My Winter Approach

If you have been following the blog, you will know that I went many years without wearing a wig at all. And although I do love the wigs I have now, I actually attend the beginning of each semester without my wig. This way, I have the option to come to class with or without it at any point, without the weird stares.

Now that the semester is coming to an end, I have found myself more recently wearing my wig to class. Not because my comfort level has changed... but because the temperature has changed! I now live in the DC area, and our winters are pretty chilly! Some days I opt to leave my knit cap and chunky scarf at home, and wear my wig instead!

For those of you who also have Alopecia, or who may have weak immune systems, like mine- you will know that part of keeping yourself healthy in the wintertime is keeping yourself warm! Remember when you were growing up and your parents would tell you to wear warm socks and a warm hat? That is because we lose some of our body heat from our head and our feet. If you walk outside completely bald, you may feel extra chilly, just as you would walking outside barefoot or with a tank top.

How many of you are more likely to wear your hair when it is colder outside?

Another thought to consider is keeping your scalp moisturized this time of year! Much like the rest of the skin on your body, your scalp can become chapped- especially during cold weather season. If you have never used lotion on your head, I suggest you begin by applying conditioner to your scalp in the shower and rinse as usual. Then try applying a hypoallergenic, sensitive skin lotion on your scalp, very lightly. Allow it to dry before wearing your wig or hat. If you know your skin is generally sensitive, consider speaking to a dermatologist before applying anything.

For me, I always knew wintertime meant my hair was going to start falling out again. My hair loss has never been constant. Generally, my hair would fall out during the fall and winter, and begin growing back over the summer months. This pattern has since gone away, but as a teenager, it was rather predictable. There are no studies that conclusively link weather or seasons to hair loss at this point. But, I can confidently share that whenever I spend a great amount of time in the sun, or even sunbeds (as unsafe as they may be!), I have typically shown regrowth! Just so you know, you can spend time under the sun or in a sun bed, wear sunscreen and still reap the benefits of the light. Sunlight can even help improve your mood!

Has anyone else noticed these patterns?

Have you noticed any changes, with the season? Or, do you have any other tips or tricks I haven't included?
Leave your comments here or on Facebook by joining the group, Kayla Martell's Corner for Women & Children with Hair Loss! Hope to see you there!

Happy holidays everyone!