Alopecia Explained by Hair Solved

Alopecia areata is a form of hair loss from areas of the body, usually from the scalp. Because it causes bald spots on the head, especially in the first stages, it’s sometimes called spot baldness. In 1–2% of cases, the condition can spread to the entire scalp (Alopecia totalis) or to the entire epidermis (Alopecia universalis).



Types of Alopecia



Alopecia Areata Monolocularis describes baldness where it occurs in only one spot. It may occur anywhere on the head.



Alopecia Areata Multilocularis refers to multiple areas of hair loss.



If the patient loses all the hair on his/her scalp, the condition is then called Alopecia Areata Totalis.

If all body hair, including pubic hair, is lost, the diagnosis is that of Alopecia Areata Universalis.

The disease may also be limited only to the beard (Alopecia Areata Barbae).

Causes



Alopecia Areata is thought to be an autoimmune disease in which the body mistakenly treats its hair follicles as foreign tissue and suppresses, or stops, hair growth. There is evidence that T cell lymphocytes cluster around these follicles, causing inflammation and subsequent hair loss.



Some non-clinical treatment results have been observed through the ingestion of natural anti-inflammatory agents, particularly blackcurrant and borage oils in caplet form, and zinc supplement tablets.



It is not contagious but may be hereditary, and there are a few recorded cases of babies being born with congenital alopecia areata. As with most autoimmune diseases, Alopecia areata is associated with an increased risk of developing other autoimmune diseases, specifically systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE.



Diagnosis



First symptoms are small, soft, bald patches that can take just about any shape but are most usually round. Initial presentation most commonly occurs in the late teenage years and young children, but can happen with people of all ages. In most cases it affects the scalp but may occur on any hair-bearing part of the body. There may be different skin areas with hair loss and re-growth in the same person at the same time. The condition may also go into remission for a time, or permanently.



Another presentation of the condition is: Exclamation Point Hairs. These are hairs that become narrower along the length of the strand closer to the base, producing a characteristic 'exclamation point' appearance.



One diagnostic technique applied by medical professionals is to gently tug at a handful of hair along the edge of a patch with less strength than would be required to pull out healthy hair. In healthy hair, no hair should fall out or ripped hair should be distributed evenly across the tugged portion of the scalp. In cases of Alopecia, hair will tend to pull out more easily along the edge of the patch where the follicles are already being attacked by the body's immune system, than away from the patch where they are still healthy. Professionals will usually remind patients that the hair that is pulled out would eventually fall naturally. The test is conducted only once to identify the condition and rule out a simple localized hair loss condition.



Treatment



About 50% of patients’ hair will regrow without any treatment. If the affected region is small, it is reasonable to observe the progression of the illness as the problem often spontaneously regresses and the hair grows back. In cases where there is severe hair loss, there has been limited success in the treatment of Alopecia Areata with clobetasol or fluocinonide, steroid injections or cream. Steroid injections are commonly used in sites where there are small areas of hair loss on the head or especially where eyebrow hair has been lost. Some other medications used are minoxidil, irritants (anthralin or topical coal tar), and topical immunotherapy cyclosporine, each of which is sometimes used in different combinations.



Prognosis



Effects of Alopecia Areata are mainly psychological (loss of self esteem due to hair loss). However, patients also tend to have a slightly higher incidence of asthma, allergies and atopic dermal ailments and even hypothyroidism. Loss of hair also means that the scalp burns more easily in the sun. Loss of nasal hair increases the severity of hay fever and similar allergic conditions. They may also have aberrant nail formation because keratin forms both hair and nails.



Episodes of Alopecia Areata before puberty predispose one to recurrent episodes after puberty. Pitting of the fingernails can hint at a more severe or prolonged course.



Initial stages may be kept from increasing by applying topical corticosteroids. However, since the exact mechanisms are not ultimately understood, there is no known cure to date. Hair implants may help to cover bald spots, but cannot guarantee a satisfactory outcome as the bald areas might expand. Wigs should be prescribed if patients, especially female patients, mention social discomfort. However, hair integration and volumising systems (like the Enhancer) are much more efficient and guarantee much more natural look and feel, even though they are not widely available (due to monopolistic policies of many treatment studios reserving the solution only for the richest sufferers from the condition). Please read about our Enhancer system, the ultimate female hair loss solution available to everyone - regardless of your condition or economical situation.



Psychosocial issues



Alopecia can certainly be the cause of psychological stress. Because hair loss can lead to significant appearance changes, individuals may experience social phobia, anxiety, and depression. In severe cases where the chance of hair re-growth is slim, individuals need to adapt to the condition, rather than look for a cure. There is currently little provision for psychological treatment for people afflicted with alopecia.