A 23-year-old woman from Newcastle, Lauren Johnson, is urging people to prioritize their health after severe hair loss forced her to shave her head. A trainee veterinary nurse, Ms. Johnson blames the condition on intense workplace stress. She first noticed excessive shedding in May 2025, initially dismissing it as hormonal. Just two months later, while on holiday in Spain, her friend Holly Probert-Darkings, 26, spotted a large bald patch at the nape of her neck.

The discovery triggered a “full-blown breakdown and anxiety attack.” Her mother, Margaret, 58, a former hairdresser, suspected alopecia, a diagnosis later confirmed by her GP at Bridges Medical Practice. Ms. Johnson noted a family history: her uncle was diagnosed with alopecia areata in his twenties due to workplace stress, while her mother’s patterned baldness stemmed from a postpartum blood transfusion and iron loss.

Despite the diagnosis, Ms. Johnson received no immediate support. no counselling, no prompt dermatology referral, and no non-invasive treatments. She had to complain for months to secure a dermatology appointment, scheduled for August of the following year. In the meantime, she manages the condition with wigs, requiring regular head shaving for a proper fit.

Ms. Johnson has taken a proactive approach to her well-being. She takes pumpkin oil supplements and two saw palmetto tablets daily, uses hair serum and a scalp massager, and focuses on diet and gut health. Despite the emotional toll, she has found resilience: “I lost my hair but I’ve gained a whole new life for myself.” She encourages a “fake it until you make it” mindset.

Alopecia is a general term for hair loss, affecting around 40% of women and 85% of men at some point. Alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition, occurs when the immune system attacks hair follicles, causing patchy baldness. It affects about 1 in 4,000 people annually and can be triggered by stress. Hair follicles are not destroyed, making regrowth possible, but the extent and timing are unpredictable. Regrowth is less likely if all hair is lost. Celebrities like Jada Pinkett Smith have openly shared their struggles with the condition.

Treatments include steroid applications (creams, injections, or pills), which help some patients but carry risks. Long-term steroid pills can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, while creams may cause skin irritation and migraines. A major advancement is Ritlecitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor developed by Pfizer. Recommended by NICE for severe alopecia areata in those aged 12 and over, this daily pill dampens the immune response and reduces inflammation at the hair follicle. Studies show it can reverse the condition in one in five patients.