The 411 on Alopecia
What is Alopecia?
Alopecia (also known as alopecia areata) is a chronic, immune-mediated skin disease characterized by sudden loss of hair on the scalp, beard, and sometimes eyebrows, eyelashes, and body hair. It can also be described as bald spots or bald patches.
The causes of Alopecia.
Alopecia is a type of autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the hair follicles, causing the hair to decrease in size, slow down growing, or stop growing altogether. The triggers involve a combination of multiple environmental and genetic factors. Alopecia can often be associated with other autoimmune disorders, such as thyroid disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other inflammatory diseases.
Early signs of Alopecia.
Common signs and symptoms of alopecia areata include a single small round patch, or multiple patches of hair loss. Alopecia areata usually starts out in a small localized area, but it can progress to alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis.
How to treat Alopecia.
There is no cure for alopecia, and the available treatments are mostly ineffective or have a very low response rate. The goal of most treatments is either to block the immune response or stimulate hair growth. Even with treatment, the hair may fall out again when the treatment is stopped.
Products that help strengthen and add volume to hair: