Did Robert Pattinson Have Alopecia Areata?

Former Twilight star Robert Pattinson has recently been seen sporting a buzz cut with a very unusual hairline that hints at a small amount of hair loss.

Pattinson has already revealed that he lost some hair due to excessive bleaching when filming for the recent movie Good Time, but this appears to be something different. In fact, it looks possible that recent shots of the actor are showing evidence of what could be Alopecia Areata, the autoimmune disorder that leads to sudden, patchy hair loss.

Dramatic chopping

GQ magazine picked up on Pattinson’s new look, and mentioned his dramatic hair chopping in the same breath as they did that of former One Direction star Zayn Malik, who recently shaved his head completely to give it chance to regrow afresh after years of self-confessed peroxide abuse.

The magazine also wonders if a small round patch on the front right-hand side of Pattinson’s head as well as a smaller one an inch away are dyed, to give him an “edgy flourish”. They discount the possibility of polios a melanin deficiency that causes patches of white hair but they might not be wide of the mark. Alopecia Areata typically causes rounded bald spots from the size of a coin, to much larger - and these can be singular or multiples. The lighter hair on Pattinson's head appears to fit the size and shape consistent with this form of hairloss and what’s also true is that hair which grows back after Alopecia Areata is often devoid of pigmentation. This means that the hair regrows white or creamy in colour, which may last for around a couple of hair growth cycles.

Just such a change is what appears to have happened to South African athlete Oscar Pistorius during his murder trial, when two distinct white patches were seen at the back of his head.

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Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disorder that causes the body to “turn” on itself in times of difficulty. Other autoimmune disorders include psoriasis, Grave’s disease and coeliac disease, which each have their specific characteristics. When someone is diagnosed with Alopecia Areata, the clue is usually sudden hair fall leaving behind smooth, rounded bald patches. What can be very distressing is when doctors advise that there is no way of knowing whether or not the bald spots will last, if they will spread, or whether or not they will come back. In more extreme forms of autoimmune hair loss this rapid shedding can also affect facial hair and body hair.

Patchy hair loss version

The Alopecia Areata treatment provided by Belgravia’s hair loss specialists is for the scalp-only version of the condition.

Dealing with this type of patchy hair loss involves recommended formulations of high strength minoxidil being applied directly to the affected areas to help encourage regrowth through opening the potassium channels. This drug is usually complemented by further appropriate hair growth boosters tailored to the individual’s requirements and medical suitability.

There are multiple suspected triggers for the condition, including psychological long-term chronic stress, shock and sudden extreme stress, physical trauma, local skin injuries and allergies. Being in the public eye can certainly stressful, as can immersing yourself into demanding film roles (for Good Time Pattinson played a rough, street-wise bank robber). Other actors who have lost hair to Alopecia Areata include Coronation Street’s Sean Ward, the late Superman star Christopher Reeve and Neve Campbell, who appeared in the hit horror film Scream.