Yes, I have a bald spot. No that doesn’t mean I pull out my hair or that my hair is falling out. I can guarantee that all of my hair is secured in my scalp and that I am not pulling it out in anyway, except for my normal amount of shedding (Sorry for all the hair balls honey, I love you). My bald spot is a spot of triumph and bravery. Before it was a bald spot it was a giant congenital Nevus, or pigmented lesion, or if you really want to break it down, a large birthmark. When I was born, this spot took up the entire side of my head, and it’s smaller friends, known as satellites, followed suit. Due to being born in the 90’s my parents were advised to have it removed. So I had three major surgeons at three, six, and nine months old, all to remove this benign spot. As a result, I have a large bald spot on my head. It’s covered by my hair now. All during school, I was questioned about why I had this bald spot and if I was mentally ill of some kind, but no one ever bothered to do the research when I said “oh it’s just a Nevus.” Even dermatologist’s (the skin doctor) would ask me what I had, and how it effected me. I was always like it’s a spot, like all of the little spots I have. Of course having a Nevus does put you at a higher risk of melanoma. But with the pigmented lesion clinic I go to religiously, my spots are monitored closely.

In October of last year, I had a surgery to revise the scar because I had a bump with Nevus tissue in it that was giving me migraines, and was painful. My boyfriend and I had not been even dating a month, and I explained what I was having done, why, and I asked him to be there to support me. Little did I know that he would be more worried that I would be. He of course had to go to the waiting room during the scar revision and I was just talking to my doctors since I was awake during the entire procedure. It’s pretty normal to have to have revisions to Nevus removal scars. As a result of this, I had stitches that were noticeable, and I had a bald spot. Of course it starts all of the questions over again, and I typically reply “oh I had a minor scar revision” because if I were to say “I have a Nevus” people are more likely to look at me like I’m incompetent rather than spotted. So before you assume that I’m pulling my hair out, or are losing my hair, just ask why there are blue stitches in my head. Of course my love says that none of it is noticeable to help me be less self conscious about it, but my Nevus makes me who I am. My bald spot makes me feel brave because I’m a bit different. So yes, I’m a girl with a bald spot, and no I do not have cancer, am mentally ill, or have alopecia. I just was born with a spot :)