« All News Articles

Saturday March 15, 2008

By MARY SHEDDEN
The Tampa Tribune

Don't tell Susan Beausang it's no big deal that she's bald.

And never say, "It's just hair."

Beausang's sudden hair loss in 2002 triggered a profound fear of being seen outside her Sarasota home. The outgoing Philadelphia native, who is an active recreational athlete and stockbroker, became a prisoner in her own home - trapped by alopecia, an autoimmune disease that has robbed her entire body of hair.

"It's not ‘just my hair.' Your hair is huge. It defines you as a person," says Beausang (pictured), who felt just as uncomfortable wearing a wig. "Our society is not accepting of bald women."

An estimated 4.5 million people - 1.5 percent of the U.S. population - are affected by alopecia areata. Men and women of all ages, and particularly children, are diagnosed with the disease. It often starts with the loss of small patches of hair and can escalate to the loss of all body hair, including eyelashes, the National Alopecia Areata Foundation reports on its Web site, www.naaf.org.

It took a year before Beausang was able to channel that all-consuming fear into a positive. She decided to create an attractive accessory that didn't hide her new look. The "beaubeau" fitted scarf not only got her out of the house, but also launched a new business venture and gave Beausang the opportunity to advocate for women with medical hair loss.

There's nothing demure about the beaubeau, a silky wrap that securely covers the head and includes a swath of cloth that hangs like a colorful ponytail. The patterns and prints are bold, and they change according to the latest clothing trends, the former fashion merchandiser says.

"It makes you feel like you have hair falling on your neck," she says of the fashion and exercise scarves, which are priced from between $44 to $60 each.

It's no surprise 90 percent of the women buying the beaubeaus are cancer patients. The scarves are sold online (www.4women.com) and in cancer center boutiques around the country, including Magnolia's hair and beauty salon at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute.

"Cancer patients know their hair is coming back, so they want to do something stylish during their treatment," says Beausang, who many people incorrectly think is a cancer patient.

Her ability to help patients get through chemotherapy means a lot to Beausang. Breast cancer has claimed three generations of women in her family, including a sister. Genetic tests also confirmed she was at extreme risk for contracting the cancer herself, which led her to have her ovaries removed and undergo a full mastectomy about nine years ago. She is cancer free.

Beausang's hair loss is unrelated to her precancerous surgeries. Although it can take a toll on a person's selfimage, alopecia is not medically disabling, the national support foundation says. Beausang says that's why she loves helping others in her situation understand they are not alone.

"I was determined to not just be known as the bald woman," she says. "This gets me through the day and makes me feel better about myself."

Download Full Article

« All News Articles