Alopecia areata is quite a rare condition. However, it affects many prominent female figures, to wit: Joanna Roswell, Kayla Martell, and Anne Trujillo. AA affects 4 million Americans in the United States.
Alopecia areata is one of the most common hair loss conditions. It is characterized by rounded, smooth, and non-scarring bald spots anywhere in the body. Alopecia areata usually begins to affect a person at a young age. Furthermore, most patients recover within a year or so. However, it is a potentially recurring condition.
Experts have enough reason to suggest that AA is an autoimmune disorder. It has been observed that T-cells, the lymphocytes responsible for fighting infection, suddenly attack the anagen-hair follicles all over the body for reasons that remain unknown. T-cells attack the root sheath, matrix, and hair shaft, causing hair to fall out in clusters.
People who begin to suffer the condition before reaching the age of 30 may have a genetic predisposition to the disease. Approximately 20% of people with AA have a family member who is similarly affected. It’s also observed to affect members of families which have histories of asthma, allergies, eczema, thyroiditis, lupus, vitiligo, among other autoimmune diseases.
People with AA do not only suffer scalp hair loss. They suffer patches of baldness anywhere in the body as well as loss of eyelashes and eyebrows. The patch can transfer from one spot to another or occur concurrently.
Thankfully, there are treatments for the condition. Cortisone is a naturally occurring steroid produced in the adrenal glands. it has inherently strong anti-inflammatory properties which in medicine form, can be used to stimulate hair growth as well as prevent new patches from forming. Another common treatment is anthralin, which helps improve metabolism. The mechanism of action of anthralin is not actually known but stimulates hair growth through irritation. Its side effects itchiness, redness, skin discoloration, etc. A very popular treatment used to treat practically any form of hair loss is topical minoxidil, which improves blood circulation to the hair follicles to encourage hair growth. Its side effects include shortness of breath, lightheadedness, nausea, irritation, etc.