What is alopecia

Several types of alopecia areata exist. Each type is characterized by the extent of hair loss and other symptoms you may be experiencing.

Each type may also have a slightly different treatment and prognosis. The main characteristic of this type of alopecia areata is one or more coin-sized patches of hair loss on the skin or body. If this condition expands, it may become alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis. In addition to losing hair on the scalp, people with this type of alopecia areata also lose all hair on the face — eyebrows and eyelashes. Diffuse alopecia areata may look a lot like female- or male-pattern hair loss.

It results in sudden and unexpected thinning of hair all over the scalp, not in just one area or patch. Hair loss that follows a band along the sides and lower back of the scalp is called ophiasis alopecia.

Once you develop this autoimmune condition, you may live with bouts of hair loss and other related symptoms for the rest of your life. Some people, however, may experience hair loss just once. The same variation applies to recovery: Some people will experience full regrowth of hair.

Others may not. They may even experience additional hair loss. Alopecia areata can be emotionally challenging, especially when hair loss affects the whole scalp. People with the condition may feel isolated or become depressed. There are lifestyle changes you can make to help cope with the condition. New wig technologies, like the vacuum wig , which is made from silicon and a suction base, mean that people with alopecia can even swim with their wigs still in place.

Vacuum wigs, however, are typically more expensive. If hair loss affects the eyebrows, an eyebrow pencil , microblading, and eyebrow tattoos are a few options to consider. A doctor may be able to diagnose alopecia areata simply by looking at the extent of your hair loss and by examining a few hair samples under a microscope.

Your doctor may also perform a scalp biopsy to rule out other conditions that cause hair loss, including fungal infections like tinea capitis. During a scalp biopsy, your doctor will remove a small piece of skin on your scalp for analysis. The specific blood test performed depends on the particular disorder the doctor suspects. However, a doctor will likely test for the presence of one or more abnormal antibodies.

If these antibodies are found in your blood, it usually means that you have an autoimmune disorder. Foods with sugar, processed snacks, and alcohol may increase inflammation and irritation within the body. This type of eating plan is designed to help reduce the autoimmune response in the body and decrease the chances of another hair loss episode or further hair loss.

To do that, you eat foods that are known to ease the inflammation process. The foundational foods of this diet, also known as the autoimmune protocol, are fruits and vegetables like blueberries, nuts, seeds, broccoli, beets, and lean meats like wild-caught salmon. Eating a balanced diet — one with whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean meat — is beneficial to your overall health for many reasons, not just for reducing inflammation. This autoimmune disorder may be the result of several factors.

Those include a family history, other autoimmune condition, and even other skin conditions. But not everyone with any of these factors will develop the hair condition.

Healthy hair is a sign of beauty and good overall health. Here are the top 5 best vitamins to grow your hair, along with 3 other nutrients. Research on the effectiveness of saw palmetto in treating hair loss is limited, but promising. The jojoba plant is a shrub native to the southwestern United States. It grows in the desert regions of Arizona, southern California, and Mexico. The condition can affect anyone regardless of age and gender, though most cases occur before the age of In this article, we look at the causes and symptoms of alopecia areata, its diagnosis, and potential treatments.

There is currently no cure for alopecia areata, although there are some forms of treatment that can be suggested by doctors to help hair re-grow more quickly. The most common form of alopecia areata treatment is the use of corticosteroids, powerful anti-inflammatory drugs that can suppress the immune system. These are mostly commonly administered through local injections, topical ointment application, or orally.

Although some of these may help with the re-growth of hair, they cannot prevent the formation of new bald patches. The use of photochemotherapy is supported by some studies and presents a potential alternative for patients unable or unwilling to use systemic or invasive therapies.

In addition to its aesthetic aspect, hair affords a degree of protection against the elements. People with alopecia areata who miss the protective qualities of hair may wish to:. Alopecia areata does not directly make people sick, nor is it contagious.

It can, however, be difficult to adapt to emotionally. For many people, alopecia areata is a traumatic disease that warrants treatment addressing the emotional aspect of hair loss, as well as the hair loss itself. Support groups and counseling are available for people to share their thoughts and feelings, and to discuss common psychological reactions to the condition. Alopecia areata has been compared by some to vitiligo , an autoimmune skin disease where the body attacks melanin-producing cells, leading to white patches.

Research suggests that these two conditions may share a similar pathogenesis, with similar types of immune cells and cytokines driving the diseases and common genetic risk factors. As such, any new developments in the treatment or prevention of either disease may have consequences for the other.

There have been a handful of documented cases where treatment for alopecia areata using diphencyprone DCP , a contact sensitizer, has led to the development of vitiligo.

Preliminary research in animals has found that quercetin, a naturally occurring bioflavonoid found in fruits and vegetables, can protect against the development of alopecia areata and effectively treat existing hair loss. Further research is needed, including human clinical trials, before quercetin can be considered a treatment for alopecia areata.

The condition occurs when white blood cells attack the cells in hair follicles, causing them to shrink and dramatically slow down hair production. While scientists are unsure why these changes occur, it seems that genetics are involved as alopecia areata is more likely to occur in a person who has a close family member with the disease.

One in five people with the disease has a family member who has also developed alopecia areata. Other research has found that many people with a family history of alopecia areata also have a personal or family history of other autoimmune disorders, such as atopy, a disorder characterized by a tendency to be hyperallergic, thyroiditis, and vitiligo. Despite what many people think, there is very little scientific evidence to support the view that alopecia areata is caused by stress.

Extreme cases of stress could potentially trigger the condition, but most recent research points toward a genetic cause. More research is needed before we know whether low levels of vitamin D play a role in causing this disease. While anyone can get alopecia areata, some people have a greater risk of developing it.

Those most likely to get it have:. Because many people try to hide hair loss, this percentage may be higher. Asthma, hay fever, atopic dermatitis, thyroid disease, vitiligo, or Down syndrome: Research shows that people who have one of these diseases are more likely to get alopecia areata. The drug is used to treat lung cancer and melanoma that has spread. Hair loss usually begins a few months after they start treatment.

This type of hair loss usually means that the drug is working. You can treat this hair loss with a corticosteroid that you apply to the bald spots.

It allows the hair to regrow without stopping cancer treatment. Your race may also affect your risk of getting alopecia areata. In a large study, researchers found that black and Hispanic nurses were more likely than non-Hispanic white nurses to develop this disease. While this study spanned several years, it has many limitations. For example, it only looked at women nurses in the United States. More research is needed to know whether this finding holds true for other people. You can get alopecia areata at any age; however, most people develop it by 30 years of age.

For many, the disease begins during childhood or the teenage years. For some people, regrowth will happen without any help.