Will Smith slapped Oscar 2022 presenter Chris Rock on stage for making a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s baldness. Jada has been suffering from alopecia since last year. In 2021, the ‘Matrix Reloaded’ actress took to Instagram to share a video of herself bald and said that she suffers from alopecia areata.

“Mama’s gonna have to take it down to the scalp so nobody thinks she got brain surgery or something. Me and this alopecia are going to be friends… period!” the 50-year-old captioned the video.

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What is alopecia areata?

Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune disorder that causes unexplained hair loss. It is recognised as a frequent ailment among many, and persons suffering from it may notice that their hair comes out in little spots, or in other circumstances, acute and quick hair loss in patches. According to experts, some people may experience full hair loss on the scalp, while in extreme situations, hair loss can occur throughout the body.

Alopecia areata may afflict persons of any gender, age, or race; however, it is said that it generally occurs before the age of 30. One in every five persons who suffer from Alopecia has a family member who also has the illness. The problem progresses quickly in an individual, and it is only a matter of days until the individual notices abrupt hair loss in areas. There have been discussions regarding alopecia areata being induced by stress, however, there is little scientific evidence to back this up. In rare circumstances where people just have a few patches of hair loss, they may see quick hair growth and recover from the disease.

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What is the treatment for alopecia areata?

There is currently no cure for alopecia areata in terms of therapy. Doctors do, however, recommend a few alternative hair-regrowth treatments. According to many studies, the most generally recommended treatment for the illness is the use of corticosteroids, which are anti-inflammatory drugs that are known to inhibit the affected person’s immune system. Even though doctors prescribe drugs to promote hair growth, the individual will continue to have random patches of hair loss.

Mental health and alopecia

Alopecia Areata is neither a contagious disorder nor does it cause individuals to become ill as a result of the condition. However, it is the mental health that suffers the most, rather than the physical health. People suffering from Alopecia Areata must embrace the likelihood that they may have fast hair loss and may perhaps go bald.

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Following the fight between Will Smith and Chris Rock at the Oscars in 2022, Twitterati and other social media users have come out in support of Will and those suffering from Alopecia Areata.

Priyanka Chaturvedi, a Rajya Sabha member, turned to Twitter to offer her thoughts on the matter.

Former basketball star Charlie Villanueva also resorted to Twitter to express his thoughts on the situation and the difficulties that people face.