Signs and Symptoms of Alopecia Areata: All You Need To Know

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is also called patchy hair loss. This type of hair loss problem is sometimes noticeable and sometimes goes unnoticed. It develops when the immune system is unable to distinguish between foreign elements and the body’s own hair follicles. This causes the immune system to attack the follicles causing them to fall out. 

There are medicines that may enable hair to grow back more rapidly once you experience Alopecia areata, the treatment protocol is more to grow back hair in places where Alopecia areata has led to hair loss. 

Alopecia areata symptoms

In this condition basically, hair drops out little round patches on the scalp. These patches are normally a few centimetres or less. 

Hair loss may likewise happen in different parts of the body. You will notice lots of hair on your pillow or during taking a shower.

The patchy baldness related to alopecia areata is capricious and irregular. The hair may come back whenever and afterwards may drop out once more. The degree of pattern baldness and regrowth fluctuates enormously from individual-to-individual.

Other clinical signs include hairs growing with a narrower bottom or hair getting white in the bald area. 

While these are some of the signs of alopecia areata, doctors may examine the affected area under a microscope to understand the problem better. If required, the expert may also send skin samples from the affected scalp area for a skin biopsy to know the condition accurately before starting the alopecia areata treatment. 

What are the causes of alopecia areata?

• Alopecia areata is an immune system ailment. An immune system disease develops when the immune system recognises our own cells as foreign cells. Ordinarily, the resistant framework guards your body against outside trespassers, for example, infections and microorganisms. Experts have claimed that one of the major alopecia areata causes to be the situation where white blood cells attack the hair follicles. When this happens, the follicles of the hair shrink down and this causes the hair growth to reduce. 
• After several diagnosis of cases, it has been assumed that alopecia areata can be a genetic disorder that runs in the family. People with family history of alopecia areata are more likely to get it than the general population. It can also come in patients who do not have any similar family history.
• There are also explanations that stated that the disease can also happen in those people who are suffering from some kind of specific health concerns such as vitiligo, thyroiditis, or are extremely hyperallergic. Hence, the doctors will check out other diseases and health problems too in the patient before starting with the alopecia areata medication. 
• Again, there are also experts who have connected the disease to stress. As per these experts, stress releases a hormone that interrupts the hair follicles and weakens them, causing the situation of alopecia areata. 

To learn more about alopecia areata and how your hair loss can be reversed, speak to a dermatologist. 

Book an appointment with a HairMD expert today!