Sept. 10, 2020 | Alopecia areata is a non-life-threatening disease of your immune system that affects the hair on your scalp. With this condition, your body mistakenly views your hair follicles as an enemy and attacks them. This causes some or all of your hair to fall out. It usually begins with the hair on your head. Alopecia areata is not contagious. It occurs in men, women, and children of all ages but it is more common in children and adults in their early 20s. You have a slightly higher risk of having alopecia areata if a close family member has it. Your risk is even greater if your family member lost his or her first patch of hair before age 30. The hair loss tends to be unpredictable. Hair may regrow without treatment. This happens more often when someone has a few bald patches. When the hair regrows, it may fall out again, or it may not. If alopecia areata affects the nails, you may see dents, ridges, or brittle nails. Some people develop red nails.

Sept. 10, 2020 | Alopecia areata often begins suddenly with oval or round bald patches appearing most commonly on the scalp. Other areas of hairy skin may also be involved. Gradually, the affected skin becomes smooth. New patches may spread by joining existing bald patches. These larger bald areas can appear while hair is regrowing in older hairless patches. Loss of hair can be permanent in some cases. Hair follicles may deteriorate, but oil producing glands in the skin usually change very little. The skin does not become hard or atrophied. In a very few cases, all body hair may be lost. Cases beginning during childhood tend to be more severe than cases with an onset during adulthood. The physical manifestations of this disorder may not be as difficult to handle for some individuals as the emotional ones. Most people with alopecia areata are generally healthy otherwise although the hair loss can be psychologically traumatic.

Sept. 10, 2020 | The exact cause of alopecia areata is not known. Scientists think it is an autoimmune disease where white blood cells from the immune system attack hair follicles and keep them from producing hairs. Autoimmune diseases occur when a patient’s immune system mistakenly thinks that part of his or her own tissue is diseased and attacks it. The end result depends on how effectively the tissue defends itself as it tries to grow back normally. Some cases may be linked to abnormal reactions by blood cells to a thyroid protein, stomach cells or adrenal cells. In 20 percent of cases, a familial pattern has been proposed, suggesting that some individuals may have a genetic predisposition to alopecia areata. A genetic predisposition means that a person may carry a gene for a disease but it may not occur unless something in the environment triggers the disease. The trigger may be a virus or something in the environment.

Sept. 10, 2020 | Treatment of alopecia areata involves producing the regrowth of hair. Although there is no cure for the disorder at the present time, the hair may sometimes return by itself. In some cases, it may also fall out again after returning. For mild, patchy alopecia areata, in which less than 50 percent of the scalp hair is gone, cortisone may be injected locally into areas of bare skin. These injections are done with tiny needles, and repeated once a month. Topical solutions, creams and ointments may also help. For more extensive cases of alopecia areata, cortisone pills are sometimes given. However, these pills may have undesirable side effects that should be discussed with a physician beforehand. Treatment tends to be less effective for more extensive alopecia areata than in cases of mild, patchy alopecia areata. For cosmetic reasons, wigs and hairpieces may be necessary, especially for women and children with the disorder.

Sept. 10, 2020 | Living with the hair loss disorder alopecia areata can be extremely difficult. It affects social interaction and self-confidence, as people are embarrassed to let others see their hair loss. It can also be frustrating to not know if your hair is going to grow back or fall out again. Support groups give patients a chance to talk about their condition and help them realize they are not alone in their frustration. Hairstyling techniques or hair care products can help to cover bare patches on the head but some products can be harsh on hair and cause additional damage and loss. Losing your eyelashes, eyebrows, and the hair in your nose and ears also can be a problem. Hair protects your eyes, nose, and ears from the irritation of dust, germs, and small, foreign particles. Patients with alopecia areata should wear eyeglasses or sunglasses to protect their eyes and may use an antibiotic ointment inside their nose to help keep germs out.