Patients of all ethnicities and genders are affected by alopecia areata. This is a very common condition. It is most common in people under 30 years of age, but it can happen at any age.
What does alopecia areata look like?
Small, round patches of hair loss appear suddenly without redness or scarring in Alopecia Areata. Rarely, complete baldness of the scalp and body can result, including the loss of eyebrows and eyelashes.
Diagnostic tests are usually performed by a doctor (usually a dermatologist) using a dermoscope (skin surface microscope). Hair loss can be diagnosed based on a scalp biopsy (removal of a small amount of skin) if alopecia areata is not the cause of hair loss.
About 10% to 20% of patients experience nail changes, and severe cases may experience them more frequently.
A vitiligo patient with alopecia areata may also experience autoimmune hemolytic anemia, celiac disease, lupus, allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis, and thyroid disease, because alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease. Hair loss can be ruled out by blood tests for thyroid dysfunction.
The effects of alopecia areata can cause psychological distress and impact people’s self-esteem negatively. A person with alopecia areata is more likely to develop anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Depending on the location and amount of hair you lose, alopecia areata has a spectrum of severity. Depending on the type of alopecia areata, these two things will differ.
That said, there are actually many types of hair loss. Here are some examples:
- Androgenetic alopecia
- Telogen effluvium
- Anagen effluvium
- Traction alopecia
How Is Alopecia Areata Diagnosed?
See your primary care physician or dermatologist right away if you notice new hair loss or bald patches. The key to successful treatment is early consultation and evaluation with a dermatologist.
To confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes, such as a fungal infection of the scalp, your doctor may take a small skin biopsy. Hair loss can be caused by many health conditions, so your doctor will likely order blood tests to rule out iron deficiency, thyroid dysfunction, and hormonal imbalance as causes.
Final Word
As a result of immune system dysfunction, alopecia areata (AA) causes hair loss. Common symptoms of this condition include round, coin-sized bald patches on the head, but it can also occur in other parts of the body.
The condition can range from mild (a few patches of hair loss) to severe (significant or complete hair loss on the head or the whole body), and there are different kinds of alopecia areata.
There is no known cure for AA, and it has no known cause. Alopecia areata can, however, be treated in a number of ways. Hair will regrow in the majority of cases of AA within a year.
See your physician or dermatologist right away if you suspect that you may be suffering from alopecia areata hair loss to rule out other possible causes and to discuss a comprehensive plan for alopecia areata treatment in Austin TX. You can encourage thicker, fuller-looking hair with a balanced diet, by managing stress levels, and by using a plant-based serum.
