COLCHESTER, Conn. -- When a 10-year-old Colchester girl began losing her hair, she developed a determination to educate people about her disease.

Brianna Alessio began developing bald patches on her scalp when she was 8 years old.

"I saw small patches and she was sleeping, and I thought maybe her hair was parting differently, and I sort of ignored it for a couple of weeks, then I started seeing other patches," her mother Christine Alessio said.

Brianna was diagnosed with alopecia, an autoimmune disease that causes its victims to lose their hair.

"The first time that I figured out that I had this, and it was only in patches, I'm like 'OK,' you know I'm a little nervous about it, but I'll get through it,'" Brianna said.

There is no cure for alopecia, but there are treatments that help chase the disease from some people. However, none of the treatments worked for Brianna, who has an aggressive form of the disease.

"It's totalis, which is full body, which is what she ended up having -- no hair on her body at all," Christine Alessio said.

Other than hair loss, alopecia does not have any other symptoms. Brianna said she is otherwise healthy.

"I may not have hair, but that is OK. I am true to my friends every day. Hair doesn't matter, it's the person inside. I am me, there is no longer a need to hide." -- Brianna Alessio Diagnosed With Alopecia

"It's not like I'm sick or anything. I'm perfectly healthy. It's not cancer," Brianna said.

Brianna said that she have accepted the fact that she is never going to have hair and the social issues that come along with the disease.

"I may not have hair, but that is OK. I am true to my friends every day," Brianna said. "Hair doesn't matter, it's the person inside. I am me, there is no longer a need to hide."

Since being diagnosed with alopecia, Brianna has engaged on a mission to inform people about the disease and help others suffering from it. She also developed a positive outlook on her situation.

"I like having alopecia. I think it's fun. I don't need to shave, I don't need to worry about having bad hair days, and I get to wear every single color bandanna under the sun," Brianna said.

She was given a wig by the organization Locks of Love, a nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces to children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

The organization creates wigs from donated human hair. To donate, a person must have at least 10 inches of hair they are willing to have cut off.

Cuts Unlimited salon in Hartford's west end participates in the program.

"People call, they set up an appointment, they come in. We have the forms available. We put the hair in a ponytail, we braid it, we cut it," said Keri Vincent, the salon's owner.

Seven-year-old Victoria Duarte went to the salon with her mother to have her hair donated to the organization.

"She's only had her hair cut … once in her whole life -- her whole life," her mother, Clara Duarte said.

More Information:

Link: Locks Of Love

Link: National Alopecia Areata Foundation

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