Katelyn is our youngest Alopecia Star. At the tender age of six Katelyn has had a difficult start to life.

 

The story starts at Katelyn's birth. As a twin she and her brother were immediately placed in a NICU unit in hospital suffering from their traumatic birth. After a few weeks she and her brother were allowed home but Katelyn's was hampered by tests for Lymphoma, cystic fibrosis and many more conditions. The good news is all the tests proved negative.

 

As a toddler life seemed to be following a fairly normal pattern, she suffered from eczema from birth and this proved difficult to control however it was always kept under control by regular moisturising and steroid treatment. Or so it was thought. Katelyn appeared a healthy child and hair growth was very normal for a child her age until her family noticed a significant amount of hair thinning in July 2005. By Christmas the hair loss was catastrophic at about 70%.

 

Despite numerous consultations Katelyn's family were forced to come to terms that this small child was to be diagnosed with alopecia. It was with complete fortune there was a consultation with a doctor on a separate medical condition that brought a glimmer of hope to Katelyn. The doctor was concerned about a product which had been previously prescribed on a repeat prescription, this product contained wheat and in some circumstances may cause a gluten intolerance that may result in hair loss. A substitute product was prescribed and amazingly within a year Katelyn's hair growth started to improve. Katelyn is now six and at this time has fully recovered form the condition.

 

It will never be known if this sole product contributed to this hair loss but as a family they keep away from wheat based moisturizing products. The family still battle eczema but this is now under control. Katelyn is now an integral part of the group, this has enabled Katelyn to grow in stature and become a very confident little girl. She has a great school and great teachers. Katelyn is now a testament to us all about bravery.