defeated the fox" is the first storybook in Arabic on alopecia, and also the first in a series of storybooks for children by Bahraini dermatologist Dr. Fatema Khamden to raise awareness on hair and skin disorders.

Dr. Khamden launched the book, talking about alopecia from a child's point of view, in an event under the patronage of Dr. Ahmed Al Ansari, Government Hospitals Chief Executive, at Safeya Ali Kanoo hub.

She said her main goal was to highlight the fact that alopecia is in fact not a contagious hair disorder, and to show support to the children and their parents.

Alopecia is a hair loss resulting from the immune system attacking hair follicles. There are a number of types of alopecia, with the symptoms varying from partial hair loss on the scalp complete loss of hair on the body.

It gets its name from alopekia, the Greek word for fox mange, which is characterised by loss of fur.

The dermatologist explained that after more than 10 years of experience in the field, she came across countless cases of patients who faced two struggles rather than one.

The first struggle was the skin disease itself, and the second is the bullying they face.

Dr. Fatima felt the need to create a starting point with the goal of raising awareness in the community, to show support, and to put an end to the bullying faced by patients.

"Most of the kids who were following up at the clinic struggled with accepting themselves with Alopecia, mainly due to the lack of awareness in the community regarding their condition. As soon as they were given the support and reassurance they need, I would notice them beam with confidence and happiness," she said.

Dr. Khamden started writing the storybook during her fellowship studies in the USA with her eldest son, Ahmed, who has alopecia.

"Ahmed, who played an important role in delivering our message. He was my main source of inspiration in writing the storybook, from a child’s point of view to reach all children," she said.

The book and all the upcoming storybooks on psoriasis, vitiligo and eczema will be published at Dar Rua Stationery. The collection will be in both Arabic and English to reach a bigger target audience.

Dr. Khamdan is a Chief Dermatology Resident at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC), board certified in Dermatology and Venereology. She completed the international program of dermatopathology fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in USA and was appointed as an affiliate faculty at the same institute.

She is also an official social media editor of Journal of American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD) and was a former STRP and FPRP training coordinator at SMC.

Source: Bahrain News Agency