Alopecia (hair loss or baldness) areata (occurring in small, random areas) is a common hair loss condition characterized by patches of baldness. These patches may connect, spreading to a greater extent and becoming more noticeable. Such hair loss may occur anywhere on the body but is predominantly seen on the scalp.
While there is no absolute cure for alopecia areata, treatments can help slow down its progression. However, some alopecia areata clinical trials in indianapolis can help find breakthroughs for the condition.
What Causes Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia areata is an auto-immune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the hair follicles. As the follicles become smaller, they stop producing hair, leading to hair loss. The etiology of alopecia areata is not known but certain factors add to its onset, including:
- Heredity factors: Genetics play an important role in the onset of alopecia areata. According to science, the variation in the gene involved in autoimmune diseases may be passed on to generations.
- Certain co-morbidities: Certain health conditions, such as down syndrome, thyroid, and vitiligo may also contribute to alopecia areata.
- Mineral and vitamin deficiencies: Vitamin D, B3, Zinc, Iron, and amino acids may lead to alopecia areata as well.
How does Alopecia Areata Looks Like?
If you suffer from alopecia areata, you will notice patches of baldness, which are round and small – no bigger than the size of a quarter. However, its shape and the amount of hair lost can be differential.
Moreover, alopecia areata can also affect your nails, causing dents or pits (cupuliform depressions), making nails rough and gritty.
While alopecia does not affect your overall health, it may be a big blow to your confidence, affecting you psychosocially as well as psychologically. As a result, many people with alopecia areata feel anxious, depressed, and stressed out.
It’s Types
There are five types of alopecia areata, classified based on the extent of hair loss and other symptoms. Here are its types:
- Patchy alopecia areata is the most common type characterized by one more coined-size patches on the head or body.
- Alopecia totalis is referred to the complete loss of hair on the scalp.
- Alopecia universalis is characterized by complete loss of hair on the body and scalp.
- Diffuse alopecia areata or alopecia areata incognito leads to abrupt thinning of hair all over the scalp, rather than in patches. This type of alopecia areata may present as either male or female pattern hair loss.
- Ophiasis alopecia is characterized by hair loss in bands along the sides and the back of the scalp.
Furthermore, there are three types of alopecia that are not autoimmune diseases, including:
- Androgenetic alopecia or male-pattern baldness is hair loss in men, characterized by dispersed hair loss over the scalp. However, the condition is not limited to males, as females may experience hair thinning without receding hairline.
- Traction alopecia occurs mainly due to certain hairstyles (such as tight braids) that pull the hair from the root, leading to gradual hair fall.
- Frontal fibrosing alopecia, as the name suggests, refers to hair loss and scarring evident around the forehead. It is a slow process and may lead to hair loss in other places, including eyelashes and eyebrows.
How Common is Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia areata is a common hair loss condition, affecting nearly 7 million people in the US, out of which 20% of cases are reported in children. Furthermore, of all people with alopecia areata, 5% suffer from alopecia areata totalis while 1% have alopecia areata universalis.
Since alopecia areata differs from both male pattern and female pattern hair loss, it affects men and women equally.
This condition may also be present in children, known as early onset alopecia areata. Furthermore, in children, alopecia areata may lead to changes in nails such as pitting or lesions. While such changes might occur in adults, it is more common in children.
What are the Symptoms of Alopecia Areata?
The symptoms of alopecia areata typically develop between the age of 25-36 years and majorly involve patches of hair loss that are might be a few centimeters in size. While the condition affects the scalp pre-dominantly, it may also affect:
- Face
- Chest
- Back
- Arms
- Legs
How people lose hair depends on person to person. For instance, some people may lose hair in only a few places, while others may experience hair loss in more areas of the body. Similarly, hair loss may be quick or gradual in people.
In addition, other alopecia areata symptoms include:
- Itching or burning in the patches
- White hairs in the affected patches
- Pitting or lesions in nails.
How is Alopecia Areata Diagnosed?
A physician can diagnose alopecia areata from the extent, appearance, and patterns of the hair loss, while examining few hair strands under a microscope.
However, in some cases, physicians might also opt for scale biopsy to differentiate the diagnosis from other conditions, such as tinea capitis.
Furthermore, a physician might also run blood tests to check for vitamin deficiencies, a viable factor for the onset of alopecia areata.
How do You Treat Alopecia Areata?
While there’s no complete cure for alopecia areata, some treatments help slow down the progression or speed up hair growth. However, since the condition presents differently in everyone, its patterns might be difficult to predict and treat. Therefore, every person’s treatment might require thorough trial and errors to find a regimen that suits them the best. Furthermore, it is crucial to remember that despite the treatments and other remedies, people may continue to lose hair.
- Topical Medicines:
Such treatments are applied directly on the scalp to stimulate hair growth. Some of the treatments used are OTC products that are not recommended by the FDA and should be discussed with a healthcare provider before use. Other topical medications include drugs that either irritate the skin to trigger hair growth or those that decrease inflammation in hair follicles.
In addition to such medications, topical immunotherapy is a technique used to trigger an allergic rash that may stimulate hair growth within six months. The treatment is repeated as necessary but cannot be continued indefinitely.
- Injections:
Injectable steroids are used to treat mild, patchy alopecia to stimulate hair regrowth on bald patches. The treatment should be repeated every one to two months, but it does not prevent existing hair loss.
- Oral Medications:
Oral treatments include cortisone tablets, JAK inhibitors, and oral immunosuppressants that help deal with alopecia but cannot be used for long-term due to serious risk of adverse effects.
Other therapies include light or photochemotherapy that provides specific doses of radiation to the affected patches, stimulating new hair growth.
Living with Alopecia Areata
The trajectory for alopecia areata differs for each person and hence, is unpredictable in terms of treatments and how it affects a person. While there is no absolute cure, there are clinical research organizations in Indiana dedicated to finding a hopeful solution for those living with the condition, to help them rekindle their confidence.
