A healthy set of hair is an aesthetic everyone strives for in life. A thick, luscious head of hair symbolizes youthfulness, health, and vitality. Conditions like alopecia, which damage the scalp and cause patchy hair loss, can be a significant cause of stress and anxiety.
Here is a thorough explanation of the causes and the most effective treatment options for this distressing condition.
What Is Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia areata is classified as an autoimmune disorder. Autoimmune means that the immune system mistakes the body’s healthy tissue as “foreign” and attacks it. Alopecia leads to round, patchy hair loss, particularly on the scalp.
There are various classifications of Alopecia areata based on the extent and position of the hair loss. Such as Alopecia areata totalis (loss of all the hair on the scalp) or diffuse alopecia areata (diffuse hair thinning). This condition is common in children and people who have a family history of autoimmune diseases.
What Causes Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia areata is a family disease with a strong genetic component. Many genes have been linked to this distressing condition in research. It can either occur without a cause or is triggered by an external stimulus like a viral or bacterial infection. People with a family history of other autoimmune conditions (such as thyroid disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, or diabetes) are also at risk.
What is the Incidence of Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia areata is a common condition characterized by hair loss. It closely follows male and female pattern baldness as a frequent cause of hair loss. It is the reason for 0.7% to 3% of dermatological visits every year. According to studies, Alopecia areata is more common in women than in men. In most cases, the disease presents during the early years of life (almost 80% develop symptoms before they turn 40).
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia areata can result in hair loss throughout the body. Brows, lashes, and other hair-bearing parts of the body may experience patchy loss. Scalp is a common site for alopecia-related hair loss. Other signs and symptoms of Alopecia areata include:
- Itchy scalp and nail pitting
- Brittle nails
- Hair fall (diffuse or localized)
- Follicular ostia (mouth-like opening at the hair follicle)
- Excess white hair
- Exclamation hair (short hair follicles, thick on top with a thin base)
How to Treat Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia areata has no permanent cure but it can be controlled. The treatment options for it can be divided as:
Home Remedies
Alopecia areata is more common in women as compared to men. For mild alopecia, many females resort to home remedies like hair growth treatments, hair oils, etc. At the same time, others choose to hide the hair loss with wigs, camouflaging hairstyles, or hair powders.
Medications
For severe forms of Alopecia areata, more effective treatment options are needed. The first step is medications (topical, injectables, and oral). These include Minoxidil as well as corticosteroids
Steroids weaken the immune system and reduce inflammation. They come in creams, ointments, pills, and injections. The other drug for Alopecia areata is minoxidil. It is primarily used for hair loss due to pattern baldness, but it is effective for alopecia as well. Minoxidil is available in oral and topical formulations.
Topical Immunotherapy
An allergen like Diphencyprone (DPCP) is topically applied on the scalp in the area of hair loss to trigger an allergic response. This is known as contact dermatitis. This allergic reaction reroutes the body’s immune response around the hair follicle, leading to hair growth. The precise mechanism by which this occurs is unclear. Around 40% to 55% of patients find benefit with this treatment.
Phototherapy
This therapy stimulates hair growth in Alopecia areata patients by combining the drug Psoralen with UVA and UVB rays.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
PRP is a treatment in which a person’s plasma is injected into the site of hair loss due to alopecia. Platelet-rich plasma contains effective concentrations of growth factors and cytokines to stimulate hair growth. It is a type of regenerative therapy that boosts the body’s healing process.
Immunomodulation
This treatment option uses immunomodulator drugs to regulate the immune response. These drugs are called JAK inhibitors (Janus Kinase Inhibitors) or JAKs for short. They decrease inflammatory proteins known as cytokines and suppress the body’s immune response. For more effective treatment, immunomodulators may be combined with corticosteroids or minoxidil.
There is no doubt that Alopecia areata is an anxiety-inducing condition to deal with. Proper treatment and lifestyle changes can greatly improve results and stimulate hair growth.
