Newswise — In collaboration between the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) and the Detroit Pistons, a new PSA will be premiered today featuring NAAF National Spokesperson, Detroit Piston Charlie Villanueva. This 30 second PSA spotlights the autoimmune skin disease alopecia areata.
Villanueva, who has alopecia areata universalis which causes complete hair loss all over one’s body, has been the National Spokesperson for the autoimmune disease for the past five years. Motivated by the strong desire to ensure that no child goes through what he went through as a young boy, Villanueva remains involved with the Foundation throughout the year, the highlight being the Charlie’s Angels Program that takes place during the National Basketball Association season. “Most of my life growing up was a constant struggle. I was either teased because of my looks or faced with the everyday negative surroundings in the neighborhood I grew up in. Buy yet, I am here now, not because of my talent, but because I believed in myself,” Villanueva says.
The 30 second PSA was created to bring awareness to the autoimmune disease alopecia areata, which while not a rare disease, is not understood by much of the general public. Alopecia (al-oh-pee-sha) areata (air-ee-ah-tah) may result in total or partial loss of hair. Affecting over 5 million Americans, alopecia areata currently has no cure, and no treatment that works across the board. It occurs in both sexes and all races and ages, but young people are affected most often. Alopecia areata usually starts with one or more small, round patches on the scalp. In some people, the condition spreads until all of the hair on the scalp is lost (alopecia totalis) or even over the entire body, including the eyebrows and eyelashes (alopecia universalis). Charlie Villanueva has the rarest yet most pervasive form of the disease.
The National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF), headquartered in San Rafael, CA, supports research to find a cure or acceptable treatment for alopecia areata, supports those with the disease, and educates the public about alopecia areata. NAAF is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and a prestigious Scientific Advisory Council. Founded in 1981, NAAF is widely regarded as the largest, most influential and most representative foundation associated with alopecia areata.
To view the PSA, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETzHBrhXuSA.
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