Lili Reinhart has recently revealed that she has been diagnosed with alopecia during what she described to be a "major depressive episode."
Taking to TikTok on Monday, the 27-year-old actress filmed herself while undergoing red light therapy to share that she "was just diagnosed with alopecia in the midst of a major depressive episode."
In the clip, the actress, best known for her role as Betty Cooper in the hit show Riverdale, was seen lip-syncing over a viral sound of a man saying: "I'm pushed beyond the limits of what a person should be pushed to endure."
"Red light therapy is my new best friend #alopecia #mentalhealth," Reinhart captioned the post.
Have a look at the clip below:Fans took to the comments to offer Reinhart some support during this difficult time.
"Sending you mad love. As a kid I had a babysitter whose younger sister was diagnosed with alopecia & she was so beautiful. She radiated self love and I wound up wanting to wear wigs like her," wrote one user.
"Honestly had to do a double take on this! Babe you will always be stunning, no matter the state of your hair you are going to get through this," another added.
A third also thanked the actress for bringing awareness to the issue.
"Thank you for using your platform to bring awareness to this. I have alopecia and my health and depression make it worse. Sending love," they commented.
Her Riverdale co-star Vanessa Morgan also left a comment, writing: "I love you & I also need this machine."
According to the National Institute of Health, alopecia occurs when "the immune system attacks hair follicles and causes hair loss".
While hair can be lost from any part of the body, alopecia areata usually affects the scalp and face, with many developing coin-sized bald spots on the scalp or elsewhere known as patchy alopecia areata. However, more severe cases can cause hair loss all over the body.
The condition affects over six million people in the United States as well as millions of others around the world.
Jada Pinkett Smith, in particular, has been vocal about how she's struggled with her hair loss over the last few years, saying in 2018 that it "was terrifying" when it first started.
"I was in the shower one day and had just handfuls of hair in my hands and I was just like, 'Oh my God, am I going bald?'" she said. "It was one of those times in my life where I was literally shaking in fear. That's why I cut my hair, and why I continue to cut it."
Recently, she also told The Guardian what she's learned about the autoimmune disease.
"I learned a lot about detachment. And I learned a deeper beauty within myself, being able to let my hair go," she explained, referring to the diagnosis as a "great teacher."
"It’s been a hard one, a scary one – because specifically as Black women, we identify so much of ourselves with our hair. And it was scary. I had to really dig deep and see the beauty of myself beyond my aesthetics," she added.