A woman who started getting bald patches aged 13 is finally accepting her alopecia – and is taking “back control”.
Nicole Thomas, 27, was just a teenager when her hairdresser noticed a bald patch at the nape of her neck.
She went to the GP and tried several different treatments before she was referred to a dermatologist who diagnosed Nicole with alopecia areata – an autoimmune disease which causes patchy hair loss.
Nicole lost 70 per cent of her hair and wore wigs for three years before she saw a steady regrowth aged 17.
For the last eight years, Nicole has had “stable” hair growth and loss but 18 months ago she started to notice her alopecia had returned with a “vengeance”.
Nicole has lost around 60% of her hair – at the back, hairline and on the crown of her head – but is determined to not be “crippled” by it this time round.
She says the news the NHS has approved the drug Ritlecitinib for people with alopecia is a “big milestone”.
Nicole, who works in communications, from Cardiff, said: “At aged 13 it was such a devastating time.
“I was so crippled by the condition.
“I felt quite alone.
“It controlled me.
“Now I’m taking back control.”
Nicole tried all sorts of treatments as a teenager for her hair loss such as ointments and steroid creams.
She said: “I was quite a shy teenager. I didn’t handle it very well.
“I was always wearing a wig – it was hideous and hot.
“There is a loss of control – not being able to do anything about the situation.
“It’s really traumatic.
“My sister used to joke I looked like I belonged on shutter island.”
Nicole had steroid injections directly into her scalp which helped spark hair growth and she felt she could stop wearing her wig aged 17.
She said: “Since then I had pretty stale hair growth and hair loss.
“Up until 18 months ago. I was told it could come back with a vengeance.”
In late 2022, Nicole started to notice she was balding at the back of her head but instead of hiding it like before she decided to start sharing her journey on TikTok.
She tried some oral steroids to stop the hair loss but it didn’t work.
She said: “I thought I could make a positive out of it.
“It just so happens my hair is falling out.
“It doesn’t make you a weak person. Or less than or less attractive.”
Nicole says the news the NHS has approved the drug Ritlecitinib for people with alopecia is a “big milestone”.
She says it was something she looked into previously but couldn’t afford the £3k monthly bill.
Now she’s not sure if she’ll end up taking the drug but thinks it’s great it’s an option.
Nicole said: “It’s a big milestone for anyone who suffers with alopecia.
“Alopecia is not life threatening but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t cause harmful health issues – such as mental health.”
Nicole feels more confident about her own appearance – and is not currently wearing a wig – but does want to “normalise” down days.
She said: “We’re all told we should love ourselves but that not the case all the time."
Nicole Thomas, 27, was just a teenager when her hairdresser noticed a bald patch at the nape of her neck.
She went to the GP and tried several different treatments before she was referred to a dermatologist who diagnosed Nicole with alopecia areata – an autoimmune disease which causes patchy hair loss.
Nicole lost 70 per cent of her hair and wore wigs for three years before she saw a steady regrowth aged 17.
For the last eight years, Nicole has had “stable” hair growth and loss but 18 months ago she started to notice her alopecia had returned with a “vengeance”.
Nicole has lost around 60% of her hair – at the back, hairline and on the crown of her head – but is determined to not be “crippled” by it this time round.
She says the news the NHS has approved the drug Ritlecitinib for people with alopecia is a “big milestone”.
Nicole, who works in communications, from Cardiff, said: “At aged 13 it was such a devastating time.
“I was so crippled by the condition.
“I felt quite alone.
“It controlled me.
“Now I’m taking back control.”
Nicole tried all sorts of treatments as a teenager for her hair loss such as ointments and steroid creams.
She said: “I was quite a shy teenager. I didn’t handle it very well.
“I was always wearing a wig – it was hideous and hot.
“There is a loss of control – not being able to do anything about the situation.
“It’s really traumatic.
“My sister used to joke I looked like I belonged on shutter island.”
Nicole had steroid injections directly into her scalp which helped spark hair growth and she felt she could stop wearing her wig aged 17.
She said: “Since then I had pretty stale hair growth and hair loss.
“Up until 18 months ago. I was told it could come back with a vengeance.”
In late 2022, Nicole started to notice she was balding at the back of her head but instead of hiding it like before she decided to start sharing her journey on TikTok.
She tried some oral steroids to stop the hair loss but it didn’t work.
She said: “I thought I could make a positive out of it.
“It just so happens my hair is falling out.
“It doesn’t make you a weak person. Or less than or less attractive.”
Nicole says the news the NHS has approved the drug Ritlecitinib for people with alopecia is a “big milestone”.
She says it was something she looked into previously but couldn’t afford the £3k monthly bill.
Now she’s not sure if she’ll end up taking the drug but thinks it’s great it’s an option.
Nicole said: “It’s a big milestone for anyone who suffers with alopecia.
“Alopecia is not life threatening but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t cause harmful health issues – such as mental health.”
Nicole feels more confident about her own appearance – and is not currently wearing a wig – but does want to “normalise” down days.
She said: “We’re all told we should love ourselves but that not the case all the time."
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