Barbora Krop, an orthodontic assistant, says she first experienced alopecia areata at the age of 28 during her pregnancy. At the time, she had lost three small patches of hair along her scalp. But in 2022, the condition made a comeback when Barbora went for breast augmentation surgery.
Her Story
“It started while I was on holiday with my mum in Mallorca,” she said. “I woke up to find clumps of hair on my pillow. Within two weeks, most of the hair on my scalp had fallen out. I had just a few strands left and looked like Gollum from The Lord of the Rings.”
She continued, “Over the next month, my eyelashes, eyebrows, and body hair also disappeared. I couldn’t walk down the street without people staring at me, and watching the constant hair fall was incredibly stressful.”
According to Barbora, her doctor later confirmed that she had the most severe form of the condition, alopecia universalis, which causes sufferers to lose all of their hair.
Her Diagnosis
“I was so emotional,” Barbora said, opening up about her diagnosis. “I cried a lot and was scared about my health. The doctors didn’t know why it happened to me. Hair is essential for a woman, and no one can imagine what it’s like to lose it. I was so self-conscious and embarrassed I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror.”
“I love life, so I told myself, ‘Hey, Barbora, don’t give up. Show your bald head to the world. It’s not your choice; alopecia chose you,'” she said.
Barbora went on to say that the decision to shave her head was “incredibly liberating.” and that she was “determined to face alopecia head-on and not hide anymore.” Now, she embraces her new appearance and enjoys wearing all kinds of wigs. “The great thing about wigs is that I can change my look daily, and I enjoy it. I have a collection of 12 wigs in different colors and cuts, including two made from human hair.”
Helping Her Followers
Barbora has shared her experience on her Instagram account, which has garnered a whopping 40,000 followers. She posts almost daily, encouraging others dealing with alopecia and sharing snippets of her life.
Barbora said, “I want to continue raising awareness about alopecia. I want to motivate women and help them. I dream to travel with my family, live life to the fullest, and do work I enjoy. I have so many activities sport, work on social media, photomodelling, my job as an orthodontic assistant, and mainly my son, dog, husband, and friends.”
She added, “So, I don’t have time to be sad or depressed. That’s my key to staying positive be with your loved ones and do what you love.”
Resources:
Barbora’s Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/barcakrop/?hl=en
The Mirror: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/real-life-stories/my-hair-fell-out-clumps-33451376
References:
https://www.instagram.com/barcakrop/?hl=en
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/70956
https://www.healthline.com/health/alopecia-universalis
