A LITTLE girl started going bald when she was just seven years old and her mum thinks it was caused by school bullies.

Mum Wendy first noticed a bald patch on her daughter, Bonnie Pullan, during a half-term holiday.

Eventually, all of Bonnie’s hair fell out although it did start to grow back when she was with her mum at home during the coronavirus lockdown.

Since returning to school, all her hair, including her eyelashes and eyebrows, have fallen out and Bonnie has been diagnosed with alopecia universalis.

The condition is characterised by complete hair loss which is not expected to grow back.

Wendy, from Skircoat Green in Halifax, believes it was the stress caused by bullying and “nasty comments” which triggered the condition.

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They bullying also continued after she had lost her hair.

Wendy went to the school and spoke with staff and the bullying has now stopped.

Now, Bonnie is struggling with her confidence and self-image.

Experts think that alopecia universalis may in fact be caused by an immune system disorder, where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, causing it to fall out, a report in Medical News Today suggests.

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Although it does state that this may not be the only cause and factors such as genetics and environment may also play a prole.

According to the research, alopecia has not been proven to be related to stress.

The report says: “It is possible that extreme stress, combined with genetics and immune system problems, could trigger alopecia areata and universalis. No medical studies have proven this link, however.”

It added: “Hair loss caused by stress is known as telogen effluvium. This type of hair loss is temporary and not related to immune or genetic factors. Usually, telogen effluvium is caused by physical or mental stress, such as severe illness, surgery, childbirth, emotionally stressful events, extreme diets, and medications.”

Wendy told the Yorkshire Examiner: "As a family, we engage with Alopecia charities and remind Bonnie every day that real beauty is on the inside, but the reality is we know the importance of hair to young girls.

"As secondary school looms she says things to me like 'Mum, I don’t like myself' or 'Mum, all of my friends are pretty and I’m not'. It is heartbreaking to see the toll it has on her mental health.”

Wendy says Bonnie is a “typical girl” who loves playing outside and watching videos.

Bonnie has also received an award from Alopecia UK for her fundraising work, which has included a sponsored walk.

"Bonnie has always been so strong, winning awards at school,” Wendy said. “She won an award for Alopecia UK for her fundraising and spreading awareness. She’s the strongest girl I know."

Bonnie’s family have now set up a donation page in the hope of changing her life and returning the confidence she lost when her hair fell out.

The Yorkshire Hair Clinic in Huddersfield is hoping to raise £5,000 for hair replacement for Bonnie.

Its founders, Hayley Jennings and Jessica Patrick, will take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge on May 28 in order to raise money to buy a CNC hair replacement system made by The Cesare Ragazzi Laboratories in Italy.

The CNC hair replacement is non-invasive and dermatologically tested which is 3D printed to a bespoke mould of the wearer's head.

Once Bonnie has hers, she can wear it 24/7 for up to four weeks at a time before having to go to Yorkshire Hair Clinic in order to have complimentary maintenance appointments.

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Jessica Parick said: "At Yorkshire Hair Clinic we see the difference that a CNC hair replacement system makes to those struggling with hair loss. The newly restored confidence clients leave the clinic with is a joy to watch. We can’t wait to see that in Bonnie!"

Anyone wanting to make a donation can visit the GoFundMe page here.

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