Mona Lisa: Dermatologist suggests possible alopecia areata

Italian dermatologist Luigi Laino has proposed a new medical theory regarding Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa,” which is housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris. In a study published in the journal “Clinics in Dermatology,” Laino suggests the subject may have suffered from alopecia areata, a condition where the immune system attacks hair follicles, leading to hair loss.

Laino points to the absence of eyebrows and eyelashes, as well as the subject's hairline, as key indicators. He notes that the skin on the forehead and around the eyes appears smooth and without scarring, which aligns with the characteristics of the disease. Additionally, specialized images of the painting reveal a single hair above one eye, which the specialist interprets as a possible remnant of the condition.

While medical professionals have previously attributed various ailments to the portrait, such as thyroid issues or high cholesterol, some suggest the lack of eyebrows may simply have been a Renaissance fashion trend involving plucking.