Alopecia Areata Hair Loss
Nu Hair of Texas Hair Loss clinic, announces new alopecia areata
comprehensive source at Nu Hair web http://www.nuhair.net
providing answers to most frequently asked questions on
alopecia. Nuhair has presented condensed articles about alopecia
hair loss and baldness issues, using photos and links.
Understanding how and why is a start for every one who is
afflicted with Alopecia Areata hair loss. * What causes Alopecia
Areata hair loss? * Who is most likely to get Alopecia? * Will
my hair grow back? * Living with Alopecia Areata * Alopecia
Areata hair loss treatments * More information on Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is highly unpredictable, autoimmune skin disease
with recurrent no scarring hair loss. It can affect any
hair-bearing area of the body with many different patterns of
hair loss on the scalp or elsewhere on the body. Alopecia is a
progressive skin disease causing hair loss but not
life-threatening. People with Alopecia are generally healthy
otherwise. Alopecia hair loss can cause emotional psychosocial
stress.
Most common appearance is 1 or many round-to-oval patches of
hair falls out. In many cases, only a few bare patches show up.
But for some people hair loss is extensive. It can cause total
loss of head hair, alopecia Areata Totalis, or complete loss of
whole body hair, alopecia Areata Universalis.
What Causes Alopecia Areata Hair Loss? Alopecia areata is an
autoimmune disease. Our immune system, designed to protect the
body from viruses and bacteria, mistakenly attacks its own body
cells, attacks the hair follicles, the root from which hairs
grow. The hair follicles become small and slow down new hair
production. In most cases the stem cells that supply the
follicles with new cells are not targeted. Therefore there is
possibility for the hair to re-grow at a later time.
Why some people get afflicted with Alopecia, maybe the
combination of genes predisposed to the disease. Unknown trigger
in a person's environment may cause the autoimmune disease to
attack the hair follicles.
Who Is Most Likely To Get Alopecia? Alopecia Areata condition is
common, affecting males and females in approximately 1.7 percent
of the world population overall, 4.7 million in the US men and
women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds are affected with
alopecia areata hair loss.
Genetic factors may play an important role in determining
susceptibility and disease severity. The risk of developing
Alopecia Areata increases if a family member lost his first
patch of hair before age 30. One in five people who have the
disease have a family member who already experienced Alopecia
hair loss, but it is not inherited from a parent.
Alopecia areata often occurs in people whose family members have
other autoimmune diseases, such as diabetes, rheumatoid
arthritis, thyroid disease, systemic lupus. People who have
alopecia areata have a higher occurrence of thyroid disease,
eczema, allergies, or asthma.
Will My Hair Ever Grow Back? Your hair may or may not grow back.
At times it grow back and it may also fall out again. For others
hair regrows, and the condition never recurs. Even if all hair
is lost, possibility for full regrowth remains.
Living with Alopecia Areata Use sunscreens for exposed skin,
sunglasses to protect the eyes from excessive sun, and dust with
eyebrows or eyelashes hair loss condition. Use wigs or hairpiece
to cover and protect scalp. Value yourself for who you are, not
for how much hair you have. Talk with others who are dealing
with Alopecia Areata hair loss, you are not alone.
Alopecia Areata treatments Doctors try several medications
approved for promoting hair growth, but none cure the disease.
Steroids, Corticosteroids, anti-inflammatory drugs are often
used in the treatment of various autoimmune diseases, including
alopecia areata. Corticosteroids may be given as injections of
steroids directly into the patches on the scalp or the effected
area, usually repeated monthly. Side effects may be mild
swelling, changes in pigmentation, or small indentations in the
skin that go away once injections are stopped. Risks of
hypertension and cataracts may occur. Corticosteroids taken by
mouth may be used in more extensive alopecia areata. Ointments
containing steroids rubbed directly onto the affected area are
preferred for children. However, corticosteroid creams are less
effective than injections; they work best when combined with
other topical treatments, such as minoxidil. Other treatments
used are Sulfasalazine, or Anthralin. Hairpieces and wigs are
useful for patients with extensive disease.
More Information on Alopecia Areata * http://niams.nih.gov *
http://www.nuhair.net/alopecia-areata-information.htm *
http://nccam.nih.gov * http://aad.org * National Alopecia Areata
Foundation http://naaf.org