What is Alopecia Areata (Hair falls in small patches)? And how do it treated?

Alopecia areata is a disease that causes hair to fall out in small patches, which can remain unnoticeable. These patches may eventually connect and then become noticeable, however. This disease develops when the immune system attacks the hair follicles, resulting in hair loss.

Sudden hair loss may occur on the scalp and in some cases the eyebrows, eyelashes, and face, as well as other parts of the body. It can also develop slowly, and recur after years between instances.

The condition can result in total hair loss, called alopecia universalis, and it can prevent hair from growing back. When hair does grow back, it’s possible for the hair to fall out again. The extent of hair loss and regrowth varies from person to person. 

there are treatments that may help hair grow back more quickly and that can prevent future hair loss, as well as unique ways to cover up the hair loss. Resources are also available to help people cope with the stress of the disease.

What causes alopecia areata (Hair fall in patches )?

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease develops when the immune system mistakes healthy cells for foreign substances. Normally, the immune system defends your body against foreign invaders, such as viruses and bacteria.

If you have alopecia areata, however, your immune system mistakenly attacks your hair follicles. Hair follicles are the structures from which hairs grow. The follicles become smaller and stop producing hair, leading to hair loss.

Researchers don’t know what triggers the immune system to attack hair follicles, so the exact cause of this condition isn’t known.

However, it most often occurs in people who have a family history of other autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes o thyroid disease arthritis. This is why some scientists suspect that genetics may contribute to the development of alopecia areata.

They also believe that certain factors in the environment are needed to trigger alopecia areata in people who are genetically predisposed to the disease.

How is Alopecia Areata treated?

There’s no known cure for Alopecia Areata, but there are treatments that you can try that might be able to slow down future hair loss or help hair grows back more quickly.

The condition is difficult to predict, which means it may require a large amount of trial and error until you find something that works for you. For some people, hair loss may still worsen despite treatment.

although there are some forms of treatment that can be suggested by doctors to help the hair re-grow more quickly.

The most common form of Alopecia Areata treatment is the use of corticosteroids, powerful anti-inflammatory drugs that can suppress the immune system. These are most commonly administered through local injections, topical ointment application, or orally.

Other medications that can be prescribed that either promote hair growth or affect the immune system include Minoxidil, Anthralin, SADBE, and DPCP. Although some of these may help with the re-growth of hair, they cannot prevent the formation of new bald patches.

It's better that you consult your nearest Hair and skin specialist, who check your condition of Hair fall and provide you best treatment says by Dr.Manju Keshari famous dermatologist and hair care expert at KEMPS Skin Clinic, Vaishali, Ghaziabad.