Essex campaigner with alopecia fighting to stop the stare

But there are seven billion people on the planet and “normal” and “beautiful” take different forms for everyone.

Laura Mathias, 31, is one of the Changing Faces campaigners who will be encouraging people to be more understanding as part of the Stop The Stare campaign this Face Equality Week.

Having suffered from alopecia since 13-years-old, Laura, of Manningtree, has been using her own experience to highlight the impact of consciously or unconsciously staring people with visual differences.

This campaign comes after Changing Faces’ research found 43 per cent of people with visible differences - a scar, mark or condition on their face or body - have experienced hostile behaviour when they go out in public in 2021.

Laura started losing her hair when she was 13

“It is really not a revolutionary thing we are asking,” said Laura ”It is really rude to stare at people and we are talking about the kind of thing which I have experienced when someone doesn’t look away.

“They don’t smile, don’t speak to you and are just staring which is quite hostile.

“This has literally been the difference between me being able to continue out and about or turning round and going home.

“I have crumbled.”

• READ MORE: Laura's empowering message that ‘you can be bald and beautiful’

Having worn wigs for most of her life, Laura found her inner strength during lockdown when she started sharing her experience on social media.

She admits her confidence still suffers from people’s prejudice but she wants to make the world right for every girl living with the auto-immune disease.

She said: “Unfortunately I am still at the stage where I have to think about it every time before I leave the house bald.

“It takes me getting into the correct mindset to have the confidence to do it before anyone even sees me.

“Recently I had been getting the train to London and wearing a bandana or wig.

“On one occasion I was wearing a bandana but it was a very thin one so it was obvious I didn’t have hair and this man just wouldn’t stop staring at me.

“He was not ashamed, he didn’t smile or apologise.

“It really did impact how I felt for the rest of the day. I was just there existing, listening to my music for a nice day out in London and it was like he reminded me I am different and something to be stared at.”

The Changing Faces research found that half of respondents felt self-conscious or embarrassed as a result of their visible differences, which took a toll on their mental health and wellbeing.

A further 25 per cent reported feeling isolated and lonely because of their visible difference, while around 28 per cent said they were getting stared at when going out.

Laura said: "I need to do this because I don’t want another 12 or 13-year-old at the start of their alopecia journey to feel terrified about going out.

“I would rather people stare at me so hopefully they won’t stare at the next person they see.

“People talk about alopecia not being a life-threatening condition but it is a life-limiting one.

“It is something I am forced to think about every single day when people stare at me like that.

“I just want to live my best life whether I have something on my head or not.”

Laura is an inspiration to embrace ourselves

Going back in time, Laura shares growing up with alopecia hasn’t always been easy.

She admits her confidence still comes and goes.

She said: “I didn’t feel particularly strong back then. I stopped going to school, l stopped leaving the house for a few months.

“I was so terrified of being looked at and bullied.

“It was even the fear of being bullied that stopped me.

“Losing your hair at such a young age where no adult around you, including the doctors, seem to be able to give you a solution is too much emotionally to comprehend at that age.”

Laura says people tend to make big assumptions when they see someone suffering from hair loss. Then they either think “you are not well or suffering with something".

And this is the stereotype she would like to change.

Laura added: “After staring people assume that I have cancer or am going through cancer treatment. I find really difficult.

“For many years I have known the goal is not to hope my hair will come back. Now it is about embracing who I am and not letting anyone else tell me what is the right way to deal with my alopecia.

“I've found a new way to express my creativity and reclaim control of these stares. I often wear a bright pink wig.

“We are all human beings and manners, respect and kindness go a long way to helping that person's day be brighter.”

Visit www.changingfaces.org.uk.