Rushali Chandel was diagnosed with alopecia as a little girl; and while her struggles living according to society's set beauty standards started young, it was only later she realised she could define her own narrative whether or not she was accepted for it.
In this conversation with SheThePeople, Rushali Chandel opens up about her alopecia diagnosis, the challenges she faced fighting with societal beauty standards, how she empowers women around her, and what it takes to not be held back anymore.
Rushali Chandel Alopecia Journey
“I was about 4 years old, I was diagnosed with alopecia, but as a child, I didn’t realise that I was different from others. I was completely unaware of society’s beauty standards and didn’t know that you have to fit into a certain mold to be considered beautiful.
However, my parents were deeply concerned as people would make comments like, “She is already overweight, and now she’s losing her hair. How will she ever get married?” Such comments were directed at me when I was just 6, but my parents always shielded me from the cruel words of society.
They tried various treatments, but alopecia was a relatively unknown condition at that time, and very few people were aware of it. Some doctors even experimented with me by injecting medicines into my head multiple times at once.
During my childhood, my hair grew back, but as soon as I finished school, the alopecia returned. It shattered me, and for three months, I couldn’t bear to look at myself in the mirror. I sought help from doctors and again they injected medicines into my scalp. I even encountered doctors who scammed me. I underwent various treatments to treat this condition.
As I grew up, I went through depression and anxiety due to my condition. Then I reached a point when I decided to quit all my efforts. I visited a doctor, who bluntly told me to buy a wig because my hair would never grow back. His words affected me deeply and I isolated myself for three days. My health deteriorated, and my anxiety and depression escalated. Eventually, I started therapy and medication, and now I have regained my confidence.
Recently, I started travelling in the metro, and everyone I encountered asked me if I had cancer. It became a constant and burdensome question to answer repeatedly. This experience motivated me to start a page to raise awareness about alopecia because people are still unaware of the condition.
My journey so far with Alopecia has been disheartening, but I have always embraced who I am. I am now doing whatever I want to do, whether it involves using a wig or not. If I want to dance, I do it in the front row, without inhibitions. I refuse to let the way I look hold me back anymore.”
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Suggested reading: Alopecia Patient Woman Shares Inspiring Story Of Exploring Self-Love
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