Last month, “og NOC girl” Nina Tan broke her long silence on social media to document her new “botak-ness,” showing off three new bald spots in a March 9 Instagram post.
She wrote, “I’ve reach a stage in my life where my body tells me obvious signs when I needa chilllllllz the F out,” adding that she had sought medical help for her hair loss.
Since then, Ms Tan, who says she loves her trademark “long ass hair,” confirmed she’s been diagnosed with alopecia, and dealing with the condition over the last two months “has been quite disheartening,” she wrote in her latest IG post on Apr 23.
Alopecia, or hair loss, may be caused by hormonal changes, medical conditions, or may be the result of heredity or ageing. It can affect a person’s head or their whole body, and can either be permanent or merely a temporary condition.
View this post on Instagram
Ms Tan is a former NOC actress and producer, as well as the cousin of NOC founder Ryan Tan. She also hosted The Thirsty Sisters podcast along with Ryan’s ex-wife and co-NOC founder, Sylvia Chan.
She took the time to “thank the hundreds of you who dropped me a DM to encourage me.”
There were even some, she added, who shared experiences and photos, which brought her comfort.
And while some people have asked her how she’s doing via DMs, she wrote, “I admit that I don’t really reply to DMs mainly because Im not good with words for now. Some days Im okay, some days Im not and I don’t wanna pretend to be all good.”
Ms Tan added, “I loved my long ass hair and I even thought about shaving my whole head.”
And while she’s been receiving advice from different doctors as well as treatment, but unfortunately, the baldness she’s suffering from is still at “a spreading stage”.
Things have not been easy for Ms Tan, who wrote that “Having to go through the constant hairloss, swelling, throbbing headache and medications plus dealing with life is just…. I know it’s just hair…. But this entire period is just frustrating. Really thankful for my close circle who have been nothing but supportive esp on my down days 🥹”.
She also gave a shoutout to Dr Gerard Ee, the medical director of The Clifford Clinic for his support during her difficult times, calling him “the most kind and gentle.”
“I rmb him telling me to ‘focus on recovery’ and making monthly check-ins with me. He lightens up this whole nightmare for me.”
And on a more optimistic note, she added that since her diagnosis two months ago and her treatments began, “the results surpass whatever I have read online. Baby steps baby hair ftw!”
Ms Tan also wrote that she will continue to update her followers, many of whom shared that they have the same condition, on her progress.
/TISG