Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at Oscars brings deal with alopecia dysfunction

By PTI

NEW DELHI: Hollywood star Will Smith slapping comic Chris Rock on the Oscars is making international headlines however the incident has additionally introduced the deal with alopecia — a medical dysfunction that results in various diploma of hair loss.

During the Academy Awards ceremony, Smith slapped Rock on stage after the latter cracked a joke in regards to the Hollywood star’s spouse Jada Pinkett-Smith.

The joke was in reference to Pinkett-Smith’s shaved head due to autoimmune dysfunction alopecia but it surely apparently did not go down effectively with Smith, who went as much as the stage and slapped Rock.

Dermatologists and hair care consultants from Delhi to Mumbai concurred that because the dysfunction entails lack of hair, it typically “affects the self-image and self-esteem” of individuals affected by it.

Doctors at main hospitals in Delhi mentioned alopecia could possibly be “scarring” or “non-scarring” or alopecia areata, triggered by autoimmune situations.

Mumbai-based dermatologist and hair transplant surgeon Dr Sonali Kohli mentioned there are a number of sorts of alopecia, largely relying on the diploma of autoimmune dysfunction.

The commonest kind is “alopecia areata”, which happens in about one out of 1,000 individuals.

“In this kind, there could possibly be a single or a number of patches of hair loss and each grownup and kids can get it.

Alopecia is a genetic dysfunction, so youngsters have the susceptibility of getting it even when one in every of their mother and father have it, however the diploma of susceptibility could possibly be totally different,” she instructed PTI.

Other forms of alopecia are — alopecia totalis (when whole scalp turns bald); alopecia ophiasis (when even the hair loss can be on occipital, temporal, and parietal areas of the scalp); and alopecia universalis (when the hair loss occurs throughout all the physique), docs mentioned.

Kohli mentioned on this dysfunction, primarily the immune system assaults hair follicles and causes hair loss.

Kohli mentioned she was conscious of the incident that befell through the Academy Awards ceremony when actor Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage after he cracked a joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith.

Kohli mentioned in contrast to a illness like most cancers which wrecks the physique of a affected person, this situation is such that it impacts the “beauty” and “self-image” of an individual as a consequence of lack of hair, and whereas in case of alopecia areata, some individuals put on a cap or one thing, and in case of alopecia totalis, many put on a wig or a hairpiece, it makes individuals aware of their picture.

Smith, who later gained the Best Actor award, tendered a tearful apology on stage, and mentioned, “Love will make you do crazy things”, as his spouse regarded on sitting within the viewers.

As the incident has introduced alopecia again beneath highlight, many docs mentioned a few of the Indian celebrities even have it, however they often do no acknowledge it in public, as “actors in India ar considered God-like”.

Dr D M Mahajan, senior advisor, dermatology, Apollo hospitals in Delhi mentioned, each female and male are equally vulnerable to this situation.

In one kind, there could possibly be male-pattern alopecia or baldness or female-pattern alopecia or baldness.

Also, non-scarring alopecia is “reversible” however scarring alopecia is “not reversible”, he mentioned.

“Also, people who have certain allergies are more susceptible to it,” the physician mentioned.

Dr Rashmi Sharma, advisor, dermatology at Fortis Hospital at Vasant Kunj mentioned whereas alopecia areata is an autoimmune dysfunction largely, melancholy, anxiousness and stress can even set off it.

“Every person has two per cent risk of developing this disorder or one in 1,000. And, both male and female are are equally susceptible, as are adults and children,” she mentioned.

Doctors mentioned its therapy, relying on various diploma of dysfunction, could possibly be use of topical ointment or intra-lesional steroid injection, amongst different interventions.