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Megan's Story Living with Alopecia Areata

Megan's Story Living with Alopecia Areata


Hello! My name is Megan, and I have alopecia. To celebrate Alopecia Awareness month, I would love to share my journey with you and share some pictures that mean a lot to me.

At the young age of 11 my world changed by my diagnosis. I went from donating my hair to being the one in need of a wig. My alopecia journey has not been linear, and I wish I could say that it hasn't been hard. However, that would be a lie. Alopecia affects more than just hair, it affects your confidence, your self perception, and sometimes changes how people see you.

Despite the challenges I have faced, I have learned how to be more empathetic and resilient. One of my favorite things to come from my diagnosis is the community I am building. I have had the wonderful opportunity to participate in Camp Discovery, a summer camp hosted by the American Academy of Dermatology. Through this camp, I have met so many incredible people that celebrate our skin differences. I look forward to camp every single year because seeing how confident the campers are I am reminded of why I should embrace my diagnosis.

The photos I have shared were part of a photography series I created to help me through a challenging time during my undergraduate degree. I was struggling with my hair loss, and needed an outlet for me to express my struggles. This project was difficult because I was sharing a side of me that I often hid. While I am not afraid to tell people that I have alopecia, it feels very scary to actually show people my spots. My confidence journey is ever-growing, and I hope I can continue to raise awareness about alopecia.

Currently, I am pursuing a PhD in Immunology at the University of Michigan - Medical School. My diagnosis inspired me to pursue research, so I can prevent what happened to me from happening to another little girl.
If you have been diagnosed with alopecia, please do not let the disease control you. You are not your hair, and you are wonderfully you.

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