Alopecia Areata: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatments

Alopecia Areata is not a curse – just that science has a different relationship with you

Losing a chunk of hair consistently and don’t know the reason behind it? People around you either look at you with the purpose of laughing or provided unneeded sympathy? Are you tired of not having a normal, healthy scalp like most people of your age? Then, there is a great chance that you are affected by Alopecia Areata. But, it is not the end of life at least for your hair. Here is an overview for you to understand this condition a little further:

What is Alopecia Areata?

Alopecia Areata is basically a form of hair loss that occurs when your body starts to attack the hair follicles which are responsible for hair growth. Even though it is common for both men and women, it is generally found in children under the age of 20, but people of any age can get affected with this disorder.

What are the causes of Alopecia Areata?

Alopecia Areata does not match other genetic disorders. It is not like you have a 50-50 chance to get it. It is highly unlikely for a child to get it from their parents. There are no fixed causes known for Alopecia Areata like it is for other autoimmune disorders. You can get a complete answer with HairMD to understand what triggered Alopecia Areata in you too.

How is Alopecia Areata an autoimmune disorder?

An autoimmune disorder is an issue caused when the body starts to act against its normal course. In this disorder, the white cells start to believe that these hair follicles are infected and they have to damage them to curb this disorder. For Alopecia Areata patients, the body starts to attack the hair follicles responsible for hair loss. This results into the uprooting of these hair follicles, causing the falling of chunks of hair.

How do you go about the diagnosis for Alopecia Areata?

At Hair MD, we pay special attention to the patient’s medical history and then undertake a physical examination to make a diagnosis. We ask the patient questions about hair loss, the pattern that it occurs in, and then analyze the hair scalp.

Most doctors follow the same procedure but if they fail to diagnose the right cause, then they will ask you to do the following tests to be sure:

• A Hair Analysis might be undertaken by taking a sample, which will be examined under a microscope.
• Some blood tests to eliminate the possibility of other causes such as thyroid, etc.

What are the symptoms of Alopecia Areata?

The most obvious symptom of Alopecia Areata is Hair Loss. It is basically a condition when hair starts to shed out in round patches. These patches usually do not have a high area in terms of centimeters. The other symptom is when hair loss starts to occur in other body parts too.

You will start noticing hair in the shower and on your pillow. But, hair loss is caused by a plethora of other diseases, so it is not the only symptom for Alopecia Areata. If you see a lot more extensive hair loss, then you may suffer from other types of Alopecia as well.

The other types are:

• Alopecia Totalis- In this case, the hair occurs throughout the scalp and you end up losing hair all across the scalp.
• Alopecia Universalis- In Alopecia Universalis, the patient suffers from hair loss all over the body.

Even though it is not a part of Alopecia Areata, you may suffer from Tinea Capitis too. It is a ringworm of the scalp which is caused by a fungal infection.

What are the treatments available for Alopecia Areata?

As per the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, there are a plethora of treatments available for Alopecia Areata. Most hair grows back in a year, so most patients do not undergo serious treatment. Not all patients benefit from the same treatment- it depends on their age, the type of Alopecia and many other factors. Some treatments available with HairMD are:

– Intralesional Corticosteroid Injections

– Topical Minoxidil

– Anthralin Cream or Ointment

– Topical corticosteroids

– Hair plugs.

We understand that suffering from Alopecia can be an emotionally taxing time for the patients. But, do not be disheartened and go for counseling. With the right treatment, you can easily fight your battle against Alopecia Areata.

Good Resource on Alopecia Areata