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

  • Autoimmune disease – where the immune system attacks the hair follicles (it does not destroy them – hence hair may grow back in time)
  • Maybe: Alterations in the scalp microbial environment  a relative increase in C acnes alongside a reduction in commensal organisms such as Staphylococcus epidermidis. This imbalance is thought to disturb the normal protective role of resident flora and contribute to disease activity.
  • Variants include:
    • Alopecia areata incognita (excessive short term hair shedding rather than the sharply demarcated bald plaques seen in the classic form, as result can be difficult to diagnose as one may believe it is natural pattern hair loss).
    •  Alopecia universalis (sudden, complete loss of scalp and body hair).
  • Other autoimmune disease i.e.
  • Vitiligo (maybe)

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, under microscope)?
  • Burning sensation or itchiness in the affected area?
  • Hair loss may be seasonal?
  • Yellow dots on the scalp?

Nail changes:

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

This condition can lead to:

This condition maybe associated or seen with:

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

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

Detailed Information

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