Alopecia areata is a hair-loss condition which usually affects the scalp and sometimes affect other areas of the body. Alopecia areata typically causes one or more patches of hair loss. Hair loss tends to be rather rapid and often involves one side of the head more than the other. Alopecia areata tends to affect younger individuals, both males and females. This type of hair loss is different than male-pattern baldness, an inherited condition.
Sometimes, alopecia areata occurs within family members, suggesting a role of genes and heredity.
An autoimmune disorder, in which the immune system attacks hair follicles and disrupts normal hair formation, is believed to cause alopecia areata.
Alopecia areata is sometimes associated with other autoimmune conditions such as :
- Allergic disorders
- Thyroid disease
- Vitiligo
- Lupus
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Ulcerative colitis
The characteristic finding of alopecia areata is the exclamation point hair. These unusual hairs can be found in areas of hair loss. They are visible with a hand lens as short, broken off hairs that are narrower closer to the scalp ( appearing like an exclamation point ). A biopsy of the scalp is sometimes necessary for a diagnosis ( biopsies of affected skin show immune cells inside of the hair follicles where they are not normally present ).
The longer the period of time of hair loss, the less likelihood that the hair will regrow.
A variety of treatments for alopecia areata :
- Steroid injections
- Creams
- Shampoos ( for the scalp have been used for many years ), such as :
- Clobetasol
- Fluocinonide
- Other medications include :
- Minoxidil
- Irritants ( anthralin or topical coal tar
- Topical immunotherapy ( cyclosporine )
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