All during my school years I started each year almost sick with fall allergies. Of course, the school building and our home were air conditioned by open windows, and I had no idea at the time that being outside aggravated the problem. By the time the allergies subsided I began to have eczema on my hands, arms and eye lids. This usually went away in the summer, but it was suspected that I was allergic to something. During my fifth grade year I developed another problem - a scalp infection. I did not know it at the time, but I do have sensitivity to most things that come in contact with my skin. The method of washing my hair was that once a week as I bent over a sink or in the summer over a rain barrel, either Mom or I would shampoo my hair and rinse it in water. We always used a minimum of water. Apparently the shampoo was not adequately rinsed out so the irritation on the top of my head turned into an infection.
My fifth grade teacher looked like the stereotype of a little old woman. She wore a bun on top of her head and her hair was graying. Apparently the infection was more noticeable than I thought because my teacher took me aside and said that if I would rub salt in the area every day that would help cure it. I couldn't tell that it helped, but I did do it faithfully.
At the end of fifth grade we moved to Idaho. I have already shared my wonderful memories of the adventure so I will not repeat them here. It was several years before the problem with my scalp infection and the contact allergies was solved. I did have to endure hair loss at a time when it was not cool to be different.
1 comment:
I just yesterday was reading about alopecia. This post made me think of those with that condition.
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