"I'm 23 and losing my hair"
About this episode
The episode discusses the experiences of individuals living with alopecia and the impact of social media in raising awareness about the condition.
Alopecia, the medical term for hair loss, affects an estimated 160 million people worldwide. Some forms of the condition disproportionately affect black women, due to a combination of factors including hairstyles that place tension on the hair, as well as genetic and hormonal influences. Now, some dermatologists are also saying they're seeing more cases, particularly among younger people. Meanwhile, researchers in Japan have hinted at potential new treatments for hair loss. Focus on Africa podcast host Nkechi Ogbonna spoke to 23-year-old Sharon Chepkoech, known online as Kechi, from Kenya, and 47-old-year Mpume Dlamini from South Africa about their experience of living with alopecia and how they are using social media to raise awareness of the condition. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Fana Negash, Carolyne Kiambo and Keikantse Shumba Senior Producer: Priya Sippy and Bella Twine Technical Producer: Jonathan Mwangi Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla
People in this episode
Host: Nkechi Ogbonna
Guests: Sharon Chepkoech, Mpume Dlamini
Topics covered
- alopecia
- hair loss
- social media awareness
- dermatology
- health
- black women
Keywords
- alopecia
- hair loss
- black women
- social media
- dermatologists
- treatment
- Kenya
- South Africa
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: BBC World Service
Places: Kenya, South Africa, Japan
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