What is alopecia areata ?
Alopecia areata (the name means patches of baldness) is a hair disorder in which a person is suddenly released partially bald. This condition may occur at any age, in both men and women. The peak incidence is found in young adults. It is estimated that 1 in 1,000 to 2,000 people in the population from the condition. Studies in the US and in Europe, however, give a much higher rate: 1.7% of all people before their fiftieth one of the forms of this autoimmune disorder have experienced firsthand, though that was possibly the least eye-catching shape.
.An inflammation around the hair root hinders its roots in their function, so here just yet deformed easily deplete and ultimately no more hairs grow at all. This allows for early patches of baldness. Ultimately, the disease process, in severe cases, lead to complete baldness. Because the hair roots remain present, in contrast to some other conditions in which hair loss occurs and in which it follikelatrofie takes place, there is a chance that it comes back hair. However, the prognosis is worse as the disease process is more extensive. Even with the onset at a young age and often relapse, the prognosis is poor.
The places where alopecia areata occurs, often round or oval shape. In these places, all hair out. The spots on the skin, however, are not scarred, red or inflamed, as with other hair conditions it is sometimes the case. At the edges of the affected parts are loose hairs are here and sometimes tiny hairs, called exclamation mark hairs.
In principle, all terminal hairs are affected. If the hair on the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes and beard hair is completely inoperative, it is called alopecia totalis. If also the armpit hair, chest hair and pubic hair has fallen out, the condition is referred to as alopecia universalis. A distinction is also made in the number of places where baldness occurs. The condition can also be confined to the beard, this is called alopecia areata barbae. Diffuse alopecia areata, according to some occur due to a psychological trauma. This manifests itself in the phenomenon that a person with a mixed hair (gray and dark hair), suddenly loses all dark hairs. With alopecia areata monolocularis means that there is only a bald spot, alopecia areata multilocularis is used if the baldness occurs in more places.
Finally, the nails can also be involved in the disease process. Especially fingernails are affected, usually with pits or white spots, sometimes they are brittle and break easily.
Most patients only discover that they are suffering from alopecia areata at the moment appear visible bald spots, because the condition is not accompanied by itching or pain.
What causes alopecia areata ?
The causes of alopecia areata is not known. However, there is a statistical relationship has been found with the atopic syndrome (atopic eczema, hay fever, and asthma), psoriasis, with impairments in the endocrine system and in autoimmune diseases, including thyroid disorders. What role autoantibodies play in the disease process, it is not yet clear. Having these conditions worsens the prognosis. To what extent alopecia areata is influenced by hereditary factors, is not known. Patients with alopecia areata are in 10 to 20 percent of the cases, one or more relatives who also suffer from the disorder. Also alopecia areata patients with Down syndrome more common than others. Alopecia areata can manifest itself after a major emotional event or after a period of increased stress. Patients sometimes even make the connection with physical trauma, anesthesia or medication. Evidence for this is lacking.
Alopecia areata treatment
About choosing treatment Opinions are divided. No single therapy has proven effect, which often attrition is awaited. The condition is then (usually) automatically on again. Sometimes corticosteroids injected into the bald spots. Sometimes it is also applied photochemotherapy. Another option is to contact immuno therapy: this patient is the first (contact) allergic made against a substance, which is then applied regularly on the scalp. The reaction eczema of the scalp inhibits the inflammatory process that causes the hair loss, but the effectiveness is moderate. Substances used for this are DPCP (diphencyprone) DNCB (dinitrochlorobenzene) and SADBE (squaric acid dibutylester, square acid). Many patients receive counseling from specialized people because the error may be psychologically very stressful. Patients often wear her work.
As the facial hair is gone, like the eyebrows and eyelashes, the expression on the face is remarkably less. This can be remedied by a permanent makeup to make treatment do. Allows eyebrows and eyelashes are pigmented for a few years.