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Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition. The immune system is the body’s natural defence system, which helps protect it from infection by bacteria and viruses. But in the case of Alopecia Areata, it damages the hair follicles instead. It is not clear exactly why this happens. Fortunately, the hair follicles are not permanently damaged, and in many cases the hair grows back within a few months. About one or two people in 1,000 in the UK have Alopecia Areata. The condition can develop at any age but it’s most common in young people aged between 15 and 29. 6 out of 10 people with Alopecia get it under the age of 20. It affects men and women equally.
Symptoms of Alopecia
Some of the main symptoms of alopecia areata include the following:
- You may have patchy hair loss that appears as small, round areas of baldness. These areas are most likely to be on your scalp, although they may also occur on your eyebrows, eyelashes or beard.
- Usually the exposed skin will look smooth and healthy, but occasionally it can be red or scaly.
- You may have short, broken hairs at the edges of the bald patches. These are called exclamation hairs and are tapered at the end nearest to your head.
Causes of Alopecia
It is not fully known why some people develop Alopecia Areata. It is an autoimmune disease, which means your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks your hair follicles. This reaction prevents new hair from forming and causes existing hair to fall out.
About 1 in 5 people with Alopecia Areata have a family member who also has the condition. This suggests that Alopecia Areata may be genetic even though there could be other factors that can play a part. If you have another condition that involves your immune system such as eczema or are prone to allergies, you may be more at risk and have an increased chanced of developing Alopecia Areata.
Androgenetic Alopecia
Female pattern baldness (also called Androgenetic Alopecia) is the most common type of hair loss. This is a genetic condition that occurs in one out of five women. This hair loss can come from either parent’s side of the family. This condition happens when hair that falls out is no longer replaced. This is normally a change in thinning hair rather than hair falling out. Women of all ages, from puberty to post-menopausal can be affected by Androgenetic Alopecia. The cause of hair loss in Androgenetic Alopecia is a chemical called DIHYDROTESTOSTERONE, or DHT, which is made from androgens, the male hormones that all men and women produce, by the action of an enzyme called 5-Alpha Reductase. People with a lot of this enzymes produces more DHT, which when in excess can cause the hair follicles to make thinner hair, until eventually they stop completely.
Traction or Scarring Alopecia
Traction Alopecia is a type of hair loss which occurs when the hair follicles get damaged due to extensive tightening of the hair for prolonged periods. The hair follicles get completely destroyed, preventing hair growth. This type of hair loss is more common among women who tie their hair into very tight ponytails, knots or braids. This increases the tension in the hair giving rise to hair breakage, leading to hair loss on the front or sides of the scalp. Other causes that lead to traction Alopecia is over processing of the hair with certain thermal or chemical treatments such as dyes, bleaches etc.
