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Address the cause if it's obvious -

It’s always wise to address the possible cause of it, such as constantly dying your hair.

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It's an autoimmune condition -

It’s an autoimmune condition. Our immune system is essentially mistaking our hair follicles for a foreign invader (like a virus) and goes on the attack. It’s suspected to be genetic, much like many autoimmune diseases.

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Alopecia universalis -

It can result in total hair loss, commonly referred to as alopecia universalis, which prevents hair from growing back.

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Creams -

Some agents can be applied to the scalp to promote hair growth. An example would be a specific kind of corticosteroid cream.

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Steroidal injections -

Another way in which hair growth is stimulated is tiny needles being injected in and around a bald patch, with steroids introduced to promote growth.

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Oral treatments -

Oral treatments are being used too, such as immunosuppressants, which attempt to stop the immune system from killing hair follicles in the first place.

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Light therapy -

Light therapy is a form of radiation treatment that combines oral medication called psoralens and UV light.

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Alternatives -

There are a number of alternative treatments, too. These range from aromatherapy to acupuncture.

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It's very common -

Over five million people in the US have it. 

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It knock people's confidence -

The secondary psychological effects of the condition shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s really hard for people to deal with. It can knock their confidence.

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Diet may help -

Some people start by avoiding sugary drinks and fatty foods to decrease inflammation.

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It's tougher for people with longer hair -

Women wear their hair long more often than men, so it could be argued it's harder for them to deal with.

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There's hope -

However, there is hope: it’s rarely permanent. Depending on what the cause of the alopecia is, hair can grow back. Several celebrities have had it.

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Jada Pinkett Smith -

Jada Pinkett Smith started opening up about her alopecia in 2018 but it was the Chris Rock's joke at the 2022 Oscars followed by Will Smith's impulsive reaction that brought the issue into the spotlight. Addressing the incident, she stated that she hopes that the "two intelligent, capable men" involved will be able to talk, heal, and reconcile. While most people were more concerned with the slap than the subject of the joke, one positive result was that it raised awareness of alopecia and started a wider conversation about the condition and its impact. “Considering what I’ve been through with my own health and what happened at the Oscars, thousands have reached out to me with their stories,” she revealed. 

A couple of months after the debacle, Pinkett Smith centered an episode of her show 'Red Table Talk' around alopecia. She opened up about her own experience with the condition and invited a medical expert to explain the different forms it can take. She also invited the mother of a 12-year-old girl who took her own life after being bullied for her hair loss. They discussed how alopecia can, particularly for Black women, alter a person's perception of themselves as they grapple with external expectations about beauty, gender, and race. “I think the part that makes it most difficult for me is that it comes and goes. You’re going through a spell of something, and [you’ve] got to shave your head,” Pinkett Smith explained.

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Robert Pattinson -

The actor had to wear a wig for the filming of the final installment of 'Twilight' because he had lost chunks of hair, brought on by dying it over and over again.

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Nicolas Cage -

The Oscar-winning actor has also had his struggles with alopecia.

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Keira Knightley -

Knightley lost her hair due to alopecia brought on by hair dying. She lost strands of hair for five years and had to wear a wig until it stopped in 2015.

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Tyra Banks -

Banks experienced alopecia areata, the medical term for spot baldness due to stress.

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Kristin Davis -

After Davis wrapped up the final season of 'Sex and the City,' she experienced hair loss due to alopecia. She eventually was helped by Volaire hair-volumizing products, which she later became a brand ambassador for.

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Christopher Reeve -

Even the actor who played Superman had alopecia. In fact, he combed his hair over to cover the bald patches.

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Lea Michele -

In 2021, 'Glee' star Lea Michele revealed that she experienced postpartum alopecia.

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Viola Davis -

Viola Davis has suffered from alopecia areata since she was 28 years old. She's had to wear wigs over the years.

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Selma Blair -

The actress experienced postpartum alopecia after the birth of her son in 2011. She suffered hair loss again after undergoing MS treatment.

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Naomi Campbell -

Campbell lost most of her hair due to alopecia caused by people roughly handling her hair. Luckily, most of her bald spots have since grown back.

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Rosie O’Donnell -

Rosie O’Donnell tweeted about her struggle with alopecia and hair loss.

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Jesy Nelson -

Former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson lost her hair due to stress-triggered alopecia when she was around 13.

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Ricki Lake -

Lake experienced hair loss for most of her adult life, which had profound negative effects on her. At some points, she became depressed. An important part of rising past it for her was shaving her head.

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Matt Lucas -

The 'Little Britain' star lost all of his hair due to alopecia over one summer when he was six.

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Anthony Carrigan -

The 'Barry' actor hid his alopecia for most of his life. Eventually, it developed into alopecia universalis (complete loss of hair on head and body). He's accepted it now, and his unique look has landed him many roles.

Sources: (Healthline) (HealthResearchFunding.org)

See also: Bald celebrities when they had hair

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