article: Unfortunately, a side effect of the tablets was hair loss. I had a large bald patch at the back and lots of smaller patches on the top and around my hairline at the front. I went to see various specialists and tried out a number of different shampoos, creams and sprays - but nothing worked. Because I was so embarrassed and self-conscious about my hair - I started to pull it out, which only made the situation worse but strangely made me feel better. In September last year, I went to a company in Belfast to have special hair extensions fitted, which stopped me from being able to pull my own hair out and allowed it to grow. On a regular maintenance appointment to my get my hair extensions tightened, I was told I didn't need to keep them in anymore. It was exactly six months since I'd had them fitted and to be honest, they had become like a security blanket. I wasn't sure how I felt at the thought of having them taken out. I was happy, scared and pretty emotional all at the same time. Once my hair had been washed and dried, I couldn't believe the difference. I realised at that point I had absolutely no reason to be scared. My hair had grown back, and was stronger and thicker than it had ever been before. The next day, I went to my own hairdresser, who put some highlights in and cut my hair back into the style I had had before the problems began. I had struggled with hair loss for nearly four years and after using numerous shampoos, sprays, creams and taking different courses of herbal tablets, I only found the solution I was looking for in September 2012. After searching online, I came across a private company who deal with all types of hair loss - from women who are completely bald, to women like me who have a less severe problem. I made an appointment, went to the clinic at 09:30 BST - spent 10 hours there getting hand sewn extensions fitted and came out with the shoulder length hair I had wanted since 2008. I didn't realise how depressed I was about my hair loss until I had the extensions fitted. We first noticed the problem in 2008, after I had finished a course of very strong prescribed medication for acne. One evening, while I was watching TV, my parents noticed I had developed a large bald patch on the back of my head. When they told me and showed me, I was absolutely devastated. We initially thought it was alopecia, and I was afraid that I might lose more, or all of my hair. However, upon further investigation, we discovered it was a side effect of the tablets I had been taking. At the time, my hair was shoulder length - and it had to be cut short to try and disguise the bald patch as much as possible. I was gutted and felt like I'd lost all my femininity. I became
summary: In 2008, I had been taking very strong prescription medication for acne.