Hair Was My Crown Until It Fell Out: It Took Years to Find Effective Treatment

The First Signs of Hair Loss

Growing up in North Carolina, the writer often wore braids because of an active lifestyle. In eighth grade, a longtime stylist spotted a small bald area on the back of the writer’s head and suggested keeping an eye on it.

During high school, more patches appeared, some larger, along with thinning at the hairline. At 16, the writer’s parents took them to a doctor, who referred them to a dermatologist; she diagnosed alopecia areata, an autoimmune skin condition that causes patchy hair loss.

Wigs And Early Treatment

The diagnosis was upsetting, especially after the writer had grown their hair to a length they liked. Their mother later took them to buy a wig so they could feel good about their appearance.

Shots helped enough by senior year for the writer to cut their hair short. At college, wigs were widely accepted at the historically Black college they attended, easing concerns about standing out.

A New Treatment Option

At a National Alopecia Areata Foundation conference in 2025, the writer learned about Leqselvi, a JAK inhibitor newly approved by the FDA specifically for alopecia areata. They saw it as a last effort before facing the possibility of wearing wigs indefinitely.

The writer is 27, works full time, and says their hair is growing back. They still sometimes wear wigs, but value being able to go without one and say they feel beautiful.

What Alopecia Areata Can Do

Alopecia areata can cause circular, coin-size patches of hair loss. It may affect the scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, and sometimes hair on the arms and legs. Dr. Fakhoury says oral JAK inhibitors are the preferred first-line systemic treatment for patients with severe alopecia. They target inflammatory signaling pathways involved in the autoimmune attack on hair follicles.