Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune disorder that often results in
unpredictable hair loss.
In the majority of cases, hair falls out in small patches around the
size of a quarter. For most people, the hair loss is nothing more than
a few patches, though in some cases it can be more extreme.
Sometimes, it can lead to the complete loss of hair on the scalp
(alopecia totalis) or, in extreme cases, the entire body (alopecia
universalis).
The condition can affect anyone regardless of age and gender, though
most cases occur before the age of 30.
One in five people with alopecia areata also has a family member who
has experienced the condition.
Alopecia areata often develops suddenly, over the course of just a few days.
There is little scientific evidence that alopecia areata is caused by stress.
People with alopecia areata who have only a few patches of hair loss
often experience a spontaneous, full recovery, without the need for
treatment.
There is 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.
Other medications that can be prescribed that either promote hair
growth or affect the immune system include Minoxidil, Anthralin,
SADBE, and DPCP. 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.
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.
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.
Causes
The condition occurs when white blood cells attack the cells in hair
follicles, causing them to shrink and dramatically slow down hair
production. It is unknown precisely what causes the body’s immune
system to target hair follicles in this way.
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 characterised 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.
