My intent for this blog is to provide a senior citizen voice. In that regard, I am eminently qualified since I have recently joined the 55+ gang. With that in mind, here are a few things you should know about me.
I live and work in corporate America, I like to cook, and reading is my obsession. There’s much more, but for now I’d like to talk about my “cotton candy hair.”
I don’t mean to imply my hair is pastel pink or blue. What I’m saying is, my hair has lost all semblance of what is commonly known as “body.” When I watch shampoo commercials on TV and the model’s lustrous hair is bouncing and flowing from side to side in slow motion, I sigh deeply, and force myself to face reality. The fact is there is no shampoo on the face of this planet that is going to change the fact that I have cotton candy hair. How did this happen? And is there anything I can do about it? According to MSNBC…
A shock to the body’s system, which stresses the hair follicles, is often to blame for this change in cyclical hair events. Two to three months after the stressor hits, up to 70 percent of hairs can enter the telogen phase and commence a massive “fall out”.
…This may be due to a condition called alopecia areata. This is thought to be an autoimmune disease in which antibodies attack the hair follicles and hair falls out in small, round patches. In some individuals, this can progress to total loss of hair on the head (alopecia areata totalis), or even complete loss of hair on the head, face (eyebrows, eyelashes) and body (pubic and underarm hair). The latter rare condition is called alopecia areata universalis.
…There are a number of therapies that are currently being used (when there are multiple therapies, it generally means that no one is going to be absolutely effective). They include:
- Corticoid steroids: These are cortisone types of anti-inflammatory drugs that help to suppress the immune system; they can be given as a pill, topical ointment or as a local injection, directly into the hairless patches on the scalp.
- Minoxidil 5%: (known under the brand name of Rogaine) This promotes hair growth in several conditions in which the hair follicles are small and not growing to their full potential. It needs to be used on a daily basis. New hair growth can appear in about 12 weeks, however if use of the drug stops, the new hair may fall out.
- Anthralin (Psoriatic): This is a tar like substance that is used to treat psoriasis; it changes the immune function in the affected skin. If it does work, new hair growth is seen in eight to twelve weeks. It is often used in combination with other medications.
- Sulfasalazin: This sulfa drug is used to treat autoimmune disorders.
- Topical sensitizers: These, when applied to the scalp, cause an allergic reaction that leads to itching and scaling, but also stimulate the hair follicles and can cause hair growth. Again, results are only seen after long-term use, usually three to twelve months.
- Photo chemotherapy: This too is used for psoriasis. It has helped about half those treated, but requires special equipment and treatment two to three times a week. There are concerns that it could increase risk of skin cancer.
Hmm, that doesn’t sound too encouraging.
Anyway, now that I got that off my chest, I’ll close with remarks about the general content you should expect from my blog.
Since I suffer the same setbacks as any other senior citizen, and I revel in the same joys, sometimes I’ll share a memoir with you. From time to time, I’ll give you hints about how you can start your own journal or blog. I intend to talk about vacations, retirement trends, and about topics in the news that apply to us seniors. I may even reveal some of my most cherished recipes. (It could happen!)
Some of what you find here will be light and fun, at other times it could be important stuff, because learning new things should never come to a grinding half.
Your comments, concerns and ideas are always welcome. It will please me if we, as senior citizens, are out here thinking and planning, and expressing ourselves. Here’s to us!
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Hi Frances Ellen – thanks so much for commenting on my blog today, for now I’ve found yours. I’m right at age 55 so your blog is sure to have content that I’ll identify with. I think that writing for seniors is a great blogging niche. Good to meet you!
You’re as young as you feel! Nice blog!
Dear Denise,
I know I’m as young as I feel, but that doesn’t stop me from wishing I had more hair, darn it.
I notice you didn’t comment on the Kitchen Tips. heh, heh.
Hello, thanks for the good “Cotton Candy | Frances Ellen Speaks!” post. Would it be possible, that i can write a story about this post in our local newspaper? I would be really happy if i can do this and i will give you a link from a german blog too. Please answer. Greetings Goldpreise
Hello, I attempted to msg you in relation to a question I had relating to this site’s post, however I can not really figure out a way to find you. If however you can view my e-mail, will you shoot me a e-mail? Thanks.
To Candy Floss. Unfortunately, I could not read your email. Feel free to leave your msg in comments, if you wish.
im in general jumping across the internet just about all of the working day and so I have the inclination to browse quite a bit, which unfortunately is not usually a good thing as some of the pages I look at are constructed of useless nonsense copied from similar web pages a zillion times, nonetheless I have to compliment you because this blog is certainly half decent and also consists of a bit of authentic substance, therefore many thanks for removing the fad of exactly copying other peoples’ sites, in case you ever wanna play a few hands of facebook poker together just email me – you have my email address 🙂
Glad you visited my site and liked what you read.
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I loved you in the morning, our kisses deep and warm, your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy, golden storm, yes many loved before us, I know we are not new, in city and in forest they smiled like me and you, but now it’s come to distances and both of us must try, your eyes are soft with sorrow, Hey, that’s no way to say goodbye.
I’m impressed to see more and more seniors online making their voices and opinions heard. Even now I don’t think that there are enough and that many simply are unable to do anything about their situations… they just take it and hope things end. I makes me quite depressed.
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