Too Fast...Too Furious! Is the perfect description for Alopecia Areata. A condition so bizarre it can happen in an instant and it can definitely wreck your life. If you suddenly discover a single bald spot or a few hairless patches on your scalp or other parts of your body, it might be a sign of this autoimmune condition.
Although this condition is not life threatening, its volatility and highly unpredictable pattern can trigger massive psychological problems to many people. Knowing and understanding this condition in detail can make a big difference in surviving it.
An Autoimmune Disorder
Alopecia Areata (AA) is really a very creepy disease indeed because it can strike anytime without warning to any parts of your body that has hair. The real agony is, the hair loss happens so fast and there is nothing much you can do about it.
Although this condition was identified and debated for several centuries, it was only a few decades ago with the advancement in the medical field that scientists and researchers discovered that AA is actually caused by an autoimmune disorder.
Your body's immune system comprises of various cells that help destroy invading bacteria, disease causing fungus and other harmful elements that attack your body. Sometimes, out of the blue or due to many reasons, your immune system can malfunction and then attack your own body instead. This condition is widely known as an autoimmune disorder or disease.
In the case of Alopecia Areata, in depth examinations have found that the hair loss is caused by an autoimmune disorder where immune system cells particularly the Lymphocytes (CD4 Subtype) and Langerhan's cells concentrate around the hair follicles.
While many autoimmune disorder results in the immune cells destroying other body cells and organs, it seems that the cells do not destroy the hair follicle particularly the hair bulb which is responsible for hair growth. The immune cells only accumulate and cause
- Inflammation to the hair follicles and surrounding areas
- Disruption of the ANAGEN phase (see more in Hair Growth Cycle)
- Retarded hair fibre growth and other hair shaft defects.
As the immune cells
do not destroy the hair follicle, it's
possible for the hair follicle to grow normally again after the effects of the immune cells stop. This can happen within a few months to many years and
no one can tell exactly when.
The Many Forms of AA
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Statistics show that about 1-2% of the US population will face with some form of Alopecia Areata in their lives so that makes AA a rather common kind of hair loss disease. There are several levels of severity for AA and is classified as below- Alopecia Areata Monocularis
This condition is represented by a single bald spot that is usually found on your scalp but also can occur on any hairy parts of your body. - Alopecia Areata Multilocularis
Some sufferers might end up developing several bald spots simultaneously or gradually. This condition might also regress further. - Alopecia Totalis
A small portion of people that have AA might end up losing all the hair on their heads. This condition might be hard to reverse. - Alopecia Universalis
A very rare extreme variant of AA where the sufferer loses all the hairs on the scalp and body including eye brows, beard and pubic region.
Another form of AA is known as Alopecia Barbae where the hair loss is localized on the beard areas and it's usually found in male sufferers only.Fortunately for most people facing AA, the most common kind is AA Monocularis where an oval bald patch with a diameter of 1-2 cm develops on the scalp. The recovery rate is high of about 65% where most sufferers will regrow back their hair without the need of any treatments. However, for people who have faced AA, there is a 25% that the disease might return and when it does, it can increase in severity and can develop into other more serious forms of AA. This is usually when everything will start crumbling down for most sufferers that thought they have defeated the condition. Without proper counseling and support, it definitely a life wrecking experience for many.
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What You Need to Know about Alopecia Areata
If you or someone you know is facing with this condition, it's important to get the facts straight as this disease is very unpredictable. Some of the basic topics we will discuss are
- Suspected AA Causes
- Available AA Treatments
- Psychological Support for AA Sufferers
These few topics will provide you with an overview and support of this elusive condition and how to prevent further distress from it so do take some time and read it.
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Suspected Alopecia Areata CausesAlthough researchers still have not found out the real reasons behind AA, they have found many solid links that might potentially be a cause of this sudden hair loss condition. Let's explore the possible causes and symptoms of this disease. What are the possible Alopecia Areata causes? Find out here.
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Available TreatmentsUp till now, there have yet discovered an established treatment that can guarantee hair regrowth for AA sufferers. Most current treatments are supportive and to help alleviate the symptoms that offer limited success in some patients. Still, these treatments and procedures might help manage the condition better. Take a look at the common treatments for AA.
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Support for SufferersThe main consequence of AA is more on the psychological aspect than a health threat. Sufferers of serious AA tend to face many emotional and social problems because of the appearance caused by the hair loss. Women are especially vulnerable to it because their hair is a very important asset to them. Therefore finding the right support is top priority. Don't miss out this section if you need help for your AA condition.
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