What Is Alopecia Areata?

Alopecia areata falls under the category of an autoimmune disease, wherein the immune system that is designed for protecting the body from foreign invaders like viruses and bacteria, erroneously attacks the hair follicles, a tiny cup-shaped structure from where hairs grow. This can lead to hair loss from the scalp and elsewhere.

In most of the cases, hair falls out in a small, round patch about a size of a quarter. In many cases, the disease doesn’t extend outside a few bare patches. In some people, hair loss is more across-the-board. Although not common, the disease can progress to cause total loss of hair on the head (medically known to as Alopecia areata totalis) or complete loss of hair on the head, face, and body (medically known as Alopecia areata universalis).

Alopecia Areata - What Causes It?

In Alopecia areata, immune system cells termed as white blood cells attack the rapid growing cells within the hair follicles those form the hair. The affected hair follicles turn small and drastically decelerate hair productions. As luck would have it, the stem cells that continually supply the follicles with newer cells do not seem to be targeted. So the follicles always have the potential to re-grow the hair.

Is Hair Loss a serious disease?

It is never! Alopecia areata is not a life-threatening condition. It does not produce any physical pain, and people with this condition are usually healthy otherwise. But for most people, a condition that erratically affects their appearance the way alopecia areata does is quite a serious concern.

The effect of alopecia areata is primarily socially and emotionally agitating. In alopecia universalis, nevertheless, loss of eyelashes and eyebrows and hairs in the nose and ears can make the person less protected to dust, germs, and foreign particles that can then easily enter in the eyes, nose, and ears.

Alopecia areata generally occurs in people whose family members suffer from other autoimmune diseases like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid gland problems, SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus), pernicious anemia, or Addison's disease. People who suffer from Alopecia areata do not generally suffer from other autoimmune diseases, but they are at higher risks of having thyroid disease, atopic eczema, nasal allergy and asthma.

Getting the hair growth back

There is every chance that one’s hair might re-grow, but they may also fall out again. No one can predict when they can re-grow or fall out. The course of the condition differs from individual to individual. Some people lose just some patches of hair, then the hairs re-grow, and the problem never recurs. Other people continue losing and re-growing hair for many years. A few of people lose completely the hair on their head; some lose complete hair on their heads, faces, and bodies. Even in those who lose all their hair, the possibilities for full re-growth remain.

In some victims, the initial hair re-growth is white having a gradual return of their original colors. In most, the re-grown hairs are finally of the same color and texture as those original hairs.

Alopecia areata treatment

Conventional Drugs

There are many drugs or medications those are commonly to treat Alopecia areata. One should keep in mind that while such treatments can promote hair growth, none of them would prevent newer patches or actually treat the underlying condition. Drugs like corticosteroids, minoxidil, anthralin, sulfasalazine and oral cyclosporine are choice of drugs to treat this condition.

Such drugs promote hair growth onto the scalp. Though difficult to prove, some manufacturers proclaim that their drugs or molecules treat any underlying condition of the disease. In some of the cases, scalp reduction may help.