Alopecia Areata as a Cause of Hair Loss
For the first several years of our life, our bodies
normally act the way they are supposed to. We
grow to normal height, make normal use of our senses, and hopefully enjoy an
active lifestyle on God’s green earth. When
we get sick though, we also rely on our body’s natural defense force to ward
off unwanted visitors, and get us back on our feet.
Generally, it stays this way our
whole lives. There comes a point
though for some, when the normal becomes abnormal, and their own bodies
become their own worst enemies. This
is why autoimmune disease is a big problem, even in terms of hair loss.
Autoimmune diseases make the immune system attack parts
of your own body, instinctively acting as if they were hostile foreign
matter. According to a recent study,
this is what happens to your hair if you are diagnosed with alopecia areata.
Mostly, this is a condition wherein a
part of your head loses patches of hair. There
are times however, when other parts of the body will also lose hair.
If all hair on the scalp is lost, it
is called alopecia areata totalis. Rarely
does it happen all over the body, but if this is the case, then it is called
alopecia areata universalis.
Most of time, around 50%, cases report complete hair
growth within several months. Even
without medication, alopecia areata will go away on its own half the time.
This is not always the case though,
and half of those with this disorder need treatment.
To diagnose if one has alopecia
areata, a lab will examine if a hair has the exclamation point shape.
Also, if hair is pulled, the tip may
include some white blood cells. Pitting
of the nails and the presence of other forms of autoimmune disease can be
signs as well. The cause of this kind
of hair loss is not exactly known, although some research indicates stress
as a trigger. The presence of an
autoimmune disease within members of the patient’s family suggests heredity
to be a factor, but this is not proven.
For people that require treatment, several solutions
are being tested for efficacy. A
variety of topical steroids, creams and shampoos that contain, cobetasol, or
fluocinonide have proven effective in some. This
is one of those disorders however, that require a variety of combinations
until something works. One should be
warned from the start, a rare few will experience permanent hair loss.
In these cases, it is highly
suggested one adapts to the problem at hand.
Constant therapy may also be needed as sudden and lasting baldness
can badly affect one’s mental state.
A lot of people experiencing hair loss have resorted to
wigs. If attached well enough, no one
will notice. Due to the lack of hair,
and therefore protection, the sun will burn the scalp much faster.
Wearing a wig or some other
fashionable form of head gear wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
Finally, work closely with your
doctor. There have been many emerging
“treatments” for alopecia areata, but many are not effective, or even
genuine. It would be a shame to lose
anything else, like money, other than your hair.
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