What is alopecia areata?

Alopecia areata is a type of hair loss that occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles , which is where hair growth begins. The damage to the follicle is usually not permanent. Experts do not know why the immune system attacks the follicles. Alopecia areata is most common in people younger than 20, but children and adults of any age may be affected. Women and men are affected equally.

Signs and symptoms

 

Typical first symptoms of alopecia areata are small bald patches. The underlying skin is unscarred and looks superficially normal. These patches can take many shapes, but are most usually round or oval.^[7] Alopecia areata most often affects the scalp and beard, but may occur on any part of the body with hair.^[8] Different areas of the skin may exhibit hair loss and regrowth at the same time. The disease may also go into remission for a time, or may be permanent. It is common in children.

The area of hair loss may tingle or be painful.^[9]

The hair tends to fall out over a short period of time, with the loss commonly occurring more on one side of the scalp than the other.^[2]

Exclamation point hairs, narrower along the length of the strand closer to the base, producing a characteristic "exclamation point" appearance, are often present.^[2]

When healthy hair is pulled out, at most a few should come out, and ripped hair should not be distributed evenly across the tugged portion of the scalp. In cases of alopecia areata, hair will tend to pull out more easily along the edge of the patch where the follicles are already being attacked by the body's immune system than away from the patch where they are still healthy.^[10]

Nails may have pitting or trachyonychia.

• Heredity
• Previous history of severe illness like typhoid, malaria, tuberculosis, etc.
• Acute or chronic phases of high fever
• Nutritional deficiencies, especially of vitamins and proteins
• Infections of the scalp
• Emotional stress
• Certain drugs like strong antibiotics and chemotherapeutic medicines
• Hormonal changes especially during pregnancy and also after discontinuing the contraceptive pills
• Certain chemicals, like those used to purify swimming pools feature prominently in causes of Alopecia Areata
• Wear and tear of over-grooming
• Repeated bleaching, perming and dyeing
• Temporary dyes are not as harmful as permanent dyes which can damage the hair shaft.

• Affects the quality of life
• Reduces self esteem
• Bad impact on emotional levels affecting the confidence levels of the patient
• Withdrawal from society and depression