Alopecia Areata

What is Alopecia Areata? Alopecia areata starts as one or more small, round patches on the scalp and progresses to total hair loss, although total hair loss only happens in a very small number of cases. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease, in which the damaged hair follicles are by a person's own immune system. The immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, tissues, and organs in a person's body in autoimmune diseases. Alopecia areata disease affects an estimated 1.7% of the world’s population, including more than 4 million people in the United States alone. If the condition becomes severe or is recurrent, the patient can develop alopecia totalis – loss of eyebrows and eyelashes – or alopecia universalis – loss of body hair. If the condition occurs prior to puberty, the patient has a 50% chance of remaining bald.

Both genders can get it, and it often begins in childhood. The hair usually grows back in 6 months to 2 years. However, in persistent cases, steroid injections stimulate hair growth. Rarely is a severe, acute case of alopecia areata experienced where just the touch of the scalp and hair falls out. A change in the finger nails, such as pitting and marked alteration is common in patients of alopecia areata.

Thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, anemia and an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s Disease can cause female alopecia areata. The reversal effects on alopecia areata vary from person to person. Some people get their hair back naturally while others require more treatments to diffuse alopecia areata. Alopecia areata pills, which are available with a prescription, are only one alopecia areata treatment. Visit the American Academy of Family Physician’s website for more alopecia areata information. As more and more research is done on alopecia areata, new info is available, including alopecia areata pictures from the research done by dermatologists.

Feline alopecia areata occurs, but there are no documented definitive reports. The prognosis and therapy for feline alopecia areata is unclear and spontaneous recovery can take some time to occur. Alopecia areata in dachshunds is non-hormonal. In addition, the causes and treatment of alopecia areata in Dachshunds would focus directly on reducing the inflammation associated with AA - a non-scarring form of inflammatory hair loss in humans.

Alopecia areata should not go undiagnosed. A physician or dermatologist can help you decide what, if necessary, treatment is best for you. Make an appointment. Get a referral. Have your hair loss looked at and diagnosed properly. It could save you a lot of embarrassment in the future.