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AUTOIMMUNE HAIR LOSS - ALOPECIA AREATA

What is Autoimmune Hair Loss ?

Alopecia areata is a particular form of hair loss that can affect any part of the body in either sex. The hair loss is noticed as a round bald area. There are no other symptoms. The commonest site for alopecia areata is the scalp, but frequently the beard area in men is affected. More rarely, eyebrows and eyelashes are affected. In some individuals it can spread over the whole body, when it is called alopecia universalis. Often, only a single area is found, but sometimes multiple areas occur affecting different parts of the scalp or beard area. The bald skin is smooth and soft, and small broken hairs may be seen at the edge of the patch. Any age group can be affected.

How does Autoimmune Hair Loss occur ?

Alopecia areata is an “auto-immune” disease. This means a condition in which the body's defence or immune system acts as if its own hair is abnormal and attacks it. This results in hair loss. Why certain small areas are involved is not known. It is occasionally found with other auto-immune diseases affecting the blood, thyroid gland and adrenal glands, and skin pigment cells.

Why does Autoimmune Hair Loss occur ?

Alopecia areata may affect several members of your family, because the tendency to it is partly inherited. In some people, emotional stress or injury to the involved area may trigger the problem.

Treatment Involved for Autoimmune Hair Loss

In mild cases where only one patch is present treatment may be unnecessary, as the patch will recover spontaneously. Alopecia areata can be treated by the use of creams and lotions which reduce the immune response. Steroid creams and lotions are usually tried first. The steroid preparation must be strong and a gel preparation is usually best as it is easiest to use in hairy areas. Your treatment may need to be continued for many months. Minoxidil lotion is generally used for other forms of hair loss, but has been found to be effective in alopecia areata. It is usually reserved for use if the steroid creams fail. In severe and resistant cases, hospital treatment with ultraviolet light therapy may help. In some patients, creating inflammation of the skin or dermatitis in the area affected, by applying irritant creams or paints, may result in the hair regrowing. This approach is only used in severe cases which do not respond to other treatments.

During Treatment of Autoimmune Hair Loss

When the hair starts to regrow, you may notice that the hairs are often fine and white and may not be obvious in the mirror. With time, the hairs thicken and darken and so become more easily seen. Occasionally, the hairs thicken but remain white. Hair grows very slowly and it may take many months before the bald patch becomes covered with hair. Alopecia areata affecting the beard area, eyebrows and eyelashes tends to be slower to respond that the scalp disease. It is important that you persevere with treatment. In some people, new patches appear as the old ones regrow. These new patches should be treated as they come up. In a small number of patients, the hair loss becomes extensive and does not respond to any treatment.

After Treatment of Autoimmune Hair Loss

Once the patches have regrown, they are unlikely to go bald again. In some patients, recurrent new patches develop at different sites over a period of months or years. In some patients full recovery occurs, in others the condition remains active and the hair fails to regrow.

If Autoimmune Hair Loss is Left Untreated

Alopecia areata, in most people, tends to recover without treatment. Treatment speeds recovery. In some patients, treatment does have a profound effect and will limit the spread of the disease. It will stimulate regrowth in areas where hair growth was not apparent. In some patients, there is no response to treatment and the condition persists or spreads. In occasional patients, the disease can spread to affect all body hair. This condition responds less well to treatment.

Effects on Family of Autoimmune Hair Loss

Alopecia areata may occur in other family members but this is unusual. Patients with severe alopecia need considerable support from family and friends.