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Support-group member pressures patient to grow hair despite medical need to keep it short

A person undergoing dermatologist-prescribed UV treatment cut their hair short so light can reach a painful, scabbing scalp condition, yet a support-group member repeatedly urges them to grow it out.

Published Apr 11, 2026, 6:55 AM EDT | LehighValleyLive

Dear Eric: About three years ago, I found out I have a neural immune skin issue where I break out with bumps which scab over and are very sore and painful. About a year ago, this condition broke out on my scalp, and it is not healing and going away. I have some areas of alopecia, and the sores and scabs are very painful.

As a result, the dermatologist prescribed UV light treatment to help my scalp. For this treatment, I cut my hair very short on top of my head, so the UV lights could penetrate through the hair to my scalp.