Alopecia

Hair loss is normal to a certain limit, but in the case of alopecia, hair loss becomes significantly too much and leads to bald spots in the place of the lost hair.

Alopecia

Alopecia is an autoimmune disease that causes severe hair loss anywhere in the body, but most often in the scalp.

Alopecia could affect anyone and at any age, yet it’s more common in teens and adults in their twenties and thirties.

Causes of alopecia

• Alopecia occurs because the immune system attacks the hair follicles at any place in the body, which leads to hair loss.
• The risk of alopecia could increase due to certain factors, such as genetic factors, a strong emotional or physical trauma, hormonal changes, excessive stress, significant weight loss, poor nutrition, certain health conditions, certain medications and supplements, and certain hairstyles and treatments.

Symptoms of alopecia

Alopecia symptoms differ depending on its type, and they include:

• Alopecia areata totalis: losing all the hair on the scalp.
• Alopecia areata universalis: losing all the hair from the scalp and the whole body.
• Diffuse alopecia areata: hair loss here occurs like spots in different parts of the body, and it’s the most common type.

Some symptoms could occur in the skin after losing the hair, such as itchiness and a burning or tingling feeling.

Alopecia might also cause symptoms in the nails, such as tiny pits or dents on the nails.

Diagnosis of alopecia

• Physical examination.
• Blood tests.
• Biopsy from the scalp.

Treatment of alopecia

There isn’t a cure for alopecia, yet the symptoms can be relieved and hair loss can be managed by using some therapies, such as:

• Corticosteroids.
• Minoxidil, which is a topical substance that helps the hair to regrow.
• Platelet-rich plasma injections.
• Phototherapy.