Living with Alopecia Areata

Living with Alopecia Areata

For Stefan, a 28-year-old New Yorker who was diagnosed with alopecia areata (AA) at the age of 10, "there were stages, there were phases, there were chapters" of his journey. Growing up with the disease wasn't easy, but he hasn't let it stop him from using his voice to help spread joy in his community.

Day One, a new documentary from Pfizer, explores AA through the eyes of Stefan, a catering manager; Alison, a high school soccer player; and Lindsey, a writer, Emmy-winning content producer, and podcaster. They are among the seven million people in the U.S. and 160 million people worldwide living with AA, an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss.1

Throughout the documentary, the three New Yorkers speak candidly of their diagnoses, their experiences living with the disease, and the catharsis they've found in accepting AA as part of who they are.

"As I've grown older with alopecia areata, I've realized that in sharing my alopecia experience with friends and with new people, it's what's made me stronger," Alison says.

Day One explores different aspects of their lives, from dating, family, and friendships to school, careers, and passions. Alison, Lindsey, and Stefan also discuss the challenges they face living with AA, including fashion choices (Alison favors a signature blue bandana), misconceptions (no, AA is not related to cancer), and advocacy.

Lindsey started an AA podcast during the pandemic, Very Nearly Almost, and co-founded the Alopecia Justice League, which promotes awareness for AA and hair loss legislation, combining forces with the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF.org) to advocate for a bill that would provide insurance coverage for cranial prosthetics (wigs) that are essential to some patients' quality of life but can be prohibitively expensive.

"The greatest gift that alopecia areata has given me is this understanding that absolutely everyone has something about themselves that they've had to learn to love," Lindsey says.

Watch the video to learn what makes these individuals tick, where they find their strength, and how they see the world:

¹https://www.naaf.org/alopecia-areata

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