WHAT IS ALOPECIA AREATA?
Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disease where the immune system incorrectly targets the hair follicles. Most people suffering from Alopecia Areata will notice coin shaped areas of hair loss. For some the condition can progress to Alopecia Totalis where there is a loss of all of the hair on the scalp.
THESE CAN EFFECT BOTH MEN AND WOMEN AND AROUND 2-3% OF THE POPULATION IS AFFECTED IN THEIR LIFETIME.
Alopecia Areata can be treated with steroid injections, topical treatments and immunosuppressive medications. Usually, hair transplantation is not a treatment option for those suffering from Alopecia Areata as the immune system attacks the transplanted hair in the same way. It does not directly make people sick, not is it contagious. It can, however, be difficult to adapt to emotionally. For many people, alopecia areata is a traumatic disease that warrants treatment addressing the emotional aspect of hair loss, as well as the hair loss itself.
There is currently no cure for Alopecia Areata, although there are some forms of treatment that can be suggested by doctors to help hair re-grow more quickly.
There are different types of this condition. Alopecia Areata is most common in its main form, but there are other, more rare types:
TOTALIS
means you’re lost all the hair on your head.
UNIVERSALIS
is the loss of hair over you entire body.
DIFFUSE
is a sudden thinning of your hair rather than lost patches.
OPHIASIS
causes hair loss in a band shape around the sides and back of your head.
The bald patches of skin are smooth, with no rash or redness. But you may feel a tingling, itching, or burning sensation on your skin right before the hair falls out.
ALOPECIA SYMPTOMS
The main and often the only symptom of Alopecia is hair loss. You may notice:
- Small bald patches on your scalp or other parts of your body
- Patches may get larger and grow together into a bald spot
- Hair grows back in one spot and falls out in another
- You lose a lot of hair over a short time
- More hair loss in cold weather
- Fingernails and toenails become red, brittle, and pitted.
DON'T WAIT. GET HELP TODAY!
Hair loss is a frustrating problem for millions of men and women. Factors such as diet, stress, and medications can lead to hair loss but genes can also play an important role in male pattern baldness.
The sooner you address the symptoms of hair loss, the more likely you are to prevent irreversible damage. Contact us now to get free consultation from our Hair Transplant Specialist Doctor.