Alopecia Books

Anyone who has AA or loves someone with this condition will benefit from this book! Not only does it have up to date information about the condition, treatments, wigs and concealment strategies, but it is so funny. Sometimes it can be very hard to laugh about this condition; it robs you of part of your identity. This book does it, beautifully!
Not only did this book make me laugh out loud, but it validated many of the feelings I had when first afflicted with this condition. For women especially, this condition can be very isolating. If you have Alopecia, or love someone who does, buy her this book!

What's on one's head seems to matter a lot to a lot of people in the world. "If Your Hair Falls Out, Keep Dancing" is a guide for sufferers of AA, also known as Alopecia Aretea, to cope with their disorder. The disorder, not well known to the public, causes hair loss all over one's body - most importantly, the head. With a focus on women sufferers, although men can have it as well and could benefit from the advice within, she tells her story about dealing with it all, including the annoyances of wigs, covering it up, and how to deal with people finding out that you're a bald woman, a look that hasn't been accepted in modern society. "If Your Hair Falls Out, Keep Dancing" is a fresh and inspiring look at dealing with a disorder that shouldn't be anymore than what it is - a mild annoyance.

If ever I become bald, I would make tracks to the book store to purchase Leslie Ann Butler's book on alopecia. It is funny, smart, instructive and entertaining. Any woman who is hair-challenged, in any way, should read this book as the words Leslie Ann writes will inspire and you might even want to run out and purchase a fabulous hair piece, wig or any other hair enhancer. I am not hair-challenged but I thought her words could apply to many other medical challenges - deal with the cards you are dealt and discover a way not to feel like a victim. Leslie Ann is a living example of what she writes: Love your life and it will love you back.

The book is wonderful!! It explains things so well yet is not doom and gloom. Emily especially enjoyed the "Don't you just hate it when..." section. Never before has she laughed so much about alopecia. What a wonderful gift you have given my daughter, helping her see a lighter side to alopecia. I cannot thank you enough for that.

Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (6/08)

Losing one's hair is probably high on the "disaster" list for most people, and I would imagine even higher for women than for men. That is why I found it so surprising - in the best possible way - that the cover of Leslie Ann Butler's " If Your Hair Falls Out, Keep Dancing!" is so cheerful looking and so attractive. Looking at the cover illustration one cannot help but feel joyful and uplifted; having said that, I need to add that the author's artwork, included throughout the book, lends a similar upbeat, positive tone to the entire book and makes it visually extremely appealing.

Leslie Ann Butler wrote a tremendously important and impactful book for people suffering from the auto-immune disorder called alopecia areata, which affects nearly five million people in USA. Having been affected herself - and with the most severe form of it, leading her to lose all of her hair everywhere - she is in the position to be not only highly informative, but also highly personal and compassionate in her writing. The book stays upbeat, giving hope - but not false hope! She offers advice for just about any "sticky" situation a person with alopecia areata might find her- or himself in.

The opening chapters deal with the facts about this immune disorder - what it is, what could possibly cause it (nobody really knows...) and what could help alleviate it. Later chapters deal with the day-to-day living with alopecia areata - when and whom to tell about it, how to deal with your hair loss in different "extreme" situations (think sports and sex...), how to travel with wigs, how to choose the right wig and how to deal with loss of eyebrows and eyelashes as well as what your options are in such situations.

The last few chapters, while still practical, really deal with this condition from the psychological perspective, helping one accept the hair loss and coping with it in a positive fashion, as well as even finding some positive aspects in it. No more bad hair days, anybody? How about not having to pluck those pesky stray facial hairs ever again?

The Resources section at the very end of the book should prove to be an invaluable selection of contact information for both the general information about the disorder and sources for wigs and other items the alopecia areata sufferers might need or want.

Warm, upbeat, but first and foremost realistic and informative, "If Your Hair Falls Out, Keep Dancing!" by Leslie Ann Butler, would benefit anybody with alopecia areata or anybody who in any way cares for or about somebody with it. Gorgeous illustrations turn it into a work of art and the written part turns it into a very valuable resource and a deeply wise work.

Iam a plastic surgeon and Iam studing a hair loss and a procedure for a hair replacement, i.e: folliegraft.

If you have any form of hair loss, this is a helpful book. It was written in 1992, and she made sure that she didn't cover medical treatments so that it wouldn't be out of date.

Instead, it deals a lot with the emotional and psychological issues that women deal with when they have a form of hairloss. It includes men, somewhat, but not much. But it's information is valuable for people with all types of hair loss, which is nice. It does lean heavy on the side of Alopecia areata as the author has alopecia totalis.

I borrowed the book from the library, but I will be buying a copy as it is a valuable reference for the emotional aspect of this dreaded disease.

Bald as a Bean: The Experience of Sudden Hair Loss is at the top of my must read list. The author, Nancy Parsons, draws the reader into a world turned upside down when she is diagnosed with the disease, alopecia areata totalis universalis. (total hair loss over the entire body)

Nancy shares her intensive and sometimes agonizing physical and spiritual struggle when faced with this disease. From the initial shock of finding large clumps of hair on the shower floor, to the overwhelming diagnosis, Nancy chronicles the medical and holistic treatments, as well as the emotional and physical obstacles that she fights to overcome.

By revealing her most intimate thoughts, Nancy eloquently affirms the statement,
"Although alopecia areata is not life threatening, it is most certainly life altering."
We become aware of how much society values hair, and when one loses it, the emotional loss is as significant as the physical loss.

One notable theme throughout the book is that of our natural world, particularly the change of seasons. Loss and rebirth in nature entwines itself with Nancy's physical and spiritual being, and with that comes inspirational hope.

How others react to Nancy's hair loss shapes her internal struggle. Not only do her present interactions with others affect her, but her childhood experiences with her hair are discussed. Through comical reflections we see how the importance of hair is instilled in all of us at a very young age. Nancy's humor is an important defense against this disease. We see this humor when she talks about her wigs affectionately known as "the girls."

A disturbing statistic about alopecia areata is revealed. One study indicated that "forty eight percent of alopecians had considered suicide." By sharing such a personal struggle, Nancy shows us that through perseverance and self reflection, one can find the strength to live with the disease. The journey of shock, denial, fear, anger, and depression, is a journey worth taking.

Not only do I recommend Bald as a Bean, The Experience of Sudden Hair Loss to those suffering from alopecia or hair loss due to a treatment such as chemotherapy, but as well, to those who enjoy reading true stories about the triumph of the human spirit.

Tracy Roberts, Write Field Services Reviewer

Alopecia is a medical condition that causes severe hair loss in men and women. The collaboration by psychologists Nigel Hunt and Sue McHale, Coping With Alopecia offers solid information and practical advice about the different types of alopecia, causes and treatments, and how to cope with the social consequences of hair loss, from getting along with peers to the strain that losing one's hair can put on relationships. Personal anecdotes along with medical and psychological wisdom create a balanced guide to living with the effects of and successful recovering from alopecia.

The Girl With No Hair by Elizabeth Murphy-Melas is a flat-spined children's picture book about the common condition of alopecia areata, an autoimmune skin disease in which the body's own defenses attack the hair follicles and cause hair loss. People with alopecia are often healthy in every other respect, but children with the disease are often struck with an emotional burden in a phase of life when developing self-esteem is crucial. Bright color pictures by Alex Hernadix enhance the straightforward, understanding text which teaches young readers about what it's like to live with alopecia, and the joy of having a rewarding life with or without hair.

It is very nice book. Easy to read and have update information.

I like experimental technique part that will tell you how to initiate new experiments.

Highly recommend.

With all the hype and rubbish available on the Internet, it is sometimes more sensible to obtain authorative information from reputable sources. For those who are at any stage of the balding process, the Hair Replacement Revolution is an indispensable guide to navigating what options are available. The title may be a bit misleading since the book covers everything from the psychology of hair loss to the latest advancements in pharmaceuticals. Written by reputable authors, I fully recommend this book.

Winner of the Gold Triangle Awards 2000 of the American Academy of Dermatology, Princess Alopecia by Yaacov Peterseil is the story of Alopecia, a young woman with long, beautiful hair. Yet when her hair suddenly begins to fall out Alopecia feels horrible about herself, and about losing her chance to play Princess Rapunzel in the school play! Her teacher sees what is happening and calls a class meeting to make Alopecia feel better. A heartwarming story written especially for children ages 6 through 10 who find themselves having to deal with the condition of alopecia, Princess Alopecia is nicely enhanced throughout with the supportive artwork of Avi Katz.

A really good overview for those newly diagnosed (or friends, family thereof). Provides sufficient information that an alopecia sufferer is unlikely to pursue quacky, expensive, ineffective treatments. Also includes psychological impacts of the condition. Skip the other books about Alopecia (I've read them all). This is the best there is.

As a person recently diagnosed with Alopecia Universalis (all body), I found this book to be very informative, as well as easy to read and understand.

It helped me to understand that there are other people in the world with the same problem that I have.

I would strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about alopecia.

I understand through my dermatologist that Jerry Shapiro is THE person for North America when it comes to knowing about alopecia.

I hope it helps other people the way it has helped me.

This is a very informative book dealing with the many physical and psychological aspects of alopecia areata. Treatments are discussed as well as purchasing wigs, hats, etc. Having dealt with AA for almost 3 yrs. now, I found that there wasn't a lot of information that I didn't already know. However, the book has been helpful in helping friends and family learn more about AA.

This book is mainly geared toward alopecia areata (AA) sufferers, not genetic (androgenic) alopecia sufferers. It contains lots of stories of sufferers, including the author's. The stories are somewhat interesting at first, but get dull rather quickly. There is some information about treatments, however, but it is not as informative as the books by Kobren or as comprehensive as the one by Greenwood-Robinson (if you're a woman). But, if you suffer from AA, then it might be appropriate to read the author's.

The author is English, and so some of her stories include the charm and wit characteristic of the British. She takes the situation somewhat lightheartedly and advises (implicitly) readers to do the same (after all, it is just hair). However, her "cure" which is basically minoxidil, will almost certainly not be a "cure" for those with genetic balding. It is well-known that AA sufferers sometimes regrow spontaneously. The author's case may be due to this and not to minoxodil. She does not mention this possibility (that I recall) in the text. Hence, I believe the title is a bit misleading.

had lot of good information that is beneficial to my problem.