alopecia.  I do still have some hair "down there."  I also have some eyelashes and the beginning of my eyebrows but not the ends.

I don't know how long you've had alopecia, but if it's been less than 4 years, there is a doctor at UCLA who is THE doctor to see to try and get your hair back.  His treatment was not successful with me, unfortunately, but you may want to see him if you think there's still hope.

I don't check this website very often so if you care to e-mail me -- brudyjuce@gmail.com

Judy

Hi Esther! I stumbled upon your profile n just wanted to tell you that you are SO gorgeous with or without hair. In your profile pic..is that a wig or your own hair?