If you're struggling with hair loss, Ashley Tisdale wants you to know you're not alone.
In January, Tisdale opened up about her struggle with hair loss on her wellness website, Frenshe, which she shared she has experienced for nearly ten years.
"Alopecia and hair loss are fairly common, but a lot of people feel embarrassed to talk about these issues," Tisdale wrote. "Any type of hair loss can affect your self-esteem, especially if you feel like you’re the only one going through it. That’s why I want to talk about it openly — because it’s nothing to be ashamed of."
Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss and can be caused by a number of underlying conditions. Alopecia areata (hair loss in patches) is a disease that happens when the immune system attacks hair follicles. Tisdale said that her hair loss has been largely stress-induced, and flairs up in times of tension.
Tisdale also noted that she is receiving treatment through her dermatologist, and undergoes platelet-rich plasma scalp micro-needling. The procedure can be expensive and painful, so the actor recognized it may not be for everyone, but assured that there are other options available for those struggling, such as embracing baldness or wearing wigs.
"I’m so inspired by Congresswoman Ayanna Presley, who has alopecia and has introduced a bill to have wigs covered by Medicare for people experiencing medical hair loss," Tisdale said. "It’s all about creating more options for people.
The High School Musical icon recently elaborated on why it was important to open up about her journey. She told E! News that she created her health and beauty platform to document "my journey through living a cleaner lifestyle and my mental health."
"It's allowed me to be vulnerable and to share these things," Tisdale said, adding, "I love to connect with people and make them feel less alone in their journey."
She added that the support she received after opening up was "wild," and that is was "amazing" to see outlets sharing her story while calling attention to a condition they may not have previously.
"I saw so many different outlets doing things on alopecia, which I thought was amazing, too," Tisdale said. "I always want to make someone feel less alone in their journey. So, it's just nice to share these things. And that's what I love to do with social media."
