Alopecia Areata - Medtick
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Alopecia Areata

What is it?

Hair falls out in small patches normally a size of a coin and this is because our immune system believes there is a threat causing an inflammatory immune response causing our hair growth cycle to enter quickly into the late catagen phase (hair mature state) or telogen (resting state – preparing hair to shed phase) rather than staying in the anagen phase (growth phase).

  • Alopecia areata often develops suddenly, over the course of just a few days.
  • People with alopecia areata who have only a few patches of hair loss often experience a spontaneous, full recovery, without the need for treatment.
  • There is no cure for alopecia areata.

Medical News Today 

Alopecia areata appears as patchy areas of non-scarring hair loss and may be considered:

  • Mild – 1–5 scattered areas of hair loss on scalp (and beard of adults)
  • Moderate – More than 5 scattered areas of hair loss on the scalp (and beard of adults)
  • Severe – Loss of all of the hair on the scalp and body
  • Scalp burning, without redness, may also occur.
  • Hairs that grow back often have less color (hypopigmented or white) either temporarily or permanently.
  • This hypopigmentation is not seen in other forms of alopecia.
  • Pits and ridges in the fingernails can also occur.

Skinsight 

  • It normally occurs between the ages of 5- 30 years old.

Cause

Syndromes

Symptoms

  • Smooth, slightly erythematous (peach-coloured) or normal-coloured alopecic (hair loss) patches?
  • One develops patches of hair loss anywhere on the body normally the size of a coin, including the head, beard, eyebrows and eyelashes?
  • Hair usually grows back on its own (spontaneously), and then the hair loss often happens again?
  • Hair loss may be patchy or more widespread?
  • Presence of ‘exclamation mark hairs’ (i.e. hairs tapered near the proximal end)?
  • Burning sensation or itchiness in the affected area?
  • Hair loss may be seasonal?

Nail changes:

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

This condition can lead to:

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Alopecia Areata in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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