Hair Loss Risks and Treatments Related to Alopecia Areata

Alopecia Aleata is a form of hair loss that can be experience by both sexes. It covers four forms of hair loss related to the entire body with the risk and treatments covered below.

What is alopecia areata?

This disorder is characterized by loss of hair most often on the scalp. It has a fast onset that may be more significant on one side of the head than the other.

Unlike male pattern baldness, which is genetic in origin, alopecia areata is due to a malfunction of the immune system. The immune system wages war on body cells, specifically the hair follicles, which results in inhibition of hair growth.

Types:

There are different types of alopecia areata including:

Diffuse Alopecia Areata - Evidenced by hairless spots on the scalp

Alopecia Totalis - Marked by complete balding

Alopecia Universalis - Hair loss covering the entire body

Alopecia Areata Barbe - Loss of facial hair

What are the risks?

Those primarily at risk for Alopecia areata are adolescents, teens, and young adults. It is most often confused with other hair loss conditions, such as hair shedding after pregnancy and after discontinuation of hormone replacement treatment, or HRT.

The risk becomes greater in the presence of an autoimmune disorder.

About half of those with a diagnosis of alopecia areata will experience new hair growth in approximately twelve months without treatment. If loss of hair is prolonged the ability to regrow hair is diminished and most likely will be permanent.

What is the treatment?

There are a number of treatments available for alopecia areata designed to stop hair loss and stimulate hair regrowth. These treatments include:

Corticosteroid shampoos, use of steroidal drugs, topical treatment applications like oils, drops or creams.

Alopecia Areata medications include:

Cyclosporine, minoxidil and anthralin.

There may be a need to combine different treatments to solve the problem, depending on the severity and duration of the hair loss.

It is possible that a main component of alopecia areata is emotional stress. Many people afflicted with this condition have reported stressful events in their lives that precluded the hair loss. Any subsequent situation that involved stress resulted in hair loss as well.

Alopecia Areata can result in very rapid hair loss, with baldness being a risk if it is not treated quickly. You should consult with a doctor to determine the best treatment path possible.

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