Lili Reinhart, who plays Betty Cooper in the drama series Riverdale, recently revealed her diagnosis of alopecia on social media. This condition leads the immune system to attack hair follicles, resulting in hair loss. Reinhart shared a video of herself undergoing Red Light Therapy, a treatment aimed at hair regrowth. Fans responded with an outpouring of support and appreciation for the actress.
Earlier, Jada Pinkett Smith also revealed her battle with alopecia. The condition gained increased attention after the infamous Oscar slap incident involving Will Smith and Chris Rock. The Look Both Ways actress did not detail her diagnosis.
Riverdale Star Lili Reinhart Diagnosed With Alopecia
In a recent TikTok video, Lili Reinhart shared a video of herself sitting under a red light while lip-syncing a popular audio on the platform. The audio’s line read, “I’m pushed beyond the limits of what a person should be pushed to endure.” Reinhart wrote in a text across the screen that she was diagnosed with alopecia. The text stated, “Was diagnosed with alopecia in the midst of a major depressive episode.” In her caption, Reinhart mentioned, “Red light therapy is my new best friend.”
Alopecia causes hair loss anywhere in the body. Reinhart’s revelation contributes to raising awareness of the disease, which reportedly affects 6.7 million people in the United States. American Academy of Dermatology classifies the condition into three: alopecia areata, which causes patches of hair loss on the scalp or other places in the body, alopecia areata totalis, which causes complete hair loss on the scalp, and alopecia areata universalis, which results in hair loss across the entire body.
With over a million views, Reinhart’s video resonated strongly with fans and the wider audience, who appreciated her openness about the diagnosis and efforts to spread awareness. One fan expressed gratitude for shedding light on the condition, sharing that they also have it. Another fan called the actress “inspiring,” noting, “It’s a meaningful impact, TY for existing Lili!”
A third comment conveyed both gratitude and shared experience with the condition, stating, “I love you so much for speaking on these things. I’ve struggled with it for two years now and haven’t figured it out yet, and some days it’s so hard.” Reinhart has been open about her mental health struggles, including depression and anxiety. In a 2020 interview with Refinery29, she discussed the ups and downs of her mental health journey.
Lili Reinhart Has Previously Opened Up About Her Hair Struggles
Lili Reinhart revealed in an interview with Allure that her hair suffered significant damage during the filming of Riverdale. Her hair was put through heat styling and frequent highlighting to maintain the desired color and style. She mentioned that styling her ponytail took hours, causing stress during the procedure. She shared, “It takes a long time [to style], longer than you’d think, and it’s really annoying and very frustrating.”
The Chemical Hearts actress conveyed at the time that it was highly unlikely she would experiment with her hair for another role. If required, she indicated that she would opt to wear a wig for the role. Reinhart told Allure:
“I kind of promised myself if I were offered a role where they said I need to be a redhead [or] I need to be a brunette that I would have to wear a wig because my hair has been through so much.”
Lili Reinhart is set to appear in the upcoming series Hal & Harper alongside Cooper Raiff and Mark Ruffalo. Earlier in January, Reinhart shared photos from the set on her Instagram and revealed that the series was coming sometime in 2024.
