A Fife schoolgirl has been reduced to tears and had her confidence shattered after cruel bullies targeted her when her hair began to fall out.
Lily Thomson, was mocked by bullies who said she "looked like she had cancer" after being diagnosed with alopecia in September 2022.
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The 11-year-old began developing bald patches around the size of a 20p coin after returning from holiday with her family. Lily's family believed the hair loss was down to braids being made too tight, however, a dermatologist eventually diagnosed her with alopecia.
Lily's family say the "bright and confident" youth has increasingly become more isolated as it became harder to hide the patches on her head.
Cheryl Wilkinson, 30, Lily's aunt, told the Daily Record : "We began noticing small bald patches around the size of a 20 pence coin when we returned from holiday last year.
"We'd thought it had been caused by these hair braids that she had got on holiday but they kept getting bigger. The doctors ran some blood tests and referred us to a dermatologist at the hospital who confirmed she had Alopecia."
Lily was given steroid cream before doctors moved her onto a stronger dose which caused burns on her head.
Cheryl added: "The cream wasn't working so they gave her a stronger cream which burned all of her head and left her with really bad sore bits.
"The doctors said there wasn't much they could do for her. They said it could be genetic but we think it might be down to stress because she has been through a lot."
Cheryl says the condition has had a devastating impact on Lily's confidence.
She added: "You could tell it was bothering her at the start but it wasn't that bad. As it got worse we noticed that she was coming home upset and saying she doesn't want to go to school which isn't like her.
"Eventually she told us that her supposed friends had been taking her up to other people and showing off the bald patches. Some of them were coming up to her and saying she had cancer and laughing at her.
"It's been devastating for her confidence. She doesn't really want to leave the house or do anything because she doesn't want anyone to see her hair, which is heartbreaking."
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The family is worried the bullying might get worse when she heads to high school next year. They have set up a fundraiser in hopes of raising enough money to cover specialist treatment to regrow her hair.
Cheryl said: "We've explored different options but they range from a few hundred pounds to well over a thousand when you factor in maintenance. We're all desperate to give her back the confidence she had because she is a beautiful and bright young lass."
Those wishing to make a donation to the fundraiser can do so here.
