Often any kind of hair loss can be scary but what exactly is alopecia areata? Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that can lead to hair loss that is often unpredictable. Unfortunately, despite advances in the medical field, there doesn’t seem to be a reason that we can find in modern medicine as to why this happens. Basically, this is causes by the white blood cells in the immune system that begin to attack the hair follicles. This will cause the hair follicles to shrink and slow down the production of hair growth. Even worse news is that there is no cure for alopecia but doctors can prescribe medication to suppress the immune system. The most common form of the medication is through injection but there are other ways that the medication can be taken. Keep in mind that while topical treatments can help with regrowth, they will not stop the creation of new bald patches due to the immune disorder.
Key Points:
- 1Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder. It can lead to unpredictable hair loss, and unfortunately modern medicine hasn’t figured out exactly why it occurs.
- 2Hair loss progresses abruptly and rapidly. One in five patients who suffers from alopecia areata has a family member with the same condition.
- 3Total hair loss on the scalp driven by this autoimmune disorder is referred to as alopecia totalis, while total hair loss across the body is called alopecia universalis.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for alopecia. However, doctors can prescribe corticosteroids to suppress the immune system. The most common way to take these anti-inflammatory drugs is through local injections, but can also be taken via ointment or oral tablets.
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