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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The month of September each year is recognized as
3National Scarring Alopecia Awareness Month to increase
4knowledge and awareness of scarring alopecia; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Scarring (cicatricial) alopecia (hair loss) is
6still not well-known among patients and the public; many
7patients and the public do not know the difference between
8non-scarring alopecia and scarring alopecia; scarring alopecia
9encompasses a group of hair loss disorders that causes
10inflammation, and the hair follicles are irreversibly
11destroyed (permanently damaged) and replaced by fibrous
12tissue; there is no way to regrow the hair that is already lost
13and permanently damaged; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Within the alopecia population, the prevalence of
15scarring alopecia is believed to be approximately 7%, but not
16enough epidemiological studies have been performed to
17determine the incidence of scarring (cicatricial) alopecias;
18clinically, it is defined as one or more patches of permanent
19alopecia on the scalp; these may remain discrete or coalesce
20to produce a near total alopecia; within the patches, the skin
21is bald, smooth, and shiny, and pores are absent because of a
22complete loss of follicular openings; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Scarring hair loss is a traumatizing experience
2and may negatively impact a hair loss patient's quality of
3life (QOL); permanent hair loss can be disfiguring and damage
4an affected individual's self-esteem; currently, there are not
5any approved Federal Drug Administration (FDA) drugs for
6scarring (cicatricial) alopecia patients, which often leaves
7patients feeling defeated and hopeless; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Bringing awareness to this disease can help those
9experiencing scarring hair loss remain confident and positive,
10despite their condition; hair loss often carries a stigma that
11can only be dispelled with education and knowledge, and for
12many with this disease, the emotional aspect of living with
13hair loss can be the greatest challenge; and
 
14    WHEREAS, National Scarring Alopecia Awareness Month serves
15as a time to focus on educating hair stylists, medical
16professionals, undiagnosed patients, and the general
17population about this traumatic, scarring, and often painful
18disease; and
 
19    WHEREAS, National Scarring Alopecia Awareness Month serves
20as a spark to increase advocacy efforts for scarring alopecia
21patients and to underscore the importance of understanding
22this rare disease; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
2HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
3we recognize the month of September 2024 as being National
4Scarring Alopecia Awareness Month; and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6presented to the Scarring Alopecia Foundation as a symbol of
7our respect and esteem.