Alopecia areata is a non-lethal autoimmune disorder that causes partial or total hair loss on the scalp, face and body. It affects almost 2 percent of the U.S. population, and strikes males and females in equal numbers. People of all ages and ethnic origins are affected. There is no cure for alopecia areata, and no medications have been specifically approved for its treatment. Still, there are solid resources available to help you deal with its physical and mental effects.
Symptoms and Potential Causes
Alopecia areata is not painful. It occurs when the body's immune system attacks the cells that are most actively involved in hair growth. The resulting hair loss typically occurs in quarter-sized patches on the scalp. In some cases, the loss is limited in scope, but in many instances the involvement is extensive. In rare situations, hair loss is total. Outbreaks also occur in face and body hair. Total hair loss on the scalp is called alopecia areata totalis. Total simultaneous hair loss on the head, body and face is called alopecia areata universalis.
Scientists believe that alopecia areata is partially genetic. Having a close family member with the disorder somewhat increases your chances of getting it yourself. If that family member first showed symptoms before his 30th birthday, your chances are increased even further. Having family members with certain other autoimmune syndromes---including Addison's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, pernicious anemia, thyroid disease and systemic lupus---also increases your risks of developing alopecia areata. It is also possible that certain infections or viruses act as trigger events for genetically predisposed individuals.
Still, if you have alopecia areata it is not likely you directly inherited the disorder, and it is equally unlikely you will pass it on to your children. Apparently, it is controlled by a number of different genes, and the chances of passing all of them along in one generation are exceedingly small.
Diagnosis and Support
If you are diagnosed with alopecia, there are a few things you should know. Firstly, the disorder is highly erratic. You may experience varying periods of increasing or diminishing hair loss. You may grow your hair back, only to lose it again. You may lose your hair completely and regrow only part of it. The frustrations from this unpredictable cycling can be intense, and actually may be alopecia's main effect on your long-term health. The National Areata Alopecia Foundation has established a pen pal program to facilitate communication between sufferers of the disorder. The foundation also runs many other programs, including a message board and support group. Additional help and information are available from the American Academy of Dermatology and the National Institutes of Health.
Limited Treatments
No known ways to cure or prevent alopecia areata exist. Still, doctors have used various medications approved for other purposes to promote new hair growth in alopecia patients. They include minoxidil, oral cyclosporine, sulfasalazine, anthralin and corticosteroids. Each of these therapies poses its own set of risks, and you should ask your doctor about the problems associated with any treatment he might prescribe. It's is also critical to remember that none of these therapies can provide permanent relief, or stop the occurrence of new outbreaks of the disorder.
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