Bahraini doctor raises awareness on skin diseases through story telling

Written by Fatima Najm

Manama, June 11 (BNA): “I defeated the fox” is the first book of stories in Arabic about alopecia, and it is the first in a series of children’s stories published by Bahraini dermatologist Dr. Fatima Khamdin to raise awareness of hair and skin diseases.

Dr. Khamdeen launched the book, talking about alopecia from a child’s point of view, at an event held under the auspices of Dr. Ahmed Al-Ansari, CEO of Government Hospitals, at the Safia Ali Kanoo Center.

She said her main goal is to highlight the fact that alopecia is not actually a contagious hair disorder, and to show support for children and their parents.

Alopecia areata is hair loss caused by the immune system attacking the hair follicles. There are a number of types of alopecia, and its symptoms vary from partial loss of hair on the scalp, to complete loss of body hair.

It got its name from alopekia, the Greek word for fox scabies, which is characterized by a loss of fur.

The dermatologist explained that after more than 10 years of experience in the field, she has come across countless cases of patients who have faced two struggles rather than one.

The first struggle was the skin disease itself, and the second was the bullying they faced.

Dr. Fatima felt the need to create a springboard with the goal of raising awareness in the community, showing support, and putting an end to the bullying that patients face.

“Most of the children who were being watched at the clinic struggled with accepting themselves with alopecia, mainly due to the lack of awareness in the community about their condition. Once they got the support and reassurance they needed, I would watch them radiate with confidence and happiness.”

Dr. Khamdeen began writing the story during her fellowship in the United States of America with her eldest son Ahmed, who suffers from alopecia.

“Ahmed, who played an important role in delivering our message. He was my main source of inspiration in writing short stories from a child’s point of view to reach all children,” she said.

The book and all upcoming nonfiction books on psoriasis, vitiligo and eczema will be published in Dar Rowa Bookshop. The group will be in Arabic and English to reach a larger target audience.

Dr. Khamdan is a Chief Dermatology Resident at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC), board certified in Dermatology and Venereology. She completed the International Dermatology Fellowship Program at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in the USA and was appointed as an affiliate faculty member at the same institute.

She is also the official social media editor for the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD) and was a former STRP and FPRP training coordinator at SMC.