is thought to be an auto-immune disease of the hair, initially appearing as a rounded bare patch about an inch across. Alopecia areata affects both men and women equally and is often experienced first in childhood. According to a survey taken in America one person in every hundred is likely to experience Alopecia areata at sometime in their life. Many people affected with Alopecia areata will only have one experience of hair loss with regrowth occurring afterwards, however it is estimated that in approximately 20 percent of cases in the UK hair loss recurs or becomes permanent.
There are three types of Alopecia Areata which are named according to their severity.
Alopecia areata is mild patchy hair loss on the scalp Alopecia totalis is the loss of all scalp hair Alopecia Universalis is the loss of scalp and all body hair
Researchers believe that Alopecia Areata is an auto-immune disease, this means that the body’s immune system acts as if the hair follicles are foreign and attacks them. White blood cells called T-lymphocytes attack the hair follicle which causes the hair to stop growing and enter into the telogen (resting) phase, then about 3 months later, when the resting phase is over the hair will then fall out. Only when T-lymphocytes stop attacking the hair follicle will new hair grow.
Known Causes
We do not know why the immune cells attack the hair-growing tissue.
Alopecia areata is not contagious, not caused by foods, and is not the result of nervousness.
Alopecia areata
Sometimes runs in families.
Conventional treatments
There is no cure for Alopecia areata, there are only treatments, these treatments must be continued until the condition stops which in most cases happens within a very short time, with or without treatments. Treatments for Alopecia Areata are roughly divided into two groups.
1) patients with less than 50% hair loss
2) patents with over 50% hair loss
As with many chronic disorders for which there is no single treatment, a variety of remedies are promoted which in fact have no benefit. There is no known effective method of prevention, although the elimination of emotional stress is felt to be helpful. No drugs or hair-care products have been associated with the onset of alopecia areata. Much research remains to be completed on this complex condition.
Although not precisely a treatment, the cosmetic camouflage of alopecia areata is certainly an important consideration in patient management. The damaging emotional effect of significant hair loss for both women and men can be considerable.
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