Alopecia: causes, symptoms and treatments

L’alopecia is the medical term for hair loss. L’alopecia areata, or alopecia areata, “is generally characterized by hair loss in round patches, and occurs randomly on the scalp, face or body. It is an autoimmune disease where your immune system attacks your body’s hair follicles, often resulting in the loss of clumps of hair.

In the following slides, we’ll go over the different types of alopecia, their causes, symptoms, and the treatments available to you.

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What is alopecia?

Alopecia is an umbrella term used to describe any form of hair loss. L’androgenic or androgenetic alopeciaoften referred to as masculine or of feminine, is a form of hair loss that results in loss of hair density and, in men, a more receding hairline. While women are unlikely to lose their hair completely, men can experience partial or complete baldness. According to’Canadian Dermatology Association“four out of five men will suffer from some degree of baldness before the age of 70”, and “nearly 40% of women aged 50 show signs of hair loss”.

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What is alopecia areata?

Besides common hair loss, there is an autoimmune disease known asalopecia areata, or alopecia areata, which causes the immune system to attack the hair follicles, resulting in the appearance of bald or balding patches on the scalp. The exact cause of this disorder is unknown to doctors, but they suspect it is related to genetics.

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Advanced forms of alopecia areata

In some cases, alopecia areata can progress to more severe forms, known as alopecia totalis et alopecia universalis. The first affects the whole head, including eyelashes and eyebrows, while the second affects the whole body. One in five people with alopecia totalis have a family member with alopecia. It is estimated that between 30,000 and 200,000 people in the United States have UA.

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Other forms of alopecia

Traction alopecia and cicatricial alopecia are two forms of hair loss that are not caused by an autoimmune disease. Traction alopecia is caused by repeatedly pulling or stretching the hair follicles, and is often brought on by wearing tight hairstyles (for example, a ponytail or braids). Cicatricial alopecia is a type of hair loss that results in scarring on the scalp. It is usually caused by inflammation, which damages the hair follicles. Scars can also be caused by a severe burn or infection. Additionally, dermatologist Dina D. Strachan explained to WebMD that cicatricial alopecia, like traction alopecia, is “associated with a history of tight hairstyles, particularly in African American women, [et] is usually diagnosed by history taking, examination and biopsy of the affected area”.

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Is alopecia areata common?

About 6.8 million Americans and 147 million people worldwide have or will have alopecia areata at one time or another, according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. It affects both men and women equally and most often develops during childhood.

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Who is most likely to suffer from it?

Research has shown that certain ethnicities may have an increased risk of suffering from alopecia areata. For instance, a study revealed that, compared to whites, African Americans are 1.77 times more likely to suffer from alopecia areata. Conversely, Asians are significantly less likely to develop this condition (hazard ratio of 0.4). In addition, people who have had a family member with alopecia are also at increased risk, as are those who have certain medical conditions such as asthma, hay fever, atopic dermatitis, thyroid disease, vitiligo where the syndrome de Down.

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Can children suffer from it?

Alopecia areata usually manifests between 25 and 36 years old, but it can also affect children. As indicated WebMD notethe disease progresses to total alopecia in regarding 5% of affected children, and regarding one in four children will also have small marks and ridges on the nails in addition to hair loss.

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What are the causes?

“It seems that this hair loss is linked to an immune disorder, that is, the body’s natural defenses mistakenly attack its own tissues”, according to Health Resources. It is this immune disorder that causes hair loss. Several sources, however, indicate that if hair does fall out, the hair follicles themselves are rarely destroyed beyond repair, meaning there is always a chance of regrowth.

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What are the symptoms?

For many, the only symptom of alopecia areata is hair loss. It often presents as smooth, hairless patches on the scalp or body, with no scarring or redness. Before hair loss, you may feel itching or a slight burning sensation in the affected area. Alopecia areata can also cause changes in nail texturemaking them more brittle and red.

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Will the hair grow back?

Fortunately, in most cases, hair regrows in the affected areas. However, the duration of this process can vary from person to person. About half of people with mild alopecia areata can expect to full regrowth in one year. That said, most people experience more than one episode in their lifetime.

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How is it diagnosed?

If you think you have alopecia areata, consult a skin specialist or dermatologist. They will be able to gauge the extent of your disease just by looking at your hair. In rare cases, they may extract a small piece of skin from your scalp to perform a biopsy, which helps rule out other conditions such as a fungal infection.

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What are the treatments?

Although there is no known cure for alopecia areata yet, there are a number of solutions which can slow hair loss and help with regrowth. To begin with, topical agents such as minoxidil (such as Rogaine brand products) have been shown to be effective in milder cases. Alternatively, steroid injections may be used to stimulate hair regrowth. Some doctors may prescribe oral treatments, such as cortisone tablets, in more advanced cases, but patients should be made aware of the potential side effects first.

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Laser and light therapy

In addition to taking medication, you can also follow a laser therapy or try light therapy, which have been shown to be safe and effective in treating alopecia areata. A study review performed on the effectiveness of excimer laser and light treatments for alopecia areata revealed acceptable hair regrowth in 50.2% of cases and a noticeable improvement in hair regrowth compared to untreated controls.

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Psychological effects of alopecia

Beyond the physical symptoms, hair loss, regardless of its cause, can have a significant psychological impact on a person. A study done in 2005 noted the link between alopecia and stronger feelings of anxiety and depression. This can lead to the development of psychological disorders such as a severe depressive episode, anxiety disorder, social phobia or paranoid disorder.

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living with hair loss

“People with alopecia areata and their family members often experience a variety of feelings and frustrations because of this condition,” says the FOR ME, such as sadness, anxiety, loneliness, embarrassment or even anger. It’s important to remember that all of these feelings are normal, but not to let them take over your life. The best way to deal with your emotions is to talk to people who have been through the same thing by joining a support group. And don’t forget: “People with alopecia areata manage to overcome this obstacle, accept it, and even make it a positive element in their lives.”

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