Alopecia Facts
How does Alopecia Areata happen?
Alopecia is known as an 'autoimmune' condition and happens because the affected person's immune system mistakenly recognises their hair follicles as enemies. When the immune system responds it causes hair loss;however the hair retains the capability to regrow. Alopecia often starts with a life changing event such as getting married, moving house, bereavement, divorce or going to university.
Is it catching, life threatening or painful?
Alopecia areata is not catching, life threatening or painful.
Who gets it?
People of all ages and races can get alopecia areata and it often starts in childhood. Most people have their first experience of alopecia before they are aged 20. If you have alopecia, you are more likely to have or develop other autoimmune conditions which include asthma, eczema, vitiligo, diabetes and thyroid disorders. However it is worth bearing in mind that most people with alopecia do not have any of these other autoimmune conditions.
Is it affected by what I eat?
Alopecia is not due to a poor diet. However it is advisable to eat a balanced diet which should include plenty of iron rich foods and fresh fruit and vegetables. Specific foods that help to keep hair in good condition include liver, red meat, eggs, dark green leafy vegetables, nuts and oily fish.
Is Alopecia areata hereditary?
It can be, as many people with the condition have a close family member who also has it.
What are the symptoms?
There may be a tingling feeling in your scalp in the affected areas but apart from this there are no symptoms.
What does Alopecia areata look like?
At first it usually appears as a single patch or small number of patches of hair loss on the scalp
at the edges of the patch you can often see short tapered hairs that look like 'exclamation' marks
sometimes you can see pale hairs regrowing in the centre of the patch; in time, these hairs thicken
sometimes alopecia affects fingernails and toenails. Small white marks can develop on the surface of the nails.
Can Alopecia be cured?
Although there are some treatments that may help your hair to re-grow, as yet there is no cure for alopecia.
Will my hair grow back?
You may experience complete hair re-growth within a year without any treatment at all. However if you lose a lot of hair from the start, the likelihood of re-growth is less.
How can Alopecia areata be treated?
Your own doctor will be able to advise in more detail, but treatments available include the following:
- Steroid creams and scalp applications. These can be applied to the bald areas and may help the hair to re-grow
- Local steroid injections. These injections can be used on the scalp and eyebrows and are the most effective treatment for small patches of hair loss
- Ultra Violet Light treatment A treatment called PUVA may be effective and this entails using UVA radiation therapy. Prior to treatment, you will be asked to take tablets or apply a specific cream to sensitise the bald area. Treatments are needed twice weekly for a couple of months; unfortunately relapse of the alopecia is common when the treatment has stopped
Alopecia research
There is extensive worldwide research focusing on the cause and treatment of all forms of alopecia areata. However, as yet no cure has been found. We shall keep you up to date with any of the latest research news as soon as we hear it.
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