Alopecia Areata - Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Home Remedies
What is Alopecia Areata ?
Alopecia Areata is a autoimmune disorder where immune system form antibodies to attack the hair follicles. It causes loss of hair in the form of sharply defined circular patches on the various body parts such as scalp, beard, eyelashes, eyebrows, face, nose hair, etc. Alopecia Areata is also kown as patchy baldness
or baldness in spots. Alopecia areata also known as AA in short is a hair disease which causes hair loss in some or all area of the body. This disease usually affects the scalp in spots, it is sometimes also known as spot baldness. Alopecia areata has some immunity relation due to which the hair loss can happen. It can affect all ethnic groups, ages, and sex.
Types of Alopecia areata
- diffuse alopecia areata - hair loss is sometimes diffused on the whole area of the scalp.
- alopecia areata monolocularis - one spot baldness which can occur anywhere on scalp.
- Alopecia totalis - Affects up to 5% of affected individuals
- Alopecia universalis - Affects less than 1% of cases
- Alopecia areata incognita - Sudden diffuse thinning of scalp hair
- alopecia areata multilocularis - in this multiple regions are affected with hair loss.
Causes of Alopecia Areata
According to the research and study on the causes of alopecia areata so far, it is being hypotheticated that it is caused by an abnormal immune system. In this diease, for some unknown reasons, the body's own defene starts attack on the hair follicles which can break or disrupt hair formation.
- the exact cause is unknown but there is evidence of some genetic and heredity factors.
- the body's own immune system attacks the hair follicles which drastically slow down hair production
- it can also trigger by stress
- environmental factors may sometimes trigger this not contagious disease
- lymphocytes of hair follicles release cytokines which inhibiting hair follicle growth
What are the symptoms of Patchy Hair Loss - Alopecia Areata?
- The effects of alopecia areata are loss of eyelashes and eyebrows.
- May have a risk of eczema, asthma, and nasal allergies
- The patient in this disease may lose scalp hair or whole body hair.
- In many patient there is a tingling sensation, burning or very low pain in the affected area.
- Person may feel emotionally very distressing.
Alopecia Areata Treatment
- Medications like Corticosteroids, Anthralin, Minoxidil, dithranol, Sulfasalazine, Cyclosporine.
- Steroids injection like Kenalog(r), Celestone, Diprolene or Temovate
- Creams and lotions such as Betamethasone dipropionate, Fluocinolone acetonide cream, Rogaine, Thymusil, Cortisone, clobetasol
- Wig or hairpieces are often the best solution
- Artificial eyebrows are created through the Dermatography
- Arometherapy olis such as cedarwood, lavender, thyme, and rosemary oils are proved to be useful in some patients
- Vitamins, supplements, Chinese herbs, zinc are also effective in the treatment of alopecia areata
- Photochemotherapy in this treatment person given a light drugs called a psoralen which is taken by mouth or rubbed on the affected part and then that area is exposs to ultraviolet light source. This whole treatment called is PUVA.
- The cure of Alopecia Areata contains herbal oil, herbal powder, herbal gel etc, which are available for topical applications. They are all made out of fresh herbs.
- Mild forms of alopecia areata are mostly treated by intralesional injection of a glucocorticoid, usually triamcinolone, every four to six weeks
- Steroid injections over the infected areas can also give some cure of Alopecia, more suitable for eyebrow hair loss.
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