Alopecia Areata
What is 'alopecia areata'?
Alopecia areata is a rather disfiguring hair loss which normally starts in small patches, can spread over the entire scalp and can also damage hair growth of the eyelashes and eyebrows. It's an auto-immune disorder, which comes very suddenly, and can literally fall within a week or two of the first patch. The hair can be lost within weeks as opposed to other forms of hair loss which take months to occur.
What causes alopecia areata?
Alopecia areata is caused mainly by hereditary traits, where a family has other auto-immune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, for example. It can manifest itself in the next generation as alopecia areata. It's also closely associated with thyroid conditions.
How can alopecia areata be treated?
Alopecia areata is an auto-immune disorder. It's generally caused by a relationship to other members of the family who are suffering from an auto-immune disorder. While they may suffer from alopecia areata, others may suffer from rheumatoid arthritis or another auto-immune condition. Alopecia areata is perpetuated, it is believed, by stress, but it doesn't appear to be caused by that. It is closely associated with thyroid malfunction. Whether stress actually triggers it in the first place is a debatable issue, and research into it so far is a bit ambiguous.
Will my hair grow back after suffering from alopecia areata?
When you suffer from alopecia areata, it is unfortunate that no one is able to answer the question, "Will my hair grow back?" We just don't know. In some cases, where there are small patches, and they've appeared quite suddenly and remained small, regrowth is quite often spontaneous. If they begin to spread, the greater the area that is covered, the less chance of recovery, is the general rule, but not always. There are cases where people have lost their hair for over 20 years with alopecia areata who, for some reason which nobody understands - science certainly doesn't - suddenly the hair regrows.
