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Alopecia Areata and Hair Loss - Types, Risks and Treatment

By Jared Wright

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Published: 22Feb2010
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Alopecia Areata is a type of hair loss that affects both men and women. This disorder is comprised of four types of hair loss that relate to the whole body. The risks and treatment for this condition are discussed below.

What is alopecia areata?

This disorder is characterized by loss of hair most often on the scalp. It has a fast onset that may be more significant on one side of the head than the other.

Unlike male pattern baldness, which is genetic in origin, alopecia areata is due to a malfunction of the immune system. The immune system wages war on body cells, specifically the hair follicles, which results in inhibition of hair growth.

Types:

There is a difference in the types of alopecia areata, which include:

Diffuse Alopecia Areata - Evidenced by hairless spots on the scalp

Alopecia Totalis - Marked by complete balding

Alopecia Universalis - Total loss of hair all over the body

Alopecia Areata Barbe - Loss of beard hair

What are the risks?

Those primarily at risk for Alopecia areata are adolescents, teens, and young adults. It is most often confused with other hair loss conditions, such as hair shedding after pregnancy and after discontinuation of hormone replacement treatment, or HRT.

Risks are increased in the presence of an autoimmune disorder that attacks the hair cells.

About half of those with a diagnosis of alopecia areata will experience new hair growth in approximately twelve months without treatment. If loss of hair is prolonged the ability to regrow hair is diminished and most likely will be permanent.

What is the treatment?

There are a number of treatments available for alopecia areata designed to stop hair loss and stimulate hair regrowth. These treatments include:

Injection of steroid drugs, corticosteroid shampoos, topical treatment applications, such as creams, oils, and drops.

Medications for treatment of alopecia areata include:

Cyclosporine, minoxidil and anthralin.

It may be necessary to combine treatments to achieve the desired affect, depending on the extent of hair loss and length of time it has been progressing.

It is possible that a main component of alopecia areata is emotional stress. Many people afflicted with this condition have reported stressful events in their lives that precluded the hair loss. Any subsequent situation that involved stress resulted in hair loss as well.

The hair loss of alopecia areata can be rapid. The risk of complete baldness is increased with delay in treatment. If you are having symptoms of hair loss, consultation with your health care provider can reverse hair loss and restore growth.

Jared Wright is the marketing manager of Clivir.com - the free learning community site. You can learn more about female hair loss issues such as female thinning hair and hair loss in woman by clicking the links.

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